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"There's not enough room in this forum for the two of us." FM slammed his emptied whisky glass down on the wooden counter. "Step outside, Grix......"
Grix eyed FM carefully. They'd known each other for a long time, but things had been gettin' a little strained lately."
"What's this about, FM," he demanded, making his way through the packed but hushed saloon and pushing the swinging doors outwards as he stepped onto the dusty ground outside.
"Well," replied FM, pushing open the doors again and following Grix outside into the hot, dry air, "You've bushwhacked one of my topics just one time too many. It's time we had this out. Mano a Mano. Poster to Poster."
Grix paused in his stride to think of a witty retort about FM's last comment, then decided that now was probably not the time.
"So, what's it to be? 10 paces, turn and fire?" asked Grix, making sure his gunbelt was fastened properly.
"You know me better than that, Grix. 30 paces." FM checked his gunbelt. The Smith and Wesson 6-shot revolver hung loosely at his right hip.
They stood back to back under the glare of the midday sun, and started to count.....
1....2....3....
The occupants of the saloon were packing the windows trying to get a glimpse of the showdown outside. This was unheard of. The last shootout in the town of Last Chance Reserve had been quite a time ago, when the Er-no posse had cleaned out the Desperate Dans, but this was different. Two equally matched opponents were about to face off.
Insane Bartender was going even more nuts behind the saloon's counter because he was losing good sales whilst all this was going on.
Outside, the count was at 25.... as FM glanced to his right and saw PB on the roof of the Red Splat Hotel and Boarding House, shotgun at hand. PB nodded with a knowing look. FM nodded back.
The count was 26.... as Grix looked across to the SR Saddlery, where he spied Sniper with his trusty Winchester Rifle. Grix gave a brief nod. Sniper returned it.
27....28...29..
Dust whirled up as both men spun to face each other. The blast of PB's shotgun firing both barrels broke the deafening silence that preceeded it, and a cloud of sand flew up at Grix's feet as the buckshot ploughed into the ground.
Grix drew his gun and took aim, FM was still drawing his because he was left handed and his belt was on the wrong way, Sniper fired his rifle, and there was a sharp report, then a clatter as PB dropped his shotgun and swandived off the roof of the hotel and landed in a horse trough.
FM grappled with his pistol, it had snagged in the holster, and he reminded himself to be more careful where he left his chewing gum.
Grix took pity. (No he didn't). Grix fired his gun. Fortunately, FM and done his research and Grix's eyesight wasn't as good as it should have been, and at 30 paces it was like trying to read a Wanted Poster through a mirage. Grix's first bullet flew out of town faster than a newbie Gameaday winner. He wasn't sure if he had hit FM or not, but then he heard FM pull back the hammer of his Smith and Wesson with a
*click*
Grix eyed FM carefully. They'd known each other for a long time, but things had been gettin' a little strained lately."
"What's this about, FM," he demanded, making his way through the packed but hushed saloon and pushing the swinging doors outwards as he stepped onto the dusty ground outside.
"Well," replied FM, pushing open the doors again and following Grix outside into the hot, dry air, "You've bushwhacked one of my topics just one time too many. It's time we had this out. Mano a Mano. Poster to Poster."
Grix paused in his stride to think of a witty retort about FM's last comment, then decided that now was probably not the time.
"So, what's it to be? 10 paces, turn and fire?" asked Grix, making sure his gunbelt was fastened properly.
"You know me better than that, Grix. 30 paces." FM checked his gunbelt. The Smith and Wesson 6-shot revolver hung loosely at his right hip.
They stood back to back under the glare of the midday sun, and started to count.....
1....2....3....
The occupants of the saloon were packing the windows trying to get a glimpse of the showdown outside. This was unheard of. The last shootout in the town of Last Chance Reserve had been quite a time ago, when the Er-no posse had cleaned out the Desperate Dans, but this was different. Two equally matched opponents were about to face off.
Insane Bartender was going even more nuts behind the saloon's counter because he was losing good sales whilst all this was going on.
Outside, the count was at 25.... as FM glanced to his right and saw PB on the roof of the Red Splat Hotel and Boarding House, shotgun at hand. PB nodded with a knowing look. FM nodded back.
The count was 26.... as Grix looked across to the SR Saddlery, where he spied Sniper with his trusty Winchester Rifle. Grix gave a brief nod. Sniper returned it.
27....28...29..
Dust whirled up as both men spun to face each other. The blast of PB's shotgun firing both barrels broke the deafening silence that preceeded it, and a cloud of sand flew up at Grix's feet as the buckshot ploughed into the ground.
Grix drew his gun and took aim, FM was still drawing his because he was left handed and his belt was on the wrong way, Sniper fired his rifle, and there was a sharp report, then a clatter as PB dropped his shotgun and swandived off the roof of the hotel and landed in a horse trough.
FM grappled with his pistol, it had snagged in the holster, and he reminded himself to be more careful where he left his chewing gum.
Grix took pity. (No he didn't). Grix fired his gun. Fortunately, FM and done his research and Grix's eyesight wasn't as good as it should have been, and at 30 paces it was like trying to read a Wanted Poster through a mirage. Grix's first bullet flew out of town faster than a newbie Gameaday winner. He wasn't sure if he had hit FM or not, but then he heard FM pull back the hammer of his Smith and Wesson with a
*click*
Page:
The stranger motioned to the other two to catch up. Venombyte hadn't walked this far since the great cattle rustling incident, where he'd helped round up all the cattle from as far a field as the next town.
The stranger spoke to Venombyte and pb. "Wait. There are terrible dangers ahead. Your minds must be ready to face them." He drew a circle in the sand and fire immediately rose from the centre. "Stand around the circle. Watch the fire. Watch how it dances and feel your minds floating in the fire."
-------------------
Pb felt his head spinning and then everything went black. He found himself floating in some sort of vortex, venombyte was by his side. "What's going on?" said a frightened venombyte. Pb motioned that he didn't know and was just as frightened. Suddenly they felt their feet touch the floor, the scenery around them swirled around and as their eyes focused, they realised they were back in the sandy scrubland.
Looking just yards ahead, they saw a strange dark siluette of a man walking towards them. By his side was a black dog. They noticed with horror that the man's eyes were just dark pools of ink and tried to look away. They couldn't, their eyes were fixed on his and although they tried, they were transfixed. Venombyte felt his face begining to drip with sweat. No, it wasn't sweat, his face....his face was melting. A scream came from right beside him and he realised that pb was holding up his hands, holding his face. So this was what it was like to die.
They stood there as a red mist covered their vision, soon pb couldn't see anything but red, he felt his head spinning again and longed for it to stop. Just as fast as it had begun, the spinning stoped and he found himself back by the fire. He felt his face and saw venombyte doing the same.
"I'm sorry you had to see that." said the stranger calmly, looking at the floor to avoid their horrified stare. "You saw the man, didn't you? Don't let appearances fool you, he isn't a man at all. If you ever encounter him for real, never look in his eyes. They have power that you've never experienced before, even your vision was simply a small taste of his power."
They continued, silently on their way, both trying to come to terms with what they had seen while the stranger continued his journey to find Grix and FM. He must find them at any cost, before the dark man reaches the town. He knew what to expect if he didn't.
------------
The dark man sat by a fire. The wind still howled around him, but he felt nothing. He looked into the fire and saw the stranger. 'Ha' he thought and threw some dust on to the crackling logs. The black dog barked as he looked at the fire again. 'Now let's see what's happening in the town.' he reached out and touched his hand to the fire.
-------------
In the town bank Tony sorted his money. It wasn't his money though, that was the problem. One day they would all be paying him and he would keep the money. He would put it in his mattress at home and count it every night. One day they would all bow to his power.
Tony coughed and put on a smile, seeing mrs Crabtree enter the bank. "and what can I do for you?" he asked in his most sincere voice.
The stranger spoke to Venombyte and pb. "Wait. There are terrible dangers ahead. Your minds must be ready to face them." He drew a circle in the sand and fire immediately rose from the centre. "Stand around the circle. Watch the fire. Watch how it dances and feel your minds floating in the fire."
-------------------
Pb felt his head spinning and then everything went black. He found himself floating in some sort of vortex, venombyte was by his side. "What's going on?" said a frightened venombyte. Pb motioned that he didn't know and was just as frightened. Suddenly they felt their feet touch the floor, the scenery around them swirled around and as their eyes focused, they realised they were back in the sandy scrubland.
Looking just yards ahead, they saw a strange dark siluette of a man walking towards them. By his side was a black dog. They noticed with horror that the man's eyes were just dark pools of ink and tried to look away. They couldn't, their eyes were fixed on his and although they tried, they were transfixed. Venombyte felt his face begining to drip with sweat. No, it wasn't sweat, his face....his face was melting. A scream came from right beside him and he realised that pb was holding up his hands, holding his face. So this was what it was like to die.
They stood there as a red mist covered their vision, soon pb couldn't see anything but red, he felt his head spinning again and longed for it to stop. Just as fast as it had begun, the spinning stoped and he found himself back by the fire. He felt his face and saw venombyte doing the same.
"I'm sorry you had to see that." said the stranger calmly, looking at the floor to avoid their horrified stare. "You saw the man, didn't you? Don't let appearances fool you, he isn't a man at all. If you ever encounter him for real, never look in his eyes. They have power that you've never experienced before, even your vision was simply a small taste of his power."
They continued, silently on their way, both trying to come to terms with what they had seen while the stranger continued his journey to find Grix and FM. He must find them at any cost, before the dark man reaches the town. He knew what to expect if he didn't.
------------
The dark man sat by a fire. The wind still howled around him, but he felt nothing. He looked into the fire and saw the stranger. 'Ha' he thought and threw some dust on to the crackling logs. The black dog barked as he looked at the fire again. 'Now let's see what's happening in the town.' he reached out and touched his hand to the fire.
-------------
In the town bank Tony sorted his money. It wasn't his money though, that was the problem. One day they would all be paying him and he would keep the money. He would put it in his mattress at home and count it every night. One day they would all bow to his power.
Tony coughed and put on a smile, seeing mrs Crabtree enter the bank. "and what can I do for you?" he asked in his most sincere voice.
Sitting on the roof watching the entire town was Dringo ashamed but at the same time waiting for his time friendly to all and a mad Nintendo fan Dringo looked down to the carnage that laid below him no matter how many game consoles he gives away he can't seem to make the town peaceful well he thought to himelf his time will come and he dissapeared
The lone dark man strode with the dog walking slowly behind... why was he there?
His bare feet dug deep into the sand as he walked... the dog burning his paws on the footsteps of the minded...
He walked on. His lips were dry, which was unexpected, but he continued onwards. Knowing his true purpose.
-----
Er-no waited in his newly taken over bar... he was the only one inside, getting glasses off the shelves ready for the early morning rush...
He looked outside. Sunrise.
Er-no looked over his shoulder, as a new man entered the bar... where were they all coming from?
He stood up, and headed towards the man.
The man spoke first. "I'm looking for a man... Grix Thraves."
"You're not the only one." Er-no turned away... but watched the mans every movement in a mirror... "The price on their head is rising all the time..."
"Their?" The man asked. He sat down for a drink.
Er-no served him. "What? You know about FantasyMeister? Yeah? His partner?"
The man seemed to ignore the comment. "I still don't know where Grix is."
The man pulled out a gun.
"Hey now... there's no need for that... I'll tell you everything I know."
The man insisted on keeping the gun out.
"I know nothing..." Then... suddenly, er-no noticed it... he noticed the thing that would cause his ultimate death...
The man had noticed that er-no had noticed.
"Stop looking at it... STOP IT!"
Er-no burst out laughing... he tried to hide his mouth with his hands...
The man fired the gun... er-no dropped to the floor... dead.
The man left...
His bare feet dug deep into the sand as he walked... the dog burning his paws on the footsteps of the minded...
He walked on. His lips were dry, which was unexpected, but he continued onwards. Knowing his true purpose.
-----
Er-no waited in his newly taken over bar... he was the only one inside, getting glasses off the shelves ready for the early morning rush...
He looked outside. Sunrise.
Er-no looked over his shoulder, as a new man entered the bar... where were they all coming from?
He stood up, and headed towards the man.
The man spoke first. "I'm looking for a man... Grix Thraves."
"You're not the only one." Er-no turned away... but watched the mans every movement in a mirror... "The price on their head is rising all the time..."
"Their?" The man asked. He sat down for a drink.
Er-no served him. "What? You know about FantasyMeister? Yeah? His partner?"
The man seemed to ignore the comment. "I still don't know where Grix is."
The man pulled out a gun.
"Hey now... there's no need for that... I'll tell you everything I know."
The man insisted on keeping the gun out.
"I know nothing..." Then... suddenly, er-no noticed it... he noticed the thing that would cause his ultimate death...
The man had noticed that er-no had noticed.
"Stop looking at it... STOP IT!"
Er-no burst out laughing... he tried to hide his mouth with his hands...
The man fired the gun... er-no dropped to the floor... dead.
The man left...
Dan_uk scanned the bar, looking for some lethal implement which might remove him from this world. As he was scanning the bar, he saw Sniper. He moseyed on over to Sniper and began talking.
"Hey there, pardner. Died much today?"
"Just twice" came the reply. "First was this mornin'. Ah was having a nice relaxing bubble bath, an ah decided to really take it easy. Ah let my head slip down to the water level for a bit, but ah got bubbles in my eyes. ah tried to get up and reach for a towel, but ah slipped and fell back into the bath. Somehow ah managed to get mah head caughtin the chain, which just happened to be stuck fast in the plug, too. So ah was thinkin to myself 'Gawddarnit, this really is it!'. Luckily though, ah managed to free myself. So ah lay back in the bath, breathless and unable to see, whilst ah recovered my composure. Ah then reached out for the towel again, but unfortunately ah managed to knock the electric lamp over into the bath." Sniper stared off into the distance, and said to nobody in particular, "Darn that was bad way to go."
"And the second time?" Dan_uk inquired.
"Just a half hour ago." Sniper replied "Ah wus mindin' my own business, when all of a sudden this bar fight breaks out. Now, ah figured this would be trouble so ah hid under a table whilst the saloon was torn to pieces. After a few miniutes, the fight ended, and all ah had to show for it was a rather nasty gash in mah left arm. So, the place got tidied up a bit and ah was thinkin' 'whoa, Ah'm a lucky man today, yesiree'. It was about then that some guy with a bottle of vodka tripped over, and somehow he got the neck of the bottle stuck fast in mah wound, so ah had half a litre of vodka go straight into mah bloodstream. You know what it's like to die from alcohol poisoning, sonny?"
Dan_uk shook his head
"You don't want to either"
"Anyway" Dan_uk said "I need your help. I want to get out of this gawd darn western."
Sniper drew a pistol from his holster. He ckecked it was loaded, cocked the hammer and handed it to Dan_uk.
"Put this in your mouth and pull the trigger" he said
Dan_uk took the gun, and placed it in his mouth. He was relieved that he was finally going to be let out of this world. He braced himself, and pulled the trigger.
BANG
It just so happened, that the barrel of the gun was blocked. Now, an explosion in a confined space doesn't just go away, it finds a way out through the weakest point. In this case, it was the hammer, which was blown backwards at quite an incredible speed, passing straight through Sniper's right eye and lodging deep into his brain. He died instantly.
"Darn" cursed Dan_uk
"Hey there, pardner. Died much today?"
"Just twice" came the reply. "First was this mornin'. Ah was having a nice relaxing bubble bath, an ah decided to really take it easy. Ah let my head slip down to the water level for a bit, but ah got bubbles in my eyes. ah tried to get up and reach for a towel, but ah slipped and fell back into the bath. Somehow ah managed to get mah head caughtin the chain, which just happened to be stuck fast in the plug, too. So ah was thinkin to myself 'Gawddarnit, this really is it!'. Luckily though, ah managed to free myself. So ah lay back in the bath, breathless and unable to see, whilst ah recovered my composure. Ah then reached out for the towel again, but unfortunately ah managed to knock the electric lamp over into the bath." Sniper stared off into the distance, and said to nobody in particular, "Darn that was bad way to go."
"And the second time?" Dan_uk inquired.
"Just a half hour ago." Sniper replied "Ah wus mindin' my own business, when all of a sudden this bar fight breaks out. Now, ah figured this would be trouble so ah hid under a table whilst the saloon was torn to pieces. After a few miniutes, the fight ended, and all ah had to show for it was a rather nasty gash in mah left arm. So, the place got tidied up a bit and ah was thinkin' 'whoa, Ah'm a lucky man today, yesiree'. It was about then that some guy with a bottle of vodka tripped over, and somehow he got the neck of the bottle stuck fast in mah wound, so ah had half a litre of vodka go straight into mah bloodstream. You know what it's like to die from alcohol poisoning, sonny?"
Dan_uk shook his head
"You don't want to either"
"Anyway" Dan_uk said "I need your help. I want to get out of this gawd darn western."
Sniper drew a pistol from his holster. He ckecked it was loaded, cocked the hammer and handed it to Dan_uk.
"Put this in your mouth and pull the trigger" he said
Dan_uk took the gun, and placed it in his mouth. He was relieved that he was finally going to be let out of this world. He braced himself, and pulled the trigger.
BANG
It just so happened, that the barrel of the gun was blocked. Now, an explosion in a confined space doesn't just go away, it finds a way out through the weakest point. In this case, it was the hammer, which was blown backwards at quite an incredible speed, passing straight through Sniper's right eye and lodging deep into his brain. He died instantly.
"Darn" cursed Dan_uk
Grix awoke with a jolt... another dream.
He pulled the paper close, and wrote down what he remembered.
*Big desert... wild trees, wind. Skin shreaded by sand storm, left to die. A man with no face carries me away.*
That was an odd dream... Grix pulled himself back under his blanket, and tried to try and control his dreams...
To no avail.
-----
The man dropped Grix in a bath of salt water... the pain was immense. Being sandpapered to death was one thing, but having salt water rubbed into you when you have no skin is quite something.
The man held up one hand, as if to silence him... and it worked. The pain went...
Grix looked at the mans face. Well, there was something there... but it was missing again. He could see the wall through the transparent gap that his faceless head left...
Grix got up. He was dressed. His skin had returned.
The man, now in a wheelchair, pulled himself near Grix. He rode past him, and opened a door. He went through...
For some reason Grix needed to follow him... he didn't know why...
The door was locked.
Grix woke up.
He pulled the paper close, and wrote down what he remembered.
*Big desert... wild trees, wind. Skin shreaded by sand storm, left to die. A man with no face carries me away.*
That was an odd dream... Grix pulled himself back under his blanket, and tried to try and control his dreams...
To no avail.
-----
The man dropped Grix in a bath of salt water... the pain was immense. Being sandpapered to death was one thing, but having salt water rubbed into you when you have no skin is quite something.
The man held up one hand, as if to silence him... and it worked. The pain went...
Grix looked at the mans face. Well, there was something there... but it was missing again. He could see the wall through the transparent gap that his faceless head left...
Grix got up. He was dressed. His skin had returned.
The man, now in a wheelchair, pulled himself near Grix. He rode past him, and opened a door. He went through...
For some reason Grix needed to follow him... he didn't know why...
The door was locked.
Grix woke up.
The stranger sat on a chair outside the ranch. He seemed to be deep in thought as pb and venombyte followed his previous instructions and found all the pieces of the strange machine that were lying around the farm.
"He's here, we haven't much time." said the stranger in his usual gruff tone. He seemed to be looking out at the wilderness, towards something the others couldn't see. Pb tried to stare into the distance, but saw only dark forboding clouds. That usually meant a dust storm, it was suicide to travel in one. There were stories of travellers who had been found miles from where they were supposed to be, with strange looks in their inky black eyes and a terrified expression on their face. But these were just stories. At least, that's what pb thought until now. Now he wasn't so sure, there was an uneasy feeling and a strange greasy feel to the air.
"Do you think there's somethin' strange happenin' or is it jus' me?" asked venombyte, as if to answer pb's fears.
"We are living in dangerous times, my friend" The stranger had stood up and was pulling his black, dusty cloak around his shoulders. "We have a grave mission, and it involves the two on the poster. We must find them soon otherwise it will be like the last time."
Venombyte and pb didn't like the sound of the last bit. What was 'last time'? and why did they need two theives?
---------------------
The preacher continued his journey through the dust storm. He passed a dazed wild dog who was howling in pain. The dog looked into the preacher's eyes and at once became silent and still. "Come with me..." he said in a voice that seemed to move with the storm and rattle like a dying breath, "I have a job for you."
"He's here, we haven't much time." said the stranger in his usual gruff tone. He seemed to be looking out at the wilderness, towards something the others couldn't see. Pb tried to stare into the distance, but saw only dark forboding clouds. That usually meant a dust storm, it was suicide to travel in one. There were stories of travellers who had been found miles from where they were supposed to be, with strange looks in their inky black eyes and a terrified expression on their face. But these were just stories. At least, that's what pb thought until now. Now he wasn't so sure, there was an uneasy feeling and a strange greasy feel to the air.
"Do you think there's somethin' strange happenin' or is it jus' me?" asked venombyte, as if to answer pb's fears.
"We are living in dangerous times, my friend" The stranger had stood up and was pulling his black, dusty cloak around his shoulders. "We have a grave mission, and it involves the two on the poster. We must find them soon otherwise it will be like the last time."
Venombyte and pb didn't like the sound of the last bit. What was 'last time'? and why did they need two theives?
---------------------
The preacher continued his journey through the dust storm. He passed a dazed wild dog who was howling in pain. The dog looked into the preacher's eyes and at once became silent and still. "Come with me..." he said in a voice that seemed to move with the storm and rattle like a dying breath, "I have a job for you."
"Yeah..." FantasyMeister looked at the gold in his hand... the pure, glittering, and quite real gold... "That is quite ironic..."
Ant asked why, but was answered by a long stare.
-----
The gang lit a fire for the night... it was getting dark, and even though they were deep in the cave and unaware of the time, they thought it probably would be a good time to sleep...
Ant nodded off first... FantasyMeister joined him in the land of nod next...
But Grix couldn't sleep... something was still wrong...
He trekked back up to the hoss, and looked out over the night sky... the dimmly lit town below...
Grix breathed in the air... it got stuffy in that cave...
The air was good... it filled his lungs, cooling his chest, refueling his blood... great air.
Could he say that was the best air he had ever breathed?
Oh god...
Suddenly it all clicked... the gold chocolate, the train, this cave... The town...
He ran back down the cave, and went to wake FantasyMeister up... when he stopped, and thought.
Grix looked at Fm, and at Ant. No. Not time yet. He wouldn't tell them... it was unneeded.
But at least he knew what was wrong now... he got back into his bed... and fell straight back to sleep.
Ant asked why, but was answered by a long stare.
-----
The gang lit a fire for the night... it was getting dark, and even though they were deep in the cave and unaware of the time, they thought it probably would be a good time to sleep...
Ant nodded off first... FantasyMeister joined him in the land of nod next...
But Grix couldn't sleep... something was still wrong...
He trekked back up to the hoss, and looked out over the night sky... the dimmly lit town below...
Grix breathed in the air... it got stuffy in that cave...
The air was good... it filled his lungs, cooling his chest, refueling his blood... great air.
Could he say that was the best air he had ever breathed?
Oh god...
Suddenly it all clicked... the gold chocolate, the train, this cave... The town...
He ran back down the cave, and went to wake FantasyMeister up... when he stopped, and thought.
Grix looked at Fm, and at Ant. No. Not time yet. He wouldn't tell them... it was unneeded.
But at least he knew what was wrong now... he got back into his bed... and fell straight back to sleep.
FM watched as Grix cleared away the last bits of rubble from the opening, and stepped through the gap. He rounded a corner and paused to take in the surroundings. Before him was a dead end cave, with a skeleton slumped in one corner and Ant holding a tattered piece of paper.
Grix rounded the corner and briefly surveyed the scene.
"What does it say?" he asked.
"Oh...shall I read it out?" asked Ant.
FM nodded.
"These are the last words of Billy J.Hawk. As I write this I know my end is near. I have been entombed in these walls of granite by my colleagues and co-workers. 'Why would they do that?' I hear you ask. Well my friend, greed is a terrible thing. It all started two weeks ago, back at the start of the gold rush. I was the first to discover it, you see, only that's not all. This ain't the main mine. There was a cover up scam, you see. A small group of us were sworn to secrecy, there were five in all. I know two are already dead and the others are leaving town. Good luck to them. Anyway, back to the point. The other four did the real digging elsewhere, whilst I remained here with the other townsfolk so's it looked convincing. It worked for a while, but we were eventually found out. The townsfolk were mighty unhappy when they found out, but by then we'd moved all the gold. They shot Tommy and Sniper right there and then, only the bullet didn't kill sniper, so they hung him too, and when that didn't kill him they fed his body through a mincing machine. I still shudder every time I think about it. Anyway, they caught me next. This is the 'ironic' death they thought I deserved. Naturally no-one has told 'em where the gold is. The names of the other two guys are....
Grix rounded the corner and briefly surveyed the scene.
"What does it say?" he asked.
"Oh...shall I read it out?" asked Ant.
FM nodded.
"These are the last words of Billy J.Hawk. As I write this I know my end is near. I have been entombed in these walls of granite by my colleagues and co-workers. 'Why would they do that?' I hear you ask. Well my friend, greed is a terrible thing. It all started two weeks ago, back at the start of the gold rush. I was the first to discover it, you see, only that's not all. This ain't the main mine. There was a cover up scam, you see. A small group of us were sworn to secrecy, there were five in all. I know two are already dead and the others are leaving town. Good luck to them. Anyway, back to the point. The other four did the real digging elsewhere, whilst I remained here with the other townsfolk so's it looked convincing. It worked for a while, but we were eventually found out. The townsfolk were mighty unhappy when they found out, but by then we'd moved all the gold. They shot Tommy and Sniper right there and then, only the bullet didn't kill sniper, so they hung him too, and when that didn't kill him they fed his body through a mincing machine. I still shudder every time I think about it. Anyway, they caught me next. This is the 'ironic' death they thought I deserved. Naturally no-one has told 'em where the gold is. The names of the other two guys are....
Looking into the darkness of the cave FM realised that it wasn't actually a cave at all, there were numerous supports against the sides, and on the cave ceiling.
"If ma memory serves be rightly" Said FM "This is is an ol' gold mine back from the rush. If we foller it, we're sure to find the entrance!"
So Grix went over to his hover hoss and was surprised to find a lantern. Not only that, but it was completely fine after the fall.
Deciding not to worry about it, Grix turned it on, and headed off into the darkness.
__________________
About an hour or so later, Grix, FM and Ant came to a fork in the path. Without hesitation Ant headed off to the left. A few minutes later they reached what seemed to be a dead-end.
"Nice goin' kid." Said Grix to Ant, leaning against the hard rock wall. Frustration took over him for a moment, and he gave the wall a kick. Rock crumbled under the power of his mighty boot.
"Look, a secret passage!" Said Ant "I'll crawl through and let you know if it's worth breakin' our way through"
So off set Ant.
Getting impatient FM called out "What the hell's takin yer so long."
"You guys have GOT to get through here, you won't believe what we've found!" Replied Ant, in his high, unbroken voice.
With that Grix began pulling at the rock wall, and it begun to give way with a *click*
"If ma memory serves be rightly" Said FM "This is is an ol' gold mine back from the rush. If we foller it, we're sure to find the entrance!"
So Grix went over to his hover hoss and was surprised to find a lantern. Not only that, but it was completely fine after the fall.
Deciding not to worry about it, Grix turned it on, and headed off into the darkness.
__________________
About an hour or so later, Grix, FM and Ant came to a fork in the path. Without hesitation Ant headed off to the left. A few minutes later they reached what seemed to be a dead-end.
"Nice goin' kid." Said Grix to Ant, leaning against the hard rock wall. Frustration took over him for a moment, and he gave the wall a kick. Rock crumbled under the power of his mighty boot.
"Look, a secret passage!" Said Ant "I'll crawl through and let you know if it's worth breakin' our way through"
So off set Ant.
Getting impatient FM called out "What the hell's takin yer so long."
"You guys have GOT to get through here, you won't believe what we've found!" Replied Ant, in his high, unbroken voice.
With that Grix began pulling at the rock wall, and it begun to give way with a *click*
Dan_uk walk out of the disguise shop's changing rooms with a huge grin.
After a week with being stick in the wild west, his boots sandy, cloths uncomfortable and the rest of it all, he was pleased to know that he wouldn't last 5 seconds in this outfit and then he'd be dead, out of the story and it's western settings.
He looked in the mirror. A perfect replica of Sniper looked back. He stepped outside. Step into one bar and a days job would be done. He stepped inti the nearest saloon, closing the door with a
*click*
After a week with being stick in the wild west, his boots sandy, cloths uncomfortable and the rest of it all, he was pleased to know that he wouldn't last 5 seconds in this outfit and then he'd be dead, out of the story and it's western settings.
He looked in the mirror. A perfect replica of Sniper looked back. He stepped outside. Step into one bar and a days job would be done. He stepped inti the nearest saloon, closing the door with a
*click*
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