The Cagon Mines
By the Chronicler
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Chapter 10
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New Jersey laid Pinky Carruther's wrist down. "You're doing fine, Pinky. Just lay back and relax. We'll have you at the hospital in no time." he assured his patient.
Pinky squinted up at him, then closed his eyes. "Anything.... you... say, doc." he whispered. Hell, why did he always catch the nasty and everyone else got to go and play bash the bad guys?
New Jersey adjusted the I.V. bag, before leaning forward and asking the pilot "How long?"
"ETA: 22 minutes, doctor. Everything alright back there?" the co-pilot asked.
"No. A friend of mine has a bullet in his chest!" Jersey snapped. He paused to take a deep breath and calm himself. "The sooner we get him into an operating room, the sooner i can get that damn thing out, and the sooner everything WILL be alright."
"Just fine and dandy, doc." pinky mumbled, weakly reaching up and pulling Jersey back down in his seat. "I'm doin' fine. Just sit back an' relax, doc. We'll be at the hospital in no time."
New Jersey frowned. "You're supposed to be one of the mature ones." he reminded him.
Pinky chuckled, but his humor was cut short as pain streaked out across his chest. Wincing, his eyes squeezed shut, his hand on Jersey's arm tightening its grip momentarily.
"Easy there." Jersey encouraged, resting a hand on his shoulder. "Just hold on, buddy."
"Hey! What's that?" the co-pilot suddenly called over his head set.
"A jeep.... some sort of accident." the pilot answered. "Man down."
The co-pilot glances back at their passengers. "What say you, Doctor? There's a man down down there. Think you can handle another patient?"
New Jersey looked down at Pinky's pale and taunt features. It wasn't handling two that made him hesitate. Did they have the time? Now that was the question.
But Pinky answered for him. "Pick him up." His eyes opened, showing a moment of strength despite blood loss. "No way in hell is a man gonna be left behind to die on account of me!"
Jersey nodded once and repeated to the co-pilot "Pick him up."
The helicopter descended quickly, the pilots knowing time was of the essence. It had barely touched the ground when the co-pilot, quickly followed by New Jersey toting his medical bag, jumped out and raced the short distance to the over turned jeep.
A balding man leaned against the side of the vehicle, an arm slung over his stomach.
Jersey dropped down on the ground beside him and began to check him over for injuries. "Can you hear me? What is your name?" he called to the man.
"C... Cagon." he mumbled. His eyes opened and, instead of the hurt, weak look the doctor had expected, Jersey saw a hate filled, strong, determined glare. Suddenly the man's hand snapped out, slamming a fist against the unexpecting doctor's jaw.
Shocked, Jersey fell back.
"What the hell..." the co-pilot started toward them.
But Cagon raised a gun and fired, hitting the co-pilot in the hip.
Pinky's eyes snapped open. Gunfire?
"Christ!" he could hear the pilot curse.
"Stay in your seat, flyboy!" growled a mean voice. "You're flying me out of here."
"You shot Henry!" the pilot accused.
"And I'll shoot you just as easy."
"Oh, god...."
Pinky tried to sit up but Jersey had strapped him down in the stretcher so as to keep him from rolling about in the helicopter. Where was the doc? Swear, if that asshole hurt him... He had to get free! Or, in the very least, sit up so he could see out the windows.
"Hold on there, Cagon." New Jersey growled, coming up behind the Mayor. "You are not going anywhere!"
Cagon turned and laughed at the skinny an who faced off with him. "Look at yourself, man! You're a scrawny life saver with less guts than a skeeter bug. Be careful someone don't come along and squash you."
"I have two wounded men here... thanks to you and your greed." New Jersey snarled, his hands doubling up into fists.
"Then do what you're good at: save their lives." Cagon growled back. "And I'll do what I'm good at!" He tossed the briefcase he had been caring into the helicopter with one hand while keeping the gun aimed on the Cavalier with the other. He quickly turned about to climb in, but the helicopter suddenly bounced into the air.
The pilot had timed it just right, lifting his vehicle up just as Cagon set his right foot on the step rail. The action threw the Mayor back, stumbling right toward the not-too-pleased New Jersey.
Jersey spun him around as soon as he came within reach and slammed his fist into the man's jaw.
Again, Cagon stumbled back. But he recovered quickly. Bringing up his weapon, he fired.
New Jersey was already moving. Seeing the way his arm crossed his body slightly as he brought up the gun. Jersey knew the bullet would be off centered. So he spun the other direction. Nearly blinded by rage and determination, he almost missed the burn as the bullet slid across his shoulder.
Before Cagon could register the miss, New Jersey had drawn and aimed his own gun. "Put it down, Cagon! Or I'll put you down." he warned.
Cagon laughed. "You don't have the guts to kill!" Again he took aim.
New Jersey fired.
Cagon's laughter was cut off by a grunt as the bullet slammed into his chest, snapped ribs, and pierced his heart. Stunned, he blinked at Jersey. His mouth moved as if trying to speak. He sank to his knees. Raising his hands up, reaching for something, he held that pose for one, last, silent breath, before falling, face down, in the loose dirt of the hot, all consuming desert.
Jersey stared at the body. "Damn." he hissed after a moment. "I hate killing." It was all he had to say. There were more important things to be looked out after.
Holstering his weapon, he quickly ran to the fallen co-pilot. Helping the wounded man up, he half carried, half dragged him back to the helicopter.
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"This isn't going to hold long." Reno mumbled, looking up at the splintered beam.
"It doesn't have to." Moses assured. "It can go all to pieces as soon as we get through. Be better that way." His voice took on an uncharacteristic sad note as he whispered "There are many things in this world, my friend, better off buried."
Reno glanced at him, wonder just what exactly he had in mind of being better off buried.
But Moses quickly flashed him a grin and surged forward to help a pair move a boulder out of the way.
:"Here, now. What's this?" asked a little woman who had moved a rock to reveal a hole in the wall. Some sort of smashed mechanical box hung down from the hole. Torn tubes dripping bright pink and blue liquids waved in a slight breeze.
"Easy, girl." Moses warned, pulling her away from it. "Don't know what that stuff might be, but it doesn't look friendly."
"But there's a breeze along that side of the wall. We must be close to..."
"Hello? Anyone there?" came a faint voice from the other side of the cave-in.
Eyes bright with hope, the trapped miners glanced around at each other.
But it was Reno who answered. "Rawhide?" he yelled through the rocks.
"Reno!" came the excited answer.
The handful of miners cheered, a joyous sound that vibrated through the tunnel.
The splintered beam creaked and wined in protest. Gravel and dust fell from the ceiling and walls.
Moses quickly quieted his group.
Reno leaned against the cave-in. "We've got to get out of here, Rawhide! The ceiling is about to come down!"
"We're working on it, buddy." That was Buckaroo. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine... but we have wounded."
Silence came from the other side. It lasted so long that the woman cried "Please! Don't leave us in here!"
"We're not going to leave you." Buckaroo assured. "Rescuers are on their way. Can you dig out from your side?"
"Working on it." Reno answered.
Moses waved his people back to work. Hope igniting a new spark of energy and excitement, they gladly threw themselves into their work.
Only Moses cast a weary glance at the two liquids dripping down on the rocks. Only a slight bit could be seen... for now... but each drop rolled down the debris to pool somewhere below. Whatever it was... it did not look friendly.
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Perfect Tommy ran up the tunnel, stopped, and tried again. Fingering his go-phone, he waited for a response.
"Pecos here."
"Finally!"
"Perfect Tommy? Are you alright? Is Reno with you? What's going on? We got to get everyone out!"
"Yea, you're telling me." Perfect Tommy huffed. "Listen up, Pecos. We found Reno, but he's on the other side of a cave-in. We need some help."
"Heading your way. Stay where you are. I'm locking in on your go-phone. You can lead the rescuers from there."
Perfect Tommy smiled with relief. "Thanks, girl. Hey, and tell Knuckles it was not my fault."
There was an hesitation. "P.T. Knuckles was wounded."
"WHAT?" Panic hit, but he angrily shoved it aside. "What happened?"
"She'll be alright." Pecos hurriedly added. "Her eyes got scratched up when the explosion happened."
"She's blind?"
"She's headed to the hospital now."
"But, is she blind?" Perfect Tommy asked again, more insistent.
"Big Norse is with her. She'll let us know as soon as the docs know."
"Damn. Damn, damn, damn."
"She'll be alright, Tommy."
"Yea, I heard you the first time!" P.T. snapped. "Where the hell are the rescuers?"
In answer, he was hit be a helmet light. "Yoe! P.T. you playin' guide?" Hotrod asked.
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Moses gasped as his hand broke through to open air.
"We're through!" one of the miners squealed. He immediately began to dig at the opening.
"Careful! Careful." Moses insisted. "Won't do us any good if you collapse it in on us all over again. Reno, take charge here. Im gonna pull up our wounded and see about bracing that beam."
Reno nodded and began to give orders. "You, there, get that debris out of the way. Over there. Bring in those braces. Careful. Don't hit the light with that pike. You'll fry yourself."
Slowly, carefully, they began to widen the whole until, finally, they could see clear tunnel on the far side.
Buckaroo greeted them with a big smile. "Welcome to the light... so to speak." He offered his hand to the woman and pulled her to safety and guided her into the waiting arms of a rescuer who carried her off. "Next."
One by one, the miners crawled their way to freedom and the welcoming embraces of rescue workers, several of who wore BB colors and gear. The state's Blue Blazes had finally arrived.
"Here we go." Moses announced, caring a wounded man to the hole. He was followed by another wounded man and a woman who helped a third man limp forward.
But, before they could reach safety, Moses stopped to glare down at a bluish-pink liquid that ran from the debris at Reno's feet, down the tunnel, between his own feet, and....
"Reno!" Buckaroo cried, also spotting it.
But it was too late.
The air suddenly filled with a snapping sizzling. Then the entire world exploded.
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Pecos was slammed against the wall as the world shook again. Panther grabbed her arm, but he was knocked down by another falling victim.
Screams sounded from one of the elevators as its already stressed guide rails gave way, swinging the car out across the center of the pit, and back again to slam viciously into the rock wall.
Someone top side fell over the edge and fell the three stories down to the platform only a few feet from Pecos, his body smashing with a sickening slapping sound.
Dust, once again filled the air.
"Close you eyes! Cover your mouths!" Pecos yelled, praying that someone, anyone could hear her. Following her own advise, she blindly reached out to the comm booster she had been working and, instinctively finding the switch, hit the alarm.
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An ear piercing whistle was the first sound Buckaroo hear. Despite his fuzzy attempt at conciseness, he recognized it at once. Go-phones were going off, announcing that their owners were down for the count... or damn close to it.
"Rawhide?" he tried to gasp, but his lungs couldn't quite seem to work properly. Forcing aside the fog, Buckaroo called on every ounce of reserve strength he had left to bring himself about. The doctor in him surfaced and he ran his hands over his body, trying to discover if he had been wounded. For the exception of a rather large rock sitting on his chest, he seemed alive.
Turning his head slightly, peering through the burning dust, he came nose to nose with a rescue worker. Half of the man's head had been caved-in by a broken beam. His dead eyes stared at Buckaroo with an expression of hope. He never knew his end had come.
Somebody stepped on Buckaroo's hand.
"Ouch!"
"Ouch?" the framilar sound of Perfect Tommy's voice cut through his dulled senses like a sun beam through tree branches. "He's got a freakin' rock sitting on his chest, an' he's complaining 'cause I didn't see his hand there?"
"Shut up, P.T. and give me a hand." Buckaroo growled. "How many?"
Perfect Tommy leaned into the rock and, grunting and huffing, managed to push it off of his friend. "How many what?" he asked dropping down beside him.
"Go-phones. I hear them." Damn, it was hard to breath.
"They all are."
Buckaroo blinked up at him. "What?"
Perfect Tommy matched is gaze. "They are all going off." he repeated. "Yours. Rawhide's. Hotrod's.... they are all going off."
By the Chronicler
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Chapter 10
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New Jersey laid Pinky Carruther's wrist down. "You're doing fine, Pinky. Just lay back and relax. We'll have you at the hospital in no time." he assured his patient.
Pinky squinted up at him, then closed his eyes. "Anything.... you... say, doc." he whispered. Hell, why did he always catch the nasty and everyone else got to go and play bash the bad guys?
New Jersey adjusted the I.V. bag, before leaning forward and asking the pilot "How long?"
"ETA: 22 minutes, doctor. Everything alright back there?" the co-pilot asked.
"No. A friend of mine has a bullet in his chest!" Jersey snapped. He paused to take a deep breath and calm himself. "The sooner we get him into an operating room, the sooner i can get that damn thing out, and the sooner everything WILL be alright."
"Just fine and dandy, doc." pinky mumbled, weakly reaching up and pulling Jersey back down in his seat. "I'm doin' fine. Just sit back an' relax, doc. We'll be at the hospital in no time."
New Jersey frowned. "You're supposed to be one of the mature ones." he reminded him.
Pinky chuckled, but his humor was cut short as pain streaked out across his chest. Wincing, his eyes squeezed shut, his hand on Jersey's arm tightening its grip momentarily.
"Easy there." Jersey encouraged, resting a hand on his shoulder. "Just hold on, buddy."
"Hey! What's that?" the co-pilot suddenly called over his head set.
"A jeep.... some sort of accident." the pilot answered. "Man down."
The co-pilot glances back at their passengers. "What say you, Doctor? There's a man down down there. Think you can handle another patient?"
New Jersey looked down at Pinky's pale and taunt features. It wasn't handling two that made him hesitate. Did they have the time? Now that was the question.
But Pinky answered for him. "Pick him up." His eyes opened, showing a moment of strength despite blood loss. "No way in hell is a man gonna be left behind to die on account of me!"
Jersey nodded once and repeated to the co-pilot "Pick him up."
The helicopter descended quickly, the pilots knowing time was of the essence. It had barely touched the ground when the co-pilot, quickly followed by New Jersey toting his medical bag, jumped out and raced the short distance to the over turned jeep.
A balding man leaned against the side of the vehicle, an arm slung over his stomach.
Jersey dropped down on the ground beside him and began to check him over for injuries. "Can you hear me? What is your name?" he called to the man.
"C... Cagon." he mumbled. His eyes opened and, instead of the hurt, weak look the doctor had expected, Jersey saw a hate filled, strong, determined glare. Suddenly the man's hand snapped out, slamming a fist against the unexpecting doctor's jaw.
Shocked, Jersey fell back.
"What the hell..." the co-pilot started toward them.
But Cagon raised a gun and fired, hitting the co-pilot in the hip.
Pinky's eyes snapped open. Gunfire?
"Christ!" he could hear the pilot curse.
"Stay in your seat, flyboy!" growled a mean voice. "You're flying me out of here."
"You shot Henry!" the pilot accused.
"And I'll shoot you just as easy."
"Oh, god...."
Pinky tried to sit up but Jersey had strapped him down in the stretcher so as to keep him from rolling about in the helicopter. Where was the doc? Swear, if that asshole hurt him... He had to get free! Or, in the very least, sit up so he could see out the windows.
"Hold on there, Cagon." New Jersey growled, coming up behind the Mayor. "You are not going anywhere!"
Cagon turned and laughed at the skinny an who faced off with him. "Look at yourself, man! You're a scrawny life saver with less guts than a skeeter bug. Be careful someone don't come along and squash you."
"I have two wounded men here... thanks to you and your greed." New Jersey snarled, his hands doubling up into fists.
"Then do what you're good at: save their lives." Cagon growled back. "And I'll do what I'm good at!" He tossed the briefcase he had been caring into the helicopter with one hand while keeping the gun aimed on the Cavalier with the other. He quickly turned about to climb in, but the helicopter suddenly bounced into the air.
The pilot had timed it just right, lifting his vehicle up just as Cagon set his right foot on the step rail. The action threw the Mayor back, stumbling right toward the not-too-pleased New Jersey.
Jersey spun him around as soon as he came within reach and slammed his fist into the man's jaw.
Again, Cagon stumbled back. But he recovered quickly. Bringing up his weapon, he fired.
New Jersey was already moving. Seeing the way his arm crossed his body slightly as he brought up the gun. Jersey knew the bullet would be off centered. So he spun the other direction. Nearly blinded by rage and determination, he almost missed the burn as the bullet slid across his shoulder.
Before Cagon could register the miss, New Jersey had drawn and aimed his own gun. "Put it down, Cagon! Or I'll put you down." he warned.
Cagon laughed. "You don't have the guts to kill!" Again he took aim.
New Jersey fired.
Cagon's laughter was cut off by a grunt as the bullet slammed into his chest, snapped ribs, and pierced his heart. Stunned, he blinked at Jersey. His mouth moved as if trying to speak. He sank to his knees. Raising his hands up, reaching for something, he held that pose for one, last, silent breath, before falling, face down, in the loose dirt of the hot, all consuming desert.
Jersey stared at the body. "Damn." he hissed after a moment. "I hate killing." It was all he had to say. There were more important things to be looked out after.
Holstering his weapon, he quickly ran to the fallen co-pilot. Helping the wounded man up, he half carried, half dragged him back to the helicopter.
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"This isn't going to hold long." Reno mumbled, looking up at the splintered beam.
"It doesn't have to." Moses assured. "It can go all to pieces as soon as we get through. Be better that way." His voice took on an uncharacteristic sad note as he whispered "There are many things in this world, my friend, better off buried."
Reno glanced at him, wonder just what exactly he had in mind of being better off buried.
But Moses quickly flashed him a grin and surged forward to help a pair move a boulder out of the way.
:"Here, now. What's this?" asked a little woman who had moved a rock to reveal a hole in the wall. Some sort of smashed mechanical box hung down from the hole. Torn tubes dripping bright pink and blue liquids waved in a slight breeze.
"Easy, girl." Moses warned, pulling her away from it. "Don't know what that stuff might be, but it doesn't look friendly."
"But there's a breeze along that side of the wall. We must be close to..."
"Hello? Anyone there?" came a faint voice from the other side of the cave-in.
Eyes bright with hope, the trapped miners glanced around at each other.
But it was Reno who answered. "Rawhide?" he yelled through the rocks.
"Reno!" came the excited answer.
The handful of miners cheered, a joyous sound that vibrated through the tunnel.
The splintered beam creaked and wined in protest. Gravel and dust fell from the ceiling and walls.
Moses quickly quieted his group.
Reno leaned against the cave-in. "We've got to get out of here, Rawhide! The ceiling is about to come down!"
"We're working on it, buddy." That was Buckaroo. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine... but we have wounded."
Silence came from the other side. It lasted so long that the woman cried "Please! Don't leave us in here!"
"We're not going to leave you." Buckaroo assured. "Rescuers are on their way. Can you dig out from your side?"
"Working on it." Reno answered.
Moses waved his people back to work. Hope igniting a new spark of energy and excitement, they gladly threw themselves into their work.
Only Moses cast a weary glance at the two liquids dripping down on the rocks. Only a slight bit could be seen... for now... but each drop rolled down the debris to pool somewhere below. Whatever it was... it did not look friendly.
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Perfect Tommy ran up the tunnel, stopped, and tried again. Fingering his go-phone, he waited for a response.
"Pecos here."
"Finally!"
"Perfect Tommy? Are you alright? Is Reno with you? What's going on? We got to get everyone out!"
"Yea, you're telling me." Perfect Tommy huffed. "Listen up, Pecos. We found Reno, but he's on the other side of a cave-in. We need some help."
"Heading your way. Stay where you are. I'm locking in on your go-phone. You can lead the rescuers from there."
Perfect Tommy smiled with relief. "Thanks, girl. Hey, and tell Knuckles it was not my fault."
There was an hesitation. "P.T. Knuckles was wounded."
"WHAT?" Panic hit, but he angrily shoved it aside. "What happened?"
"She'll be alright." Pecos hurriedly added. "Her eyes got scratched up when the explosion happened."
"She's blind?"
"She's headed to the hospital now."
"But, is she blind?" Perfect Tommy asked again, more insistent.
"Big Norse is with her. She'll let us know as soon as the docs know."
"Damn. Damn, damn, damn."
"She'll be alright, Tommy."
"Yea, I heard you the first time!" P.T. snapped. "Where the hell are the rescuers?"
In answer, he was hit be a helmet light. "Yoe! P.T. you playin' guide?" Hotrod asked.
----------
Moses gasped as his hand broke through to open air.
"We're through!" one of the miners squealed. He immediately began to dig at the opening.
"Careful! Careful." Moses insisted. "Won't do us any good if you collapse it in on us all over again. Reno, take charge here. Im gonna pull up our wounded and see about bracing that beam."
Reno nodded and began to give orders. "You, there, get that debris out of the way. Over there. Bring in those braces. Careful. Don't hit the light with that pike. You'll fry yourself."
Slowly, carefully, they began to widen the whole until, finally, they could see clear tunnel on the far side.
Buckaroo greeted them with a big smile. "Welcome to the light... so to speak." He offered his hand to the woman and pulled her to safety and guided her into the waiting arms of a rescuer who carried her off. "Next."
One by one, the miners crawled their way to freedom and the welcoming embraces of rescue workers, several of who wore BB colors and gear. The state's Blue Blazes had finally arrived.
"Here we go." Moses announced, caring a wounded man to the hole. He was followed by another wounded man and a woman who helped a third man limp forward.
But, before they could reach safety, Moses stopped to glare down at a bluish-pink liquid that ran from the debris at Reno's feet, down the tunnel, between his own feet, and....
"Reno!" Buckaroo cried, also spotting it.
But it was too late.
The air suddenly filled with a snapping sizzling. Then the entire world exploded.
----------
Pecos was slammed against the wall as the world shook again. Panther grabbed her arm, but he was knocked down by another falling victim.
Screams sounded from one of the elevators as its already stressed guide rails gave way, swinging the car out across the center of the pit, and back again to slam viciously into the rock wall.
Someone top side fell over the edge and fell the three stories down to the platform only a few feet from Pecos, his body smashing with a sickening slapping sound.
Dust, once again filled the air.
"Close you eyes! Cover your mouths!" Pecos yelled, praying that someone, anyone could hear her. Following her own advise, she blindly reached out to the comm booster she had been working and, instinctively finding the switch, hit the alarm.
----------
An ear piercing whistle was the first sound Buckaroo hear. Despite his fuzzy attempt at conciseness, he recognized it at once. Go-phones were going off, announcing that their owners were down for the count... or damn close to it.
"Rawhide?" he tried to gasp, but his lungs couldn't quite seem to work properly. Forcing aside the fog, Buckaroo called on every ounce of reserve strength he had left to bring himself about. The doctor in him surfaced and he ran his hands over his body, trying to discover if he had been wounded. For the exception of a rather large rock sitting on his chest, he seemed alive.
Turning his head slightly, peering through the burning dust, he came nose to nose with a rescue worker. Half of the man's head had been caved-in by a broken beam. His dead eyes stared at Buckaroo with an expression of hope. He never knew his end had come.
Somebody stepped on Buckaroo's hand.
"Ouch!"
"Ouch?" the framilar sound of Perfect Tommy's voice cut through his dulled senses like a sun beam through tree branches. "He's got a freakin' rock sitting on his chest, an' he's complaining 'cause I didn't see his hand there?"
"Shut up, P.T. and give me a hand." Buckaroo growled. "How many?"
Perfect Tommy leaned into the rock and, grunting and huffing, managed to push it off of his friend. "How many what?" he asked dropping down beside him.
"Go-phones. I hear them." Damn, it was hard to breath.
"They all are."
Buckaroo blinked up at him. "What?"
Perfect Tommy matched is gaze. "They are all going off." he repeated. "Yours. Rawhide's. Hotrod's.... they are all going off."