Read Online Magnificent Guns of Seneca 6 by Bernard Schaffer - Free Book Online
Authors: Bernard Schaffer
Tags: Western
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closer to the door for when the savages come to drag the first one out.
The horror of her own thoughts overwhelmed her and she slid away from the window and covered her face with her hands to pray. What’s happening to me?
I don’t want to die . Where has my faith gone?
Elizabeth has lost faith. Then let her be the one who goes first!
The back door of the wagon flew open and the women inside sat up and screamed, clawing their way across the floor to get away from the angry looking man standing at the rear who held a flaming torch. Ruth sank down behind them and cowered in the corner, begging him not to take her. The man heaved something into the wagon with a thud before he slammed the door shut and re-locked it.
“What is it?” Elizabeth Hall screamed, covering her eyes and diving into Ruth’s lap.
Ruth pushed Elizabeth away from her and leaned forward. She inhaled and said, “I think it’s food.” She touched the hunk of meat with her finger. It was still warm. “They killed something and gave us some to eat.”
The women slowly came out of the corner, moving toward the roasted meat. “Is it safe to eat?” one of them said.
Ruth ripped off a chunk and smelled it. “It smells good.” She put it in her mouth and began to chew.
“They’re feeding us?” Elizabeth whispered. “Why would they feed us if they’re going to kill us? Don’t you understand? We’re going to live! The Great Spirit has blessed us.”
Ruth looked at Elizabeth with disdain as she chewed, waiting until it became tender enough to swallow. “For now, at least.”
***
They rode into open country that stretched out in front of them like sheets of dark red soil, shimmering purple in the light of the twin moons. Toquame Keewassee held up his hand and all of the riders in the group instantly halted their destriers. The caged wagon rattled to a stop and two Beothuk on either side of the formation dismounted and ducked into the shadows, their movements only indicated by the soft click of their rifle hammers cocking back.
Comee looked out across the landscape and saw nothing but an enormous tree looming in the distance, its bare branches bent over like the curled fingers of an angry god. Beside him, Keewassee leaned forward in his saddle and sniffed the air, then raised his fist and pointed at the tree ahead. All of the Beothuk drew their weapons and began to move.
Wind blew through the tree, carrying the scent of decay past the rattling branches. The shadows of multiple objects hanging from the tree, their bare feet swaying side to side in the breeze. It was a dozen Beothuk strung by their necks. Keewassee peered into the darkness past the tree, searching the shadows until he made out the figures of the men hiding there. He saw light reflecting from their gun barrels and laid both of his hands on the neck of his destrier.
The men came forward, each of them crouched forward in anticipation of firing their rifles. All except the one in the middle. The one in the mask.
“You like my decorating, Tookie?” he said.
Keewassee saw more of the men coming up on their sides pinning them in, moving like eager killers. He looked back at the man and said nothing.
The masked man turned to look up into the tree and said, “These boys somehow got wind of where we was and tried a come up on ol’ Jim. But Jim ain’t the kind you easily come up on.” He circled around Keewassee's destrier and said, “Now who do you suppose told them how to find us?”
Keewassee looked up at the bodies and said, “They are Akashame. River people. When the wasichu came, they were the first to sign his treaties. Now they are forced to live like scavengers. If they had been true to the old ways, this would not be so.” Keewassee looked down at the man in
The horror of her own thoughts overwhelmed her and she slid away from the window and covered her face with her hands to pray. What’s happening to me?
I don’t want to die . Where has my faith gone?
Elizabeth has lost faith. Then let her be the one who goes first!
The back door of the wagon flew open and the women inside sat up and screamed, clawing their way across the floor to get away from the angry looking man standing at the rear who held a flaming torch. Ruth sank down behind them and cowered in the corner, begging him not to take her. The man heaved something into the wagon with a thud before he slammed the door shut and re-locked it.
“What is it?” Elizabeth Hall screamed, covering her eyes and diving into Ruth’s lap.
Ruth pushed Elizabeth away from her and leaned forward. She inhaled and said, “I think it’s food.” She touched the hunk of meat with her finger. It was still warm. “They killed something and gave us some to eat.”
The women slowly came out of the corner, moving toward the roasted meat. “Is it safe to eat?” one of them said.
Ruth ripped off a chunk and smelled it. “It smells good.” She put it in her mouth and began to chew.
“They’re feeding us?” Elizabeth whispered. “Why would they feed us if they’re going to kill us? Don’t you understand? We’re going to live! The Great Spirit has blessed us.”
Ruth looked at Elizabeth with disdain as she chewed, waiting until it became tender enough to swallow. “For now, at least.”
***
They rode into open country that stretched out in front of them like sheets of dark red soil, shimmering purple in the light of the twin moons. Toquame Keewassee held up his hand and all of the riders in the group instantly halted their destriers. The caged wagon rattled to a stop and two Beothuk on either side of the formation dismounted and ducked into the shadows, their movements only indicated by the soft click of their rifle hammers cocking back.
Comee looked out across the landscape and saw nothing but an enormous tree looming in the distance, its bare branches bent over like the curled fingers of an angry god. Beside him, Keewassee leaned forward in his saddle and sniffed the air, then raised his fist and pointed at the tree ahead. All of the Beothuk drew their weapons and began to move.
Wind blew through the tree, carrying the scent of decay past the rattling branches. The shadows of multiple objects hanging from the tree, their bare feet swaying side to side in the breeze. It was a dozen Beothuk strung by their necks. Keewassee peered into the darkness past the tree, searching the shadows until he made out the figures of the men hiding there. He saw light reflecting from their gun barrels and laid both of his hands on the neck of his destrier.
The men came forward, each of them crouched forward in anticipation of firing their rifles. All except the one in the middle. The one in the mask.
“You like my decorating, Tookie?” he said.
Keewassee saw more of the men coming up on their sides pinning them in, moving like eager killers. He looked back at the man and said nothing.
The masked man turned to look up into the tree and said, “These boys somehow got wind of where we was and tried a come up on ol’ Jim. But Jim ain’t the kind you easily come up on.” He circled around Keewassee's destrier and said, “Now who do you suppose told them how to find us?”
Keewassee looked up at the bodies and said, “They are Akashame. River people. When the wasichu came, they were the first to sign his treaties. Now they are forced to live like scavengers. If they had been true to the old ways, this would not be so.” Keewassee looked down at the man in
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