by Izzy Hunter
Mona sat away from the others, in the shadows. She was keeping watch, gun poised in hand. From the corner of her eye, she noticed someone get to their feet and approach her. A piece of roughly sliced meat appeared in her eye-line. She looked up to find Sam standing over her.
'Hungry?' he asked.
She stared down at her gun, and stayed quiet. Instead of returning to the group, Sam settled down next to her, and put the ham on her lap. She didn't move it or acknowledge it. She really hoped he would leave her alone. The anger she felt for him hadn't subsided, nor did she think it ever would. When she eventually reclaimed No Hope, he would be first in line to get punished. Minutes later, he rose and rejoined the others. It was only when she was sure he wasn't looking that she shoved the ham into her mouth.
The sky was an orange-red colour when the group packed up their things and continued on their way. The crew, used to early rises, were jovial and merry enough. The passengers, however, were still a little groggy from sleep, and were more subdued.
The crew were currently regaling the others about some of the places they'd been to on the The Red Jenny when Hubert let out a sudden cry. A dirt-brown snake was winding its way through the group's feet. Someone brought out their gun and shot the creature directly in the head.
'He's been bitten,' remarked Matthew, still wary of the now-dead snake. Hubert sank to the ground, gripping his left leg. The others crowded around him.
'I'm dying!' Hubert shrieked, rolling around in the dusty terrain. His clothes getting covered in grit.
'No you're not,' said Mona, bending down to take a better look at the wound. It looked nasty. Blood snailed its way down the surprisingly smooth skin of his leg. Mona could see the two dark circles where the snake had attacked. She looked at the surrounding men. 'Anyone know anything about snake bites?'
'You don't know?' There was a surprised tone to Sam's words.
'I'm a Sheriff, not a doctor,' she reminded him. 'What about you?'
'I ain't no doctor, either,' he said, with a grin.
'Shut up and help me!' squealed Hubert, red in the face.
'Sam, if you know something, you'd better say right now,' Mona said, in a threatening tone.
Cursing under his breath, Sam dropped to knees to get a look at the wound. 'Willis trained as a doctor years ago. He told me one night about snake bites and how to get rid of the venom.'
'Get on with it,' hissed Hubert.
'No. I'll talk someone through it, but I ain't doing it,' Sam told him.
Mona leant a hand on his shoulder and spoke in a low murmur. 'It's your bloody fault we're even here in the first place. Now, it you want to keep that floppy thing between your legs, I suggest you get on with it.'
'Fine,' said Sam, though it came out more like a growl. He raised Hubert's leg with both hands. 'But you speak about this to no one, you understand?'
'Just get on with it,' said Mona.
Everyone watched, some more surprised than others, when Sam brought his face forward and planted his mouth over the bite. Hubert visibly tensed up, staring at Sam in stunned horror.
'You're kissing it?' Matthew gasped, from over Mona's shoulder.
Sam frowned and lifted his mouth from the leg, momentarily. 'I'm sucking the poison out. That's what you do.' He returned to the leg for a few moments longer, then abruptly let go and spat a mixture of saliva and blood onto the ground. The others stepped back in haste. Hubert stared at his exposed leg and gently patted the area around the wound.
'Thank you,' Mona said, watching as Sam wiped his mouth on his jacket sleeve.
'Yeah, well,' he said sheepishly, 'don't mention it. Truly.'
'Am I gonna be okay?' Hubert asked.
Sam nodded. 'I reckon so. I think I got all the poison out.' He held helped the man up.
'Thanks,' Hubert said reluctantly.
'Like I said, don't mention it. Ever.'
One of the crewmen, a tall, olive-coloured bear of a man, sidled up to Mona. 'I think we're being followed,' he said, keeping his tone casual.
Mona acted like he hasn't spoken, though she had taken in every word. She picked up the bag she'd been carrying. Her fingers itching to slip the gun from her holster. 'Where?' was all she said.
'To your right. Behind that rock face,' the bear told her. Everyone was listening to the conversation but knew to act normal. Even the kid.
'How many?' Mona enquired.
'One that I could see, but more might be hiding.'
Hubert cast an eye at Mona. 'I thought I saw someone, just before that snake got me.'
'And you never said anything?' Sam asked.
'I was a bit occupied with other things,' Hubert retorted.
'They're coming out,' said another crewman, and everyone looked across to the rock face, bringing out their weapons.
'Well, I don't recognise him,' said Sam, frowning.
Mona smiled and slipped her gun back in its holster. 'I do. Put away your guns, fellas. This one is a good guy.' The figure, hands raised in surrender, was beckoned over.
The young man kept his hands raised as he approached the small group, but subconsciously kept swiping his fringe from his eyes every few seconds. He looked warily at everyone until he spotted Mona and visibly relaxed, lowering his hands.
'Wesley, what are you doing here?' Mona asked, noticing the clockmaker's apprentice was pale and shaking. His face covered in a sheen of grime as were his clothes.
Wesley grabbed the nearest arm for support, which happened to be the bear-like crewman. His voice croaked when he spoke. 'I was sent to find you.'
'Quick, someone give him something to drink,' Mona said. Matthew was the first to retrieve a flask from the bag he'd been carrying. Wesley gratefully took the flask and sank to the ground before quaffing the liquid, half the water running down his chin. No one spoke. They just stood waiting while the young man quenched his obvious thirst.
'Thank you,' he said finally, handing Matthew back the now-empty flask. 'Thank you so much. I needed that.' He looked up at everyone staring back at him, waiting for an explanation.
Mona tried again. 'Wesley, why are you here? Is this something to do with that gang we encountered the other day?'
'You've met them?' Wesley asked, fear in his voice. Mona nodded. Wesley continued. 'Mr Sanders sent me to find you in New Moray.'
'You were planning on walking all the way there, kid?' Sam asked, bemused.
Wesley shrugged. 'If I had to. I did have a horse and enough supplies to see me to the city but... I lost both after stopping to take a call of nature.' He looked at Sam and then did a double-take. 'Wait a minute, you're the man they were talking about, aren't you?' He was suddenly animated, struggling to his feet and gripping Mona's hands. 'He's part of the gang. I heard the men talk about him. Said someone had accompanied the Sheriff to New Moray. I knew they weren't talking about Mr Woods -' He paused, and looked around. 'Where is Mr Woods, by the way?'
'Long story,' said Mona.
Wesley went on. 'So I asked around. Mrs Fontaine told me this man was going with you on The Red Jenny. Sheriff, you can't trust him!'
'Wesley, calm down. I know,' Mona told him. 'I'm bringing him back to No Hope so I can deal with him after I've dealt with his friends. Listen, is everyone all right? No one's been hurt, have they?'
'No. Not really. Except...' His voice trailed off. Suddenly he seemed reluctant to speak.
'Wesley, what is it?'
The young man glanced at the others and then moved closer to Mona, and said in a whisper. 'They've got Henry.'
Mona stared back at him, frowning. 'What do you mean?'
'When they realised he couldn't speak, they decided he was dumb and tied him up in the basement of Mrs Fontaine's - They're based in the whore house, you see. They untie him a couple of times a day and make him fight them for fun.'
Shit. It was only a matter of time before they realised what Henry was. And then what?
She turned to the others, and cleared her throat. 'Gentlemen
, pack up your things. We're leaving right now. No excuses.'
CHAPTER TWELVE
It took another half day before No Hope came into sight. Mona was relieved to see no burning buildings or any other indication that the town was in trouble. That gave her some small hope.
Mona told the group that she would take an advance party into No Hope itself and find out what was what, then someone would come back for the rest of them. She decided on Sam, Hubert, Wesley and herself. Predictably, Matthew wasn't happy once again about being left out, but this time Mona stood her ground and said no. Instead of moaning though, Matthew just glared at her then began picking his teeth. Mona didn't have time to indulge the boy with his whining so instead turned to Wesley and instructed him to return to Sanders and tell the clockmaker to expect a visit later on.
The reduced group of four quickly but carefully made their way towards the outskirts of the town. They saw not one person out and about, but that wasn't unusual. The hub of activity was always the centre of town. Plus, the sky had grown angry over the past few hours. With the threat of rain, no wonder people were staying indoors.
With Wesley gone back to Sanders, Mona, Sam and Hubert advanced into the town, reaching the sprinkle of houses built a quarter mile away from the main town. They hadn't gone far when they heard the sound of a gun being loaded. A voice called out.
'Make any sudden moves, the kid gets it.'
'Kid?' Hubert mouthed to the others, as they all stood stock-still.
Mona was the first to turn round, followed by Hubert and Sam. She acknowledged the rifle currently pointing directly at her, before looking into the blood-shot, unfocused eyes of Matthew's father.
'You,' said Reedus, his top lip curling. He shifted his glare to the other two. 'What are you doing sneaking about? I thought you had left town.' He added, nodding his head towards Mona.
'I did.' She replied. 'To get your son.'
'You should have left the useless brat where you found him,' Reedus grunted.
Mona studied him. Whatever decency Matthew had, he certainly didn't get it from his father.
'Get inside. Now.' Reedus said abruptly, motioning towards his house with the gun.
'How dare you order us about,' Mona told him, hand on hip, but Sam, who had turned his head, manhandled her up the steps.
'Just get in, woman,' he said, grabbing Hubert by the collar with his other hand and following Mona into the house.
The smell of alcohol and cheap tobacco was the first thing Mona noticed about the residence of Mr Reedus. The main room was sparse with a sole, ancient-looking chair and a round table, with a half-eaten plate of food.
Mona didn't need to ask what was going on. Why she'd been bundled into Reedus' house. She, Sam and Hubert stood in silence, listening to the conversation that had started between Reedus and two other men.
'What do you want?' she heard Reedus ask.
An unfamiliar voice, nasally in sound answered. 'Got any liquor, old man?'
'Shut up,' said another. This one's voice was deeper and, Mona had an inkling he was in charge. 'We're just asking round, wondering if anyone from that airship that flew past the other day has come to the town.'
'I saw no airship,' Reedus told them.
'Probably passed out with all the liquor he stinks of,' said the nasal voice.
The second man tried a different tact. 'That Sheriff, huh? A woman? That's not right, don't you agree, my friend?'
'I certainly do,' said Reedus.
Mona tensed up. Was this where he'd give them away? The man had no loyalties to anyone, especially her. She readied herself; hand slipping to her holster. She'd shoot her way to freedom if need be. She heard the depression of the wooden stairs as one of the men stepped up them.
'If you did happen upon that uppity sheriff, you would let us know, wouldn't you?' the second man said.
'I aint got no loyalty to that bitch,' Reedus replied, and Mona wrapped her fingers around her gun.
'Glad to hear it, mister. Say, you got a family in there?'
'They're dead,' answered Reedus. 'Now, if you boys get off my property, I'll go finish my breakfast.'
'Sure thing,' said the second man, and he went down the steps again. 'Can't deny a decent man like yourself his food. Now, you be sure to let us know if you see anything suspicious.'
'Will do,' Reedus replied.
'And don't forget to pay your respects to the new Sheriff in the morning,' said the nasal voice. 'Bring whatever money you have to the jail.'
'And if I don't?'
The first man laughed in response.
Ten seconds of silence was broken by the appearance of Reedus, still brandishing his gun. He glared at Mona, barely giving the other two a second glance. 'They've gone. Time you left, too.'
Mona was reluctant to thank him, but did so anyway.
'I don't like you, woman,' the man said, 'but I like those men even less.'
'What did they mean by “paying your respects”?' asked Hubert.
Reedus peered down at Hubert, as if properly noticing him for the first time. He broke into what almost passed for a grin. 'Hell, boy, if you aint the tiniest man I've ever seen.'
Mona didn't have time for this. 'What did they mean?' she repeated.
Reedus's gaze hardened as he focused back on her. 'Like they said, we've a new Sheriff. Trent Something. Everybody in the town has to give him and his cronies as much money as they have, “for the good of the town”, so they say. Well, they're getting nothing from me. Now, my breakfast's getting cold.' He didn't have to say anything else. Mona led the way out of the house and down the steps. She looked back but Reedus had already slammed his door shut.
No Hope was eerily quiet as the trio cautiously made their way further in town. Was everyone hiding from the gang? To scared to show their faces outside their front doors?
'Was the protection racket your idea?' Mona asked Sam as they swept past the Tannery. Normally on a day like this, Diggory Flay's baritone voice could be heard loud and clear through the open windows as he sang old, obscure songs. Not today.
'Does it matter?' Sam answered.
'Yes it bloody does matter,' she hissed back.
They were making their way past the whore house now. Mona took out her gun and checked she had enough bullets.
'What are you doing?' whispered Sam, more alert now.
'I'm going to get Henry then cause merry hell to your friends,' she answered.
'Don't be dumb.' Sam stopped abruptly, and stared at her. 'You got no chance against them lot.'
Mona was about to give Sam a piece of her mind but Hubert spoke up.
'He's right, much as it annoys me to agree with him.'
She looked from Sam, to Hubert and back to Sam again. 'What do you care what happens to me?' You,' - she poked Hubert in the shoulder – 'were willing to blow me up!'
'Hey, I got you outta there beforehand,' Hubert reminded her.
'And you,' - she pushed Sam with more force – 'you are a lying piece of shit! I should have put a bullet through you when I had the chance!'
Sam raised his shirt. 'Go ahead,' he said defiantly. 'But you'll attract a crowd, and then you'll be in the shit.'
'Shut up,' hissed Hubert, looking around them. 'Have your lover's quarrel later.'
'I'd rather lay with a horse than him,' Mona huffed.
'Oh dear, that's not very ladylike behaviour.'
Mona turned to see Sanders standing behind her, accompanied by Wesley. Mona didn't hesitate to hug the old man for all it was worth. She was glad to finally see a friendly face again.
It felt like years since Mona was last in Sanders' sitting room. It had been a long week, and she was glad of hot, sweet tea that Wesley was currently passing around the group. She had told the clockmaker and his apprentice everything that had gone on since she'd boarded the airship almost several days ago.
'Sorry we don't have anything stronger,' Wesley said, placing her cup on the mantelpiece she stood next to.
&nb
sp; It's alright,' she told him, with a wave of the hand. He smiled and continued giving out the cups to the others.
'I agree with you, my dear,' Sanders continued, before taking a sip of the beverage. 'Something must be done, but you cannot do it alone.'
