CHAPTER 115
The morning arrived overcast over the small town, casting a melancholy shadow over the events that were about to unfold. Bill, Wynn, Frankison, Edward and Jack were all gathered next to the lawyer, a man with serious features who represented the law on this dark day. The atmosphere was charged with tension, as the entourage sent by their superiors had just arrived, bringing with them a wagon that would be the transport vehicle for the transfer of Willian Thatcher, a man who was about to begin his journey to the maximum security prison in Hamilton.
The wagon was austere and robust, designed to ensure that no prisoner escaped during the journey. Willian, now handcuffed to the wagon's railings, looked at the horizon with resigned eyes, accepting the fate that awaited him. His companions on the journey had mixed expressions:
Bill, the oldest among them, had deep wrinkles on his forehead, a reflection of his many years of service; Wynn, the monster's brother-in-law, kept his head down, absorbing the weight of the moment; Frankison, a man of few words, observed the situation with shrewd eyes; Edward, the youngest of the group, displayed an expression of anguish mixed with confusion; and Jack, the angriest, kept his jaw clenched, ready for any eventuality, he still couldn't forget what that old man had done to his wife. Jack eventually persuaded Elizabeth not to go to the square that day; she didn't need to see that scene or that man, who didn't have the slightest respect for her, and so today she was with Charlote and her mother Elizabeth Delayne, who also preferred not to see her brother's arrest, because according to her, she might lose her self-control and end up attacking that man after everything he had done to her daughter.
The lawyer, his name forgotten in the tangle of events, raised his hand, indicating that it was time to leave. The entourage set off, the cart creaking under the weight of their worries. The town watched in silence as the group set off, carrying not only a man in handcuffs, but also the weight of a court decision that would echo for a long time.
The journey overland began, and the road stretched out before them like a gray ribbon. The surrounding landscape seemed to echo the gloomy mood of the moment, with dark clouds hanging over the horizon. As the wagon moved on, Willian Thatcher remained silent, lost in his thoughts, while the other men exchanged furtive glances and whispered mutterings.
The final destination, the maximum security prison in Hamilton, awaited at the end of the journey. The entourage was determined to fulfill their mission, but what awaited Willian there, in the bowels of the prison, only time would reveal. Meanwhile, the road stretched relentlessly before them, witnessing the start of a dangerous pilgrimage that would change the lives of everyone involved.
There were eight mounties accompanying the entourage, and along with them went Lek and Mack, who would accompany them until they passed the bend of solitude, and only from there would they return.
The scorching sun mercilessly punished the entourage as they made their way along the dusty road. The hours without rest weighed on everyone, creating an atmosphere of exhaustion that hung over the wagon. The heat was intensifying, leaving the men thirsty and exasperated. It was then that one of the soldiers, in a momentary gesture of compassion, decided to take an hour's break so that everyone could cool off and recover their energy; in addition, they had a prisoner who was already of a certain age and recovering from an injury.
Willian Thatcher, with piercing eyes, exchanged a silent glance with his lawyer. They shared a deep understanding, like two old foxes who knew the ins and outs of cunning. Willian asked the soldier escorting him to release him temporarily, claiming that he needed to use the bush to attend to his physiological needs. The soldier, although suspicious, agreed, remaining alert while Willian moved away towards the vegetation on the side of the road.
However, what seemed to be a momentary pause took a tragic turn when a bang echoed through the air.
A shot hit the soldier squarely in the arm, causing him to fall with a groan of pain.
The lawyer and Willian instinctively ran for cover behind the wagon. The sudden action plunged the atmosphere into chaos, with shouts and orders being shouted as everyone tried to understand the source of the attack.
Lek, a skilled marksman, watched from afar. His accurate shot had triggered the riot, and he was prepared for what was to follow.
As Willian and the lawyer reacted to the shots, a second shot flew, hitting the lawyer in the leg. He fell with a cry of pain, and Willian, on an impulse, left him behind, focusing on his own survival.
The entourage, now in disarray, faced an unexpected threat. Willian, desperate for his freedom, fired at the soldiers, ignoring any hesitation he might have had. Each shot echoed in the hot air, mingling with the screams and groans of the wounded men. The situation became a makeshift battlefield under the inclement sun, the mountie trying at all costs not to hurt the prisoner, but Willian didn't have the same conscience.
However, Willian's luck began to fade when a shot rang out across the makeshift battlefield. Mack, one of the soldiers, spotted an opportunity and fired with surgical precision. The bullet found its target, hitting Willian Thatcher squarely in the chest. The impact caused him to stagger backwards, his eyes reflecting a mixture of shock and agony.
The searing heat became unbearable for Willian, whose body, now mortally wounded, fell slowly to the dusty ground. His tumultuous thoughts reflected the physical and emotional agony of that final moment. The last images that reached his eyes were the implacable sky and the confused and furious faces that surrounded him.
Silence fell over the scene, interrupted only by the murmur of the wind and the moans of the wounded. Willian Thatcher, a man whose journey had begun in the shadow of justice, met his end under the scorching sun, a tragedy fraught with pain and agony. His fate, sealed by a series of chaotic events, became a bloody page in the story that unfolded on the dusty road towards Hamilton.