by R. L. Wolf
"Hey guys, come see this!" shouted Colt.
The three boys entered the cabin and stopped, their mouths opened in shock.
"The Father is rewarding us for passing the desert trial," said Garth.
"Who?" asked Wes.
Garth raised a brow in warning at Wes.
"Never mind," said Wes.
The interior of the cabin had a warm lingering scent of rich oak mixed with the pleasant aroma of pine burning in a stone fireplace. The main room rose to a vaulted ceiling, the banners of previous Gunslinger teams that had once lived in the cabin hung from the thick support beams. The floor, worn smooth from centuries of use, swirled with dark patterns of the natural wood, and overstuffed chairs surrounded by rag rugs littering the room flanked the fireplace like silent sentries on guard. A round table stood to one side of the fireplace, its mantel holding an assortment of oddities left over from previous students. Across from the fireplace was a couch with several afghans neatly draped over its back. Garth pushed the couch to one side and replaced it with an extra-large and comfortable looking chair.
"This one is mine," declared Garth, settling into the cushioned chair.
Colt stood at the banister of the loft looking down on the main room.
"The beds are up here, and there’s chests full of clothes," said Colt.
Austin poked at a Vid-screen mounted to one wall. "I found the Vid, it's an old one," said Austin. The Vid warmed up, and an announcement appeared on the screen. "Oh gee," complained Austin. "It's a school Vid with our class schedule and training events. I wanted to watch Super Hawk."
"I found the showers!" shouted Wes from down the hall.
Austin ignored Wes and pulled his notebook out. He took notes while he read the Vid-schedule. "Our schedule says we're supposed to do hygiene, sleep for six hours, and then we have orientation this evening."
"You do hygiene, I'm going to bed,” said Colt.
The boys agreed and bounced up the steps to join Colt in the loft. Two beds lined one wall, with another two against the opposite wall, and a fifth bed at the far end of the room.
"I think this one’s mine," said Colt, flopping down on the bed in the center against the far wall.
Wes rushed for the bed nearest the stairs. "I call this one."
The boys picked their beds, and boots, socks, and britches hit the wood-planked floor.
"Oh dang," said Wes. "Maybe hygiene would be a good idea. Someone's feet stink."
"Yeah, yours," replied Colt. Two minutes later the Cyness Wolves were sound asleep.
The boys slept through the afternoon. Long shadows stretched across the forest as the afternoon moved toward evening. The lights in the cabin came on, followed by an unpleasant beeping. Colt pulled the covers over his head, trying to block out the unpleasant sound, but the beeping got louder. He sat up, annoyed, and rubbed his bleary eyes. The light outside the windows was fading, and he realized it must be evening. He didn't want to get up. Every part of his body ached, and his leg was threatening to cramp.
"What is that noise?" shouted Wes.
"I think we need to get up," Colt shouted back.
Toran sat up, rolled out of his bed, and fell on the ground massaging a cramped muscle.
"Turn it off?" yelled Wes.
"Where's the off switch?" shouted Austin, getting out of bed and looking around for a control panel. Garth and Wes got out of their beds at the same time. The alarm stopped as they stood.
"Thank goodness," said Wes, and flopped back down on his bed. The alarm started again, louder than it had been before. Wes jumped back up and the alarm shut off.
"I guess we don't get to sleep in," grumbled Wes.
"Oh ancestors, every part of me is sore," complained Colt.
"Yeah, me too," agreed Austin, looking under his bed for the sensors that controlled the alarm. “Guys, it’s not a sensor in the bed. I think its motion detectors.”
"I'm taking a shower," said Colt heading toward the stairs.
Wes and Austin followed them down the stairs with the others close behind. Austin stopped in front of the Vid. He had forgotten to turn it back off before he had gone to sleep. A moment later Colt and Wes returned from the shower room, the sounds of Garth still beating on the shower pipes echoed down the hall.
"The water doesn't work," said Wes.
"That's because we skipped hygiene time and went straight to bed," said Austin, reading the schedule on the Vid.
"Oh come on, are they going to be that strict with the schedule?" asked Colt. "I want a shower."
The lights to the cabin, to include the Vid-screen shut off and the boys found themselves standing in the dim light of the cabin's one security light over the front door.
"Now what?" asked Wes.
"I think we exceeded the time we were given to get dressed," said Austin. "We aren't supposed to still be here."
The boys stumbled back up the stairs to the loft, searched for their clothing and got dressed, complaining the whole time. Garth arrived upstairs last and tossed the shower handle on the floor. The boys finished dressing in the dark and rushed out of the cabin.
"I think we should run," said Toran.
"I'm too sore," complained Wes.
"If they are this serious about schedules, what are they going to do to us if we’re late?" asked Toran.
The boys took off at a clumsy sprint, their muscles screaming at the abuse. They reached the open area of the main camp as the Marshal stepped out of his cabin. The Gunslinger Teams were lined up in front of the Marshals cabin in ranks, the Gunslingers in front, with their Merits standing behind them. Colt didn't know where he was supposed to go. The girl Gunslinger waved at him and pointed at an open spot next to her team.
Colt and his team made it to the open spot a moment before the Marshal stepped off the porch.
"That was close," whispered the girl Gunslinger. "Hi, I'm Cora. You have to be lined up before his foot touches the ground or your team gets two days extra duty."
The Marshal cleared his throat and stared at Cora. She stopped talking and stood a little straighter under the scrutiny of the Marshal.
"Tonight we welcome our newest team, Gunslinger Team Cyness, into the Gunslinger Order," said the Marshal, addressing the assembled students.
There were excited whispers among the other teams. They knew they would be going to the Rock to witness the oath of Team Cyness. The Marshal turned, and the teams fell into formation behind him as he led the way across the field and into the woods.
Colt had no idea what was going on and whispered to Toran. "What are we doing?"
"I think we are going to Oath Rock," replied Toran. "I've dreamed of this moment my whole life."
"What's Oath Rock?" asked Colt. He was getting a bad feeling.
"The names of every Gunslinger since the first Gunslinger are carved on Oath Rock," whispered Toran.
Colt followed the Team in front of him, but he knew this wasn't going to end well. The column of Gunslinger teams wound through the dark woods, following the Marshal. The Marshal stopped at an outcropping of boulders strewn in front of a rock cliff with thousands of names carved into its face. Some of the names were faded and ancient, having been carved centuries before—the first Gunslingers.
The student teams spread out, and the Marshal stopped next to a stone table and called Colt to come stand in front of the table. Colt approached the table, and the Marshal waved his hand over five sets of chisels and hammers lying on the table.
"You may place your names into the stone next to those that came before you, swearing your life to the Gunslinger Order," said the Marshal.
Colt's Merits stepped forward, and each took a hammer and chisel. Colt was certain he could see tears in Wes's eyes. The Merits walked solemnly to the cliff, looking for a place to add their names. Sometimes Merits placed their names together, and sometimes they searched for a historic Gunslinger they admired to place their names beside. Colt picked up a hammer and chisel but didn't move toward the rock.
"No, Sir," said Colt.
Colt's Merits froze and dropped their heads. Wes glanced back at Colt, his eyes pleading, and then continued to the rock and pressed his forehead against the stone.
Colt shook his head at the Marshal. "I'm sorry, I didn't ask to come here, and I can't swear a life oath if I'm not sure I can keep my word."
Toran walked back to Colt and tossed his hammer and chisel back on the table.
"You should put your name on the rock,” Colt told Toran.
"Without you, we can't put our names up there."
Austin gently laid his hammer and chisel back on the table. "We should have seen this coming."
Garth handed his hammer and chisel to Colt.
"Garth, I'm sorry," said Colt.
"Don't talk to me," said Garth. "I know a real Chieftain when I see one, even if you don't, just don't talk to me right now."
Wes turned to face Colt. "Oh come on, you said you wouldn’t do this again," said Wes, setting his hammer and chisel on a small boulder.
The Marshal held his hands up to quiet the whispered insults coming from the other teams.
"All of you look at a true Gunslinger. I was aware Colt was not ready to take the oath, any oath he gives would be false, and a Gunslinger doesn't give hollow promises." The Marshal walked around to Colt and laid a hand on his shoulder. "You have done well. Do not take the oath until you are ready."
"What just happened?" asked Wes.
Cora and her team shoved past Colt. "He just got your team a passing grade in ethics," said Cora.
Duke walked past next, his tail whipping low in the manner of an angry Daemi. "You are true to the Dragon, but in doing so, you laid bare our own failings. This will not win you friends."
Brock's team took a wide path around Colt and said nothing.
Rex stopped next. "Do that again and I hang your wolf hide on my cabin door."
Colt's Merits gathered around and stared at him with open hostility.
"I'm sorry," said Colt. "I'm only trying to do what's right."
"The Marshal used you, but more than that, you raised the bar so high the other teams hate us now," said Toran.
Wes shook his head and laid a hand on the cliff face. "I’ve waited my whole life for this. If I don't get to put my name on this rock…" Wes broke off what he was going to say and stomped off toward the camp.
Austin, Toran, and Garth left Colt standing there as the other teams shoved past him until he was alone. Colt walked to the rock and ran his hand across some of the carved names. The moon was bright, and it was easy to see. He followed the rock face until he reached an older section, some of the names had faded and were difficult to read. He found one name and was surprised when he saw it—Jon Black.
Everyone knew of the Jon Blacks. They were an unexplainable phenomenon, near to being demi-gods. The Jon Blacks were responsible for creating and holding open the navigation lanes that connected every world. The Jon Blacks had been many things in their endless lifetimes, but he hadn’t known one of them had been a Gunslinger. Colt’s favorite Jon Black was Jon Black the Explorer. It was said he had explored out beyond the galaxy. Colt traced the letters with his finger. A Jon Black had stood right here and carved his name.
"Hard times, son?" asked a voice.
Colt startled and spun around to find an adult Gunslinger watching him. The Gunslinger was a Carinian and dressed in ancient clothing, not the smart fibers of clothes worn by most people.
Colt shrugged, "I've had better days, Sir."
"Excellence comes with a price," said the Gunslinger.
"I'm not special," said Colt.
"The more you say it, the more you set yourself apart from others.”
"What should I do?" asked Colt.
"Be yourself, and let others decide for themselves. Some will accept, some will not."
"I've been doing that, and it just gets me in trouble."
"Do you accept who you are?"
"I..." Colt stopped to think, then shrugged.
"Well then, I think you know the road you need to find."
"I suppose I do, Sir," said Colt. "But still, that was mean what the Marshal did."
"Can't say I agree with the way he did it, but he knows the Order needs heroes."
"I'm not a hero, and I never wanted to be a Gunslinger," said Colt.
The Gunslinger stepped up beside Colt and looked at the name he had found. “Ah, Jon Black the Gunslinger, I’m certain he would be proud to have your name next to his.”
Colt shook his head. The man wasn't listening. "Jon Black the Explorer is my favorite,” said Colt. “I don't want to be a Gunslinger."
The Gunslinger raised his brow with an amused expression. “Neither did Jon Black. During his lifetime, he was never known as Jon Black the Gunslinger.”
“Really? Why’s his name here?”
“It was during the Pirate Wars,” explained the Gunslinger. “The Fox Emperor commissioned Jon Black to have the Carinian Black Guard train a unit of Cettise to fight pirates. This planet was their remote base. They developed a method of slinging their guns on the outside of their EVA Battle Armor and got the nickname of Gun Slingers. After the fall of House Cettise and the Wolf Emperor took the throne, it had been long forgotten this was a Cettise unit and was over-looked. By then they were just The Gunslingers, and Jon Black became known as the founder of the Gunslinger Order.”
“You must be the history teacher,” said Colt. “But, I still don’t want to be a Gunslinger.”
"And yet, you are. You can no more stop being a Gunslinger than the sun can stop shining."
"But what if it's not right for me?" asked Colt.
"There's a terrible storm coming, boy, if you did nothing to stop it, how right will it be for you then?"
"What storm?" asked Colt.
"There is time for that later. I'll be here to talk with you more when you're ready. Head on back up to the camp, you'll be okay."
Colt thanked the Gunslinger and wandered his way through the woods. It wasn't hard to find the camp with the lights serving as a beacon through the woods. Colt realized he was hungry and hoped the Dining Cabin was still serving dinner. It couldn't be very late. The sun had only started setting when the students had left for Oath Rock. He should have checked the schedule to see when dinner was served. He passed several students on the way back to camp, and a few groups were sitting on the picnic benches scattered through the woods. The students would stop talking when he walked near, and he could hear angry voices once he had walked past.
The Dining Cabin was easy to find, it was the building everyone was entering. Colt considered forgetting about dinner and heading back to the cabin, but he wasn't sure if the schedule-enforcing cabin would let him in if he was supposed to be at dinner. The dining cabin was a long lodge building with rows of wooden tables lined with benches. Banners, like the ones in his cabin, hung from the roof beams, and the walls were covered with carved plaques, pictures of former students, awards, ribbons, antlers, and stuffed animals of every sort. In one corner a group of boys stood around a twelve foot stuffed bear—one boy stood on a ladder kissing the bear.
The clamor of comradery and friendly conversation dropped to a hushed murmur. Colt sighed. The students had seen him come in. He looked for his team. A sign on each table identified to which team that table belonged. Colt found the table with his four Merits there already eating. Toran jerked his thumb to the right. A line of students stretched along the right wall to the far back where the kitchen was. Colt grabbed a tray and got in line.
The cook filled his plate with meat, potatoes, corn, and a small piece of pie. At least the cook didn't care about the students’ drama. Pitchers of juice were at the end of the line, and Colt poured himself a glass. The walk to his table was uncomfortable. Nobody was talking, and everyone was staring at him.
Colt sat down and hushed conversation picked up again. His Merits finished their meal and got up without a word. They took their trays to a long
wash rack along the left wall where everyone was expected to wash their own dishes. Colt sat alone, wondering how things had gone so wrong so fast.
CHAPTER SEVEN
A Letter Home
Dear Ma and Pa
I hope you are doing well. I arrived safely. I don't know what planet I'm on. The trip took three weeks, but we slept most of the time. I met four of the greatest guys on the transport. They are called Merits. It means they are Deputies in training.
We had to do a long hike in the desert, and they kept me going. Wolves attacked us, but I'm okay Ma, I didn't get hurt, thanks to Toran. He saw them first, and we are alive because of him. Austin and Garth fought the wolves with their bare hands. They were awesome. Wes and I skinned the wolves.
Wes is from the mountains on Corvus and knows everything about living in the mountains. He can skin, and hunt, and build a cabin. Wes is the funny one in the group and always makes jokes. Whenever I'm down, I can always count on Wes to cheer me up. He knows all about medicine and stuff too. I ran into some poison ivy, and Wes knew a plant to make the rash go away in a few hours.
Austin is from the city, and really smart. He knows about machines and computers and can fly a Dart. He’s from Corvae city. Anytime something needs to be fixed, Austin knows what to do. There's an annoying alarm that wakes us up in the morning. Austin figured out how to turn it off, but don't tell anyone. We would get in trouble. Don't worry Pa, we won't be late to school.
Garth is from Cormon, but his real name is Reli, it means warrior of the sun. He's the biggest and strongest person I've ever met. I'm glad he's on my side.
Toran is from Carina and is the nicest person I've ever met. He will stop whatever he's doing to help someone. And I think he can shoot even better than me. Toran is my First Deputy Merit, but that doesn't matter because I don't care about that. Toran is my best friend.
There are other kids here too that got here before us and know a lot about being a Gunslinger. I learn lots from them.
