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From The Personal Diary Of Leanne Walker

The youngster challenging us turned out to be Little Lamplight's Mayor, a foul-mouthed boy named R.J. MacCready.   'Mungo' is a term they use for grown-ups, which are definitely mistrusted here, so it took lots of talking before we were allowed in.  Jiao's role in helping three of the Lamplighters escape Paradise Falls was probably the big decider.

So Jiao, Cross and I were allowed in - with the usual threats of dire retribution if we stepped out of line.  I don't think I've found a settlement yet that didn't threaten me at the gate, except for Vulture's Rest and Arefu.  Then again, I was very nearly blown up at Arefu, so that probably counts ...

Little Lamplight is a strange place.  No one here is older than about fifteen, with anyone over that age forced to leave for Big Town or wherever.  Even so, this place is as functional as any other settlement in the Wastes, with traders, medics, food producers, scavvers, scouts and guards.  They even have a school, of sorts, and maintain their numbers by finding and taking in kids who are lost, orphaned or abandoned.  It says much about life in DC that there are always plenty of candidates.  The Lamplighters are fairly aware of what goes on elsewhere, but dismiss most of it as 'Mungo Business' and therefore not their concern.

Jiao talked with Lucy, their medic, and Eclair, their chief food producer, who are both interested in trade  - mainly food and a few meds for stuff they have scavved, and this fungus that helps get rid of rads.  Lamplight could do extremely well selling the fungus via the caravans, and Jiao is sure Billy Creel would get on board for this venture.

When approached, MacCready okayed this trade.  Despite his foul mouth, and a tendency to ogle Jiao and me from behind when he thinks we won't notice, the Mayor has a good head on his shoulders.  When it comes MacCready's time to leave LIttle Lamplight, I suspect that wherever he ends up, he'll either get shot or be running the place within six months.  He seems to really enjoy giving Cross extra attitude, maybe because she is obviously older that the rest of us, maybe due to her BoS affiliation, maybe due to the 'formal' manner she has at all times.  For her part, Cross remains carefully polite to the Mayor - I think she's a little bewildered by the little snot's belligerence, but stoically refuses to take any of it personally.  Good for her.

I spoke with some of the other kids, including a girl self-named 'Knock Knock' (her original name was Sue, long story).  She takes a lot of pride in being in charge of morale here, carefully collecting jokes and stories to tell to the others.  I found myself liking her a lot, she has a cheerful optimism that's .... irrepressible, is the best way to describe it.

Anyhow, the good news is that, yes, the Little Lamplight cave system DOES connect to Vault 87.  The bad news is that the way in is known as 'Murder Pass', and for good reason ....

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Star Paladin Cross down in Little Lamplight.  For some reason, I am amused by the thought of MacCready giving her attitude.