Within Eden's Shadow [The Heist]

“Get those hands up in the air!” The man with the yellow bandana he had tied across his face, yelled. He pulled a worn western hat down low over his forehead to shade his eyes from view, but his ratty long hair still shone around his ears and over the back of his collar. “Now! My friends here have bags; put all your jewelry, money; watches... in the bags... don’t forget the gold dust!

The train lurched and rattled underneath the car and the robber grabbed the top of the seat to steady himself.  His four similarly dressed friends spread out from each other and began filling small canvas bags with what the riders offered up.

At the front of the train car, a young man in a bright blue bandana, and a tan hat apologized to an elderly woman who was fighting giving up her wedding band.

“I’m sorry.”  he said sotto voce, “...you can keep it. I don’t want to take something so important to you.” His eyes were sad.

“Oh thank you, young man.” She responded, her voice shaky. “My dead husband thanks you too.”

“If it’s valuable, take it!” The first man yelled at his comrade, waving the rusty civil war hand gun he carried. “Jax take her ring!” He ordered one of the other two with a wave of his gun. “Will, get over here and take care of this section and leave that one to Jax!”

The man in the Blue bandana moved to the right side of the train car and began taking from a group apparently well off men.

The people around the man in the yellow bandana ducked their heads in fear his gun might go off accidentally.  A young woman let out a yelp of despair.  The young blonde was hugging a brunette who must have stood almost a foot taller than she did; her head leaned on her companion. Both girls were dressed in simple dresses, their hair bound in braids and covered in matching traveling bonnets. The brunette wore a small tarnished silver cross necklace around her neck.

“It’s going to be alright.” The brunette whispered calmly to the Blonde. “God is with us.” She placed a thin hand over her necklace. “If we just give them what we have they will go. If they wanted to kill us, they would have shot up the car first and then pulled what they want off our bodies.”

“How do you know?”  Her companion whispered.

“I just do... God is with us and protects his servants.”

“You and God have a conversational relationship do you?”

The faithful young woman shook her head and rolled her eyes at her companion. “Look at that one.” She pointed at the young man in the blue bandana. “He apologizes to everyone he takes from. He doesn’t want to do this... I’m sure they are just hungry. Times are so difficult now; people are starving all over the country...”

“Rule number one!” the leader yelled. “No talking!” He shouted, his voice reverberating off the rounded tin roof of the train car. The young women hugged each other tighter and the blonde squealed again through a tightly clasp hand over her mouth.

“Now that’s better!” He shouted in an attempt to have the last word.

The fourth robber, a pudgy man who had turned sideways when moving down the center aisle, bent deep in heated conversation with the man in the blue bandana and tan hat.

“What are you doing?” he hissed. “Adam said to take it all, you’ve leaving lots of loot on the people.”

“Its just emotional stuff. Wedding rings on widows and family heirlooms...”

“What’s that to us? We’re hungry; if they’ve the money for the train trip then they’ll live without them rings and lockets. You’re going to get Adam pretty mad. You know what he’s like...”

“Just keep him off my ass for a bit, he’ll get a full enough bag of loot to make him happy, just distract him for a spell.”

“Dis—what?”

“Just keep him from seeing what I’m doing.”

The train whistle blew as it neared the Columbia stop. Breaks were applied and the car lurched backwards, pressing the riders back into their seats. The smell of coal smoke drifted in through the open windows, inducing coughs from a few of the riders.

The man in the blue bandana reached the two single women who were still clinging to each other.  They opened their purses and gave up the measly few dollars they carried in them.

“Your earrings, please.” He asked the Blonde. She slipped them slowly from her earlobes.

“Its ok Joanna. Give them to him. I’m sure your Father will buy you more at Christmas.” The Brunette calmed her friend.

“But, I like these, Judith. They go so well with my eyes.” She cried as she handed the gold and abalone drops into his waiting hand.

He dropped them into one of two bags he held.

“Stop belly aching and give it up!” the man in the yellow bandana yelled. “Hurry up. Time’s upon us, boys!” He threatened to backhand Joanna.

“Now, none of that Adam.” The man in the blue bandana said, reaching up to grab his bosses hand. “It serves us no purpose.”

“Whatever,  get that necklace and let’s get a move on, trains gonna be stopping soon.”

“No point in bothering the lady, it’s not enough silver to trade for even a pail of bathwater. We’ve a huge haul already. He handed one bag to Yellow bandana and held the other out of sight behind his leg.

“All right then boys, let’s get a move on. Thankya folks for your fine c... whats the word Will?”

“Contribution, Boss.”

“Thank you for con... tri...boo...shuns” He mirrored awkwardly.  “Let’s go boys!” Adam hollered as he opened the door to the baggage car. Wind whipped though the cabin, bringing with it the smells of the cool night air, crisp with spring chill and heavy with newly released pollen.  Jax and the unnamed fourth robber who never spoke exited the car, jumping to the ground from the coupling joint.

Will, the man in the blue bandana and tan hat, tipped his hat and bowed to the young women. He placed the second bag on the floor next to their seat. He eyed Judith intently. “Ma’am” he said with a second touch of his hat and turned to go.

Judith leaned down and picked up the bag. Opening it, she discovered it was filled with the riders’ belongings.

The cars backdoor slammed shut and the riders looked at each other.

“Its all here!” Judith announced, holding up the canvas bag. “He just dropped it here by my feet as he left.

A cheer rose up from the riders.

After distributing the belonging in the bag, a little red headed boy asked Judith. “Are you sure that is everything? They took my bag of toys too.”

“I’m sorry, sweet heart. I think your toys were all they got away with.” Judith responded.

The boy’s father let out a raucous laugh.  “That young boy in the Blue bandana is a good guy in wolves clothing. He really pulled the wool over that gunman’s head. I hope he knows what he’s doing. That’s a pretty dangerous game.” He said to his wife, hoisting his son up onto his lap.

“Maybe he didn’t jump like the others did... maybe he’s still on the train?” Joanna posed, looking over her shoulder at the car’s back door.. His eyes were kind; maybe he is handsome under that bandana.” She swooned... “And he was looking at you. Did you see that? He touched his hat and his eyes smiled at you.”

“Oh please, Jo. He’s a hoodlum, a train Robber. Why would I even be interested in a man like that?” Judith said, shaking her head.

“Our stuff didn’t actually leave the train. He didn’t rob anyone and even when he was pretending to he didn’t take objects that were precious to anyone. Besides isn’t it romantic?”

“Isn’t what romantic?” Judith asked, plainly becoming annoyed by Joanna’s train of thought.

“The School Marm and The Scape-Grace....”

“Oh dear Lord!” Judith crossed herself. “You and those pulp novels of yours! You are going fall for the first cow-boy who smiles at you and waste your College like that.” She napped her fingers for effect.

“I will not! I will have my work to keep me busy. The school in Denver is a multiple room metropolitan school. I will be very busy... too busy to take to courting. I’m starting by teaching some near-do-wells who have fallen behind a bit of Grammar for the summer.  What will you be doing?”

“I don’t know... getting a school together I guess. They have been without a certified Teacher. Never had one in the town before, just a mother doing her best.  I’m sure it’s a small school. I guess I will do quite a bit of cleaning and meeting with the parents.  I am sure I will have quite enough to keep myself busy in Kennebec.” She smoothed her hands over her skirt.

“How busy can a sleepy town be; and one in the Kansas Territory to boot.” Joanna commented. She looked at the window at the Columbia Station. Looking past the station, Joanna thought perhaps she might be able to see Kansas City on the horizon on the horizon. What stories she had heard about its size, the “Star of the Plains” she had heard it called. It wasn’t as big as Boston, but it was the biggest City that side of the Mississippi river.  It seemed as if she was holding her breath between the Cities, for fear of missing a sight she had never seen. The Cities were her domain, she’s grown up the streets. Her parents very poor, the streets had been her playground. She had seen the best and worst of human existence.  Unlike her friend...

Judith had grown up within the sheltering walls of a convent ran girls orphanage. Her only male influence had been the Administering Father, a Church Exorcist who’d retired to the quiet confines of Parish paperwork.  Judith had followed him everywhere when she was young, listening to his entertaining and thrilling stories, but she never really believed him. She believed in God and the Angels, but the demons and spirits of his world just couldn’t be real. She loved him like the Father she never knew, but she couldn’t bring herself to believe that something as fantastic and violent could exist.

With Joanna’s concentration focused on the gaslights of the town and the coming stop, Judith took the opportunity to pray. She stood up and removed a small black bag from her carpet bag.  Sitting down she slipped a small wooden one decade rosary into her palm. She kept it craftily hidden from the other passengers as she prayed three her hail maries to atone for the small thought she had in secret agreement with her friend... it was a romantic notion.

~~~

When the train reached Kansas City, the night sky had taken over completely. The sky was bright with twinkling stars when Will, jumped the train. He leapt into a roll and his body making a divot in the small pebbles which lined the tracks. The train had just passed the river. He could smell its briny funk.

‘The Missouri is such a muddy waste of a river.’ He thought. ‘But the City has promise.’ He watched as the train slowly pulled off toward the station and struck out in the opposite direction. The rail yard was empty save him and he played at balance on a neighboring track. Four tracks and numerous switches clustered together like a stitched up scar running alongside a slew of warehouses and an iron works. During the day Will surmised that the yard was busy with men and cattle. As he walked he could smell the world famous stockyards. The nighttime breeze wafted west and the ripe aroma of steer and bovine across the scar, adding to the brine of the slow moving river. ‘What an ugly place this must be by daylight.’ He thought.

After a long walk east, he found a saloon and hotel on a seedy block, lined by rooming houses and a small block of lanterns made from red glass. A few soiled doves leaned out from the entry doors of the houses, beckoning for him to give into his desires. He tipped his hat to them each in turn and continued walking. His only cravings were for a good hearty stew and a badly stuffed mattress.

The saloon was raucous; a good friendly party was raging. Tables were encircled by on lookers as a spirited card game progressed.  He was welcomed with a smile by the saloon girls and an amiable head bob by the bar keep.

“any food” he asked.

“some potlatch is left I think.”

Anything hot’ll do... I’d even eat roasted shoe.” He laughed. “And a pint of wheat.”

“Good, cause Bonnie can’t cook a bit, that’s why she’s working in a place like this.”

“Ain’t nothing wrong with a place like this.” Quipped a woman as she entered with a cask of liquor. I’ve no liken to a fancy place. This place is home” She smiled showing missing teeth.

“I completely agree.” Will chimed in. “Who wants to be afraid to breathe for fear of breaking something in one of those cultured establishments?”

“Estabish— whats?” The barkeep asked.

“Ohhh look at him with his big words! Ha” Bonnie added.

He took his gruel and beer and sat against the wall by the stairwell that led upwards to the rented rooms; he was out of the flow of traffic, hidden half in shadow.  He shoveled the grool as civilly as he could, but his stomach ached with three days of neglect. His head swam from the wheat beer, the room tilting back and forth. Suddenly the sound of the gamblers became almost too loud to bear.  He looked up toward the tables. His vision blurred as the gaming broke out into a fight. He wasn’t sure who had cheated but someone was going to be shot or stuck, he was sure of it.

He heard a woman scream and then one of the players fell to the floor.  In the chaos he slipped back up to the bar.

“room?” he slurred.

“Full up.” Said the barkeep. “Might have an opening if that man dies.” He said nonchalantly as if murders occurred in his Saloon all the time.

The crowd began to peel off as the observers feared the inevitable appearance of the Law. Will could see the accused cheater, lying pasty on the floor. Blood pooled on the rough hewn floorboards, dripping down below them. His mind imagined all the pools of blood which might have oozed down into the ground below the Saloon.

He suddenly didn’t want to stay. He placed his last paper bill on the bar to pay for his beer and stew. The barkeep pocketed it with a acknowledging nod.

Will stumbled out into the night in search of another place to lay his head. He fingered the coins in his pockets. ‘I don’t have enough for a boarding house or a whore, he thought.... wondering how good he would have had it if he’d gone though with the robbery. It wasn’t worth it, he’d only have felt guilty and been miserable despite the luxury.  ‘Once the loot was spent what would I have? Nothing!’ he continued to walk east, moving away from the Station.

He looked back over his shoulder. ‘But she’s at the station... ‘ he thought. ‘What am I thinking? I am who I am everyone who knows me is cursed, I’m surprised Adam and Jax have survived knowing me so long given they weren’t the smartest to begin with. I have to find something honorable to do to break this curse. ‘ She’s just another pretty girl I’ve seen along the way; headed west to Raise some Rich man’s children or work in a mercantile in California. I’m not her type until I make something of myself.

~~~

The train screeched to a stop spark flying off the wheels as the breaks were applied by the engineer. The riders grabbed their carpet bags and hard sided suitcases from the cabinets above their seats.

“I want my toys!!” the now half asleep boy cried from his father’s shoulder.

“We’ll get you new ones soon, go to sleep baby.” His mother attempted to soothe him as they filed down the aisle.

Joanna had only just fallen asleep when they pulled into the station. She rubbed her eyes while Judith yawned.  Joanna held her one hard sided bag in front of her as she navigated between the rows of seats.  Judith tucked her wooden writer’s box under her left arm and carried her worn carpet bag behind herself as she exited the train. 

The night chilled her exposed neck and hands. Wind swirled up beneath her ankle length skirt, refreshing her sweaty knees.  She looked up at the clear night sky. Despite the burgeoning City, the stars were brightly visible and Judith could make out several constellations, including Virgo.

“Are you coming or what?”  Joanna asked, holding out a hand.

“Yes, I’m coming. I was just marveling at the stars.” They began walking behind the other riders, making their way to the hotel district.

“Where exactly are we?” Joanna asked, shivering.

“The town of Argentine, Kansas. If I remember right its Wyandotte County, we are just barely over the border into Kansas.”  Judith answered.

“You are a walking reference. I cannot believe the College let you go. They should have locked you up in the library.” Joanna chided.

“If I wanted to be locked away from the world, I would have taken Vows.” Judith responded. “There is so much to be learned and experiences beyond faith. I want to learn it all.”

“Why did you choose teachers college. There were girls who were studying clerical. Who knows what man you might work for...  the possibilities would be endless.”

“I wanted to make a difference in the world, and be independent. The Frontier needs teachers. I want to open other girls’ minds to the wonders of the world. Why did you choose Teachers College?”

“Papa said being school marm is the only job a girl should have before being a wife and mother. He thought it shameful to be an unmarried shop girl or a loom girl once I reached sixteen. I either had to become a school marm or get married and I didn’t take a liking to any of the guys my family knew. Besides I don’t want to marry poor if I don’t have to and staying within the Textiles was a nightmare I did not want to live... I’ve worked enough in the weaving factories as a child to last two lifetimes. I sure wasn’t going to work looms my whole life.”  Their hard heels clicked on the cobbles as they walked; echoing off the cold sleeping buildings. 

They heard a distant lowing.

“Whats that sound?” Joanna asked.

“I’m not sure... an animal maybe.” Judith answered.

“Sounds like the stockyards to me, Misses ... On some nights the sounds drift south across the river. Thank God its not the smell tonight as well. Its something awful, believe you me.” A man carrying a huge amount of luggage called back to them.

“Thank you for that.” Joanna yelled. “Stockyards?” She whispered to Judith.” That’s cows right? Or pigs?”

“Yes. I too am glad we aren’t closer. Yuck.” Judith wrinkled her nose.

“How would you know?”

“The Sisters would take us out to the country for a week every year ... out to a farm the sisterhood owned. We took care of a couple Cows and a handful of Pigs, geese and chickens. We also worked a garden. Animals are stinky and I would imagine that if you put hundreds of them together they would make an awful big smell.

“Human’s can be sticky if you get a bunch of them together.” Joanna responded “I know that for sure.”

“Lets find a room and get some sleep; we’ve another train to ride in the morning.” Judith reminded her. They saw a light in the front window of a fine house with a shingle over the door. It read; ‘Angelica’s women’s boarding house’.  A woman could be seen through the window, reading a book by the light of a hurricane lamp.

“She’s still awake let’s see if she has an empty room.” Joanna remarked.

Judith knocked on the door and back off the stairs, to stand on the cobblestones.

After a minute the woman disappeared from the window and the door opened a ways.

“Yes? May I help you?”

“My classmate and I would like to inquire of you. Do you have an empty room in which we could lodge for the night?” Judith inquired politely.

“We have money, we can pay.” Judith added nervously, pulling her savings out of her pocket.

“Goodness girl, put that away, you’ll get it lost. Come in come in. If you don’t mind sleeping in the same bed, I’ve one room to lent.”

~~~

Will walked until his mind cleared and then sat down on a barrel behind yet another Saloon and hotel. He’d been walking for an hour and had yet to find a bed. He had finally given up. He’d find a place to hole up for the night and crash out of doors.  The saloon rear proved to be resource rich.  He found a stack of shipping palates from their daily Vegetable order and an old weathered tarp folded up by the trash cans.

He made a shelter from three palates and the oiled canvas, curled up on the hard packed ground and fell into a fitful sleep. He dreamt of the girls from the Train. They were laughing at him, they were scolding him , chiding him. The dream was a jumble of hazy images he wished he could wake from, but his body had other ideas. Only a cannon going off could have woke him.

It wasn’t the boom of cannon which woke him, but a rude jerking sensation as someone yanked him up and off the ground.





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ID: 1634204   (Rated: E) Title: Fusionfall: The Interactive Story   Description: Cartoon Network Universe: FusionFall In a Interactive Story By: Satoshi