Chapter 8, Part Two

No Honor Ch. 8 Pt. 2: Narcotic

Shadow trotted off. Carter was curled up on the ground, and Hombre was flat on 'is back. I heard feet movin' and birds flyin', and doors closin' an' lockin'. Soon enough, the street was deserted, besides the three of us.

I said, "You alright?"

"No", Carter said.

"Shit... You shot?"

He sighed. "I wish."

I got up and leaned over 'im. He wasn't bleedin' anywheres; it looked like he just took a bad fall. Hombre was dead, though. Carter's bullet hit 'em right above the collarbone.

"Mexican", Carter said.

He pushed hisself up a bit, wit 'is right arm, while his left was protectin' his side.

"All you had to say was 'Mexican'... or 'gun'... or somethin', gimme somethin!"

"Sorry."

He was searchin' his pockets. "Why couldn't that bastard come at me on my left? Why'd it have to be my right side, Jesus Christ!"

He finally found it, a small glass jar filled with... somethin'.

Was that laudanum? It looked like someone scraped rust off o' somewheres, then melted it down inta liquid.

He got on, wit' screwin' that top off, and then he said, "Do me a favor, please. Whistle three times for my horse. Two short, one longer".

The underside o' the jar lid had a dropper. He put one drop o' that stuff on his tongue, and he made a face like he was suckin' on a spoiled lemon. Another drop, then he started puttin' the top back on. He saw me lookin' at him, but then he quickly looked away.

Well, I did what he asked me, and we waited awhile. I did it again, and again, nothing happened.

I looked at Carter.

He said, "One more time. She's just frightened."

So, I whistled. Two short bursts and a longer one. After a pause, I heard hooves, and finally, she appeared from behind some houses, a street up.

I said, "How you so good with this horse already?"

"I can't thank you enough for Shadow", he said. "She been trained, by someone real good. All she had to learn, was my signals",  

Shadow stopped in front of Moon, and he crawled around to her right flank before grabbing the saddle, and hoisting hisself up. Her coat was moist with sweat, and at the slightest touch, she quivered.

I said, "She don't like gunfire, do she?"

"Naw", he said. "She hates it."

I shook my head. "I don't think this relationship's gon' work out."

He took his time, with gettin' his left leg over the saddle. It was just painful to watch, and I had to wonder again, if he was crazy, or bold, or just bull-headed and stupid. We heard raised voices then, and up the street we saw two more Mexicans, lookin' at us and their fallen amigo. I wondered if they was gonna attack us, but they turned and ran towards First Street instead, probably to go get more of 'em.

I said, "Is there anything else I kin do fer you? 'Cause I'm not waitin' for the cavalry."

"Any word on Larson?"

"No. None."

"Alright. Well, there is somethin' else."

He took out that small jar again.

"This is too strong. I kin work wit' it, but it gets my head swimmin', and it kin make it hard to get good air. I went callin' on Ms. Hattley, to see if I could meet that doctor again and get me an alternative, but she wouldn't see me. The lady at the door said she was ill."

"So, what do want? You want me to try again for you?"

"That, or you could see about finding the man yerself. He said his name was Mister Richard Jonas. He's a short, well dressed man, wit' baldin' red hair."

I nodded.

Carter said, "Besides that, keep yer eyes an' ears open. The sooner I get Larson, the sooner I leave this town alone."

And who's gonna be saved when that happens? Carter, or The Station?

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