Chapter 6: Who Really Controls Arthur Morgan?
The next few days of observation from Arthur's point of view were little more than resting, eating, and trying to keep warm in the bitter cold. Nothing really happened other than Arthur continuously checking in on Abigail and John while assuring Jack and the others that all would be alright. Sometimes he happened upon Dutch and Hosea studying the map they swiped from the O'Driscolls' hideout. The two deer were more than enough to last, but by the time the last pot of stew was cooked, the group was back to brighter spirits.
Inuyasha and the others observed a healthier Arthur Morgan rise from his bed and turn to his diary pulling out a pencil. Outside, the sun was shining after several days of clouds and blizzards. The icicles and the snow were starting to melt.
Everyone watched figuring it was another day of rest and recuperation as Arthur started talking to himself as he wrote his thoughts.
"It's been a bad few weeks, but…" Arthur began, "Dutch, being Dutch he is busy making plans, and…Dutch being Dutch those plans involve robbery and dreams."
Arthur left his room and went outside to where the women, children, and patient all were. There was still lots of snow on the ground, but no more was falling. The walkway in the town was clear.
"Look, he's heading for John's cot," Kagome observed as they all looked to see a figure in black kneeling beside John Marston.
"I thought you was reading him his last rites," Arthur joked darkly at the man who was giving John some sort of bottle, "Now I see you're introducing him to your other passion."
"I'll mind you to show me some respect, Mr. Morgan!" The man snorted as he corked his bottle at what Kagome could only assume was some sort of alcoholic beverage.
"Mind away, Reverend," Arthur nodded as the man turned to leave them alone as Arthur turned to John, "You still here?"
"I owe ya," John replied sounding a little better than before.
"Ah, and you'll pay me," Arthur said, "But for the moment, just rest."
The door then opened behind them.
"Arthur," The voice of Dutch spoke, "I think it's time for the train."
"Great!" Inuyasha smirked, "Now that the weather's improved, now they can start to work to get down the mountain and back to that…Strawberry town to check the mail! Our message has been out long enough!"
"I hope so," Kagome said, "But if the plan is to rob that train, they'll have to lay low in that abandoned town some more before showing themselves to civilization."
"Damn!" Inuyasha swore, "Just when I thought we were getting our chance!"
"Are we really going to sit here and watch Michiru in his ancestor's body rob something?" Shippo asked, "It just doesn't seem right, guys."
"I know," Sango agreed sadly, "Despite Arthur's devotion to his friends, he's…still a thief and a killer. To know that…such a person lives in his bloodline is…quite the difficult pill to swallow."
"You want me to come?" John asked weakly.
"Of course I do, but," Dutch began, "Look at you."
John chuckled weakly, "I was always ugly, Dutch…" He tried to get out of bed, "It's just a scratch…" He tried to rise as Dutch put his hand on John's shoulder pushing him gently back into lying position as the door opened again.
"Lie still, son," Dutch spoke turning to whom had entered, "Hello, Abigail."
"Dutch," Abigail nodded.
"Jackie," Dutch said.
"The boy wanted to see you, John," Abigail said turning to Jack Marston whom John didn't turn to.
"He's seen me now," John said, "Or what's left of me," He then turned to Abigail, "What about you?"
"Hmph. Guess I was hoping to see a corpse!" Abigail spat out.
"Harsh," Kagome said, "She's feisty."
"Bide your time, you'll see plenty of them…" John shot back.
"You're a rotten man, John Marston!" Abigail shouted.
"He's an idiot, Abigail, we all know it," Dutch laughed as Abigail and Jack turned to leave, "Now, railway men." Arthur followed Dutch outside to where the group of able-bodied men were gathering their horses for a long ride, "Bill! Now you ride ahead and set the charge at the water tower, just before the tunnel."
"Ain't a problem," Bill Williamson nodded saddling his horse. Through these days, Inuyasha and the others had gotten good ideas as to whom everyone in this gang was and what each of them were like. Some were jolly but mischievous like Lenny, Dutch, and Arthur. Others were serious in nature but well-meaning like Charles and Hosea. Some were rough around the edges, sarcastic, and hard to approach or admire like Bill and Micah. Especially Micah. Others had their own personalities.
"Why are we doing this?" Hosea asked from the side, "The weather's breaking. We could leave. I-I thought we was lying low…"
Bill rode off ahead as Dutch grumbled.
"What do you want from me, Hosea?" Dutch asked.
"I just don't want any more folks to die, Dutch," Hosea answered.
"We're living, Hosea, we're living," Dutch assured him, "Look at me, we're living…even you. But we need money, everything we have's in Blackwater. You fancy heading back there?"
"No," Hosea answered, "Listen, Dutch, I ain't trying to undermine you, I…I just wanna stick to the plan which was to lie low then head back out west. Now suddenly, we're about to rob a train."
"What choice…have we got?" Dutch asked a hint of darkness in his voice.
"Leviticus Cornwall's no joke, Dutch," Hosea pointed out, "He's-"
"Who is Leviticus Cornwall?" Arthur asked.
"He's a big railway magnate, sugar dealer, and oil man," Hosea answered.
"Well how good for him," Dutch sarcastically mocked, "Sounds like he has more than enough to share."
"Dutch.." Hosea tried only to be ignored.
"Gentlemen!" Dutch called out, "It is time to make something of ourselves! Get your horses ready, we have a train to rob!"
Arthur got on his horse beside Dutch and rode alongside him to the town's exit.
"Everyone ready?" Dutch called out again, "Alright, let's head out!"
Arthur and the group rode behind Dutch as he called out orders for the plan.
"Okay gentlemen, listen up. All of you," Dutch began, "According to the information so kindly provided to us by the O'Driscolls, the train will be coming north from Big Valley. We're going to pick it off after it crosses into the border to the Grizzlies. There's a raised spot that should give us good vantage. Charles, you'll keep lookout for any outriders. How's that hand, by the way?"
"I'll be fine!" Charles called out.
"Good," Dutch said, "I'll take the driver and the engineer, then run point. Lenny and Javier, you two take the front cars. Deal with any guards. Arthur and Micah, you head straight for the back. That's what we're after. Mr. Cornwalls private car."
"You and me, Morgan!" Micah called out.
"Great…" Arthur, Inuyasha, Kagome, Sango, and Shippo all grumbled simultaneously.
"Have you got a problem with that?" Micah asked.
"Not if you keep your head for once," Arthur grumbled again.
"You worry about yourself!" Micah snorted back.
"Enough!" Dutch pleaded, "After Bill blows the tracks, we're gonna need to move fast. Is everyone clear on what they're doing?"
"Yep," Arthur said.
"Crystal," Micah said.
"Yes boss," Lenny called out.
"Good," Dutch nodded, "Now come on! Let's ride!"
They rode and rode through the misty morning mountains. It was a gorgeous sight to behold. Nothing so tall and majestic existed in Japan. Oh sure, there were mountain ranges of astounding beauty, but none like this. The morning sun shining upon banks of snow and the snow blanketed trees. They rode all day into the morning and late afternoon, and soon the snow on the ground got thinner.
"Out of the snow, finally," Arthur said.
"Feels good, doesn't it?" Dutch asked, "But we need to get this done fast now it's thawing...before anyone gets up her after us." He turned at his gang, "Ah, look at you boys! See? This is what I call a crew! Micah Bell, Charles Smith, Arthur Morgan, Javier Escuella, and what about young Lenny here? Always the first man on his horse."
The snow was becoming less and less as grass, stone, and bush all appeared suddenly all around them. Everyone watching gasped at the greenery and scenery of the American West. It was all so beautiful and serene. Nothing like anything they had ever seen before in their entire lives.
"Just happy we're back at 'em, Dutch," Lenny smiled.
"You sure you're ready for this, kid?" Javier asked his partner.
"'Course I'm ready," Lenny answered.
"Just stay calm, keep your eye sharp!" Dutch said, "That goes for all of you. No mistakes! Not again."
"Stay calm?" Kagome asked, "They're about to rob a huge machine that could tear down a whole herd of cattle using heavy explosives that are used to tear craters into the sides of giant mountains, and Dutch is asking them to stay calm?"
"So we do this," Micah began, "Then we go back to Blackwater to collect?"
"How many times are you gonna ask the same question, Micah?" Arthur asked.
"That's a lot of damn money to leave sitting for too long," Micah said.
"It would be crazy to go back there now," Charles pointed out, "The place will be swarming with Pinkertons!"
"We go back…when I say we go back," Dutch called back, "And that's the end of it. The money's safe. You just have to trust me. And if the O'Driscolls are right, there'll be a stack of railroad bonds on this train. Good money once we work out how to cash them. Now everyone, shut up and get your mind on the job at hand! Come on."
They rode down the mountain trail to a ledge with a lot of shade so the snow hadn't melted. Ahead was a length of track and a small building on legs.
"There's the water tower," Dutch pointed, "Hold up here on the ridge."
"Water tower?" Shippo asked, "That building on legs is full of water? How do they prevent it from leaking out of the cracks."
"There's a big tub of water with a pipe in the building, Shippo," Kagome explained, "They fill the tub with water every-so-often and then close the lid to prevent more water from entering and overflowing it. Trains run on steam and heat. To get it, they need to stop to fill their tanks with gallons of water occasionally. That's what water towers are for."
"Is Bill there?" Dutch asked as Arthur pulled out his binoculars to take a look.
"Yeah," Arthur nodded pointing at a figure moving from the rocks in the distance to the tracks.
"You wanna head down there?" Dutch asked, "See how he's getting on?"
"Okay," Arthur nodded as he turned his horse to break from the group and head down the trail and ride slowly towards Bill. All watched as he was now no longer trudging through thick snow and actually was able to ride a little faster.
"He's not a bad rider," Sango observed, "He handles that…O'Driscoll horse well. I wonder how he'd handle a rideable demon?"
"Mew?" Kirara asked as Sango stroked her with tears in her eyes. Remembering the times she shared with her, her husband, her children, and even Michiru.
"How you getting on?" Arthur asked as he trotted near Bill.
"Yeah…" Bill grumbled, "….I'm okay."
"You sure?" Arthur asked getting off his horse's back.
"Of course!" Bill insisted.
"Can a help a little?"
"Alright," Bill agreed, "Go ahead and set up the detonator by those rocks over there." He pointed to the rocks behind Arthur.
"Okay, sure."
"Now, just unspool the wire, and then attach it to said detonator."
Arthur picked up a strange looking wheel and began to spin it as some sort of rope was falling from it getting longer and longer. He walked towards a box with some sort of cross-shaped object at the top of it. As soon as he was near the box, he pulled out his knife and cut the rope. Then he attached it to the box.
"Okay, this is good," Arthur nodded.
"Alright, that should do it," Bill said, "You head back up to the others. I've got it from here."
Arthur sprinted back to his horse and leapt onto his back. He got in the saddle, took the reins, then trotted back to the ledge where Dutch and the others were. As he rode, Sango, Shippo, and Inuyasha got glimpse of the long tunnel in the mountain as they gasped.
"Did humans…really do that?" Sango asked as Kagome nodded, "I could never imagine tunneling straight through a mountainside. Digging into it, perhaps, but straight through at that size?"
"Here comes Arthur," A voice said from the ledge.
"About time," Micah grumbled, "I have to say, I am rather looking forward to this."
"Just be ready to move quick," Dutch said, "And remember the plan…all of you. No mistakes." He turned to Arthur, "What's going on?"
"He says all fine," Arthur answered.
"We'll soon find out…" Javier said.
"Everything okay?" Dutch asked Arthur.
"I think so," Arthur nodded.
"Okay, cover your faces," Dutch said, "Train should be here any minute now."
Arthur and the others covered their faces with bandanas and waited. After a minute or so, a massive rumbling was heard approaching.
"What is that?" Shippo asked, "Some sort of demon?"
"No," Kagome said, "Your first sight of a train."
"Gentlemen," Dutch began, "It's time."
"The noise is getting louder…" Inuyasha said, "…it doesn't take canine hearing to notice."
"Good luck, all of you," Dutch said turning to everyone, "You all know what to do."
Suddenly, from around the mountainside, a big, black, enormous machine of black iron fast approached as Inuyasha, Shippo, and Sango's eyes all went wide in astonishment!
"What…?" Inuyasha said.
"I-I-Impossible!" Shippo protested his fox eyes going wide in shock!
"Could….could there really be enough iron and steel in the world to make something of that size?!" Sango gasped incredulously in disbelief.
"Not one. Thousands," Amy corrected, "Three centuries from your time, these will be all over your country, Sango."
"I…I…I can't believe this!" Sango gasped again in amazement, "There…there's barely enough iron and steel in Japan to make our swords, weapons, spare parts, and armor for our greatest warriors! M-M-Most samurai wear bamboo armor because of this scarcity! Who…who knew men could build such things?!"
"In North America, iron and steel are abundant," Jessie said, "How else do you think all these cars and buildings in modern Japan exist?"
They all watched as the train passed the area Bill was working on as he pushed down the cross in the box. Kagome and the modern folks in the lab were expecting a massive explosion, but…nothing happened. He pumped again and again, but still nothing. No one could hear him over the train.
"Oh, you have got to be kidding me!" Dutch grumbled.
"Where did you find that moron?" Arthur growled.
"You said it was fine," Dutch reminded him.
"So it's my fault?" Arthur asked.
"Well, come on!" Lenny called out as they got off their horses and began to run. Arthur got off his and gave chase.
"You're pathetic. You know that?" Micah called.
"Argh!" Arthur growled again as he followed Javier and Lenny to the end of the tunnel from atop the mountain and leapt off of it landing hard on the roof of a train car.
"Ugh!" Michiru's body let out as all turned to see him jerk a bit in his pod, but still asleep. He could feel the pain of Arthur's fall in his brain due to the machine.
Arthur turned to see Javier hadn't fallen at the right time and was on the side of the tracks. He got to his feet.
"Oh shit!" The voice of Lenny swore out as Arthur turned to see him hanging by the pole on the train car for dear life, "Help! Pull me up!"
"I've got you!" Arthur said offering Lenny his hand, "Now stop yelling!"
"Arthur! Help me!" Lenny pleaded as Arthur pulled Lenny to the top of the train car as it was up to the two of them now to pull this off. What was once a gang mugging was now a two-man operation for the time being.
"You're okay," Arthur said, "Now let's go slow this thing down."
They began to run across the train's rooftop.
"Where's Javier?" Lenny asked.
"He fell," Arthur said, "The others'll get him."
"Let's go," Lenny said taking the lead as he got off the roof and into the next car with Arthur following behind. He pulled out his repeater as he witnessed Lenny slit a guard's throat with his knife as they passed through a car full of shelves of books, fancy drawers, and a record player.
"Come on, we need to stop this train!" Arthur declared.
"There's another guard up ahead," Lenny said as they neared the door to another train car, "You want me to take him?"
Arthur took position on the side of the door opposite Lenny and looked.
"Yes," Arthur nodded, "You go."
"Okay," Lenny rushed out the door and grabbed a guard standing too close to the railing of an open cargo car and then threw him off the side to everyone's shock.
"We best get up there!" Lenny called to Arthur motioning to the train engine. Arthur ran to another closed train only to be greeted by gunfire inside it. There were guards inside it.
"Oh, shit! We got company!" A guard inside called out as Arthur shot him to death and then did the same to another inside. There were two more in the further car, but they were well-covered in crates and shelves inside.
"Let's keep moving!" Lenny pleaded.
"Hold your horses, Lenny!" Arthur snapped, "I gotta get the right shot!"
Soon they came out from cover and Arthur shot them both to death as Lenny went inside.
"You alright?" Arthur asked.
"Yeah, I'm good," Lenny answered, "What the hell was Bill doing? He had long enough to set that charge!"
"Well, I hooked up the wire," Arthur admitted, "But we won't mention that."
He began looting the dead guards taking ammo, rings, bottles of liquid, money, and other valuables. Then proceeded down the car.
"We have to hurry!" Lenny said, 'We've got to stop this train!"
"That's what we're doing, kid," Arthur answered cocking his repeater to reload it. He then took a bottle of stuff he looted off a guard, uncorked it, and drank it down feeling a lot better. He then climbed up a blue car in front of him and got to the roof only to see someone else climbing from the front.
"You don't rob a Leviticus Cornwall train!" The man declared.
"Aw, shut up!" Arthur snapped back plugging him with his Cattleman Revolver. He then saw more guards down below, but he now had the height advantage. From above, he shot them all dead. It was hard to see through all the smoke from the engine, but he could still do it easily.
"How you doing there?" Arthur asked.
"I'm okay," Lenny said, "I'm going up. Look, we have to stop this train! If we don't stop this train soon, the other boys will never catch us!"
"I know, just stay calm," Arthur answered all nonchalant. What was shocking to his viewers in this lab was just another day at the office for Arthur Morgan. He climbed up the coal car and proceeded to the engine only to get walloped in the by the butt of a rifle that sent his hat flying away as the engineer leapt from the coal at him and put him in a chokehold. Arthur was stunned a moment, but then drove his elbow into the engineer's kidney area then wrapped his arms around his throat.
"You got him?" Lenny asked, "I ain't got a clear shot!"
Arthur then punched the engineer brutally in the face multiple times, then seeing they were on a bridge, he gave him a huge haymaker and then just tossed the guy overboard sending him plummeting to whatever was below. All was clear now to the steam engine as he made his way to it and then pulled the lever to stop the train as it screeched to a halt.
As soon as the train stopped, guards sprung from the other train cars as Arthur rushed behind a boulder to get cover.
"Shit! More guards coming out of the train car!" He said as he shot back at their shooting at him. The guards were well positioned, but Arthur and Lenny began to pick them off.
"There better be some money at the end of this!" Lenny declared as they held their own as best they could.
"All these bastards must be guarding something," Arthur answered.
"We need the car at the back, right?" Lenny asked.
"Yep! Keep pushing on 'em!"
They fought and fought as more and more guards came out.
"I'm hit!" Lenny cried grabbing his wrist.
"You still okay?" Arthur asked hoping it was just a flesh wound.
"I think so."
"Good."
"Damn! He's got an army! Who is this guy?!"
"You're doing good, kid! Where the hell are the others?!"
"I don't know!"
They got closer and closer to the back car when more sprouted.
"Goddamn it! I thought that was all of them!" Lenny said.
"We're gonna get out of this!"
"Oh, I know we are!"
They shot and shot as the guards came out in droves.
"Hey! There's the other boys!" Lenny declared as Arthur shot down another, "Good job, Arthur!"
Arthur got to the top of a small hill and began firing down using the high ground yet again to gain the advantage.
"Watch it! More of them ahead!" Lenny declared as Dutch and the others finally arrive.
"Alright," Dutch called out as the gang approached from behind, "Finish those sons of bitches!"
"Oh, I'll kill every last one of you!" Micah's voice spoke.
"Ho! Ho! You're done now!" Javier's voice said as the guards were all killed by the reinforcements of Dutch, Micah, and the others.
"Hey! Over here, fellers!" Bill called as Arthur and Lenny made their way down the hill to the gathering.
"Good shooting, kid!" Arthur congratulated.
"I can see now with the O'Driscolls brought so many boys for this!" Lenny laughed.
"Arthur, get over here!" Dutch said as Arthur and Lenny walked to where Dutch and the others were, "Are you two alright?"
"Yes, let's get the money and go," Arthur grumbled.
"We got some fellas holed up in this last car," Dutch said.
"Ah, shit…" Arthur grumbled.
"What…are you boys planning on doing in there?" Dutch called out to the men in the car, "Listen to me, we don't want to kill any of ya!" He then turned to his men and quietly muttered, "Anymore of ya…" As the gang all laughed, "I give you my word, but trust me…we will!"
"I work for Leviticus Cornwall!" A voice called from inside.
"Come on, boys," Dutch spoke out.
"We got our orders!" The voice called back.
"Okay…" Dutch answered, "…you asked for it. Five…"
"We ain't opening this door!"
"Four…" Dutch said, "Three, two, one!" He then turned to the others, "Seems our friends have gone deaf! WAKE 'EM UP A LITTLE!"
With that, everyone began firing at the hull of the iron train car as banging and clanging was heard from inside!
"We ain't coming out! You ain't got no way in here!"
"That's enough!" Dutch declared, "Mr. Williamson, give Mr. Morgan and Mr. Smith here some dynamite. You two boys go blow that door open."
Bill offered Arthur a stick of dynamite that Arthur took in his hand along with Charles. They then walked towards the door.
"Now don't matter too much to us," Dutch called back, "But you boys in there, might wanna take a step back…"
Arthur and Charles attached the sticks with fuses to the door.
"Seems good enough," Charles nodded, "Now light the fuse."
"Here we go…" Arthur nodded pulling out his matchbook and lighting the fuse as the two of them ran from it as far back as possible.
"Unless you got a death wish…" Bill said, "…I'd step back, fellers."
The fuses hissed for about ten seconds then BLAM! The iron door completely blew off leaving it wide open!
"Alright, come on!" Dutch called to the men inside, "Just walk on out here!"
The men inside slowly walked out with their hands above their heads.
"We don't wanna kill you," Dutch said, "We just wanna rob your boss!" He then turned to Arthur, "Get on up there. Search that train."
The train car was a big black box on wheels with a yellow painted stripe along it. It read "Cornwall" in giant yellow letters, but Sango, Kagome, and the others couldn't read it. Micah went inside first, then Lenny, then Arthur.
"Look at this place!" Lenny awed, "It's like a palace!"
Indeed, the interior was very lavishly decorated with plush furniture, fancy sculptures and art, and a majestic looking desk in the center!
"Now I've seen everything…" Arthur admired, "You two got the safe? I'll search the rest."
"Ohhh, yes!" Micah smiled, "Should be easy as cake! You just gonna stand there kid? Pour me some brandy. I'm parched."
"Shut up!" Lenny answered, "Me and Arthur did all the work."
"Yeah…kid did good," Arthur said, "Didn't see you rushing to get on that train."
"He's keen, I'll give you that," Micah said, "Okay, let's see if we can get these things open."
While Lenny and Micah worked on the safe, Arthur searched the rest finding letters to oil and coal companies, cigars, bottles of brandy, and other fancy stuff. He barely paid attention to Micah opening the safe or Dutch mocking the prisoners for serving Cornwall.
"There. See? That's how it's done," Micah proudly declared opening the safe, "Shit. Just a pile of papers."
"Bonds?" Arthur asked.
"I don't think so…" Micah grumbled to Lenny, "Here, make yourself useful. At least we know you can read."
"Gimmie those!" Lenny snorted as he looked through half the papers.
"Railroad contracts…invoices….blah, blah, blah… You got anything?" Micah asked Lenny.
"Not really," Lenny grumbled, "Sugar imports from the Spanish West Indies…a lot of sugar. Some fancy new boat he's ordered from Europe…"
Arthur searched the desk drawers and even a cabinet where a metal lock box was located.
"Now here's something interesting," Arthur said to himself.
"I'm not robbing another boat as long as I live…" Micah grumbled.
Arthur looked inside the lockbox and inside were railroad bonds.
"I think I got 'em!" Arthur declared.
"Nice," Lenny said.
"Well, thank God," Micah said, "Come on."
The trio left the train car where Dutch and the others were holding the men inside on their knees in surrender.
"What did you find?" Dutch asked.
"These," Arthur answered pulling the bonds out of his sack, "Bonds. They worth anything?"
"Oh sure," Dutch nodded, "Bearer bonds. I think we can probably sell these pretty easily. Well done. Now would you get rid of all this?"
"The train?" Arthur asked.
"Yeah, get it out of here," Dutch ordered,
"What about them?" Arthur asked turning to the hostages.
"What do you think?" Dutch asked.
"I don't know…" Arthur shrugged.
"It's up to you," Dutch laughed, "Kill 'em, leave 'em here, take 'em with you on the train. Just make sure they don't send no folk after us!"
"Okay," Arthur nodded looking down on them.
"See you back at camp," Dutch said as he got on his horse, "When you get back, we'll be moving on. The rest of you, let's ride!" And the gang took off leaving Arthur with a decision. Kill them. Spare and leave them. Spare and take them to safety. He looked at their trembling bodies as his fingers twitched to his gun. The men's eyes all went wide in realization as they shuddered and braced themselves for the end. Sango's eyes went wide as she gasped and went back to the tank where Michiru continued to sleep in.
"No Michiru, please!" She pleaded not wanting to see anymore carnage for the rest of the day, "There's been enough violence on men trying to kill Arthur already! You wouldn't kill unarmed men in cold blood, I know that! Let them go! Please let them go!"
The eyebrow of Michiru inside the tank twitched again as his head jerked a bit as the voice was heard from the screen.
"Okay, get on the train, quick, all of you," Arthur said to the prisoners his hand moving away from his gun, "Any bright ideas, I'll kill all three of you…so behave!" He pulled out his gun when they started to slow down approaching the train, "Come on. Move!"
"We won't tell a soul, I swear!" A short chubby guy that was the last to enter the train car said to Arthur as he pointed his gun to his head.
"Get a move on!" Arthur roared as the man scurried to the back of the train car. He got in the train after them to further emphasize his conditions, "If I hear so much as a footstep from this car, you'll end up like all your friends out here!"
The trio of prisoners all nodded keeping still as Arthur left the car and headed to the engine. Sango sighed and smiled in relief at Michiru's sleeping form.
"Thank you…" She murmured, "….thank you so much….for your mercy…"
The twitched eyebrow of Michiru began to relax as he returned to his normal appearance inside as they watched Arthur reactivate the engine and send the train puffing along. He then whistled for his horse, got off the train, and then rode off back to camp. The sun was setting and he didn't have much light left. He rode back to Colter.
It was morning when he got back. The whole gang was packing their stuff into their thawed-out carriages. The sun was shining brightly, the snow was melting, and it was time to head from here to find a new camp.
Kieran was cut from his bonds in the cold barn as Bill was mocking him all the way to the carriage.
"Aw, quit your whining, O'Driscoll!" Bill mocked as Kieran pleaded to be let go, "We're going somewhere warm! At least your living situation's improving a little!"
"Heh, heh, heh…" Arthur chuckled as he heard Miss Grimshaw admonishing the women.
"Oh, for Lord's sake!" She swore, "Put that book away and go help! Oh, Mary-Beth…"
Arthur rode to Dutch conversing with Hosea and got off his horse.
"So we getting out of this hellhole?" He asked.
"We're gonna try, the weather seems stable," Dutch said.
"And we just robbed a Leviticus Cornwall train," Hosea added.
"We got money in our pockets, the worst is right behind us, gentlemen," Dutch said, "So the question is where now?"
"I know this country a little," Hosea said, "I told you we should set up camp in Horseshoe Overlook near Valentine. We'll be able to hide out there no problem, as long as we keep our noses clean."
"Well then let's go," Dutch said as the pair dragged the still recovering John Marston to the back of a wagon, "Clean noses and everything else." He then pointed to a supply wagon, "Arthur, you're in that one. Bring Hosea. I know you two like to talk about the good old days and what's gone wrong with old Dutch…"
Arthur got on the driver's seat on the wagon in the very back. With him were Hosea and Charles. The caravan rode and rode through the snowy trail mile by mile passing gorgeous rivers and small waterfalls. More and more beautiful mountain scenery that Sango and the others could only dream of seeing. Although it was a hassle for Arthur and his friends, such beauty was sheer pleasure to them. But it was over all too soon. Now they were on the other side of the mountain traversing alongside some piney river trail which too was also gorgeous to behold. Many animals and beautiful birds singing. Fish flopping happily in the water. Deer coming from above to graze.
"Lenny! Micah! Get over here!" Dutch called from the front.
"Yes, boss?" Micah asked.
"You two ride ahead, make sure there's no surprises," Dutch ordered, "We've had enough of those…"
"Me? With the boy?" Micah asked giving a look of disgust.
"Just go!" Dutch said.
"Come on, kid," Micah said to Lenny, "You can buy me a whiskey!"
"What's whiskey?" Shippo asked.
"Grain alcohol fermented and kept for years in certain wood," Chris answered, "Very popular in the West in both North America and Europe."
All watched as they passed the pine woods, the rocks, the grasses, the bushes, and pine trees all gorgeous to behold. Since the war with Fushizenna, such simple pleasures were rare to enjoy.
Soon the caravan came to a gentle river as Arthur rode the horses and carriage across it. He flicked the reins to motivate the horses to move faster lest the get swept by the current.
"Get us cross the stream," Hosea said, "You gotta keep us moving, but calm."
They got across the water, but their wheel hit a rock in the road and fell off.
"Awww, shit!" Arthur swore.
"Okay, let's take a look," Hosea calmly replied as they dismounted their carriage and checked the back wheel.
"You alright back there?" Bill called from the carriage just ahead.
"Does everything look alright?" Arthur snapped back annoyed.
"Well, what's going on?" Javier asked.
"Ahh, I broke the goddamned wheel!" Arthur swore again.
"Alright, let's get it fixed," Hosea calmly said.
"You need help?" Javier asked.
"I reckon we can handle it," Hosea said, "Alright, Charles, you and me hold the thing up while you try to put the wheel back on, Arthur."
Hosea and Charles got to the backend of the wagon, bent down, and lifted the wagon with their legs.
"You…still strong enough to hold up a wagon?" Arthur asked the middle-aged Hosea.
"Shut up," Hosea spat.
"I'm just sayin'…"
"Well, say less."
Arthur lifted the wheel vertically and rolled it to the wagon axle. He then lifted the wheel up and fit it onto the axle again. He then began to pound it into place with his shoulder repeatedly.
"Nearly there…" Hosea said.
With one final shove, it was put back into place.
"See?" Arthur said, "You ain't so useless after all…"
"Ha, ha, ha, not quite..." Hosea laughed.
They gathered up the luggage that fell off the wagon and began to place it back on. Then they spotted three figures watching them from atop a ledge they just passed. Natives on horseback
"What you think?" Hosea asked Charles.
"If they wanted trouble, we wouldn't have seen them." Charles replied.
"Poor bastards…" Hosea said waving to them respectfully, "…we really screwed them over down here…"
"What's that mean?" Sango asked.
"The whole country of North America once belonged to Native Americans," Kagome explained, "The Europeans invented ships that could travel the oceans and they discovered North America. New lands for their herds to graze, new edible plants, and lots of land. They came to North America with guns and drove Natives off their lands with superior weaponry, horses, and technology."
"In addition to Fushizenna, the same thing is happening in our world too…" Sango sobbed, "Miroku….so brave…so noble….so mighty a warrior….felled by a piece of lead. Shot to death…"
The sleeping Michiru's head suddenly jerked a bit before quieting down. Whether Michiru could hear them or not was unknown, but if he did….what were his feelings about Miroku being shot to death? They probably weren't pleasant.
"Come on, let's not push our luck," Hosea said as they packed the wagon.
"What happened?" Arthur asked.
"Well, get in," Hosea said, "And I'll tell you."
Arthur put a milk can in the wagon and got back into the driver's seat.
"Not too far now," Hosea said, "Stay on this trail. We'll follow the river then cut left inland."
The fixed wagon rolled down the trail.
"So….yes, the Indians in these parts got sold a very raw deal," Hosea explained, "This is the Heartlands we're going to. Good farming and grazing country, and they lost it all. Stolen clean away from them it was. Every blade of grass. Killed or herded up to the reservations in the middle of nowhere."
"And how's that different from anywhere else?" Charles asked.
"Well, maybe it's not…" Hosea relented, "I just heard some of the army out here was particularly, uh…unpleasant about it."
"Unpleasant?" Charles asked, "How do you rob and kill people pleasantly? We don't. In spite of Dutch's talk."
"I fear I was perhaps trying to simplify something more complicated for the benefit of our blockheaded driver here," Hosea explained.
"Hey!" Arthur said, "Don't blame it on me! Never forget, this here's a conman, Charles, born and bred. Just cause it sounds fancy don't mean that he knows a damn thing about what he's talking about."
They crossed a wooden bridge as a thought occurred to Arthur.
"So, what happened to your tribe?" Arthur asked Charles.
"I don't even know if I have one," Charles said, "Least not that I can remember. My father was a colored man. They told me he lived with our people for a while, a number of free men did, but when we were forced to move from our lands, the three of us fled. I was too young to really remember much. All life I've been on the run."
"What?" Sango asked, "What does he mean?"
"Most people with dark skin in North America were slaves before this time, Sango," Kagome murmured sadly, "Not all, but most. White people used their athletic superiority to their advantages and forced them to work in fields picking cotton, tobacco, and other crops for little more than shelter and food. Little to no financial compensation."
"How awful…" Sango sobbed.
"A coupled of year later some soldiers captured my mother, took her somewhere," Charles explained, "We never saw her again. We drifted around. He was a very sad man, and the drink had a very mean hold on him. Around thirteen, I just took off on my own."
"That was about the age we found young Arthur here," Hosea said, "Maybe a little bit older. A wilder delinquent you never did see, but he learned fast."
"Not as fast as Marston, apparently," Arthur grumbled.
"Wait…I don't understand," Charles began, "What's the problem between you two?"
"Arthur?" Hosea began.
"Oh, it's a long story…" Arthur said, "We still heading the right way?"
"That depends," Hosea said, "Are we still heading west in the search for fortune and repose in virgin forests like we planned? No. Are we heading in the correct direction on our desperate escape from the law eastwards down the mountains? Yes, I believe so."
"You know this area?" Charles asked.
"A little. I've been through a couple of times," Hosea said, "There's a livestock town not to far from here called Valentine. Cowboys, outlaws, working girls. Our kind of place."
"Working girls?" Sango frowned.
"Bar maids," Kagome grumbled, "Prostitutes."
"O'Driscolls?" Arthur frowned.
"Probably them too," Hosea frowned.
"Pinkertons?"
"Let's hope not."
"And this place we're going…" Arthur began, "…wait, what's it called again?"
"Horseshoe Overlook."
"It's a good place to lie low?"
"It'll do for now," Hosea assured him, "And how low do you think Dutch is really going to lie? It's just…you know. Maybe it's me who's changed, not him, but…we kept telling him that ferry job didn't feel right. You and me had a real lead in Blackwater that could've worked out."
"Maybe…" Arthur said.
"It's just…" Hosea began, "…isn't like Dutch to lose his head like that."
"Things go wrong, sometimes," Arthur said, "People die. It's the way it is…always has been."
"And always will be…" Sango sadly agreed.
"Me, you, Dutch," Arthur began again, "We've all been in this line of work a long time, and we're still here, so, I figure we must've got it right a hell of a lot more than we got it wrong."
They rode on passing a stream and turning left as Arthur turned to Hosea mixing something in a mortar and pestle.
"What are you working on there anyway?" He asked curiously.
"Just some yarrow and ginseng," Hosea answered, "Good for the health."
"Try very good for the health," Sango smiled a bit being no stranger to herbs and potions. Those herbs did exist in Japan, and she knew them well.
"Better than that stuff you buy in the store," Hosea smiled, "Here, you can have all this. I'm at the point where I can do it with my eyes closed."
He gave Arthur the bowl as he took it and put it into his pouch.
"Oh. Okay…thank you," Arthur said as they continued to ride. With Hosea's guidance, they turned left up a hill and towards a woodsy area.
"There you are, brother!" The voice of Javier called out as he waved to them and pointed to a trail with some sort of thorny tree trunk arch at the front of it, "Head in there and follow the track for a bit."
"Thanks," Arthur nodded and turned his wagon inside the trail.
"Hey, slow up!" Javier called, "I'll jump on." Arthur paused and waited for Javier to get on, "Okay, let's go."
They went along the trail.
"Any trouble getting here, Javier?' Hosea asked.
"Nope. This is a good spot," Javier said.
"Excellent," Hosea said, "I think this'll work for us, Arthur. For now, anyway."
They went down to find a large, flat, green clearing overlooking a massive cliff protected by the cover of trees. Lots of tents and stands had already been built as Hosea smiled proudly.
"Here we are, gentlemen," He smiled as the sun started to set on the horizon, "Home sweet home."
Arthur stopped the wagon at the base and began to get off.
"You weren't wrong, Hosea!" Dutch's voice called out, "This place is perfect!"
"I hope so…" Hosea said getting down from the wagon's passenger seat.
"Gentlemen…" Dutch began, "…we have survived."
"For now," Hosea said.
"Now, it is time to prosper!" Dutch said.
"Arthur and I were about to prosper back in Blackwater," Hosea reminded him, "We were on to something big, then Micah got you all excited about that ferry, and…here we are."
"We have all made mistakes over the years, Hosea," Dutch replied getting to his feet to look Hosea in the eyes, "Every last one of us…but I kept us together. Kept us alive. Kept the nooses off our neck!"
"I guess I'm just worried," Hosea admitted, "I ain't got that long, Dutch. I want folks safe before I go…"
"Me too," Dutch answered.
"And now we are stuck," Hosea said, "East of the Grizzlies, and out of money, and a long way away from out dream of virgin land in the west."
"I know, brother, but we are safe," Dutch assured him, "We make a bit of money here, then we move again, head out around them, be west of Uncle Sam, in a few months buy some land!"
"I hope so…" Hosea sighed wearily.
"Would you just look around you?" Dutch said incredulously, "This world has its consolations."
"Gentlemen," The voice of Herr Strauss spoke from behind, "I'm going to head into the local town and you know, see if I can strike up a little business."
"Of course, Herr Strauss," Dutch nodded, "I prefer robbing banks to usery. Seems a bit more dignified. Oh, but that reminds me. Arthur, tomorrow I want you to go into town and check the mail to see if we got anything. Now that we're further from the Pinkertons, it seems like a good opportunity now."
"Will do, Dutch," Arthur nodded as the group in the room finally felt their hopes increase! This was it! Michiru would finally get their message and wake up!
"Now, everyone put your tools down for a moment!" Dutch called out, "Come on, gather round. Quickly now. I know…that things have been tough. But we are safe now, and we are far too poor. So it is time for everyone to get to work."
"Get to work, but stay out of trouble," Hosea added, "Remember, we are itinerant workers."
"Laid off when they shut down our factory to the north," Dutch said, "Now, get out there, and see what you can find. Uncle, Reverand Swanson, no more passengers."
Everyone laughed.
"It is time for everyone to earn their keep," Dutch said.
"There is a town a little way down the track name of Valentine," Hosea said, "Livestock town. All mud and morons if I remember right. That seems a decent place to start."
" need food," Pearson pointed out, "Real food. That means everyday one of you."
"And remember," Dutch began pulling out a box, "Whatever you find…" He set it on a barrel, "The camp. Gets. Its. Slice. Now be sensible out there."
The others turned to their duties as Miss Grimshaw went to Arthur.
"Now the girls have your tent ready, Mr. Morgan," She said, "Come with me." She turned to Hosea and Dutch, "You two will be ready shortly. We put you over here."
"I'm sure everything will be fine, Miss Grimshaw…" Arthur muttered wearily.
"It should be, most of your stuff from Blackwater got saved," She answered.
"Everything apart from my money…" Arthur grumbled.
"Oh, don't remind me!"
"Well, we can always make more money," Arthur sighed.
"We're gonna have to!" Miss Grimshaw grumbled as she turned to see a girl slacking off, "Miss Jackson! I've seen shit with more common sense than you! Do it properly!"
Arthur chuckled to himself, lit a match on his spur, and had a cigar before going to bed. It was also night in the real world as everyone frowned.
"Oh no!" Kagome said, "It's late at night, and we might fall asleep before Michiru gets our message! What'll we do?"
"Not to worry," Jesse said, "All I gotta do is switch from sped-up to normal. He should sleep around the same time as we all do and wake up at the same time too. I'd better set alarm clocks just to be sure. You can take my phone with an alarm set to your tents outside."
"Thanks," Kagome nodded, "Sango? Are you coming too?"
"No, I'd better sleep here," Sango said, "If Michiru wakes up before these…alarm clocks go off, I'll need to be here."
"Alright, Sango," Kagome nodded, "Come on, Inuyasha. Come on, Shippo. Bedtime."
The trio exit the lab along with the scientists as Sango overlooks Michiru's sleeping form.
"You're in a very brutal world, Michiru," She said, "Still, it has its beauty and wonders. Your ancestor…isn't too bad a man, I suppose, but…I don't know. I don't even know if you hear me or if those…twitches and reactions to my words are coincidences, but...I do know I'm here seeing all this for some reason. I just…don't know what that reason is yet. Why? Why am I witnessing all this…?"