by Ian Dyer
Three more fell. This time a woman; a short lady with a mousy look and greasy brown hair and now a split in her throat joined the two men before. Screams could be heard now not only from one of the men who had received a bullet in the stomach but also from the people behind the fallen. Stephen took two steps back and adjusted his stance. His eyes were focused on the job at hand, his hands did not shake and his mouth was locked in a fierce grin. In his right hand, Jonah, the weapon forged by death himself, was silent. Light shone through the windows shining down on the dead, the blood glistening like fresh oil.
From the corner of his left eye Stephen spied a scurrying youth, an axe raised
BOOM!
The kid fell, silently, his arms falling slowly to the ground, the axe slicing into the old wooden floor like a knife in hot butter. The scent of blood and cordite filled the Watchman’s nostrils as the Travellers Last became a killing ground.
Jonah screamed twice more and now time to reload. Stephen turned and headed for the bottom of the stairs. He could sense more people trundling through the broken door. There had to be at least twenty in the bar room now. Susie had disappeared and Stephen had to unload another round of slugs, maybe two before he dare venture up the stairs and into the relative safety of the bedroom.
The Watchman reached the bottom of the stairs in ten quick steps and in that time eight more rounds had been added to Jonah. He was ready for another bout of killing. Stephen turned on his heels, small dust motes floating up and he readied himself. Legs apart, heels dug in, right arm raised and gun firmly aimed.
The townsfolk of Rockfall were hell bent on killing Stephen, he had never seen anything like it. He was a newcomer to these people and still they only needed the slightest of nudges to turn into revengeful killers. He had killed people of this town that were best rid of. The Quint brothers were evil, heartless bastards. John and Cathy were only in it for the money and for fucking and the kids would have grown up to be just the same. And as for the Sheriff; the drunken kiddie fiddler was due for the chop a long time ago. Stephen was glad it was him that finally rid the town of that waste of space.
The Watchman could see the hate in the townsfolk’s eyes now. They were full of it. Some seemed to be crying with anger and rage. They ignored the dead laying at their feet. They ignored the blood beneath their shoes and the gore soaking into their dirty jeans. The women screamed and held their pitiful weapons above their heads whilst the men shouted obscenities and waved their mighty axes, picks, shovels and lumps of timber.
Time was moving slowly. Stephen could move quick, fire quicker and observe more than these people realised. It was futile their resistance. He would down them all. But they held out for their own hope. All they needed was one lucky hit, one little blow and Stephen would be theirs and his death would not be quick.
Four more deathly screams blasted from Jonah.
Four more lay dead. Their bodies pushed back by the force of the slugs entering their chests. All were men, strong looking, with hands like shovels and chins like door stops. But they fell easily. Like dead leaves shedding from a tree.
Like a tidal wave they still came. Bodies were piling up but were being swept aside by the ones behind. The windows either side of the door smashed and pieces of broken fencing flew through the gaping holes. By the Healer these people wanted him dead. In the intense light of the day Stephen couldn’t see past the main door. He could only guess the numbers. Two more men came running, one held aloft a pick dirty from the labour it had endured
BOOM!
He fell screaming bloody murder as the bullet tore through his rib cage and exploding out of his back. As he fell
BOOM!
the pick swung and cleaved straight into the side of the second man. The pick tore through releasing the man’s innards to the floor. Stephen released another slug from the depths of Jonah but it was a wasted shot as the bullet flew into open air the air now empty where the other man had stood.
The bar room was finally empty. The people running through the door had slowed as the word of what was happening got through. From his peripheral vision Stephen saw two men coming in through the broken windows. The man on his right hopped through deftly and headed straight for the Watchman whilst the man on his left cut his arms to pieces on the shards of glass left in the frames. But still he came on.
Jonah was fired twice more!
They fell. And now Stephen was empty once again. This load of bullets hadn’t lasted long at all. Barely a minute but eight more lay dead. Stephen loaded Jonah as more pilled through the windows. There were fresh shouts from outside as Tommy rallied the troops. The young prick was becoming quite the General. But he was making a terrible mistake. He was pitting peasants against one of the strongest forces in the known world. Stephens’s position was perfect. He could see the doorway, the windows, even the side door alongside the main bar. Anyone coming at him would fall, as long as Jonah kept on firing Stephen was untouchable.
Three were through the door and posing a threat. Two of them were weaving, trying to dodge the inevitable. They were dodging no more. The third ran in, knife held high awaiting the swipe. Stephen aimed at the man’s head. He wanted to level this man quick and hope his head exploded causing fear amongst his allies. The Watchman slowly pulled the trigger
Click
Jonah misfired. In the confusion Stephen froze. It had never happened to him before. The gun by his side had never misfired. The chamber hadn’t spun either. The duff bullet was still there like a brick wall in the road. The man charging at Stephen saw his opportunity to strike and he screamed out in pure hatred. Stephen had to be quick. The man looked to strike Stephens right so he would step back, dodge the move and send Jonah crashing down on the back of the attackers head.
The man swung fast, Stephen moved back but stumbled on a loose floorboard. All the Fates seemed against him now. The blade was ten inches from his face and Stephen could do nothing about it. The Watchman turned his face and braced for the slice. Five inches away. The cut would do serious damage
A giant gunshot rang out.
The man’s head exploded and the knife flew into the air. Stephen allowed his body to twist as he fell to the floor his shirt caked in blood and skull. The body of the man slumped to the dusty floor blood pouring from where his head used to be. Stephen looked to his right and there stood Susie; a smoking shotgun held in her hands. She was shaking, tears falling from her eyes and glistening on her cheeks.
Stephen stood and brushed down his shirt. The crowd had fallen back. Susie’s shotgun had done the job. The red mist that had clouded their judgment had lifted and no words from Tommy would bring it back. Stephen looked out the main door and saw the shadows of people running back to their homes. Tommy was nowhere to be seen now. He could hear screaming and yells of anger as the truth of what just happened came to light. The men at Stephens’s feet looked innocent, young and helpless. Their weapons were crude items, their faces full of shock. There were no moans. All were dead
He looked over to Susie. She kept the shotgun raised for a moment and then like the others, realisation struck and she through the weapon to the floor. She looked at the man in front of her hoping for some other worldly miracle to occur. But none came. The room was silent. As silent as the grave. From outside the creaking of the wooden walkway floated in and the two killers watched Tommy walk in through the door. He was crying and his face was red. His hands were dirty and he had a big black eye. He wasn’t looking at Stephen, instead he was staring at Susie. But Susie eyes were far off, distant, in the world of her past when all was innocent.
Neither of them noticed Stephen leaving the bar room, walking up the stairs and into his room.
10
‘Why you helping him, Susie.’ Tommy asked as he leaned against the counter one hand on the hard wood the other caressing his soar eye.
Susie’s eyes focused past Tommy and out into the nothing of the world outside. They didn’t see the fallen, or the pools of blood upon the floor. She remember
ed back to her childhood. How innocent things had been back then. She could play around, fool about and have fear of nothing. There were no sheriffs or men wanting her body, there was no Cathy ordering her about like a slave. She was free in a sense. As free as all children feel. But now it was different. Totally different. She was in love and she has been hurt. Her body had been used and her face slapped time and time again. With Stephen she thought she could be safe. Be free. But it looked like that was not going to happen. But she had to know why. He had been kind, sweet and honest. But they were lies. She was clouded. ‘Love is blind’ Cathy used to say and now Susie believed her.
‘Susie. Susie. Why you helping him?’
Tommy’s voice brought the young girl back to reality. Her voice was distant. Soft as a spring breeze.
‘Because I love him, Tommy. I love…’ Her voice trailed off.
‘But he has killed all these people, Susie. The Sheriff. John and Cathy. The kids. They is all dead and he don’t care.’
Susie, her voiced raised looked at Tommy, ‘I don’t give a fuck about any of them, Tommy. The sheriff was a pervert who enjoyed licking his own juice. John was a conniving prick and Cathy was a using, selfish cunt! The kids are the only true victims here. They did not deserve what befell them. I will pray for them but don’t ask me to feel sorry for the others. They treated me like dirt and I will never forgive them.’
Tommy was about to speak when the creaking stairs made him turn is attention away. Susie’s eyes followed Tommy and both of them watched Stephen walk down the stairs, slowly, carefully and always watchful. By his side Jonah was visible. Its very presence commanded respect.
‘Look at these dead people, Stephen. Look at who you have killed.’ Tommy waved his hand around the many bodies. Stephen ignored them all. He seemed to be focused on nothing.
‘I care not for them, Tommy, nor do I care for you. Allow me to leave this place and I shall kill no more. That I promise.’ The Watchman reached the bottom of the stairs and held his hands out, palms facing the stupid boy. ‘Trust me, Tommy. I have done what I was sent here to do.’
Tommy shook his head. ‘I can’t trust you. You killed my lady. You killed my friends.’ Tommys raised voice made Stephen lower his hand instinctively toward Jonah. Panic flowed through Tommy. He didn’t want to die and if he carried on he would end up like his friends on the floor. He had to think quickly, but thinking quick wasn’t one of Tommy’s strong points. He looked into the eyes of the man in front of him and then remembered the knife tucked into the gap between his jeans and belt.
Quicker than Stephen could imagine, young Tommy jumped the bar, scattering glasses all over the place and causing Susie to scream. He grabbed hold of Susie and pushed her in front of him. Tommy removed the blade and pressed it against her belly.
‘Don’t think about it, Stephen. I knows you want me dead, but raise that gun and I’ll cut her deep!’
Stephen remained calm. He could see Susie was in shock but she would not struggle. Her mind was lost for the time being.
‘Let her go, Tommy. Let Susie go. Your fight is with me, Tommy.’
‘No, Stephen I aint letting her go until you drop that gun to the floor and walk away.’
Stephen shook his head. ‘I am afraid I can’t do that, Tommy. This weapon is my life, my soul and to lose it would be like the earth losing the sun. As I said, Susie has nothing to do with it, let her go and I will be on my way.’
Tommy moved the blade up and placed it against Susie’s neck. The point of the blade dug in. ‘I aint trusting no word of a killer.’
Susie tried to shake the young man free but he was too strong and in the effort the blade pierced the skin and a trickle of blood rolled down her neck.
In a flash Jonah was drawn. Tommy screamed, his grip hardened on Susie’s arms and he moved further back, his arse knocking bottles off the rear table.
Stephen could feel the power of Jonah pulsing through his hand and up his arm. It felt warm, comforting and welcome. Jonah, on the other hand, couldn’t care less. Jonah wanted it to end and end it would. The gun forced its will onto the Watchman quickly and easily. With Jonah still aimed at Tommys head Stephen said, ‘This gun failed to fire earlier, Tommy. The bullet inside of it may be a dud, it may not. I believe it’s time to find out.’
Tommys grip on Susie eased as his mind ticked over. ‘What’s do you mean? Don’t you go being all clever on me!’
Stephen smiled a cold smile. ‘It means, young Tommy, that when I pull the trigger your life is in the hands of the Fates. It’s a simple as that.’
Tommy tried to move further back but the table behind him wouldn’t budge. As he jolted into it Susie took the chance and she struggled free, her right elbow thumping Tommy in the stomach forcing him to move forward.
Susie was no more than two foot away when the trigger was pulled
Tommys head lolled back as half of it was removed by the slug which entered the right eye and exploded out the back of young man’s head. The gore splatted up the mirror and all over Susie’s back. Tommy stood for a moment and then fell hard to the floor.
The Fates worked in mysterious ways.
11
Susie turned and looked at the wreckage below her. Tommy was dead. She felt distressed. Alone and sick to the stomach. Forgetting herself she jumped over the bar and ran over to the Watchman. She hugged him hard and tight and for a moment she was oblivious to all around her. She was sure that she felt him hug her back but Stephen had not. His arms remained at his side his body allowing her to hug him.
And then it all came back to Susie and her grip on Stephen lessened. Stephen wasn’t hugging her back, his head was not against her shoulder and his hands weren’t brushing through her hair. She pulled back and looked into his eyes and saw nothing there. The man that she had fallen in love was gone and there was no trace of him left.
‘Why?’
‘You know why.’
‘Why have you stopped loving me? I don’t understand. Why have you done all this?’
‘I never did love you Susie. You were a means to an end.’
Susie pulled completely away her eyes burning with rage. ‘A means to an end! Fuck you Stephen. Fuck you. You have broken my heart, Stephen. You have taken everything from me and given me nothing back but lies.’ She looked into those cold, lifeless eyes and saw no emotion. ‘You broke my heart and you don’t even care.’
Susie started to cry, uncontrollably at first. It was all too much for her and she was losing control.
Stephen had nothing to say. He knew she wanted to rip him limb from limb but she didn’t have the mental strength. She wanted to beat him to a pulp. More than anything he knew all she wanted was for him to love her, but for real this time. But that was never going to happen.
His silence, as immovable as a mountain, was becoming unbearable. Her hands tightened with rage as the man she loved stood there and let it just roll over him like a soft breeze.
She shook her head and lashed out. Her balled up fists hitting Stephens chest time and time again, but still the Watchman didn’t flinch. Instead he allowed her this mockery. After many punches he finally grabbed hold of her wrists and stopped her madness from escalating.
‘Let go of me you bastard! Let me go and leave me the way you found me. Leave me with nothing after taking it all away from me. Just fuck off and leave!’
Stephen released his grip and took one final look at the girl. Maybe in another life they would have been lovers. Maybe in another life they would have been able to settle down. But that was the realm of fantasy. But he couldn’t leave her like this. Something deep inside him, a remnant of the man that had left his home cried out for mercy.
As he walked toward the door, the pack on his back full and his body weary from the fight he turned and faced her. More importantly he looked at her for the first time in a long while.
‘You say I leave you with nothing but I have given you something special. Something unique. I have given you memories, love
that you never thought you could have and I have asked for nothing in return.’
He watched Susie shake her head and then fall to the floor tears flowing freely, her sobs loud and unsettling. When she spoke her voice was almost lost to the tears, ‘All those memories mean nothing now that I can’t have you. I have lost you and I don’t understand why. You are leaving me with nothing and nothing you say or do can change that. You don’t understand what you are doing to me.’
Stephen watched the young woman in front of him. She was carrying his child and that would never change.
‘I have left you with something, Susie. Why do you think Patience wanted you so badly? Why do you think Tommy was trying to cut open your belly? Think.’
Susie’s realisation was quick and harsh. Her head span and she looked down to her smooth stomach. Her shocked face made way for tears of both joy and fear. She could go with him. She could get her things and leave this place. There was nothing left for her here. She could follow her man on the path he must take and when he reached his destination they could settle down and raise the child together. She looked up to ask him, to beg him, but the man she loved, the father of her child, the man of her dreams and the killer of men had gone and all that was left of him was a fading memory, a crimson sky and a bar room full of dead people.
Above her, in the darkening sky, Old Mother and her daughters flickered with laughter.
Mid-Point
1
Stephen made his way out of Rockfall, walked true north for three days and found himself in the lush green hills that signalled the end of the Wastelands and the start of the Great Forest. He never truly entered the Great Forest merely skirted around it for a few more days.
The path he followed was an ancient one and carved its way through the hardpan and then deep cuts in the dirt flowed over and around the hills as the terrain changed. The sky would disappear under a roof of overhanging trees from time to time and then bright sunshine would pour through when the trees cleared. Devil weed and razor grass were now a thing of the past, they had been replaced with soft green grass and flowers that clung to the warmth of the summer. He had left the boundary of Ritash long since and now walked in a world he didn’t know, and a world in which the name Watchman meant very little.
