Grant stood on watch. He brushed his grey bushy moustache with his fingers. He adjusted his coonskin cap as it became a bit warm under it. It was a cold night so he didn’t mind it. He stood between the wilderness and a semi-civilised class. He wasn’t really on one side or the either. He was a middle ground of the two. However, saying that, it was the people above him that paid his wages. Besides that, he couldn’t picture himself out there. He was old and his body wasn’t as resilient or fit as it used to be. If the filth didn’t kill him, his body would break with the constant manual labour in the junk. He used to be a hunter but due to an accident with a blunderbuss. He was ordered to stand duty on this wall. With his skills he was tasked to lead this guard shift.

He put his hand on the edge of the wall. He looked out into the vast landscape. Scavengers moving in the night. He lifted his wrist to glance at his watch and nodded to himself. He scanned the skies expectantly. He wasn’t quite sure what happens but it adds excitement when he was was watching in the otherwise still night sky. There it was. On time. Trails of glittering sparkles drew lines downwards in the night. Dancing with the stars on the far side of the world before landing in the wastelands. This always caused more scavenger movement and he told his guards to keep vigilant.

Although it was rare for scavengers to gain the courage to approach the wall, it was indoctrinated thoroughly so that they know the rules and the consequences for breaching them. Saying this, it calmed the mind to be safe than sorry. The last scavenger attempt failed but only barely so it was told. He checked his rifle to ensure it was primed and ready to fire. Again, he re-adjusted his coonskin cap and watched into the night.