Lana slowly stepped up the stairs, her right hand gripping her holstered pistol firmly. The ancient floor boards creaked as handled the weight of Ray and Lana. But thankfully, the farmhouse appeared to be in functional order for most parts.
Just as they reached the second floor, a quiet cough came from a corner. This, of course, could not escape Lana's hearing in her heightened alert. She drew her pistol and took aim in that direction. A figure in the shade could be seen in the corner, in between some hay stacks. Lana gestured Ray to get into a flanking position, while she approached the figure.
Then it came out of the shadows. To the duo's surprise, it was an unkempt man in worn out clothing who hugged a shopping trolley. He wore so many layers of clothing Lana was unable to tell the colour of each. An unbearable stench came from a half dried pool nearby, no doubt where the man goes about to do his business. His possessions consisted of a trolley full of garbage and a moldy blanket.
"Agh! I ain't done nothin'!" The man screamed and grabbed his possessions.
Lana glanced at the items in the trolley and found the package lodged between a half full bottle of liquor and some pieces of half eaten bread.
She said to the man, "look, we don't want to hurt you. We just want that little box in your trolley," she pointed at the package.
The man's eyes narrowed into a vicious glare and pulled the trolley behind him.
"No! It's mine! I found it!"
Lana sighed, and said, "then how about we buy it from you?"
"I want... 500 credits and... and that belt!" The man stated his offer and looked at Ray.
Lana holstered her pistol again and reached into her pocket for a cash chip. While Ray shrugged and loosened his belt buckle. She transferred the amount into the chip from her holo-com and handed it to the homeless man, while Ray removed his belt and did the same. The man quickly snatched the items and rummaged through his trolley. He found the package and held it forward with suspicion and anxiety. Lana stepped forward to remove it from his hands, the man held onto it firmly but Lana pulled it from his hands.
Without a further word, the two turned and left the farmhouse.
As they left the farmhouse and got into the open field, Ray laughed uncontrollably.
"What are you laughing about?" Lana asked.
"We risked our lives in retrieving the previous packages and this one was just... " Ray said and laughed again without finishing.
Lana chuckled and replied, "I suppose that's quite funny."
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