Chapter 11, Part Two

No Honor; Ch. 11 Pt. 2: Face of Death

I don't get what it is, that makes us wake up different. Sometimes it's a trip, from stream ta sea, and otha times, it's a flat trail ta gravel road. Again, my head ached and again, there was that feelin' o' clouds behind my eyes. It was in that state, and at seven in the mornin', that I saw a sight uncommon ta most.

His collar was black, an' raised up, to 'is face. His hat was black, an' pulled low, over 'is fore'ed. His eyes was dull,  and gray, and empty... And around those eyes, was the pale white flesh, of a long dead corpse.

He said I screamed... I don't remember that. He said my hands shook, and that I reached for my Colt, on the nightstand. He said he stopped my hands with his own, and that he held me down for a minute, or more. I don't recawl any of it, but I do remember his voice.

"Wayne! Wayne, it's me, relax. Relax! It's Carter... Wayne, it's Carter Moon."

I didn't curse at 'im. I didn't threaten 'im. I didn't even say a word, but I didn't have to. It all came through, from me ta him, without any effort at all.

"Wayne, I'm sorry about that. I didn't mean ta catch ya like this, but the truth is, I was just wakin' up maself... not minutes earlier...  I didn't know what I was doin'."

"You sleep sittin' up?"

"Well, when you have to do somethin', you learn it... And that's a lesson from way back."

"Fuck... Don't you eva do that again!"

We laughed.

"I won't, I wont", he said, "You alright?"

"If I was gonna have a heart attack, it woulda happened already. How long were you there?"

He glanced at his pocket watch.

"About four hours. Sorry about takin' so long, but I didn't want ta risk anyone seein' us."

"Okay... So you saw that candle then."

"I did. You got news for me?"

"Yeah. Let's go downstairs first."

I went in my cabinet, ta get some water. My containers was almost empty, and I'm sure that was due to my guest. I'd set some out ta catch the rain, and I'd go to the well later, if need be. There was pots on the hooks already, above the open fire range, in my kitchen; so I filled one, and got a flame goin', ta get some hot water for my face towel.

I got another towel for Carter, and we set ourselves down in my living room, ta talk.

I said, "Jonas is in town, as of Saturday night."

"Is that right?"

"Yessir. I don't know where he's held up at.. it's def'nitely not the hotel, but... He's ridin' a reddish brown stallion, with a black mane. If that horse is still at the stable, he should still be around."

"Excellent. Wayne, that's excellent. Now I know he's here, I'll find 'em".

"Alright, well I got more for ya..."

I tol' him that story, about the hotel meetin'. He listened, with great int'rest. After I was done, he took a minute, ta think about it.

He said, "Well, this Rita... she already knew about the Morphine bein' no good. There's no way she couldn't 'ave. I reckon Marco sent her ta the Chinamen, to haggle 'em a bit, and get 'em a better deal. But they was makin' that deal. They want an opium den here, bad."

"Is that of any use to you?"

"Hell yes... Definitely... Ya see I've learned a great many thangs, while doin' this job. One is: when you have an enemy, you should learn all you can about 'em. Their strengths, their weaknesses, their goals... What they want, is sometimes the most important."

"Good. I hope it helps... The sooner this is over with, the better."

Carter nodded. "Well, I wouldn't bet on it lastin' too much longer. As I see thangs, this'll be comin' to a head, before you know it."

I said, "Yeah? You reckon so?"

"I do."

"Alright then, tell me somethin'... Marco's been losin' people lately. Some 'ave been snatched up, mysteriously."

"Well, I might have a little somethin' to do with that."

A little smile.

"I bet. There's also a bunch of 'em leavin'... They think you're The Reaper. They think you're ridin' round, wit' a pack o' wild Indians."

Carter laughed. "Is that right? Heh heh heh heh...

"Well... if I am their 'Reaper', I've been appointed that, by fate or design. As to that... 'pack o' wild Indians'..."

He shrugged.

"That may, or may not be true."

"You ain't gonna tell me which it is?"

He got up.

"You'll see. We'll probably need yer help, pretty soon."

"My help? I don't know about that, Carter."

"Well, wait 'til I put it to you first. But that's for later... I'll be in touch sir, thanks again."

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