Chapter 9: THE GUNSLINGER [PART EIGHT]

Outside, the desert air had a different energy to it. Revived, the entirety of Old Springs was almost burning with reserved enthusiasm.

With their oppressors exiled, the town had come back to life. Townsfolk stroll across dusty roads, socialization bridging almost three weeks of forced isolation in conversation and atonement. A handful of old citizens loiter on plastic chairs beneath sun bleached umbrellas, their conversation interrupted as a group of children pass through. A game of bandits and judges, their hands shaped together like crude firearms as they make pitiful attempts to simulate gunfire.

One sprints over, finger gun held at Alto as he spews forth orders. “Hands up this is a robbery!”

“Woah!” The Gunslinger immediately raises his hands high as he holds in a smile. “Don’t shoot!”

The young boy immediately turns to his comrades, who quickly surround the hostage-bandit pair.

“Give it up Saito!” One of the girls yells at him as she manhandles an imaginary rifle. “We have you surrounded!”

“I’ll shoot him!” The hostage taker confirms as he turns cautiously to the Gunslinger.

“Oh no he’s going to shoot me!” The man yells with an acted panic.

“Yeah they call me Million Knives, nobody can stop me!”

“Except for us.” The girl speaks up. “Now give it up Saito because I’m Judge Murphy and you aren’t going anywhere!”

“Judge Murphy is a boy!” He counters.

“That doesn’t matter!” She replies. “Now put your hands up and let go of the hostage guy!”

A tense minute passes as both parties eye each other up, hands on triggers awaiting for the first shot. The girl pitted with advantage in numbers, her fireteam behind her taking the opportunity to reload imagined weaponry. Though, with hostage in a firm grasp, the sole bandit held incredible swaying power against his compatriots.

“I hope you have friends.” The Gunslinger whispers to his captor. “I don’t think you’re getting out of this one in one piece.”

“I do.” The boy quietly returns. “But I need a distraction so I can meet with them.”

“I can be a distraction.” The man offers.

“You can?”

Alto smiles. “Watch this.”

A single finger gun reaches out from a pocket, the hostage armed, dangerous, and allegiance dubious. His draw slower than in true reality, the Gunslinger still manages to produce the imagined weaponry faster than the forms of children.

“Alright alright that’s enough.” The man steps aside from his captor turned ally, pointing the literal hand-gun at the lawmen. 

The girl turns. “WHAT?!”

“Never judge a man by his actions, only his soul.” The Gunslinger smiles, his northerner accent converting to a villainous central desert draw. “Now, we can settle this like civilized people; no guns, just talk. Try not to get anyone hurt you see, would make for a very very bad evening.”

“Shut up!” One of the girl’s comrades steps forward as he lugs a handheld minigun. “Put your guns down now!”

The Gunslinger takes a deep breath, euphoria in improvised evil. “Oh I know you can’t shoot us. We’re worth more alive than dead.”

The girl narrows her eyes. “Are you?”

The first shot is fired, a fictional bullet whizzing past the Gunslinger as he dives onto the sun baked earth. Simulated gunfire as children scatter, the firefight erupting into utter chaos.

One of the lawmen takes a shot to the shoulder, the boy screaming in acted pain. “MEDIC!!!”

The youngest among them runs to assist, his arm band a crude white bandage that marks his protected status.

The Gunslinger turns to his compatriot. “Run kid, I’ll cover you!”

“Ok!” The young boy follows.

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Stepping out from cover the Gunslinger fires off a string of poorly aimed shots, concentrated retribution peppering the man with bullets. Stumbling back with each hit the form falls onto his knees. Staring out at the five suns, the lawmen surround him.

The girl speaks with authority. “What is your name Outlaw?!”

“M-my name?!” The Gunslinger chokes out. “My name is…”

“Alto.” Daniel interrupts as he casually jogs over, taking a pause as the children turn to face him. “Ah…”

“Hello Daniel.” The kids greet almost simultaneously, standing with slightly more seriousness as the operation temporarily suspends.

“Hey everyone.” Daniel waves as he turns back to the collapsed form. “Alto, you overpaid us.”

“I did?” The Gunslinger blinks out the sunlight, a curiosity hidden behind his native accent.

Daniel produces two handgun rounds in his palm. “Yeah, here’s your change.”

Alto pauses, turning back to the group of children. “Hey, aren't the Million Knives getting away?!”

Realization, then action. The girl raises her hand as she orders her squad forth back into fictional reality. “After him!”

The pair watch as the group runs deeper into town, their screams and barked orders disappearing with distance.

Handing the payment as the Gunslinger dusts himself off, Daniel tries to stifle a laugh. “You know, last month they were playing you.”

“What?”

“Alto Carrin.” Daniel specifies. “Wandering hero and all that? Though it’s not very fun when it’s one against many. It’s much more interesting when they got both the outlaws and the judges duking it out, evens the playing board.”

Alto blinks, continuing to listen to the trainee-doctor.

“Actually Clee plays you most of the time.” Daniel points out as he straightens up. “You’re not a very talkative person in the papers, much easier to be a silent badass I suppose. Perfect for her honestly, though not sure how well the real Alto Carrin works with the Judges.”

“They’re ok.” Alto admits.

“Didn’t you shoot a Judge like… years ago.”

The Gunslinger pauses as he reaches into memory, the first stumblings of a growing mind returning with unwanted detail. A blue uniform blasted into shreds, wide eyes in pain. “That was a long time ago.”

“Well some of them deserve it. Corruption and all that.” Daniel stretches. “Anyway you wanna get a drink?”

“What?”

“I mean you didn’t have to pay me for the physical… but you did pay so let me buy you something at Old Joe’s.” The young man offers. “Call it even?”

“No, there's no need.” Alto dismisses, quoting proverbs from scripture. “One should not be indebted for helping those in need.” 

“Oh come on think of it as alms charity.” Daniel insists. “And plus I don’t really want to feel anymore of my Grandma’s wrath. Might as well leave her to cool off, you know.”

“Ah.” The Gunslinger follows.

“And as a temporary resident of Old Springs I insist upon buying an evening’s drinks and dinner for a guest. No objections, it’s a traditional hero’s welcome in the Southlands.”

Alto blinks, glancing to the rest of the rundown town. “I can’t say no can I?”

“No.” Daniel chuckles as he slowly wraps an arm around the young man, turning to face the blazing neon sign of Ol’ Joe’s. “Now come on!”

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