Our story continues!
Review replies;
TweenisodeOrange: You lived in a mining town? Awesome! :D What was it like? Thanks for reading.
Movie-Brat: I'm glad you liked it. Thanks for reviewing.
Cartooniac55: Yeah, I wasn't orignally going to put this in Western, but I couldn't find anywhere else it fit. Mr. Krabs is fun to write. :D Thanks for the review!
ZimsMostLoyalServant: Yep, it all goes downhill from here. :\ Thanks very much!
Chapter Two: Shantytown
Officially, the mining region was called the Western Ranges, but everyone called it the hills. It was easier that way.
This particular mining camp was officially called Bendithurst, but everyone called it Shantytown. It was easier that way.
Why was it nicknamed Shantytown, you may ask? Well, because it was exactly that. There was a wooden tavern, a bank, a police station and nothing else. Everything else was either a rickety, damp hut or a cold, damp tent. It was an uncomfortable life, but the miners weren't here for comfort. They were here for the gold, but to be honest – they weren't having much luck.
Trooper AJ Ibrehim stood outside the Police Station, pouting and crossing his arms.
"Why do you get the horse?" he grumbled.
His comrade and commander, Special Constable Walker, chuckled.
"I'm in charge here," he replied, sneering, "It's my rules. Now get moving - I have a feeling we're gonna catch someone without a licence today."
Walker grinned menacingly, before galloping off down the dirt track to the western mines. AJ sighed, before walking on the eastern track.
Nathan Lester thought he might be doing something wrong.
He had filled the pan with dirt – check. He had taken the pan to the river – check. He had placed the pan in the river – check. Unfortunately for him he had missed a vital instruction…one actually had to hold onto the pan, otherwise it would sink.
Nathan was now reaching into the river, hoping to locate his submerged pan, when Walker galloped up to him.
"Licence, Lester," he growled.
"Y-yes, Special Constable Walker sir," Nathan gulped, bringing his licence out of his pocket.
Walker inwardly cursed. Another one would go free, denying him of the bounty he'd get for convicted criminals.
Unless…
The trooper pretended to be examining the authenticity of the licence for a few seconds. Then, without warning, he ripped it in two and hurled it to the ground.
"No licence," he chuckled, ignoring Nathan's mortified look, "That's against the rules. You're coming with me."
"But…" Nathan began.
"But nothing," snarled Walker, "You're under arrest, punk."
Nathan was taken away for a crime he had not committed.
Timmy sighed. The river claims had been taken quickly, leaving him empty handed. He had been given a choice; he could 'claim jump', in which case he'd be thrashed within an inch of his life by the miner he stole the claim from, or he could dig for gold.
Digging was the safer option.
Timmy's back was aching from the shovelling. He wiped some sweat off his brow, glancing to his fellow miners and fairy godparents, Cosmo and Wanda.
"How far down are we?" he gasped, exhausted.
"One metre, sport," Wanda replied, equally tired, "We're not far enough."
Cosmo gasped.
"You mean we have to do more digging?"
"Sorry Cosmo, but it's for the gold," Timmy sighed, picking up the shovel again, "It's all gonna be worth it."
Timmy heard footsteps walking up to him. He made a quick cautionary hand signal, and Cosmo and Wanda disguised as humans.
AJ was slogging through the bushland, obviously warn out. Timmy sighed as he pulled out his licence.
"I've got it, Constable," he said in monotone.
"Thanks Timmy," AJ replied, "Oh, don't call me Constable. Constable Walker's the only one who's allowed to be called that. Anyone else gets three weeks on the thumbscrews."
Timmy chuckled as AJ went over his, Cosmo's and Wanda's licences.
"Good one," he nodded.
"No. Seriously," AJ stated.
Timmy, Cosmo and Wanda winced.
"Ouch," Wanda winced.
"Walker's a cruel guy," AJ shrugged, "What can you do?"
"He's too cruel."
Another miner, with raven black hair and sky blue eyes, was approaching.
"I saw him earlier near Nathan Lester's claim," he sighed, "He tore up his licence and dragged him away."
"Lester?" Timmy gasped, "What the heck did he do?"
"Nothing, as far as I know," AJ mused.
"Wait a minute," Wanda realized, "Danny, what were you doing near Lester's claim?"
"Claim jumper!" Cosmo accused.
"I was meeting up with Dash Baxter," Danny replied, shrugging.
"Dash?" Timmy wondered, "The guy who owns the Empire Hotel? Why the heck would you meet with a guy like him?"
"He owes me and Sam money for some mining tools he 'borrowed'," Danny replied darkly, "He claims he never took the stuff."
"He's friends with Walker," sighed Wanda, "Not much you can do about it."
"I wish there was," sighed Danny.
"Maybe one day," AJ mused, "Well, your licences are all in order, I'll see you tomorrow."
He walked away, a lot on his mind.
Dash was friends with the troopers, which allowed him to take advantage of the miners. The gold licences were atrociously expensive and no one had a say about the issue. He himself was working for the very lot of people who oppressed them.
He had a lot to think about.
Back in town, certain people were going to give him even more.
If you know who Nathan is, congrats! You're a DP nerd...just like me. X)