Alabama Zack – Chapter XI

"Alabama Zack" is a 40-chapter science fiction serial, published in the Scholar and Scribe community once a week on Wednesdays.

You can start the serial from the beginning by visiting the Curated Collection.

Alabama Zack, our hero and a war veteran, found himself standing on a train station platform in another time and dimension. At his feet lay a man in a brown suit. The man was dead, and Zack was arrested and jailed for murder.

Zack can not remember how he had arrived on that platform, let alone whether or not he had anything to do with the man's death, yet he does believe that he is innocent.

In last week's chapter, while the trio of Cork McGraw, the doctor, and Zack sat on the front stoop of Cork's office discussing his case, a drunk man came out of the saloon across the street came out and pointed thumb and finger gun at Zack. Then a team of horses pulling a wagon drove by and shot at them. Cork exchanged fire with them before the trio dove inside his office. Cork recognized the men from the Clayton outfit.

While the trio dusted themselves off in the foyer, Matilda hovered, mostly checking on Zack.

“I think we're okay, Matilda,” the doctor said.

There was a knock at the door. Cork had put the pistol back in his waistband; now he pulled it out and pressed it against his side, so that it was hidden in the folds of his overcoat. He signaled for the doctor to go to the door. On the way, the doctor made final adjustments to his suit coat, hat and tie. Zack squared his shoulders beside Cork, so that the two of them stood abreast in front of Matilda.

Cork nodded. The doctor yanked the door open and jumped back against the wall. There stood the drunk man from across the street, adjusting his pants with a toothless grin, while the smell of whiskey wafted in.

“Jus' wanted to see if anyone wuz hurt,” he said in a thin, wavery voice. As soon as the drunk saw that Zack was okay, he lifted one hand and started to back away. “Glad everyone is okay,” he said.

But our hero knew a clue when he saw one, and he saw in that drunk man the beginning of a trail that would lead to his exoneration. He leaped forward and, grabbing ahold of the man's shirt, spun him through the doorway. “How did you know?” he yelled, startling even himself with his force. “How did you know they were going to shoot? And why do you need to know if anyone's hurt?” With both hands he pushed the man back, so that he fell against Cork, and Cork responded beautifully. He bear-hugged the man with one arm and lifted the pistol to the man's temple with the other. “Better speak up, friend,” he said.

“Please, please,” the drunk man pleaded. “I only did it for the bottle! Jus' one bottle … and maybe another, if you wuz dead. Only you ain't dead and I still got to report!”

“Report to who?” Zack demanded. “Clayton?” Cork added.

“No, no, not Mr. Clayton,” the man said, recovering slightly from his fright. It was as though he realized he had a little power in the situation, that he had something the other men needed. Perhaps there was another bottle in his future after all. “I don't know his name. But I could take you to him.” Then he added, in a small voice: “For a price?”

Cork cocked the pistol. “Oh, you'll take us to him, alright,” he said.

Next week in our story

Cork and the doctor acted quickly – they had seen prisoners recalled to the inquisitor's cave before. Cork removed the rope from the drunk and lassoed Zack. The doctor grabbed on and helped pull the noose tight. It squeezed the green light around Zack's waist. He began to spasm. Then he was pulled backward through the door while the other two slid, feet braced, across the floor.

Chapter XII (link to come)
Start at the beginning