"I died. It's as simple as that. Well okay, not so simple. I'm still alive, which is the weird thing about it. The Sheriff tried, very hard, to keep me dead. They hung me twice 'fore they got t'think'n it wasn't a problem with the rope. The Sheriff decided that since it didn't work, a good ol' firing squad would.
"After they emptied all of them rifles and there I stood right pretty the townsfolk started to whisper. The ol' man who'd been a general in the war cried some dishonorable thing, took his sword, and ran me through!
"It hurt, I gotta tell ya, but the shock on their faces as they backed 'way from me was the worst. The general pulled out his sword and we both got a good look at it as if it t'were a rattle snake. There weren't no blood on it.
"Now, I'd won at every single quick draw I fought in (which is why I was there, being a gunslinger and all). I never understood it, but look'n at that sword it hit me. I reckon I'd never bled in my life; not in a brawl, not even a bloody knee from fall'n off my horse. Could it be that I can't bleed, and can't die?
"The crowd was come'n to the same types of thoughts I were and the quiet talk were turn'n t'shouts and some 'em were pick'n up rocks. So I ran. The sheriff tried shoot'n me but it was no use. I couldn't run too fast with the shackles jangl'n at my feet but they got me to the Sheriff's horse and he could run just fine.
"I went through a couple towns, but my wanted poster's all over. Few t'others tried to kill me, but I'm still here. Now the telegraph is faster than me. They known 'fore I get t'next town I can't be killed. They stone me the moment I get in town. I can't go no where. Doc, ya gotta help me. I just don't understand it." Young Cody Brown stopped his babbling long enough for the doctor, a man who pulled a bullet or two out of Cody in the past, to think for a few minutes, but Cody would have none of it. "Ya just gotta help me!"
"I think you should start turning this to your advantage." The learned man said after some thoughts. He was tall, well dressed, and handsome for an older man.
"Like what? Robb'n banks?"
"No boy. Doing good! Helping people."
"Come on, Doc. I need t'know what's happening t'me. If I can just get t' bottom of this I can fix whatever's the matter and I can show my face again."
"I'm quite serious. You ever think maybe you're the second coming of our Lord?" The Doc chewed on his pipe.
"Doc, you gotta be kidding, I've killed more men then I've saved. I ain't got no plans to become a good sheriff any time soon. I just wanna know why this is happening. Why me?"
"The lord works in mysterious ways."
"Stop yer preach'n Doc, I ain't wanna hear none of it. I ain't Jesus, not even a catholic."
"Then can I recommend you go see a friend of mine an Indian by the name of Red Sky."
"Oh fer heaven's sake! Go from preach'n to black magic!"
"It's not black magic, son. The man knows more about God and the world than anyone I've ever met. If anyone would know what is happening to you, he would."
"I don't know Doc, I mean he's an injun and all."
"We haven't been at war with the Indian's for decades. Give the man a chance. He won't hurt you, I promise."
***
Cody Brown finally agreed and rode off in search of Red Sky. After many days and nights he happened upon the small village, only half a dozen teepees dotted a small area by the Missouri. He approached carefully unsure anyone was even there. It surprised him he could get so close without altering them.
Two younger Indians were leaving a teepee laughing and speaking with someone inside. When the girl noticed him she stopped laughing and tugged on her boy's arm. She rattled something Cody didn't get and quickly more heads were sticking out of the hole of a door.
An old grizzled red skinned man stood in front of the others. "What do you want?" His English was almost perfect.
"Well, sir, respectfully," Cody tipped his hat, "I'm look'n fer someone named
Red Sky."
The old man looked at the young couple then back to him. "Why?"
"Well, sir, I were told he could help me. I...um... It's... Er... Personal."
The young man spoke quickly in the elder's ear. "I do not like you white man. You have the smell of evil about you. However, Red Sky will see you."
Cody slid off his horse and followed the old man and young couple into another teepee. To his surprise it was empty save for them and a small fire.
"Sit." The old man gestured and Cody sat. The young man sat across from him and Cody wondered why. "I am chief Mato Chante in your language means Bear Heart. You people, however, have given me the dishonorable name Chief Flying Stick. This," he pointed to the young man who seemed to be meditating now, "is our medicine man Lootah Mahpee, which in your language is Red Sky."
Cody stared at the young man. He wasn't anything like what he imagined a redskin medicine man to be like. His perception of these people was slowly changing.
"Um... How...," he now felt kind of stupid, "ya, doin' pardner."
Red Sky nodded slightly.
"I've come seek'n help. Doc Philips told me y'all could help me." Cody spoke as if Red Sky knew what he was saying, in reality he wasn't so sure. Red Sky stood there seeming to ignore him. He glanced at the chief every few seconds, whom he didn't really like hearing all this. "You see, sir. I'm 'n outcast. I've died many times but see I'm still here." He went on to explain everything, how he'd died and how people treated him. "If I could just find out why, I think I can live with it."
Finally, when he finished and didn't speak for a minute or so, Red Sky opened his eyes and looked intensely at him. He spoke in a deep and serious voice many words in their language. When he ceased the chief translated.
"He says you need to sleep here. You will dream here and he will interpret your dreams."
"Well, I'm suppos'n whatever you say I'll give it a try." Red Sky nodded again and started preparing the room. He threw some sort of powder on the flames that made them glow a deep red with a deep floral scent. Cody's eyes slowly grew heavier and gradually with Red Sky's chanting in his ear he lay down and fell into a deep sleep.
***
The fire grew hotter the flames leapt beyond the top of the teepee but didn't seem to set it on fire. The fire changed colors, from red, to orange, to blue. Cody stood to try to back away but there began another fire behind him. There was only one path out and he ran, he continued to run for some time but always there was only one way to run, the fire closed in around him until he came to the edge of a cliff and he had no choice but to dive as the fire closed behind him.
He didn't fall long. He stood before ten statues five angels on one side and five devils on the other. A cool breeze came from one side and the heat of an oven from the other, down the middle they collided warring around him. He was stuck and could not move.
The breeze turned into a howling wind that began circling around him. The statues closed in threateningly. Both sides screamed as they began their attack and Cody covered his ears screaming himself. "Stop!"
He pushed out towards the angels and flames shot out from his chest. The angels were reduced to dust, the cool wind stopped and the devils stood behind him ready to take over, almost as if they were at his command. He turned around and a stream of cold wind came from his chest toppling the devils. As they hit the ground they crumbled to pieces.
***
"What's it mean?" Cody asked Red Sky after waking and finding him there then explaining it.
Red Sky sat for some time staring into the fire and contemplating the dream. The chief walked in midway through so when Red Sky was ready he translated.
"It means you are not human. You are here to destroy those who oppose you by any means even if it means living forever."
"But who opposes me and why?"
"You do not know your enemies?"
Cody shrugged, "only t'other gunslingers and a sheriff or two."
"You know more than you think."
"I thought that guy had all the answers." Cody threw his arm in Red Sky's direction. "Why don't you just tell me what y'all think I know."
Red Sky said something and the chief replied in a terse manner. Red Sky said something slowly and calmly to the chief then the chief stormed out.
Finally the Indian stood. He crossed to Cody and put his hand on Cody's head. It was freezing. Cody stared up at him with wide eyes unbelieving of the implications but feeling it in his soul. When Red Sky nodded to him he stood quickly backing away.
"You're... You're the angels?"
Red sky took a step forward and shook his head. He kept walking until Cody drew his gun and held it in his face. "You keep comin' closer I'll keep you from taken 'nother step."
Red Sky stopped and looked at him quizzically then smiled. He placed a hand on the weapon and while Cody thought he would try to take it, instead he moved it aiming it at his heart. The intention was clear; he wanted Cody to pull the trigger. Did that mean what he thought it meant? Was this Indian like him?
"What's t'all mean?" Cody finally dropped the gun. "Why d'we have this? Why us?"
"Un lepe wess newnet." It wasn't Sioux but Cody somehow understood it. It took him a minute or so to figure out he knew it, but as his brain clicked into place the Indian watched him intently.
"I'm no peace man. You're want'n me to keep the devils from destroy'n you and t'other way round? It's not possible."
"Felln kurga moroan plackad, morap selna felln corp." Again Cody had to take time to translate.
"How'm I suppose t'find 'em among hundreds? I'm not gonna stop people from cross'n the country. There's just too many of 'em"
Red Sky shook his head. "Felln moroan morga yellu."
"Oh. Just one? But don't that mean I gotta kill you too?" Red Sky nodded once. Cody thought of the woman this Indian was with last night, she was his wife no doubt, did they have a family, he wondered. Cody squinted at the immortal as he thought more. "And where's this here white man now?"
Red Sky crossed his arms and said slowly, "Doc Philips."
***
"Ah, Cody, back so soon?"
"Weren't 'spect'n me back at all were ya Doc?"
"What makes you say that?"
"You know Doc. You know what I am."
"I haven't the faintest clue what you're talking about."
"Why'd you send me t'the injuns Doc? Yer evil mind tried to manipulate me into gett'n them t'kill me?"
"Listen, Cody, I think they've done something to your mind. Did they give you anything to smoke?"
"I'm done Doc!" Cody slammed his fist on the doctor's desk. "I ain't play'n this game no more! Now getup!" Cody drew his gun on the doctor though he knew it wouldn't do him any good.
"Now listen, young man, I haven't done anything wrong. You're a little misguided here. I have no idea where you get the idea-" A loud noise went off. Then the doctor crumpled to the ground. Cody watched him fall and the blood leak upon his white shirt and for a moment he had a doubt. Then the doctor coughed. He knew the blood wasn't real and the doctor felt no pain.
"Getup!" Cody kicked him.
Slowly the doctor unraveled knowing his masquerade was over. He stood as if he were still in a bit of pain as he grabbed at his heart. His fingers were twitching though and Cody knew that sign; the Doc had something in his pocket.
"Get yer hand 'way from yer pocket!" Cody waved the gun though he knew it wouldn't work.
The doctor didn't move, and looked disgusted but not at Cody. He was looking over the young man's shoulder.
"This is all your doing you interfering do gooder." Cody knew he was talking to Red Sky who stood silently behind him now.
"Yer time's up, Doc."
"Oh no. I don't think so. See the only way to kill one of us is to kill all of us. The polar ends can't even kill each other. They will only die if there is a connection between them."
"Yeah and I'm that connection." Cody stood tall.
"Oh no, dear boy, you wouldn't purposely kill yourself."
"Then you don't know me very well, Doc."
"No, but I know Red Sky. Why do you think I sent you to him in the first place? He did give you something to smoke didn't he?"
"No."
"Put something in the fire then?"
Cody thought back to the night before and the changing colors of the flame, the angels had been the first to attack hadn't they?
"I can give you something to counteract what he's done to you." Cody looked at Red Sky then at Philips who pulled a syringe from his pocket.
"Don't you touch me!" The doctor had already advanced with the needle, somehow Cody knew whatever was in that would mix with whatever Red Sky had put in that fire and he'd lose whatever power he had. Cody backed away from the doctor and accidentally bumped into Red Sky. He lost his balance and grabbed Doctor Philips to save himself from falling.
He didn't realize until many minutes later, when the Sheriff nudged him with his foot, what must have happened. "Wake up kid."
Cody looked up and around in surprise. The doctor's office was blackened. The doctor and Indian were gone there were two piles of dust in their place.
"Yer darn lucky that blast didn't take you too, kid." Cody felt something cold and metallic on his wrists then heard a click. "Try'n to rob the bank in the middle of the day? Not too smart. Lucky the Doc wasn't here." As the sheriff pulled him to his feet he noticed a hole in the wall and a few people that looked like bankers peered through. His own clothes were torn to shreds but he was still alive and he knew why. There were still four more pairs of statues out there.
I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. Please send me any comments you might have, good or bad. Copyrighted 2009 by Christine Schnell. Go ahead and share it with others just keep my name with it.
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