Pinto Future | Chapter Five: Entering The Kingdom of the Six-Pointed Stars

Pinto Future, story elements, and characters TM and © Jeff Harris

The Story So Far... A land where oil is plentiful but water is a rare commodity. After restoring the waterways of New York City after 50 years of dormancy, a warrior with a strange ability to control the waters floated in the middle of the Manhattan River near death. A man named Bristol Levin, a wandering scholar, leaps in and saves The Rider. The two men became fast friends, and The Rider asked The Narrator to join him on his quest, and now, the duo are heading to meet Mizu, who knows a lot about the power the Rider has. Perhaps even more than The Rider himself. (Chapter Four)

It's been about two weeks since the New York miracle occured. The miracle inspired a renewed interest in the city, not to mention being a morale booster for the surrounding areas, who also benefited from the reborn waterways. They're also scrapping the old towers and rebuilding the city back towards the ground. Recycling the old to bring life to the new world. At least one positive aspect of the old Camberlin industries before he became a water hoarder remains intact. They found his body and buried him in an old field with an unmarked grave. The models he left behind for the communities are now the template for the reborn city. A sense of growth and redevelopment continues. Still, they're not looking to touch the skies again. Who could blame them?

Over the last two weeks, The Rider has been going to smaller communities and performing many miracles along the way, albeit not the size of the New York miracle, but you can't really judge the size of it. A miracle is a miracle, no matter the size. I'm sure that small farm town in Ohio or that river bank in Indiana saw his actions in the same light as all of New York City and the surrounding areas saw his actions. I've seen it happen first hand on my travels with The Rider, and every time I see it, I'm still awestruck by both the man and his actions. This must've been how people felt at Yankee Stadium when baseball was a national sport instead of just a regional one. Regardless, the Rider goes where he is needed and rarely goes where he's not welcome and embraced.

Like the Homes Lakes territories.

Maybe I should explain what the Homes Lakes are. Before the Great Reaction, these lakes were once considered great. Heron. Ontario. Michigan. Erie. Superior. These great lakes still They're probably some of the few freshwater sites still owned by the people. It's not much, and they've never been so kindly towards outsiders, especially considering the Brotherhood wanted to come in and take what little freshwater they had left. Also, the ownership of the lakes themselves has been suspect. Officially, they're not American nor Canadian (though the people still pledge allegiance to those countries), so the areas near those lakes largely reverted to sovereign lands after the reaction. The people rule them. Some retained their traditional land names. Others returned to the roots of the land, often reverting to the Native American names the lands originally had.

It gives them this sense of foreignness. The thing about living in this new world is that the people more or less rule themselves. Unfortunately, in the process of readjusting to life after the Reaction, we became less of a United States and more of a brand new world. Kind of like Europe 2.0. Just more American. Many nations within a great land. Some are more low-key, keeping to themselves. Some are hostile and on guard against anyone that try to enter their land.

Such as the situation we found ourselves in the day we entered the city limits of great kingdom.

A medium-framed man dressed in khaki robes and pants came towards us. He had red hair, though it was peppered with shades of grey. His face was weathered a bit from the sandy winds that blew heavily on these mountain peaks. His eyes obscured by smokey-tinted frames. He raised this staff that glowed red when he lifted it towards the sky. Couldn't tell if he was making it glow himself.

"My name is Uccello Feuerbrand," the man said. "I am the Lord of the land of the Six-Pointed Stars. You've entered the Shikaakwa territory, and I will protect it from all outside forces. Even you, Cavalier de Pinto."

I was taken aback that anybody knew who The Rider was. Then again, my guide in this weird world had a lot of adventures before he even met me.

"Oh, you've heard of me?" the Rider said. He had glowing brown eyes again, almost as if he was in panic mode. His hands were glowing that weird blue again. I played the role of peacemaker.

"Rider, stand down," I warned him. "This isn't the time to fight."

"I'm not fighting, Bristol, just on guard."

"I know of your reputation, Cavalier," Feuerbrand said. "People think you are a miracle worker. Returning waters to the world. Taking down two hoarders of the source liquid. Giving it back to the people. I always figured you for a myth. Some in my kingdom have witnessed your miracles."

"But how did you know I was the Rider?"

"Well, aside from you admitting it yourself, you are riding around in a Pinto. In the future, you may want to find a less conspicuous mode of transportation."

The Rider's eyes stopped glowing, and he started laughing.

"You're right. We mean you no harm, Lord Feuerbrand. We're on a mission and ready to help those in this world."

The Rider remained stonefaced and unwavering. Feuerbrand looked on and unclenched his fists, extending it towards The Rider and me.

"Men of peace," Feuerbrand said calmly as he shook our hands. "Welcome to my home, my land. As long as you like, you will be treated as members of the Shikaakwa tribe. You are my guests. Enjoy your stay."

"I will, your Lordship," the Rider replied.

"Ditto," I said, nervous but excited as we entered the gates of the land of the Six-Pointed Stars. The one lone thought I had as I saw the golden light of Firebird Tower was that this is not New York City.

End of Chapter Five