by McCabe, R. J
'I k..k..killed hi..hi…him, but h..h..he wasn’t….Dead.’ Joel muttered from those almost white lips.
Bill just stared at his eyes for a moment, trying to think what he could possibly mean.
‘Who did this to you?’ Bill asked, Joel’s eyes still wide and staring.
‘I….K,killed……h,him. He came…,b,back.’ The words were slower this time and clearer.
‘Who did you kill?’ Bill asked.
‘He’s……come…back.’ Joel said, his eyes had grown so wide they looked as though they might just burst from his head.
He then began to shake uncontrollably before passing out. Bill he called his name, softly shaking Joel as he lay, eyes now closed. Bill then checked for a pulse but there was nothing, Joel was dead.
What had he been talking about? Bill should have just put the rambling down to the fact Joel had been in a really bad way and was most likely dehydrated, however there was just a feeling in his gut telling him something was very wrong about this whole situation and that same question came coming back to Bill. What the hell had happened in that camp?
The door opened and Ken walked in followed by a bespectacled man carrying a case.
‘Bill, this is Dr. Clutterbuck and he’s gonna save Joel's life ain’t ya Doc?’
‘Well, I can certainly try. Hello their Sheriff I've heard a lot about you, now let me take a look at young Mr Blackwater here.’
‘You wont be able to help him Doc.’ Bill said.
‘Hey, hold on a second Bill.’ Ken said, holding up a hand as he spoke.’ The doc here is blind as a bat but, he is still capable of…’
‘He’s dead!’ Bill interrupted. ‘The doc cant help him because he's dead!’
‘What? He’s dead? What you mean he’s dead? He wasn’t dead just.’ Ken had panic in his voice.
‘No, he wasn’t but then he died, so now he’s dead.’ Bill said flatly.
‘Are you sure he's dead sheriff?’ asked Dr. Clutterbuck.
‘Well, he sure ain’t alive anymore, so I guess there’s nothin' else for him to be.’ Bills tone still flat, tired.
‘Bill, I've just sent message out to Blackwater that he's son is here and we are taking care of him,’ said Ken, fidgeting and looking anxious.
‘At the time you sent the message it was most likely all true but now it ain’t.’ Bill replied looking at Joel’s still body.
‘You shouldn't be jokin'’ Ken’s voice sounded anxious. If he wants to, Jack has the ability and the manpower to take this town apart. Shit Bill, this is a mess!’
‘You’re tellin' me. Doc, can you look him over and let me know what happened to him’ asked Bill.
‘Sure, give me a little space to work and I'll try my best.' Clutterbuck said rolling up his sleeves.
‘Thanks, Ken come on let’s leave him to take a look at poor Joel here.’
‘Sure thing Bill,’ The two men left the room, Ken closed the door behind him.
‘Damn Bill, I really wish I knew what the fuck was going on here. Its like a small ball of shit that keeps on rollin, gatherin' more shit as it goes. I'm dreadin' to think how big the shit ball is gonna get.’
‘Your mind works a little different from mine but I get what you mean Ken. I was expectin' an easy ride down here after the last place I had to clean up and to be honest, I was kind of lookin' forward to it but so far I've gotten my nose smashed, disappearin' folk and now I've got some big shot headin' down here to find out his son is dead on my bed and we just happened to be the men that found him and I haven't been here two fuckin' days!’
Ken rubbed his chin and thought on it for a moment. ‘Well, things do seem to be gettin' a little weird but I'm sure it will have some sort of rational explanation, I mean people don't just up and vanish and if you ask me, those Apaches have got some part to play in all o’ this. Once we can start puttin' the pieces together, things will seem clearer and hopefully that ball of shit will come to a standstill. Hell, it might defy gravity and start rollin' back up the fuckin' hill so we only end up with a little ball of shit, just a tiny little crap ball, so tiny, quite cute as it goes.’ Ken made a shape as if imagining the ball between his index finger and thumb.
‘Maybe,’ Bill replied with a shake of the head. ‘If any of those people are still alive then we need to get them back as soon as possible, but like you said I don't suppose the people here are gonna wanna go chargin' into an Apache camp. A lot of lives could be lost, and needlessly if it turns out they aren't playin' any part in it. I need to think.’
‘Thinkin' is good.’ Ken replied, ‘Too many folks don't do enough thinkin' and do too much shootin'. Thinkin' is good.’
Bill walked out on to the porch and sat down. He looked out towards the town and did what he said he was going to do, he thought.
Roughly half an hour later Dr. Clutterbuck emerged from the bedroom with a grim look on his face. He walked onto the porch and Bill stood as the doctor emerged from the front door of the house.
‘Well, Sheriff, he's dead, died from blood loss is my guess, from the wounds he had.’
‘Had he been shot?’ Bill asked.
‘No, he looks to have been stabbed twice, once in the chest and once in the back.’
‘Jeez,’ said Ken. ‘Folks will say he had it comin' mind, some of the things I've heard he's done.’
‘Don’t you think that’s kind of strange Doc, a stab wound in the back and the front of his body?’ Bill asked his face in serious law man mode now.
‘Maybe?’ A squinting Clutterbuck replied. ‘In my experience it would either indicate a struggle during the wounds bein' inflicted or more than one attacker.’
‘I still cant shake the feeling that those Apaches have something to do with this Bill.’ Ken said.
‘When it comes to murder I'm afraid feelin's don't get anyone anywhere, its proof and witnesses we need and all of those seem to of vanished into thin air.’ Bill said running a hand through his hair.
‘What you mean vanished?’ asked the Clutterbuck.
‘Myself and Ken went ridin' out to that railway camp as some drunken passer through said he heard some strange noises comin' from there. We got out there and there was no one in sight, all that there were was a load of wrecked tents, bloodstains and a hell of a mess but not a single body until Joel here came wanderin' out of the bushes. I don't want you tellin' anyone what I just told you Doc, not even your wife if you have one, is that clear? I don't want panic spreadin' throughout the town.’ Bill’s voice was hard.
‘Well, I wont tell my wife as she's been dead goin' on ten years and as for everyone else, well I swear I won’t say a word, but if somethin's comin', somethin' bad, I want you to tell me, that okay with you Sheriff Bill?’
‘Sure thing doc,’ replied Bill. ‘I suppose you will want to help the town get prepared an all. Make sure you got the medical supplies.’
‘No, fuck that!’ replied Clutterbuck. ‘I'll be gettin' the hell out of here, so you be sure to tell me Sheriff and I'll keep my mouth shut.’
‘No problem, you have my word.’ Bill said, mouth slightly open in surprise. With that the doctor walked down the stairs and made his way down the dusty road towards the town.
‘I get the feelin' we are gonna have to find us a new doctor Ken,’ said Bill watching Clutterbuck disappear into the distance.
16
Bill was on his porch, his days work pretty much done. He was smoking a cigar and mulling things over.
Nothing much had happened for the rest of the day and it seemed a calm had fallen over Sundown, which would have been great if the camp of blood hadn't been weighing heavily on Bill’s mind. He still wasn't sure what he was going to do but he’d sleep on it. No doubt Jack Blackwater would be making an appearance soon and when he did things would either become clearer or become a whole lot more complicated.
Bills eyelids were heavy and sleep had almost taken him when a gunshot caused his eyes to open and Bill to immediately jump to his feet. He was a little disorien
tated at first but his senses soon returned.
Bill listened and thought maybe he had imagined the sound, that was until the sound of another gunshot rang out. Bill hurried inside and strapped on his guns before quickly leaving the house, he took one last swig of whiskey before descending the porch steps and heading towards the town.
Bill was almost halfway there when another shot was fired, this time followed by shouting, though he could not make out what was being said. As he drew closer he made out four figures that seemed to be running along the wooden boards outside the saloon and then ran into the building.
Finally Bill, breathing hard, reached the town and looked out onto the main street. It was hard to make much out, due to the darkness, but he thought he could see a shape skulking by the Art the Barbers place. Bill pressed himself against the building next to him and began to slowly shift along the boards. Then a sound came, a low, horrible noise and it caused Bill to stop in his tracks. His breathing was still heavy but now he fancied it was mainly down to nerves or fear rather fatigue, he drew a gun from his belt and stood watching the street trying to see where the noise had come from.
Bill kept his eyes on where he had seen the shape moving, but he couldn't quite make out what it was. He crept along the decking trying his best to keep in the shadows, every time a board creaked under his weight, the sound was ten times louder than it should have been or at least it seemed so. The town businesses were all closed now all except for Gina’s house of hospitality and the saloon, though no sound seemed to come from either building.
The growl came again, a growl which seemed too deep for any animal to make. Bill strained his eyes, willing them to see through the dark and make out what was lurking there and then he got his wish.
A creature padded out into the centre of the street and after a few moments Bill could make out it was a mountain lion, only it was different from others he had seen in his time. The shoulders of the creature were much more haunched and heavily muscled and the jaw seemed to hang much too low. Drool leaked from the sides of the mountain lions mouth and Bill stood frozen, watching.
The creature sniffed the air and a second later its gaze shifted to Bill. The cat’s eyes seemed to glow and they stared right at him. The creatures top lip curled back revealing a huge set of teeth which Bill didn't want anywhere near him. The look of the mountain lion staring at him made Bill’s mouth dry in an instant and his heart was beating so fast he felt like the whole town would hear it.
The creature took two, slow steps towards him and looked to lunge, even though given the distance it was from Bill, surely it would not reach him. Bill suddenly did not feel so certain about that. He slowly raised his gun and with his other hand took the second pistol from its holster. He thumbed back the trigger of each pistol and the clicking sound caused the creature to let out a huge roar. The sound was deafening like there were a hundred of the things in front of him and not just one but the sound was cut short by an equally deafening bang and the creature flew sidewards crashing into a building. It then slumped and made a grunting sound whilst Bill turned to see where the blast had come from.
Ken was standing outside of the saloon holding a shotgun, smoke drifted from the end of the barrels.
‘I got you ya bastard.’ Ken said, the statement was followed by a hiccup and a little fart.
It seemed to Bill that the deputy was a little worse for wear and hadn't noticed the sheriff. Still, for a drunken man, it sure had been a great shot.
The creature was still, surely the bullet would have ripped a big hole in its side.
Bill stepped out onto the street. ‘Good shooting Deputy,’
Ken swung round quickly, startled at the voice and Bill ducked down for fear a second shot might put a hole in him too. ‘Jesus Bill, you scared the shit almost outta' my ass. Did you see that thing? Like a cat straight out of hell so it was. I think I've just sent him back there.’
Bill straightened up and slowly walked towards Ken. ‘I believe you have.’
As the two men came face to face a low grunt came from the place in which the mountain lion’s body had ben sent flying. Both Bill and Ken slowly turned towards the sound and they saw that the beast was back on all fours, the drool back, hanging from its mouth, the wound was son its side. Bill thought that surely a wound that was big was enough to stop any living beast but not this one.
‘What….The….Fuck…’ said Ken sporting a slacked jawed gaze before hiccupping again.
‘How is that thing still breathin'?’ whispered Bill.
The creature took a step forward, and Bill aimed the gun in his left hand and fired off four shots in quick succession. The creature reeled backwards momentarily standing on two legs, before falling to the ground, it squirmed a little and then lay still.
‘Damn that’s one tough bastard!’ Ken said, then another hiccup.
The beast let out a groaning sound but it didn’t move. The two men slowly approached the downed creature until they were just a couple of feet away.
‘It’s a mountain lion, though what type I just don't know,’ said Bill
Ken hiccuped before replying ‘Sure don't look like no mountain lion I ever saw Sheriff and I ain’t never seen no mountain lion come down into the town. They know it’s no place for them.’
‘It looks like there’s somethin' wrong with it’ Bill said. ‘The shape is just all wrong. Ken, go get the doctor.’
‘What's the doctor gonna do Bill?’ Ken said with a slur in his voice before yet another hiccup. ‘He’s a doctor of men, not no god damn overgrown pussy [hiccup] cats.’
‘That may be but he is most likely the only person here who can help us figure out what’s wrong with this thing.’ Bill replied.
‘I know what’s wrong with it…its dead! [hiccup] but yeah, maybe you're right, I'll go see if I can g…’ Ken was interrupted by a sound coming from the big cat. ‘Holy fuck, that thing is still breathin' Bill.’
The big cat was up on he's feet once again sporting the bullet holes in its body and hind quarters that Bill had inflicted but they didn't seemed to bother the creature and it crouched as if to pounce. Bill raised his pistol and put two more bullets into it. The beast moved backwards again but this time only seemed stunned and did not lie still.
‘Run Ken, to the saloon, Fast!’ panic now creeping into Bill’s voice.
The two men ran towards the saloon. The doors on the place were your typical saloon doors but they were backed by two large wooden doors that would close to keep out any midnight undesirables that might be passing through. They heard the beast hot on their heels as they passed through the doorway and as they did two men began to swing the bigger wooden doors shut. Luckily some of the town folk had been watching what was unfolding so were prepared.
The doors slammed closed and a large wooden bolt was placed across them just in time as the weight of the creature crashed against the wood. The doors rocked in their frame but they held. Monty, the saloons owner, was standing in front of the bar, shotgun in hand pointing it directly at the doors.
‘Don’t!’ shouted Bill ‘The doors should hold but if you shoot you'll blow a hole in the wood and then it’s going to be in here with us,’
Monty lowered the gun, he was breathing heavy. ‘What is it Sheriff?’
‘Some kind of mountain lion but we need it out there and us in here. It’s injured so the wounds will catch up on it soon hopefully but for now we just gotta wait it out, in the meantime fix me a drink please barman, it’s been another hell of a day.’
‘Sure thing Sheriff,’ said Monty placing his gun on the bar before going to get some drinks.
Ken and Bill sat against the pounding door, waiting for the creature to drop.
It had been several hours since they had locked themselves in the saloon and in all of that time, the creature had not stopped trying to gain entry. It hadn't inflicted any real damage on the doors but the power with which it hit the door was consistent.
Bill thought that soon the sun wo
uld be up and the towns people who weren’t aware of what was going on would be going about their daily routines and setting up shop for the day. When that happened the thing would be spoilt for choice.
Bill got to his feet and looked out of the window. He could see that the sky was a little lighter than it had been and the sun was on its way. Bill had to do something otherwise sooner or later an unsuspecting member of the town would stride into the street and become easy pickings. What if it was a child or a mother? What if it was Gina? Bill stood up and walked over to the bar and picked up Monty’s shotgun.
‘You got any more ammo for this thing?’ he asked.
‘Sure have Sheriff, what you plannin' on doin'?’
‘Well, the injuries that thing has don't seem to of done shit to it, so unless we are waitin' for it to commit suicide then somethin' has to be done and I'm gonna go try and do it.’ Bill felt the weight of the gun in his hands as his spoke.
‘Bill, we already tried shootin' that thing, so what you gonna do now?’ asked a much more sober Ken.
Bill looked around the room, then towards the door, then back at Ken. ‘Im gonna go and shoot it some more.’ And with that Bill walked towards the door.
Ken spoke from the bar, ‘Hold up Sheriff, I'll come with you’
‘No, you won’t. You are the sheriff if anythin' happens to me but if we both get fucked up then theres no one. If I die out there, then you have to find a way to help these people, keep them safe and you need to be there for Gina’
‘But Sheriff,’ protested Ken.
‘No, but’s, now you stop talkin’ out your butt. You’ve had your order Deputy, so close these doors as soon I step outside.’
‘Okay Bill, you're the man. I wish you luck out there.’
Bill gave a nod and then turned and unbolted the door. The banging against the wood had ceased. Bill thought he may just have time to get a shot off before the beast attacked. He counted to three and pulled the doors open.
