Maze to Death

Boots striking against the stone floor filtered towards his ears. Leaning against the wall, he peered around the corner. The back of his adversary appeared within his view. Carefully removing his shooter from its holster, aimed at the back.

Before he could react, a second opponent appeared and sent a bullet towards him. It knocked his shooter out of his hand.

Bullets showered the corner he hid behind. His fallen shooter shot away from his reach.

Retreating from the lost cause until he can turn it around. Running through the twist and turns that one would expect from a maze. Stopping when a dead end appeared before him. Footsteps echoed louder towards him.

Taking few steps back ran towards a corner. His left foot caught the side then his right went higher. He climbed up the corner until his hand grabbed the edge. Pulling his up discovered the top of the walls were wide enough for him.

Removing a small cylinder from his duster pocket pushed the button. It became a long bo staff. Laying on the top of the wall waited for his chasers to come.

His ears picked up footsteps coming near along with voices.

"Where's did he go?" asked a female voice.

"He's here," answered a male voice, "Could've missed him."

Moving to a crouching position dropped and landed between the two pursers. Twisting, one end of the staff hit the back of the male's neck then the other end hit the female's cheek.

Hitting the male's hand that held the shooter, he had the female pinned with his boot against her throat.

Interrupting his follow up was, "Stop!"

After removing his foot from the brown female's throat, stonewalls sunk into the ground. Three pair of eyes were on the short man walking towards them.

"What the manure do you call that?" he yelled.

Staring at the enraged master gunslinger, he waited for answer.

Returning the cylinder to his duster pocket, "A strategy at beating superior numbers, Cob," remarked Rath.

"Strategy? Losing your shooter part of your strategy?"

"Seemed an easy shot at the time."

"Easy shots get you killed if you're not watching for a counter," turning towards Cort and April, "and you thought he was going to be easy prey."

Rubbing his wrist, "Two against on seemed good odds," answered Cort.

"Good odds? You know him. Fought along with him. You didn't think he would beat you? Unknown enemy would've killed you. Remember this. Now get out of my face before you're on manure detail." walking away from them.

"What pissed him off?" asked Rath.

Getting into Rath's face, "Hit him in the cheek then put your boot against his throat," yelled April, "and see if he gets pissed off."

"Can't help that I'm good with this staff," stated Rath.

"I'm the reason you learned about the staff."

"Apprentice's better then the master?"

Throwing her arms into the air, "Aaa men!" yelled April storming off.

"Guess everyone's mad at me today," commented Rath.

Still rubbing his wrist, "That's your nature," stated Cort.

"Thought I hit the back of your neck?"

"You did. The pain was replaced by my wrist."

"How's the wrist?"

"I'll live. April needs a man to cool off her temper."

"Explain."

"Being struck in a fortress full of men. Sure we got the ladies of the evening, but who does she have?"

"True, but I'm better with the staff then her."

"She did shoot this out of your hand," holding Rath's shooter.

Taking it and studying it, "She did, didn't she," reholstering it, Let's crack open a hog's head and cool that pyre cat's throat off," slapping Cort's stomach with his hat.

"Best idea I've heard all day," walking with Rath.