Melfina irons pants in the adjoining living room while Gene finishes shaving in the bathroom, wiping foam away from his face, looking in the cabinet for a towel. Opening the bottom drawer, a batch of small red bottles clatters onto the floor. Laudanum bottles, all completely empty. Melfina looks up as "Wyatt" Gene Starwind walks out of the bathroom, empty bottle in hand. "Melfina. What about this?" he asked.
Melfina looked up at Gene, still ironing. "I do not need it." she said.
"At least you admitted it." Gene dropped the bottle into an empty dresser drawer.
"Admitted what, I am a laudanum fiend?" she asked. "No, Gene, I just said I do not need it. I needed you or something to keep me warm at dusk."
"Look, Melfina, I know you are ---"
"You do not know shit." Melfina interrupted. "What you do not know would fill a file or a draft. Damn it, I feel like it is when you are around I need it most. You are never yourself, you never calm down. Never. Everything is so stiff and dead. You always have to keep a rein on everything, even yourself. Oh, you smile sometimes, I have never seen you laugh. But there is no light in your smile for me no more, Gene, nothing to keep me warm at dusk or dawn. And I get even colder, Gene. I get so colder. What is between you and that Valeria woman?" She continued as it catches Gene off-guard. He looks at her as she sneers.
"All right, listen. I can make it up to you right, I can make this up to you, Melfina. I can, I swear to my father's grave." he said.
"Will you go to her and tell her right in front of me and in person she is nothing to you? Right out loud so I can hear it? Tell her she is nothing, tell her she is nobody, but dust and dirt? Will you do that?" Gene falls silent. Melfina stands, staring at him for a moment and continued. "Until you can do that we have got nothing to discuss about, Gene. Not a thing. Now leave me alone." she continued ironing pants and shirts. Gene looks as if a tall residence building fell on him...
Clyde comes out of Biehn's, spotting Valeria going down Sentinel's main street. He catches up to her, pacing her as she keeps on walking. "Listen, I want to talk to you." Clyde said.
"Not now. I do not have time." She said as Clyde grabs her aggressively.
"Bullshit! I saw that look pass between you and "Wyatt" Gene Starwind at the gunfight. Listen to me! You are mine! Understand? You are my woman and I am your man."
"My man? You told Gene you would disarm those men. Do you actually believe after that I could see you as my fiancee? You are nothing more than just a disgusted little fixer."
"You whore! You son of a bitch!" A hand reaches onto Clyde's shoulder, spinning him around. Revealed as James Hawking, blue in his eye. "You do not talk that way to a female human being! Not ever!" he said.
"Look, I do not want to take any advantage of an injured man but you better step aside or---" With his good arm still in place Jim punches Clyde in the mouth. He drops down like a leaf, as much to prevent any further injuries from his broken arm. Jim turns to Valeria, leading her away. Across the Crystal Palace saloon Ron McDougal and Marx share a flask, watching, Marx looking even odder than usual. "So she is Gene's slice now. Looks like we have another name for the victim books." Ron chuckled.
James Hawking, Aisha Clan-Clan, and "Wyatt" Gene Starwind stand in front of the Saloon. "Dropped the prick, that was it. Sorry If I made a mess. Made a right fair mess of the whole thing." Jim said as Gene looks down, miserable. Aisha looks up at the blue sky.
"It is getting warmer. I guess spring is coming fast." Aisha said. Until then Jim sees Tobigiera passing by in silence.
"Hello, Tobigiera. I said hello, Deputy."
"I do not want to talk to any of you." Tobigiera turned to them. "Those men you killed were my friends. I am just a nothing, but if I was not, I would fight you, I would fight you right now. So I do not want to talk to you." He hurries away, in raged fear as the Starwind family look on in amazement.
"All they ever did was make fun of the guy." Gene said.
"Sissy dep should have sticked around." They turn to see a drugged-up Marx stands behind them on the sidewalk an apparition, murder and blood in his eyes, hands thrusted into the pockets of his long black undertaker coat, castor gunbutts peeking out.
"What do you want, Marx?" Jim asked.
"I want your blood, your souls, and your flesh and I want all three of them right now." he answered.
"I do not want any more trouble, Marx."
"Well you got trouble!" Marx stepped up to Jim and Gene. "And it starts with you." Gene opens up his coat, revealing no castor guns or pistols and closes it.
"I am not going to fight you, there is no money in it. Sober up and get some rest. Come on, guys." Gene turns to the Crystal Palace. Marx howls in fierce as Jim and Aisha follow.
"Wretched sons of bitches, do any of you not have the guts to play for blood and guts?!"
"I will be your huckleberry." Marx turns as Fred Luo stands there, smiling the cheshire cat smile. "That is just my game."
"All right, lunger. You go to hell and die!" The two face each other, eyes blazing and about to reach critical mass.
"On three? You call it."
"Here it comes: one--two---" at the last possible instant, Ron McDougal flashes into the scene along with Hanmio and Yase, grabbing Marx from behind while the Starwind group steps in front of Fred Luo.
"No, Marx, do not! Son of a..! Come on, Marx..." Ron McDougal turns to the Starwinds. "Nevermind him. He is just drunk." The Kei Pirates haul Marx up the Sentinel streets, out of earshot. Marx is boiling.
"Let go of me! I want them spitting out blood." Marx struggles free from his fellow Kei Pirates and slams into a stand of wooden coffins knocking them down. Anger in his eyes, clawing the air, beside himself. "I tell you, fellows, even I am worried what will happen once Marx runs this outfit! No mercy!"
"There is no Layline, there is no demon, I despise this goddamn world. I want to see them dead!"
"Easy, Marx. You just need to get your feet back under you, that is all. Come on, Marx, let us kick south. Down to the old desert badlands." Ron said.
An adobe ranch in the Hayphong badlands, small and furnished. Inside a japanese family, two children, a husband and young wife eating dinner. Suddenly Ron McDougal and Marx burst in, castor guns drawn, shouting in italian. Everyone freezes and as the children start crying the Kei Pirates feel family's sense of inner terror as Ron looks at the trembling young wife over, nodding at Marx. "See Marx, there is a demon after all!"
Nightfall and the wind howls down the streets of Sentinel, kicking up dust in numeral columns. Lightning streaks down from the clouds and a thunderclap crashes in the citizens ears, echoing through town into the hills, making the horses neigh and fidget...
But inside the Crystal Palace it is bright and warm. Ruby is alone at the bar, nursing a drink while Gene deals cards for Jim and a few others. Aisha looks out at the storm, shaking her head. "Damn, it is going to be one of those nights." she said.
The Kei Pirates are gathered on a rise in the badlands. Ron McDougal stands before them, silhouetted against the thundering sky, castor arms outstretched, exulting in the storm's fury. He turns to his men, eyes ablaze. "All right, men. Now is the time to get pissed off." He announced.
Valeria sits by the window, reading "Hannibal: The Conqueror" in her hotel room. She hears a knock at the door. She gets up and answers it. Clyde enters. Valeria began to bristle. "Easy. I just wanted to tell you that things are about to start changing around here. Lots of so called high rollers, hard cases and tough nuts swagger around this town but none of them has got a clue about the real play. None of them." Clyde explained.
"I do not understand." Valeria said.
"You will after tonight. Bet on it."
Hilda sips tea by a blazing fire in the heart of James Hawking's house, warming herself against the storm's cold while Melfina sits nearby, sewing. "Goodness, it is a cold night. Come up to the fire, Melfina." Hilda said. Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Hilda looks out the window and sees a tall silhouette of a woman in a dark red cloak. "It looks like a woman." Hilda opens the door. Valeria enters, breathless, comes into the parlor of Jim's house. Melfina sits up in shock and they gather around.
"Please, I know it is awful of me for coming here, but listen, I cannot say why, but I think something is going to happen --" Another knock interrupts Valeria. Hilda goes to the window. There was a weird sense of deja vu as she sees another cloaked woman's silhouette.
"Now who in the hell... Another woman?" Hilda thoughted. She starts to open the door but Valeria suddenly leaps up and: "No! Look out!" with her unique quickness she dashes across the parlor, grabbing Hilda and pulling her to the floor just as a tremendous castor blast rips through the open doorway. The chandelier overhead explodes, showering the screaming women with broken glass shards and a loud male voice cuts through the air as the shrouded figure dashes into the darkness. "Everybody goes to hell!"
The sound of the castor gunshots are lost in the wind and thunder by the Crystal Palace as Aisha gets up, yawning. "It is getting late. Guess I will turn in." Aisha said.
"Bundle up, Aisha. It is freezing out there." Gene said. Aisha nods, exiting with a wave. Gene and Jim keep playing, hardly noticing as moments later, Ruby walks out with Aisha Clan-Clan.
Aisha turns off Sentinel Avenue onto the photo shop pass the palace, the wind whipping her coattails. She glances up as Ruby walks by, crossing Sentinel Avenue and ducking into a doorway. Something was moving in the shadows of an unfinished building on the opposite side of the Hayphong Corral....
A booming sound echoes outside the Crystal Palace, muffled by wind as Jim looks up. "That thunder sure is something." Jim said. Gene looked up at his friend and partner.
"That did not sound like thunder." he said. Moments later Aisha Clan-Clan walks back in, hatless with a blank look on her face. She moves with odd, shuffling steps, holding herself sideways. Gene and Jim exchange puzzled glances. "Aisha?"
"Gene... Jim..." Aisha does an unsteady stutter-step, her face taking on a pleading look of panic. But as she turns her body toward Gene she reveals her whole left side in bloody shreds, her right arm dangling unnaturally by gory ribbons of flesh. "Gene!" Her voice turned into a frightening sob of terror. She starts to swoon. Gene and Jim rush over to her side.
They take Aisha into the hotel room where she lays on the bed, wrapped in bandages, semi-conscious. Gene stands in the doorway with Fred Luo and the women. James Hawking by Aisha's side, hands over his mouth as Dr. Doose speaks in somber tones. "I am afraid Miss Aisha has been damaged very badly. I had to remove the whole right elbow joint. What that means is, well I am afraid that she is going to lose her arm." Jim could not believe what happened. Suddenly alert, Aisha sits up taking him in her left arm, pulling him close. "No, no, do not worry, Jim. I still have my left arm left to hug you with." The Ctarl Ctarl's calm and reassured voice buried the deputy marshall in her chest, wepping. She holds him, rocking him back and forth. "Wyatt" Gene Starwind turns away, shutting his eyes. "Son of a bitch...." He muttered. Jim released himself from Aisha's grip and ran out the door in the stormy night. "Goddamn son of a bitch!"
Dawn approaches in Sentinel III, Aisha Clan Clan lies in bed, staring blankly into space. Gene sits at her side, hands over his face while Hilda hovers in the room. "It is all my fault. If I had not been so damn smart, if I would just... oh hell, Aisha, I am so sorry." Gene said.
"Look, Gene, I do not want to talk right now." Hilda said.
"Aisha, what am I going to do?"
"For the Ctarl Ctarl's sake, just leave me alone." Aisha grimaces in hopeless agony as Hilda touches Gene's arm.
"He does not want to talk right now." "Wyatt" Gene Starwind stands, backing away from his friend. He turns pleadingly to Melfina standing in the doorway, looking away as he walks out.
Gene comes into the hotel lobby and freezes as Swanzo McMasters approaches. Gene starts to walk by him, but Swanzo steps into his path. "No wait. Please. I know nothing I say will fix things but I want you to know I had nothing to do with Aisha's assassination." he explained.
"No? Brothers to the flesh, right, Swanzo?"
"Not anymore, not after all this." Gene looks into his eyes and sees that he means it as he removes the black sash off of him. Gene looks into Swanzo's eyes and sees that he means it...
James Hawking is in the Crystal Palace by himself, calmly shooting pool, his dog Ruby jumping enthusiastically at every shot as Gene enters. "Get down, Ruby."
"Jim, are you insane? They are out there gunning for us! What the blue hell are you doing?" Gene said.
"What does it look like? They want a piece of the Starwind family they can come and get it, I am not crawling into my hole." Jim answered.
"James, use your head."
"I am using it, Gene. I been wondering how the hell we got in this mess. You know they hit Horis' home, too? Shot down his wife. Who ever heard of that? Men sneaking around in the dead of night, back-shooting, scaring the women? They are blood-sucking parasites, Gene. You know all your smart talk about live and let live? There is no live and let live with parasites."
"I know I was wrong. But Jim, look, we have to get out of here."
"Listen to yourself, Gene. Lie down and roll or you might get hurt? What kind of talk is that? That is Aisha Clan-Clan lying over there, Gene. Our own friend and partner. Ruined for life. No, I am not going anywhere. You want to go, fine. But I am staying right here and have it out with those Kei bastards." Jim pulls back his vest, revealing Aisha's badge. Gene drops into a corner chair, defeated. Jim makes a shot, leaving only the 8 ball. A few more beats. Seeing Gene's misery, Jim softens, poking him with the cue. He looks up as Jim taps the front pocket and shakens his head a bit. "How much do you want to bet?" Gene holds up his watch while Jim frowns and raises his brows. " I just got it fixed." he said.
"You are on." Jim had to lean over the table but he sinks the 8 ball, looking over Gene in triumph. Gene applauds, rolling his eyes as a bullet sprangs into the wall by his head. Gene dives for the floor as another bullet pierces the window. Gene jumps up, bounding to the door to see several dark figures clash into the darkness. Gene turns back and freezes. Jim Hawking lies across the table with both legs dangling over the edge, jerking and shuddering involuntarily. Gene rushes to him. The dog whines as Fred Luo rushes in with Twilight Suzuka and Swanzo. Gene trembles in fear. "No, no! Get Doose! Son of a bitch!"
The curious crowd outside, watching through the Crystal Palace windows. James Hawking is on the pool table, lying on his side with his shirt pulled up. His dog Ruby cowers in the corner, whining while Dr. Doose digs into the wound with a steel probe, making Jim whine in complete agony. "Hold him." Doose turns to Gene as he takes Jim in his arms. Doose probes as Jim jerks violently. They suddenly hear a blood-curdling scream of horror. Hilda is in the doorway, shocked in terror and lost in utter hysteria. "Oh, no, get her the hell out of here! Damn it!" Gene said as it all now sinks into hellacious confusion with Ruby whimpering, Hilda shrieking as others restrain her, and Jim gives a violent jerk, breaking free of "Wyatt" Gene Starwind's grip. Dr. Doose snarls, about at the end of his rope. "I said hold him, Damn it!"
"Will somebody shut the damn dog up!" Gene shouted as Jim takes his arm, sounding like a child. "You were right, Gene. They shot me good. Do not let them get you too. Remember about that light you are suppose to see when you are killed?"
"Easy, Jim. Do not think about that now."
"It is not true. I cannot see a damn thing eitherway." Jim said as tears well up in Gene's eyes. He touches his partner's face as James Hawking's eyelids start fluttering while squeezing his hand. "Jim? Jim!" Jim's dog, Ruby starts howling, long, loud and hideous and in the next moment the air is filled with howls as every dog, cat, and coyote from miles ahead joins in the mourning. Gene back away from his dead partner and trudges out onto the sidewalk, staring at the blood on his hands. Standing in the crowd around the street, Valeria sees Gene and starts for him. Sheriff Clyde grabs her as she wrenches free with all of Sentinel watching the tragedy of James Hawking and starts running toward Gene. Seeing her, Gene backs away in horror, shaking his head. "No, no, get away, get away from me..."
"Gene..." She keeps coming. Gene panics and finally in desparation.
"Wench! Insolent dog! Get away from me!" She pauses, unable to believe her eyes and ears, then runs away crying. Fuming with rage, Twilight Suzuka starts after Gene, but Fred Luo pulls her back to his side. "Can you not see why he did it?" Fred said. The howls continue as Gene Starwind trudges down the street alone. Suddenly he doubles over, clutching his abdomen in agony, staring at his blood drenched hands...
The wagon bearing James Hawking's wooden coffin waits in the Sentinel streets, hitched and ready to go. Aisha Clan-Clan sits up front with Hilda and Melfina, right arm in a slang, upset. Fred and Suzuka wait on horses nearby. Finished loading, Gene looks around as the citizens line the street, watching in silence. Horis and his wounded wife turn away from the window of their lodgings next door, unable to meet Gene's gaze. The thin air feels charged with paranoia and alienation, as if the whole town has right now become morally paranormal. Bystanders gape as Valeria Marcus steps out of the hotel, regal and imprevious as a queen, wearing a gown like a queen's coat. Passing Clyde, he gives her nasty look and spits. She does not even break stride. Lounging in front of the Saloon with the other Kei Pirates, Yase gives Ron McDougal an enquiring look. "No, she is nobody. Gene junked her." Ron said while passing Gene, she does not even glance at him as Fred sighs lightly. "And so she walked our their lives for eternity." Without a word Gene climbs onto the wagon and shakes the reins, driving off, defeated by the Kei Pirates' power. He pulls up in front of them. They make a show of pretending to hide their castor rifles as he looks straight ahead at the victors. "I want you all to know it is all over. You won the war and battle. We are leaving and we are not coming back ever." Gene announced.
"Well.... goodbye." Ron said hysterically.
"Hey, you smell that?" Marx sniffs the air. "It smells like somebody rotted in decaptation." Hilda's and Aisha's eyes flare as The Kei Pirates snicker. Gene clenches his teeth, still staring straight ahead and drives on. A few more beats then Ron McDougal turns to his brother Harry. "Harry... Take Yase and finish the job."
A train pours steam onto the platform in puffs and clouds while four porters load James Hawking's heavy coffin into the boxcar. Up ahead, Melfina fumbles with the luggage while Hilda boosts Aisha into a passenger car. As they hear the conductor's voice shouting, "All aboard!" Harry McDougal and Yase emerge from the shadows near the scales, crouches behind their castor shotguns. They exchange nods and start forward, cocking their weapons, squinting through the steam of the train. "That is Aisha Clan-Clan with the women. No sign of Gene." Yase said.
"She is mine!" Harry said as he heads for their boxcar. "Hey Aish! Where is Gene?"
"Right behind you, McDougal." They spin around as "Wyatt" Gene Starwind stands behind them, looking down the barrels of James Hawking's big 12 gauge. Yase raises his shotgun. Gene fires and Yase hits the floor in a crumpled heap, as his torso becomes a smoking bundle of bloody rags. Harry McDougal falls to his knees as Gene approaches to him, he raises his head up with his boot, pointing the star to the back of his mouth and swiftly zooms it into his lips as the blood spreads, causing Harry to scream psychopathically. Gene looks at the McDougal with vengeance in his eyes, pointing his gun to his direction. "All right, McDougal. You call down the thunder well now you got it!" He opens up his trenchcoat and reveals a Marshal badge pinned on his vest. "You see that? It says Sentinel III Marshal!"
"Gene, please do not kill me! Please..." Harry cried in agony.
"Take a good look at Yase, Harry. Because that is how you are going to end up." he moved closer to Harry, and placed his foot onto his throat. "The Kei Pirates are finished, do you understand me? I see a black sash, I kill the human being wearing it! So run you cur!" Gene released his prisoner and ran to warn the others that "Wyatt" Gene Starwind has returned to the law. "Run! Tell all the other curs that the law is arriving. You tell them I am coming and Hell is coming with me! You hear. Hell is coming with me!"
Melfina looked up at Gene, still ironing. "I do not need it." she said.
"At least you admitted it." Gene dropped the bottle into an empty dresser drawer.
"Admitted what, I am a laudanum fiend?" she asked. "No, Gene, I just said I do not need it. I needed you or something to keep me warm at dusk."
"Look, Melfina, I know you are ---"
"You do not know shit." Melfina interrupted. "What you do not know would fill a file or a draft. Damn it, I feel like it is when you are around I need it most. You are never yourself, you never calm down. Never. Everything is so stiff and dead. You always have to keep a rein on everything, even yourself. Oh, you smile sometimes, I have never seen you laugh. But there is no light in your smile for me no more, Gene, nothing to keep me warm at dusk or dawn. And I get even colder, Gene. I get so colder. What is between you and that Valeria woman?" She continued as it catches Gene off-guard. He looks at her as she sneers.
"All right, listen. I can make it up to you right, I can make this up to you, Melfina. I can, I swear to my father's grave." he said.
"Will you go to her and tell her right in front of me and in person she is nothing to you? Right out loud so I can hear it? Tell her she is nothing, tell her she is nobody, but dust and dirt? Will you do that?" Gene falls silent. Melfina stands, staring at him for a moment and continued. "Until you can do that we have got nothing to discuss about, Gene. Not a thing. Now leave me alone." she continued ironing pants and shirts. Gene looks as if a tall residence building fell on him...
Clyde comes out of Biehn's, spotting Valeria going down Sentinel's main street. He catches up to her, pacing her as she keeps on walking. "Listen, I want to talk to you." Clyde said.
"Not now. I do not have time." She said as Clyde grabs her aggressively.
"Bullshit! I saw that look pass between you and "Wyatt" Gene Starwind at the gunfight. Listen to me! You are mine! Understand? You are my woman and I am your man."
"My man? You told Gene you would disarm those men. Do you actually believe after that I could see you as my fiancee? You are nothing more than just a disgusted little fixer."
"You whore! You son of a bitch!" A hand reaches onto Clyde's shoulder, spinning him around. Revealed as James Hawking, blue in his eye. "You do not talk that way to a female human being! Not ever!" he said.
"Look, I do not want to take any advantage of an injured man but you better step aside or---" With his good arm still in place Jim punches Clyde in the mouth. He drops down like a leaf, as much to prevent any further injuries from his broken arm. Jim turns to Valeria, leading her away. Across the Crystal Palace saloon Ron McDougal and Marx share a flask, watching, Marx looking even odder than usual. "So she is Gene's slice now. Looks like we have another name for the victim books." Ron chuckled.
James Hawking, Aisha Clan-Clan, and "Wyatt" Gene Starwind stand in front of the Saloon. "Dropped the prick, that was it. Sorry If I made a mess. Made a right fair mess of the whole thing." Jim said as Gene looks down, miserable. Aisha looks up at the blue sky.
"It is getting warmer. I guess spring is coming fast." Aisha said. Until then Jim sees Tobigiera passing by in silence.
"Hello, Tobigiera. I said hello, Deputy."
"I do not want to talk to any of you." Tobigiera turned to them. "Those men you killed were my friends. I am just a nothing, but if I was not, I would fight you, I would fight you right now. So I do not want to talk to you." He hurries away, in raged fear as the Starwind family look on in amazement.
"All they ever did was make fun of the guy." Gene said.
"Sissy dep should have sticked around." They turn to see a drugged-up Marx stands behind them on the sidewalk an apparition, murder and blood in his eyes, hands thrusted into the pockets of his long black undertaker coat, castor gunbutts peeking out.
"What do you want, Marx?" Jim asked.
"I want your blood, your souls, and your flesh and I want all three of them right now." he answered.
"I do not want any more trouble, Marx."
"Well you got trouble!" Marx stepped up to Jim and Gene. "And it starts with you." Gene opens up his coat, revealing no castor guns or pistols and closes it.
"I am not going to fight you, there is no money in it. Sober up and get some rest. Come on, guys." Gene turns to the Crystal Palace. Marx howls in fierce as Jim and Aisha follow.
"Wretched sons of bitches, do any of you not have the guts to play for blood and guts?!"
"I will be your huckleberry." Marx turns as Fred Luo stands there, smiling the cheshire cat smile. "That is just my game."
"All right, lunger. You go to hell and die!" The two face each other, eyes blazing and about to reach critical mass.
"On three? You call it."
"Here it comes: one--two---" at the last possible instant, Ron McDougal flashes into the scene along with Hanmio and Yase, grabbing Marx from behind while the Starwind group steps in front of Fred Luo.
"No, Marx, do not! Son of a..! Come on, Marx..." Ron McDougal turns to the Starwinds. "Nevermind him. He is just drunk." The Kei Pirates haul Marx up the Sentinel streets, out of earshot. Marx is boiling.
"Let go of me! I want them spitting out blood." Marx struggles free from his fellow Kei Pirates and slams into a stand of wooden coffins knocking them down. Anger in his eyes, clawing the air, beside himself. "I tell you, fellows, even I am worried what will happen once Marx runs this outfit! No mercy!"
"There is no Layline, there is no demon, I despise this goddamn world. I want to see them dead!"
"Easy, Marx. You just need to get your feet back under you, that is all. Come on, Marx, let us kick south. Down to the old desert badlands." Ron said.
An adobe ranch in the Hayphong badlands, small and furnished. Inside a japanese family, two children, a husband and young wife eating dinner. Suddenly Ron McDougal and Marx burst in, castor guns drawn, shouting in italian. Everyone freezes and as the children start crying the Kei Pirates feel family's sense of inner terror as Ron looks at the trembling young wife over, nodding at Marx. "See Marx, there is a demon after all!"
Nightfall and the wind howls down the streets of Sentinel, kicking up dust in numeral columns. Lightning streaks down from the clouds and a thunderclap crashes in the citizens ears, echoing through town into the hills, making the horses neigh and fidget...
But inside the Crystal Palace it is bright and warm. Ruby is alone at the bar, nursing a drink while Gene deals cards for Jim and a few others. Aisha looks out at the storm, shaking her head. "Damn, it is going to be one of those nights." she said.
The Kei Pirates are gathered on a rise in the badlands. Ron McDougal stands before them, silhouetted against the thundering sky, castor arms outstretched, exulting in the storm's fury. He turns to his men, eyes ablaze. "All right, men. Now is the time to get pissed off." He announced.
Valeria sits by the window, reading "Hannibal: The Conqueror" in her hotel room. She hears a knock at the door. She gets up and answers it. Clyde enters. Valeria began to bristle. "Easy. I just wanted to tell you that things are about to start changing around here. Lots of so called high rollers, hard cases and tough nuts swagger around this town but none of them has got a clue about the real play. None of them." Clyde explained.
"I do not understand." Valeria said.
"You will after tonight. Bet on it."
Hilda sips tea by a blazing fire in the heart of James Hawking's house, warming herself against the storm's cold while Melfina sits nearby, sewing. "Goodness, it is a cold night. Come up to the fire, Melfina." Hilda said. Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Hilda looks out the window and sees a tall silhouette of a woman in a dark red cloak. "It looks like a woman." Hilda opens the door. Valeria enters, breathless, comes into the parlor of Jim's house. Melfina sits up in shock and they gather around.
"Please, I know it is awful of me for coming here, but listen, I cannot say why, but I think something is going to happen --" Another knock interrupts Valeria. Hilda goes to the window. There was a weird sense of deja vu as she sees another cloaked woman's silhouette.
"Now who in the hell... Another woman?" Hilda thoughted. She starts to open the door but Valeria suddenly leaps up and: "No! Look out!" with her unique quickness she dashes across the parlor, grabbing Hilda and pulling her to the floor just as a tremendous castor blast rips through the open doorway. The chandelier overhead explodes, showering the screaming women with broken glass shards and a loud male voice cuts through the air as the shrouded figure dashes into the darkness. "Everybody goes to hell!"
The sound of the castor gunshots are lost in the wind and thunder by the Crystal Palace as Aisha gets up, yawning. "It is getting late. Guess I will turn in." Aisha said.
"Bundle up, Aisha. It is freezing out there." Gene said. Aisha nods, exiting with a wave. Gene and Jim keep playing, hardly noticing as moments later, Ruby walks out with Aisha Clan-Clan.
Aisha turns off Sentinel Avenue onto the photo shop pass the palace, the wind whipping her coattails. She glances up as Ruby walks by, crossing Sentinel Avenue and ducking into a doorway. Something was moving in the shadows of an unfinished building on the opposite side of the Hayphong Corral....
A booming sound echoes outside the Crystal Palace, muffled by wind as Jim looks up. "That thunder sure is something." Jim said. Gene looked up at his friend and partner.
"That did not sound like thunder." he said. Moments later Aisha Clan-Clan walks back in, hatless with a blank look on her face. She moves with odd, shuffling steps, holding herself sideways. Gene and Jim exchange puzzled glances. "Aisha?"
"Gene... Jim..." Aisha does an unsteady stutter-step, her face taking on a pleading look of panic. But as she turns her body toward Gene she reveals her whole left side in bloody shreds, her right arm dangling unnaturally by gory ribbons of flesh. "Gene!" Her voice turned into a frightening sob of terror. She starts to swoon. Gene and Jim rush over to her side.
They take Aisha into the hotel room where she lays on the bed, wrapped in bandages, semi-conscious. Gene stands in the doorway with Fred Luo and the women. James Hawking by Aisha's side, hands over his mouth as Dr. Doose speaks in somber tones. "I am afraid Miss Aisha has been damaged very badly. I had to remove the whole right elbow joint. What that means is, well I am afraid that she is going to lose her arm." Jim could not believe what happened. Suddenly alert, Aisha sits up taking him in her left arm, pulling him close. "No, no, do not worry, Jim. I still have my left arm left to hug you with." The Ctarl Ctarl's calm and reassured voice buried the deputy marshall in her chest, wepping. She holds him, rocking him back and forth. "Wyatt" Gene Starwind turns away, shutting his eyes. "Son of a bitch...." He muttered. Jim released himself from Aisha's grip and ran out the door in the stormy night. "Goddamn son of a bitch!"
Dawn approaches in Sentinel III, Aisha Clan Clan lies in bed, staring blankly into space. Gene sits at her side, hands over his face while Hilda hovers in the room. "It is all my fault. If I had not been so damn smart, if I would just... oh hell, Aisha, I am so sorry." Gene said.
"Look, Gene, I do not want to talk right now." Hilda said.
"Aisha, what am I going to do?"
"For the Ctarl Ctarl's sake, just leave me alone." Aisha grimaces in hopeless agony as Hilda touches Gene's arm.
"He does not want to talk right now." "Wyatt" Gene Starwind stands, backing away from his friend. He turns pleadingly to Melfina standing in the doorway, looking away as he walks out.
Gene comes into the hotel lobby and freezes as Swanzo McMasters approaches. Gene starts to walk by him, but Swanzo steps into his path. "No wait. Please. I know nothing I say will fix things but I want you to know I had nothing to do with Aisha's assassination." he explained.
"No? Brothers to the flesh, right, Swanzo?"
"Not anymore, not after all this." Gene looks into his eyes and sees that he means it as he removes the black sash off of him. Gene looks into Swanzo's eyes and sees that he means it...
James Hawking is in the Crystal Palace by himself, calmly shooting pool, his dog Ruby jumping enthusiastically at every shot as Gene enters. "Get down, Ruby."
"Jim, are you insane? They are out there gunning for us! What the blue hell are you doing?" Gene said.
"What does it look like? They want a piece of the Starwind family they can come and get it, I am not crawling into my hole." Jim answered.
"James, use your head."
"I am using it, Gene. I been wondering how the hell we got in this mess. You know they hit Horis' home, too? Shot down his wife. Who ever heard of that? Men sneaking around in the dead of night, back-shooting, scaring the women? They are blood-sucking parasites, Gene. You know all your smart talk about live and let live? There is no live and let live with parasites."
"I know I was wrong. But Jim, look, we have to get out of here."
"Listen to yourself, Gene. Lie down and roll or you might get hurt? What kind of talk is that? That is Aisha Clan-Clan lying over there, Gene. Our own friend and partner. Ruined for life. No, I am not going anywhere. You want to go, fine. But I am staying right here and have it out with those Kei bastards." Jim pulls back his vest, revealing Aisha's badge. Gene drops into a corner chair, defeated. Jim makes a shot, leaving only the 8 ball. A few more beats. Seeing Gene's misery, Jim softens, poking him with the cue. He looks up as Jim taps the front pocket and shakens his head a bit. "How much do you want to bet?" Gene holds up his watch while Jim frowns and raises his brows. " I just got it fixed." he said.
"You are on." Jim had to lean over the table but he sinks the 8 ball, looking over Gene in triumph. Gene applauds, rolling his eyes as a bullet sprangs into the wall by his head. Gene dives for the floor as another bullet pierces the window. Gene jumps up, bounding to the door to see several dark figures clash into the darkness. Gene turns back and freezes. Jim Hawking lies across the table with both legs dangling over the edge, jerking and shuddering involuntarily. Gene rushes to him. The dog whines as Fred Luo rushes in with Twilight Suzuka and Swanzo. Gene trembles in fear. "No, no! Get Doose! Son of a bitch!"
The curious crowd outside, watching through the Crystal Palace windows. James Hawking is on the pool table, lying on his side with his shirt pulled up. His dog Ruby cowers in the corner, whining while Dr. Doose digs into the wound with a steel probe, making Jim whine in complete agony. "Hold him." Doose turns to Gene as he takes Jim in his arms. Doose probes as Jim jerks violently. They suddenly hear a blood-curdling scream of horror. Hilda is in the doorway, shocked in terror and lost in utter hysteria. "Oh, no, get her the hell out of here! Damn it!" Gene said as it all now sinks into hellacious confusion with Ruby whimpering, Hilda shrieking as others restrain her, and Jim gives a violent jerk, breaking free of "Wyatt" Gene Starwind's grip. Dr. Doose snarls, about at the end of his rope. "I said hold him, Damn it!"
"Will somebody shut the damn dog up!" Gene shouted as Jim takes his arm, sounding like a child. "You were right, Gene. They shot me good. Do not let them get you too. Remember about that light you are suppose to see when you are killed?"
"Easy, Jim. Do not think about that now."
"It is not true. I cannot see a damn thing eitherway." Jim said as tears well up in Gene's eyes. He touches his partner's face as James Hawking's eyelids start fluttering while squeezing his hand. "Jim? Jim!" Jim's dog, Ruby starts howling, long, loud and hideous and in the next moment the air is filled with howls as every dog, cat, and coyote from miles ahead joins in the mourning. Gene back away from his dead partner and trudges out onto the sidewalk, staring at the blood on his hands. Standing in the crowd around the street, Valeria sees Gene and starts for him. Sheriff Clyde grabs her as she wrenches free with all of Sentinel watching the tragedy of James Hawking and starts running toward Gene. Seeing her, Gene backs away in horror, shaking his head. "No, no, get away, get away from me..."
"Gene..." She keeps coming. Gene panics and finally in desparation.
"Wench! Insolent dog! Get away from me!" She pauses, unable to believe her eyes and ears, then runs away crying. Fuming with rage, Twilight Suzuka starts after Gene, but Fred Luo pulls her back to his side. "Can you not see why he did it?" Fred said. The howls continue as Gene Starwind trudges down the street alone. Suddenly he doubles over, clutching his abdomen in agony, staring at his blood drenched hands...
The wagon bearing James Hawking's wooden coffin waits in the Sentinel streets, hitched and ready to go. Aisha Clan-Clan sits up front with Hilda and Melfina, right arm in a slang, upset. Fred and Suzuka wait on horses nearby. Finished loading, Gene looks around as the citizens line the street, watching in silence. Horis and his wounded wife turn away from the window of their lodgings next door, unable to meet Gene's gaze. The thin air feels charged with paranoia and alienation, as if the whole town has right now become morally paranormal. Bystanders gape as Valeria Marcus steps out of the hotel, regal and imprevious as a queen, wearing a gown like a queen's coat. Passing Clyde, he gives her nasty look and spits. She does not even break stride. Lounging in front of the Saloon with the other Kei Pirates, Yase gives Ron McDougal an enquiring look. "No, she is nobody. Gene junked her." Ron said while passing Gene, she does not even glance at him as Fred sighs lightly. "And so she walked our their lives for eternity." Without a word Gene climbs onto the wagon and shakes the reins, driving off, defeated by the Kei Pirates' power. He pulls up in front of them. They make a show of pretending to hide their castor rifles as he looks straight ahead at the victors. "I want you all to know it is all over. You won the war and battle. We are leaving and we are not coming back ever." Gene announced.
"Well.... goodbye." Ron said hysterically.
"Hey, you smell that?" Marx sniffs the air. "It smells like somebody rotted in decaptation." Hilda's and Aisha's eyes flare as The Kei Pirates snicker. Gene clenches his teeth, still staring straight ahead and drives on. A few more beats then Ron McDougal turns to his brother Harry. "Harry... Take Yase and finish the job."
A train pours steam onto the platform in puffs and clouds while four porters load James Hawking's heavy coffin into the boxcar. Up ahead, Melfina fumbles with the luggage while Hilda boosts Aisha into a passenger car. As they hear the conductor's voice shouting, "All aboard!" Harry McDougal and Yase emerge from the shadows near the scales, crouches behind their castor shotguns. They exchange nods and start forward, cocking their weapons, squinting through the steam of the train. "That is Aisha Clan-Clan with the women. No sign of Gene." Yase said.
"She is mine!" Harry said as he heads for their boxcar. "Hey Aish! Where is Gene?"
"Right behind you, McDougal." They spin around as "Wyatt" Gene Starwind stands behind them, looking down the barrels of James Hawking's big 12 gauge. Yase raises his shotgun. Gene fires and Yase hits the floor in a crumpled heap, as his torso becomes a smoking bundle of bloody rags. Harry McDougal falls to his knees as Gene approaches to him, he raises his head up with his boot, pointing the star to the back of his mouth and swiftly zooms it into his lips as the blood spreads, causing Harry to scream psychopathically. Gene looks at the McDougal with vengeance in his eyes, pointing his gun to his direction. "All right, McDougal. You call down the thunder well now you got it!" He opens up his trenchcoat and reveals a Marshal badge pinned on his vest. "You see that? It says Sentinel III Marshal!"
"Gene, please do not kill me! Please..." Harry cried in agony.
"Take a good look at Yase, Harry. Because that is how you are going to end up." he moved closer to Harry, and placed his foot onto his throat. "The Kei Pirates are finished, do you understand me? I see a black sash, I kill the human being wearing it! So run you cur!" Gene released his prisoner and ran to warn the others that "Wyatt" Gene Starwind has returned to the law. "Run! Tell all the other curs that the law is arriving. You tell them I am coming and Hell is coming with me! You hear. Hell is coming with me!"