Chapter 3

The fedora, the raptor and the mug had been ungraciously plopped at the base of the Frontier’s Pedestal. Still standing inside the Frontier's gates was the entire population, stoppering the way back in. They glowered in an ominous silence but above all their heads, squirming to the front, was Douglas Coir. The lanky Something stepped over the frontline and, in a less than graceful manner, fumbled over a backpack to Frederick Fedora.

“It was the best I could do on short notice.” he said to his Leader, but his voice grew fainter as the crowd started to push him back. “It’s not much, my good friend, but it should help you until you get to Mesatown. Please be careful!”

Frederick tried to shout over the jeering crowd to thank his loyal friend. They shouted and dragged him back into the walls violently. Douglas had disappeared from sight completely.

“You!” gnashed the citizens. “The Things of the Frontier have grown tired of your outsider ways and your new ideas! We knew it was bad to have an outsider lead us and you have proven our anxieties right, Frederick Fedora!”

Countless insults and crimes were alleged at Fedora as the citizens lost their tempers. Their fear of the outside kept them on the safe side of the gate. If he had been closer, they might've ripped him apart.

“He’s not even a fedora! He’s a trilby!” Fedora heard as a last retort as they quieted down for his response.

“Actually I might be half trilby, but they named us after we look liked most in the orphanage.” corrected Frederick, an assumed Fedora.

There was complete silence from the crowd which meant they were probably listening now. Coughy hacked a spit wad at the crowd but Frederick caught it, flung it onto the ground, then spoke slowly with as much warmth he could manage to the mob. “I’m truly sorry about what happened to Derby. In a time when the Frontier needed a hero, I was not there. It's obvious that the time I've spent with society has softened me.”

“You’re a good-for-NOTHING.” Which meant a mooch or someone who 'too much' for the poor to the Things.

“I am good for the ‘Nothings’! Let’s not forget all the good that’s happened since I’d been here! Your roads were repaved, your schools and museums better funded, the Things you call Nothings are fewer because of better health c-”

“You brought a Raptor into the Frontier!”

“Illiteracy and starvation is nearly zero percent! Crime rates have nearly disappeared!”

“You brought a criminal into the Frontier!”

“I have given chances to those who deserved it!”

“These outsiders were brought into the Frontier and now the trouble we feared has happened! Now Derby has suffered the consequences! And why?”

The noise was escalating into nearly defeaning proportions but Frederick spoke anyway.

“To show the Frontier that the outside world is not what it seems. Raptors are not feral monsters and neither are the Things out there!" explained Frederick. At the mention of Raptors, the audience died down in noise. Frederick pushed Caesar toward them and the crowd flinched away as if struck. "They’re just people! All of them. Look at him!”

The Things of the Frontier, now done with their ex-leaders explanations, all turned to leave. The gates of the Frontier started to close. Through the gap the crowd shouted “Come back with Derby or don’t come back at all!”

The iron used for the gates was ancient and still strong. Perhaps at one point, they were meant for welcoming and letting large amounts of Things in and out. However, they were now used so little that they grumbled from moving, as if they were complaining about being closed once again. How much longer would they be shut again? Allegedly, until Derby was brought back so the reputation of the Somethings was restored, but how could an old bounty hunter accomplish taking down outlaws again? Frederick stared at the shut gates, iron still aching as it set in place.

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