They ran and fled the tent city was behind em and the rain still fell like somethin the good Lord had forgot to turn off they went far from that house of God and hell and they come upon a bar it was a low dark place like a hole dug in the earth and when they entered the stench hit em like a fist a stink of cheap whiskey and sweat and piss and something ranker than that the place was full of unshaven men the kind that look like they been wearin the same clothes since the coming of the Christ and one of em was sittin in a corner pullin at himself like he was tryin to start a fire in his britches.
The child walked through the filth like he was walkin through clean air he come to the counter and laid his money down a worn silver dollar and he spoke to the barkeep:
A beer.
Edgar and Mark and John stood watchin the scene like three scarecrows in a dust storm.
Then a man stood up from a table he was big and ugly and swayed like a loose sign in a stiff wind he pointed a finger that looked like an old root at the child.
"Hey y'all motherfuckers he hollered. Give me that beer."
Mark turned slow and his brow wrinkled up like old leather.
"Hey ye oughta shut your stanky mouth."
The thug laughed a ragged sound like rocks scrapin together.
"What did ye say say that again huh?"
He put his hands on his hips and his eyes were wild and wet.
"Dont ye know me Im the god Im the devil hahhahahhaha."
The child stepped forward.
"Hey ye leave us alone y'all dont want us to skinned ye right here I swear on your mama."
The thug stopped laughin he started cryin he was cryin and laughin all at once he pulled a handgun from his waist. The men in the bar didnt even turn they just kept watchin the show and the one in the corner kept his hand busy. The thug pulled the trigger but his hand shook with the drink and the bullet only grazed the child's shoulder. The child didnt even flinch he flew at the thug and grabbed his shirt and the cheap cloth ripped down the front. Mark was behind em and the child ducked and the kick landed clean on the thug's jaw.
Edgar was on em then he grabbed a bottle and brought it down hard on his own skull it shattered and he held the jagged glass and he drove the shard into the thug's groin. The man screamed.
The child had the handgun now he pointed it at the bleeding man.
"What now huh?."
The thug only laughed a strange terrible laugh and blood was on his teeth.
"What what do ye think Im scared?."
The child gave a small sound of disgust and pulled the trigger the bullet went through the thug's forehead and the child heard the words of the baldheaded man ringin in his head like a bell. Edgar let out a whoop.
"Good good man y'all really are a devil."
They turned to leave the bar. The child dropped the handgun on the floor.
A figure rose from a table he was missin four fingers on his left hand his right hand was a great knob of muscle and he had no ear he looked at the dead man and then kicked the handgun back to the child. The child turned. The man smiled his teeth were bad.
"Howdy kid ye got guts huh he said. Wheres your next devil goin."
The child didnt speak he just looked at the man. The man moved to block the doorway and the child saw the brand on his forehead J.B.T. The child scoffed. The man clenched his fist but John drove his foot into the man's stomach and the man flew out of the bar and into the muddy street he stood up with no haste and pulled a handgun from his waist and blew John's head off. John dropped dead. The child launched himself at the man and disarmed him. The man kicked and the child caught the boot and with his other hand he grabbed a stick and pierced the man's groin and the man's smile did not waver he just bit the child's ear.
The child managed to get the handgun again he shot the man in the back and the bullet passed clean through the man's body and also through the child's body yet neither of em stopped they were both puking blood.
The man coughed a sound like wet sand.
"Hahahha I like ye kid y'all are strong what age are ye."
The child said: 15.
Then they both collapsed on the ground unconscious. The bartender came out and dragged em into a back room where they rested in the clutter.
When the child woke Edgar and Mark were there and they offered him food. The child took it and ate it.
"This here is some nice meat" he said.
Edgar wiped his mouth.
"I know John tasted good."
The child stopped chewing.
"This is John?!"
Mark laughed.
"Yeah what you think we're gonna Burry him? pftt hell no."
The man who was Roadvine woke up he had a hole in his body he looked at the child.
"Hey ye y'all are strong I am Roadvine by the way hehehe didnt met to beat ye kid I meant to eat ye."
The child stood up and called to Edgar and Mark and said they should leave. Roadvine grinned at him. As they were about to go a knock on the door like a hammer blow. The bartender froze and wiped his hands on his apron. The door burst open and two figures stood there not the army but tough men in mismatched dusty uniforms the look of local Texas Rangers. One of em held a crudely drawn poster a warrant of arrest for the unnatural murders of three desperados.
The captain spoke his voice low and hard. Peasant Im here for the depredation against sovereign people of violation of sacred of compacts of 48.
He pointed at Edgar and Mark. We have warrant of arrest for your persons. come quiet and the free from transport back east might just keeps our hand clean.
Edgar lashed out quick as a snake. He pointed at the child.
"Nah nah hes eat hes the Mastermind."
Mark said:
"Yeah right we havent done anything we were. victims."
The child just look
oked at the captain his eyes empty.
The captain said:
"I dont care, enough argue we were taking y'all down."
Mark spat on the captain's face.
"You fuckin bitch Ill kill ye on this whorehouses."
Mark went for the captain's gun but the other ranger was quicker and shot Mark's head off. They cuffed Edgar.
Edgar looked at the child full of fury and he spat on him but the kid just licked the saliva from his face.
After they took Edgar away Roadvine approached the child smiling and grinning.
"Dont worry kid ye dont need them they are afraid, afraid of gettin caught."
The child nodded.
Roadvine said:
"Now why dont ye come with me."
The child looked at the hole in the man's chest.
"Why would I I can live my own I dont need a help of a guy like ye."
Roadvine laughed a long loud laugh.
"Sure sure wanderer through the desert and town and y'all will realize I was right hahhahaha do it come on."
The chapter ended.