Chapter 12, Part One

No Honor  Ch. 12 Pt. 1: Defense

That night, Marco came back ta the bar, and this time, he had ten of 'is friends wit' him, plus Rita an' tha otha girl. It looked like a show o' strength, but maybe it was somethin' else. Along with tha jokes o' scalpin', and Indians lurkin' in tha shadows, the other big talk was that Marco had called off the nightly patrols. It was a big win for Carter Moon, but what else was Marco doin'? Was he partnered up to protect hisself, or his partners?

The party moved towards the rear, as always, and the back tables was vacated quick. I don't think anyone, was willin' ta test Marco's patience at that time, with everythang that was goin' on. I reckon though, that I was too curious and too damn defiant, ta let 'im get away without speakin' on current events. Gettin him ta talk, wasn't easy though.

He had walked past the bar without a word, and Rita ordered, an' brought over the drinks, herself. I stood there, watchin' em set next to each other, an' talkin. But it was more like she was doin' the talkin', and he was noddin' his head in agreement. I started ta wonder, about exactly what was goin' on there.

Finally, the man had ta relieve 'imself, so he stepped outside. He went alone, too. No amigos, no girls, no bodyguards, and no gun on 'im at all. That said somethin'.

When he came back in, he was stopped and chatted up by a few. He was smiles and laughs fer all, just like regular. Then he patted their shoulders and said his goodbyes. He was makin' his way back, when I called 'im over.

I said, "I hope you got a line on what's goin' on out there, cause a lot o' my friends is frightened... y'know? The more I hear about Indians, an' you boys goin' missin', the more I start ta thank, this is gonna hurt business, you know what I'm sayin'?"

He had a smirk on 'is face but he nodded, and then he said, "Et's bullshit games man... That's all et es.

"We got one, stubborn, freak, puto... An e's out dere, wit a few friends, and dey playin' a joke, right? A few o' my guys got sloppy, an dey probably tars an' feathers somewhere, but et's good though, you know?

"We got drunks, we got cowards... Like any group... deres weak. Deres dose dat, don't deserve ta be where dey at. So, e's doin' me a favor... 'E is. An' I'll say dis... one hunnerd strong, es coming, from Mexico... Alright? One hunnerd men.

"De bullshit will stop, de man will be killed, es friends will be killed, an all will be right, don't you worry about it. We got it en 'and."

With that, back he went. It sounded like there was a clock runnin', on tha whole ordeal, and it was tickin' on down to explosion. I had ta seriously consider leavin'... Maybe headin' down ta Texas would be wise.

I poured myself a bit o' Bourbon, and thought on it. Quickly though, it got busy again, and that line o' thinkin' was lost. The next few hours went by quick. At a quarter ta nine, we heard four or five gunshots.

That isn't uncommon in this town, at all. A few folks by the door, they put they hands on they guns, and peered outside. Nothin' else happened though, an' no more shots came, so we all just ignored it. Then, one o' Marco's boys came in from out there.

The look on 'is face was... strained. His cheeks was wet wit' tears, and he was walkin' in tiny, small little steps. At the front of the place, people turned and looked, and then they reeled back from 'im. I didn't know why, 'til he made his way closer.

The smell, was... horrible... horrible... I don't know where he had been, or what he ate ta make that stench, but I pulled my shirt over my face, ta shield myself from it. He kept takin' those little, tiny steps, and the barflys was all coverin' up, like I was.

I wanted ta ask him ta leave, but I didn't wanna open my mouth, ta do so. Dave covered his mouth and nose, with both hands. Wally bailed for outside, and that man just kept on steppin', an inch at a time. As he made his way back, and across from the bar, I looked down and seen two, big brown stains, on the back of 'is pants.

That was about all I needed. I bunched up my shirt around my face, to block as much air as possible, and then I called out...

"Marco!... Marco!"

I pointed at the guy... and pointed and pointed and pointed... And then I covered up again. Marco got within a foot of 'im, but then he wanted to go back. As soon as he saw his boss, though, the man was talkin' that Spanish so loud, and so fast, it alerted the few folks that wasn't watchin 'im already.

Marco covered his face, and then he said, "Manny... Manny, you need to go back outside!"

That drew an explosion o' high pitched, rapid-fire Spanish from 'im. The syllables was runnin' so close together, I don't even think Marco knew what he was sayin'. Eventually, Marco just screamed over 'im.

"Manny enough! Enough!... Do not argue right now. We will help you, we will get him. Just go, the fuck, outside...now! Right now!

"... We're behind you, we're behind you, just go!"

So this Manny turned, and Marco did follow, but far behind. He motioned, and six of his boys went out with him, while the rest stayed with the girls. After they was out, laughter broke out in the bar. People was bustin' they sides, and cryin', an' I couldn't help laughin' as well.

While talk of the event was still new, and fresh in the air, Walter came back inside.

"Boss", he said. "You better come out and take a look at this."

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