Post by Kit on Apr 30, 2010 8:21:15 GMT -8
(Ok this is a short snippet I wrok at 10 pm the night before last when i should have been sleeping ;D. Thanks Pet for the Beta any final mistakes are all mine. P.S. Pet suggests a hanky)
The Night Of The Dark Mine
Jim walked slowly down the darkened mine shaft, he was in a daze, shell shocked. How could it have ended so badly? He replayed the scene over in his head in sickeningly slow motion.
He and Artemus had been on the trail of Dr. Loveless again when the trail had run cold. Acting on a tip from a rancher who reported some strange goings on in the old mines they had come here. Artie had lit a lantern and they walked down the shaft. Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, he turned when Artie had shouted “Jim look out!” Jim spun in time to see something fly toward him. He had no where to go, the shaft had dead ended and he had been in the process of turning around.
Artie had moved in front of him and that is when time stood still. He could no longer see the object but he heard it rip through the leather jacket Artie wore and the soft thud as the object tore through flesh. The light cast by the lantern slid down the wall of the mine shaft and Artie sank to his knees . Jim quickly caught him and set the lantern down. He looked at the arrow protruding from his partner, no his brother's chest. Jim laid him down and pulled his legs out straight so he would be more comfortable and then he looked at the wound.
“Sorry James.”
“No Artie, nothing to be sorry for your gonna be OK.”
Artie coughed and blood trickled over his lips. “Not this time James my boy.”
Jim knew deep down that this was one wound his partner would not recover from but he just couldn't believe it. He cradled Artie’s head in his lap and looked down at his brother as Artie spoke once again, this time weaker “It's been a pleasure Jim.”
“You too Artie.” What else was there to say? All manner of things ran through Jim's mind but nothing seemed to fit.
Artie coughed once more and his breathing hitched and stopped. Jim sat there for the longest time tears rolling down his cheeks. How un-fitting that such a brilliant human could come to this end and here in the dim shaft no one would fault him for his grief. He spoke the one bit of Shakespeare that fit “Good night sweet prince, may flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.” he carefully lay Artie's head down and stood. There was no way he could carry him out. He needed to either bring in one of the horses or build a litter. The latter would be the easiest, so he began the long walk out his misery was complete.
Jim never heard the hammer being pulled back nor did he register the shot. He felt the pain and in the dim light of his lantern saw the stain spreading across his chest. He dropped to his knees and the slumped against the wall. Hearing laughter he looked up to see a small man standing above him. “I finally won Mr. West! I finally won!” he giggled again and turned to leave but looked back one last time “Take comfort in the fact that you and Mr. Gordon will be entombed forever together.”
Jim tried in vain to pull his weapon but he had no strength left and as his vision faded he thought of all the times he and Artie and cheated death both knowing that one day their number would be up. It was only fitting that it happened to both on the same day. He was vaguely aware of the rumble at the mouth of the cave and for a brief second wondered who would look after the horses when blackness took over and his life ended.
Richmond woke in a cold sweat and looked around the room. He stood and lit a candle buy his bedside then grabbed his robe. He was not one to be shaken so easily by nightmares but the images were so vivid. He walked out of his room and down the hall to the study. He poured himself a glass of brandy and willed his hands to stop shaking. He just couldn't shake the thought as he moved to the desk and pulled out the case file that the two agents were currently working on and read the last telegram from Jim. 'No leads on loveless Stop Investigating strange happenings at abandoned mine Stop Will be in contact soon Final Stop'
Richmond's brandy glass shattered as it hit the floor.
The Night Of The Dark Mine
Jim walked slowly down the darkened mine shaft, he was in a daze, shell shocked. How could it have ended so badly? He replayed the scene over in his head in sickeningly slow motion.
He and Artemus had been on the trail of Dr. Loveless again when the trail had run cold. Acting on a tip from a rancher who reported some strange goings on in the old mines they had come here. Artie had lit a lantern and they walked down the shaft. Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, he turned when Artie had shouted “Jim look out!” Jim spun in time to see something fly toward him. He had no where to go, the shaft had dead ended and he had been in the process of turning around.
Artie had moved in front of him and that is when time stood still. He could no longer see the object but he heard it rip through the leather jacket Artie wore and the soft thud as the object tore through flesh. The light cast by the lantern slid down the wall of the mine shaft and Artie sank to his knees . Jim quickly caught him and set the lantern down. He looked at the arrow protruding from his partner, no his brother's chest. Jim laid him down and pulled his legs out straight so he would be more comfortable and then he looked at the wound.
“Sorry James.”
“No Artie, nothing to be sorry for your gonna be OK.”
Artie coughed and blood trickled over his lips. “Not this time James my boy.”
Jim knew deep down that this was one wound his partner would not recover from but he just couldn't believe it. He cradled Artie’s head in his lap and looked down at his brother as Artie spoke once again, this time weaker “It's been a pleasure Jim.”
“You too Artie.” What else was there to say? All manner of things ran through Jim's mind but nothing seemed to fit.
Artie coughed once more and his breathing hitched and stopped. Jim sat there for the longest time tears rolling down his cheeks. How un-fitting that such a brilliant human could come to this end and here in the dim shaft no one would fault him for his grief. He spoke the one bit of Shakespeare that fit “Good night sweet prince, may flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.” he carefully lay Artie's head down and stood. There was no way he could carry him out. He needed to either bring in one of the horses or build a litter. The latter would be the easiest, so he began the long walk out his misery was complete.
Jim never heard the hammer being pulled back nor did he register the shot. He felt the pain and in the dim light of his lantern saw the stain spreading across his chest. He dropped to his knees and the slumped against the wall. Hearing laughter he looked up to see a small man standing above him. “I finally won Mr. West! I finally won!” he giggled again and turned to leave but looked back one last time “Take comfort in the fact that you and Mr. Gordon will be entombed forever together.”
Jim tried in vain to pull his weapon but he had no strength left and as his vision faded he thought of all the times he and Artie and cheated death both knowing that one day their number would be up. It was only fitting that it happened to both on the same day. He was vaguely aware of the rumble at the mouth of the cave and for a brief second wondered who would look after the horses when blackness took over and his life ended.
Richmond woke in a cold sweat and looked around the room. He stood and lit a candle buy his bedside then grabbed his robe. He was not one to be shaken so easily by nightmares but the images were so vivid. He walked out of his room and down the hall to the study. He poured himself a glass of brandy and willed his hands to stop shaking. He just couldn't shake the thought as he moved to the desk and pulled out the case file that the two agents were currently working on and read the last telegram from Jim. 'No leads on loveless Stop Investigating strange happenings at abandoned mine Stop Will be in contact soon Final Stop'
Richmond's brandy glass shattered as it hit the floor.