Joshua Evans just loaded his new purchase - the wild mare - into the trailer when he started to feel dizzy. He took a couple of deep breaths and tried to think of something that would help, but his vision started to blur. The only thing he knew for certain was that he couldn't pass out here on the road – in Albuquerque, there would be no one around to help him if he fell ill, and that would result in him being eaten alive by the vultures.
Joshua climbed onto the trailer to give himself a better view of the surroundings, hoping that he could find some sort of shelter nearby.
It was a risk, but it was better than passing out in the open while driving.
Joshua looked up and saw something off to the left. A small town, with a few buildings, a couple of gas stations and a sign:
Albuquerque.
Joshua's vision disappeared but he still didn't feel any better. There was something familiar about this town, but he couldn't place it. He closed his eyes, counting to ten and opening them again. It was still there, the same name on the sign, but he couldn't remember what it was called.
He started searching for an opening in the fence to his left, and managed to find one.
The grass looked green to Joshua and there were trees, but when he looked at the sky he noticed that it was silver. It seemed a bit odd to him. He drove the mule and the trailer into the town.
Joshua saw clouds and some light. He realised that it had to be night, not day. He opened his bags and handed the rifle to the cowboy in charge of the town's security, who admitted that he hadn't slept for a couple of nights, and that was why he was serving as a guard.
'What's 'ere, Doc?' he asked.
'You'll know this place when you see it.'
'I got a sawed-off that's 'elping me sleep,' the cowboy said. 'Wha's yours?'
'Below the belt,' said Joshua with a smile. 'Look, I need to get some rest. Do you know where I can stay?'
They walked for a bit.
'Nah, don't think that anyone 'ere does, so we're gonna find you something. The Texans on walkabout, they been sleeping in the stable, but that seems all right to you? Good. My brother Tom? He'll take care of you. You 'ave a nice rest, Doc.'
'My horses?' asked Joshua. 'Where should I put them?'
'Walter's looking after 'em. He's got some old corral that he does with metal bars, but it's too small for that many horses.'
'That's fine for one,' Joshua said. 'I'll go talk to him. 'Where is he?'
Joshua walked down the road.
'There he is,' said the cowboy. 'He was talkin' to the preacher last night, and they was pretty much staring each other down.'
The cowboy frowned.
'Neville? You must be mistaken, he's sure a nasty man. You'll be better off with me.'
Joshua walked over to the corral, which was as described by the cowboy. The old metal bars were rusted and the wooden frame was cracking.
'Ya.' He looked at the cowboy who was following him. 'I'm not staying here.'
'How long've you been here, Walter? 'E's our guest.'
'So why ain't you looking after 'im?'
'I was told to give him a gun, and nothin' wasn't to 'appen,' the cowboy said.
He scowled.
'He ain't getting one of me guns,' he said. 'Take it back, Doc. I ain't gonna take the risk. Not enough food for both of us.'
'I ain't taking 'is guns,' Joshua said. 'I was told to give him a gun, and this way, both of us get what we want.'
The cowboy gave up.
'All right.' He took an old gun out of his belt and put it into Joshua's bag. 'I ain't gonna 'ave no part in this.'
Joshua nodded.
'So, where are we? What is this place?' he asked the cowboy.
'Where you from?'
'I ain't from 'ere. I 'aven't seen any city this big in my life. Actually, I ain't sure if this is a 'city' at all.'
'You ain't from out West. 'E's from North.'
'Yes, I'm from North,' Joshua said. 'Can you tell me where we are? Why is this place called Albuquerque? What is this place?'
'No one 'ere knows,' said the cowboy. 'I ain't never asked why we're called this way. I know that Albuquerque is the men's secret.'
'The men's secret?' asked Joshua.
'Where did you come from?'
'I don't know where I came from, but I know where I'm going,' Joshua said. 'I'm taking these two animals, and I'm going to Mexico. I don't care what they'll say, I'm going to Mexico.'
'We ain't 'ere,' the cowboy snapped. 'You're 'ere, but we're 'way in between. I suppose we'll get along, 'ere.'
Joshua grabbed the mule by the halter and pulled it to the fence.
'So, you're going to Mexico?' asked the cowboy.
'I'm going to Mexico,' Joshua confirmed. 'I was told to take this horse, and take the mule with me. Now, these are my horses, and I'm going to take them with me. They don't belong to you. What I'm going to do is put them in my trailer and leave.'
'I could say the same t'you,' said the cowboy. 'You ain't gonna come back, you know that. We ain't never bothered to look for anyone else. We'll put the horses in the trailer, you can take the other beast, but that's all we're gonna do. Now, if you're going to take these two, you'd better take some supplies. You should take as many supplies as you can.'
'No, I'm not going to take anything but what I came with – I'll find food in the city,' said Joshua. 'I'm not staying here. I have no intention of stealing anything from you. If anything bad happens to me, I'm leaving it up to you to decide whether you want to continue this conversation or not.'
Joshua took the bottle of whiskey from the storage compartment of the trailer and handed it to the cowboy.
'I ain't supposed to drink this at all, but I'm afraid you might need it to get you through the next few days,' he said.
'The mule?' asked Joshua.
'Gone. They're gone. Your bacon and beans'll go bad in a hurry. There ain't really enough to go around. We're not'gonnah approach anyone with no gun, you know that. We're following the rules. What we got's enough.'
'You know that I can't stay,' said Joshua. 'I'm sorry.'
'Well, I never did have much. I only had horses. Now, I don't have horses.'
The cowboy shook his head.
'It don't matter how much of this I drink – I still won't be able to sleep.'
Joshua took a bite of the used coffee grounds that Joshua had given him.
'You're welcome.'
'You're welcome,' Joshua said.
He drove the mule out of the corral, then got in and drove the trailer away.
