Dark Shadow

by Roy F. Chandler

  Then Logan fired, and his bullet struck Wesley Seer just below the throat. Seer was stunned even beyond the impact of the bullet because Logan's shot came from below his body. Way down, almost at the floor. Seer felt his grip on the pistol slacken, and he was trying to grip harder when Logan's second bullet sledged him just below the first. Air blew from Seer's lungs, and his pistol fell to the floor. Pain departed, and Wesley Seer's closing vision was of Logan rising bare headed as he threw away the crude scarecrow wearing his shirt and hat.

  Strangely, Seer did not die. He could not hear and he could not move, but he saw Logan step forward. Seer also saw the lever of Logan's Spencer work, and he imagined the clicks as the hammer cocked. His mind asked for the thousandth time, who was Dark Shadow, and why did he hunt so remorselessly? Then heat flared before his eyes, and all that had been Wesley Seer was gone.

  Logan could barely see Punto because of the bad light and the dust covering the raider. He believed Punto was dead or dying, but he took no chances. Logan shot Punto squarely through the forehead.

  There was immediate calling from above, and he managed a croaking answer. He sat himself on something flat and let the tension drain away. So, it was done. He had never been sure that it ever would be.

  Someone came cautiously down the stairs calling, "Sombra Preta7" Logan made noise, and Uno was there with a gourd of water. Logan drank gratefully. Lately he seemed to be always thirsty.

  The water calmed him and granted a little strength. Logan saw Punto's fancy pistol gleaming in the light of Paco's approaching torch. He picked it up and shoved it through his belt. If he was able to return to Micah he would offer the recognizable pistol as proof positive of Punto Negra's death.

  Senor Seer's swift rider had made good time to Guaymos, but the El Calde was at his ranchero, and the Colonel of the militia would do nothing without the mayor’s direction.

  There was little concern among the men who gathered to hear the excited messenger's report. One man? What was Seer worried about? He had the villainous Juan of one eye and those brothers who were believed to have once been bandidos.

  An important man of the town had seen the American the messenger called Sombra Preta, Senor Pofirio Escobar had even spoken with this supposed devil. The senor described Sombra Preta as old with an old horse and a weary mule. True, the American whose name was Joshua Logan did have an unusual rifle with some kind of telescope for a sight, but one man? Escobar joined in the comfortable laughter.

  The mayor of Guaymos returned to his city following the afternoon siesta. He listened to the messenger and to Senor Pofirio Escobar. He also looked forward to a late meal with his family and friends. A night in his own bed held more appeal than riding through the dark to rescue a man who would need no rescuing.

  Still, he had promised Senor Seer to come because the owner of Ranchero Seer genuinely feared this Sombra Preta. In the morning the mayor would call for a few volunteers and they would ride to the Seer hacienda.

  Their duty done, the men of Guaymos would eat Senor Seer's food and drink his wine. Then they could be home before dark, with little time lost.

  26

  There was more to be done, and while his three helpers held a torch to better examine Seer's corpse, Logan let his eyes search. What he wanted was Punto's strong box where the bandit would store his loot from Micah and perhaps from other villages.

  Logan saw it immediately, a trunk-sized chest with gigantic hinges and a keyhole lock made for a jail. The chest bore the weight of a half dozen adobe slabs, so Logan ordered his men to work.

  When the chest was uncovered Logan studied it wondering how best to get inside. Shooting away the hinges was not sensible as ricochets would fly like bees. A sledgehammer? The oak chest was bound with metal bands and had huge wrought-iron corners. The reason for such a chest was to make it difficult to break into, and Logan saw that the handles on each end were chained to rings in the floor.

  Paco was poking within the rubble, and Logan saw him force open a drawer in a smashed cabinet. The gatekeeper came up with a key that Logan guessed had to fit the strong box's lock.

  The Mexican offered the key, and Logan asked, "How did you know where to find it, Paco?”

  The man's shrug was eloquence. "My wife has cleaned here for many years, Senor Sombra Preta"

  Punto had kept his lock well oiled, and the key turned smoothly. Probably the raider came often to gloat over his loot.

  There was loot to gloat over. Logan felt his heart leap, and he heard his helpers gasp. First there was a thick bundle of Mexican paper money. A foot of it, Logan estimated, tied securely with hemp string.

  Leather bags, each a separate load, clinked comfortingly. Gold and silver coins, Logan judged. There were two leather thongs strung with gold and jeweled rings, and a drawstring pouch bulged with jeweled brooches and pins and diamonds probably pried from finger and ear rings.

  Logan studied the hoard in silence, letting his mind run across the human misery required to gather such booty. He shook his mind free and gave directions.

  "Paco, go to the people. Tell them that it is safe, and they are to gather in the courtyard. I will speak to them from the gallery. Uno and Dos, empty this chest and bring everything outside. Begin now."

  Uno whispered seriously in Paco's ear, and the older man answered softly, studying the boy closely before asking his own question. The youth cast his eyes at Logan and answered firmly. Logan could not hear but doubted either planned any reprisals for his killing of their patron. Seer, Logan accepted, had not been popular with his servants.

  Logan worked his weary way up the cluttered stairs, and as he reached welcome daylight he found Paco waiting for him.

  "Senor Sombra Preta," Paco had recovered his old hat and held it against his chest. "When you leave, the boy you call Uno wishes to go with you."

  "What?" Logan was dumbfounded.

  The gatekeeper hurried on. "The boy you call Uno, has asked me to speak for him, Senor. The boy has nothing here. He has no uncles, and the people see only that he does not starve. Perhaps he could do better where you are going."

  Logan said, "I cannot take a boy with me, Paco. I have a long ride, and enemies may follow me. There is no place for the boy where I am going, anyway."

  Logan caught a glimpse of Uno’s round eyes peering hopefully at him from around the door edge. Damnation!

  Paco said, "He is a fine boy, Senor, and your mule cannot carry well all that you intend to take with you. The boy could ride a horse from Senor Seer's stables, and he could lead another mule. We have such animals here."

  The man had that part right, but Logan did not need the responsibility of a boy on his long journey and perhaps his desperate flight through the mountains.

  From the gallery, Logan studied the road that would bring his enemies, but there was still no sign of them. When they came, the riders would be hungry for revenge, and his overloaded animals could not run. If the load was distributed among four animals he could do much better, but.. .

  Paco read his thoughts. "The people would be grateful if you cared for the boy, Senor. They would be quick to explain how you rode in many different directions, and they would drive cattle so that your trail was hidden.

  A powerful persuader, Logan had to admit, but he already had plans for disguising his trail. Still, the hacienda's cooperation could make a difference. He experienced a rising hunger to go while he still could, but the boy...? He was not sure.

  Paco said, "The boy would help with your camp, Senor Sombra Preta, and he could cook and feed the animals. When you find a place that will be good for the boy you could leave him there with a few pesos to begin his new life."

  Damn, the gatekeeper should run for mayor. "What is the boy's name, Paco, and how old is he?"

  "He has no name, Senor. Some call him one thing and some another. I call him Boy. I believe he has seen ten summers, Senor, but I am not sure." Paco hesitated, then added, "It would be best for him to be away from this place, Senor. Th
e new patron might drive him away as Senor Seer wished to do."

  Logan felt himself weakening. The boy would be useful, and if trouble closed in, he could send him on his way. He could find a family that would take the boy. He had most of Mexico to cross, and he would meet many people. He could leave pesos to pay for raising. Why not? If both would benefit, why not? Logan had no good why nots, except that he had not planned on anyone riding along.

  He gave up. "Choose a gentle horse and a strong mule that obeys, Paco. Bring them with the people to the courtyard." He again felt the press of time. "Tell them to hurry, Paco, and make certain that the saddle will fit the boy."

  Strange, Logan felt a brush of contentment for the first time since he had ridden into Micah. Satisfaction in killing Punto? That was certainly most of it, but having the boy along on the long ride was also going to be a comfort. Imagine, having someone to talk to over the long miles. Perhaps he would teach Uno to speak English.

  When they were ready, Logan stood on the balcony where he could look down on the hacienda people and also watch the road. Two horses and the mules were loaded, fed and watered. Uno held their reins, still barely daring to breathe lest something go wrong, and he would not accompany Sombra Preta after all.

  Logan had not spoken with the boy, Paco had done the explaining. Uno's kit had been a worn blanket and an equally experienced serape. Logan spoke to Paco, and the gatekeeper had a woman bring clothing and two new blankets from the hacienda. A pair of boots were tried, and found acceptable. He ordered that a pair of rifle scabbards be attached to the saddle, and the fast shooting Winchesters rode butts high along the horse's flanks. A canteen was hung on Uno's saddle, and Logan decided the boy was ready.

  Why, Logan wondered, would the boy wish to accompany a gringo who had ridden in to destroy and kill all that stood in his way? Now the gringo was robbing the hacienda and fleeing into the mountains. Most, Logan believed, would be pleased to see the last of him. Uno's life on the Seer ranchero must have been miserable, and perhaps anything really was better than what Uno had. In Mexico, peons lived hard lives. Uno could be given a chance at something better.

  Logan spoke with authority. "People of this hacienda and this ranchero. I have killed Senor Seer and those who stood beside him because they were devils who came to my village and raped and murdered. When Senor Seer was not here, he was a bandido who savaged many villages, and he had done so for many years. Beyond this place, Seer was called Punto Negra because of the brand on his face. I will return to my people and tell them that Punto Negra is dead and will not torture them again.

  "A new patron will come, and this hacienda will again be a happy place. Until then, the people must eat, so I will give Paco the gatekeeper money to be distributed among you.

  "Now listen carefully to what I say because if you fail in this you will have nothing. Each man and each woman of this place will receive money in the same amount. The money of the woman will be hers, and the money of the man will be his. Each must immediately hide the money far from this hacienda. The money must be hidden in the mountains and far beyond these walls. When you are given your money go immediately to hide it. Then none must speak of it, or those who will come will take it from you. When you spend your money you must spend only a little, or the rest will be taken from you. These things you know, and I speak of them only as warnings to be very careful.

  "When others come they will ask where I have gone. You may tell them that I ride either to Chihuahua or to Durango, I have not yet decided. When they ask what direction, you may point to the mountains in the east. Do not bother to lie for they might discover the truth and punish you.

  "All may now form a line and approach the table in the courtyard where Senor Paco will distribute this money."

  Logan held up the thick bundle of Mexican paper and was gratified by the rush of indrawn breaths. Among a people who rarely handled money, the amount they would receive would be beyond imagining. Logan dropped the money bundle to Paco and watched the people begin to make their column. He cautioned no jostling and left the gallery hearing Paco's voice rise with instructions.

  Logan mounted, then had to reach down with his wounds burning and hoist Uno into his saddle. The boy really was young in size and in years. Logan would have to remind himself and not expect too much from the youth.

  They rode past the money column and people called, "Vaya Con Dios, Sombra Preta." Astounding, they must not have liked Seer even a little bit.

  Logan led at his usual walk, heading for the eastern mountains, hearing Uno coming along behind.

  They were well out before he looked back. Uno was closed up where he should be, but behind his mule walked Uno's burro.

  Logan said, "What are we going to do about him, Uno?"

  "We have been friends for many years, Sombra Preta. Each time Senor Seer ordered that I be driven away, the people gave me the burro, and we went to the sheep or cattle herders until the patron forgot about me."

  "Will the people want their burro, Uno? A burro is a valuable animal."

  The boy seemed to consider before answering. "I think they will expect the burro to come with us, senor. We have grown together, and no one else has cared for him."

  Logan spoke no more about it, and whenever he looked back for signs of pursuit the burro was marching with his column. Hah, a perfect disguise, Logan laughed to himself. Two mules, two horses and one burro, all just walking along, such a track could not be the terrible Sombra Preta escaping.

  They rode until the hacienda was below the horizon, but Logan doubted that he could go much further. A terrible weariness had overtaken him, and he dozed in the saddle. His body was painfully stiff within its cocoon of bandages, and the wound in his leg throbbed with each movement of the horse. He would somehow continue until dark. Then they would move in another direction to let pursuit pass them by, but if followers did choose the track of the five animals, he would have to fight. In his condition running away was not possible.

  To take his mind from the problems, Logan said, "What are you called, Uno?"

  "I have no special name, Senor Sombra Preta."

  "What would you like to be called?" Logan felt a slight exasperation.

  "I would choose the name you gave me, Sombra Preta. Uno is a good name."

  Logan thought about that. "Well, you have to have two names, so for now, I will give you mine. My name is Joshua Logan, so you will be called, Uno Logan. Speak it so that you become used to the name. If you are asked, you will say, 'My name is Uno Logan.'"

  "Si, Sombra Preta." The boy spoke the name, and Logan corrected his accent a few times.

  "My name is Joshua Logan, so you may call me Senor Logan,"

  "Si, Sombra Preta."

  Logan guessed he would have to work on that part for a while.

  When the hidalgos from Guaymos rode in, Paco the gatekeeper was waiting, hat in hand, shoulders appropriately bowed. His report stunned the El Calde and was received with utter disbelief by Senor Pofirio Escobar, who had seen Sombra Preta and who had joined only for the ride.

  Unfortunately, the peon's story was true. Senor Wesley Seer lay dead in his blown apart strong room, and it was clear that Sombra Preta had bombed his way inside. The despicable Dark Shadow had also stolen whatever wealth Senor Seer had possessed for his moneybox lay opened and empty. The gatekeeper had seen most of what had happened, but many of the hacienda people had fled into the mountains and were unlikely to return until the terrible killer, Sombra Preta, was known to be far away.

  The gatekeeper, whose name none bothered to learn, managed to summon a woman who prepared a proper meal and provided the best of Seer's wine. While the important men dined, one of Senor Escobar's guards was sent to find tracks and to determine the killer's direction.

  There was no chance that he would find anything, for vaqueros had driven cattle along Sombra Preta's trail completely obliterating it. There was great interest in having Sombra Preta escape. If caught, he might reveal that he had given a vast a
mount of money to the hacienda people, and they would be forced to return it.

  The El Calde of Guaymos led the meeting, and his opinions were unopposed because there was little choice. A companion of lesser rank was chosen to remain to oversee the hacienda. Already many things were missing, and it was recognized that if left unguarded, the buildings would be stripped bare.

  A burial site was selected for the late patron, and it was agreed that it would be logical to remove the bulk of Senor Seer's wine cellar to their own--as well as certain pieces of furnishings and some other small items that would surely be stolen anyway. The gatekeeper, whose loyalty was proven by remaining at his post was sent to round up whatever help could be found. Wagons would be loaded, a ceremony for the deceased would be held, and if time was not wasted in laziness, the men of Guaymos could be on their way home before the night fell.

  The evil Sombra Preta? The decision was difficult, but no options appeared. Upon their return to the city, a message would be sent to the closest Federales. Within a week, or two at the most, someone would come to Guaymos to investigate the brutal slaying and the theft.

  What else could citizens do? The killer had fled, probably to the mountains, there were three to bury, and a vaquero said another body lay on the mountain they would pass on their return to their homes. There were no soldiers among them to run down a devil like Sombra Preta. Fortunately, Senor Pofirio Escobar could describe Sombra Preta, and that would assist the Federales when they came.

  The younger man left to protect the Hacienda saw the El Calde and his companions away. When their wagons were lost from view he ordered the gatekeeper to him. A natural leader, the younger man explained that he too would need wagons, and he would expect men to load the many items he had marked for removal.

  There were no wagons left, but the gatekeeper assured the new patron that some could be made from old wheels and boards. He would have men at work by morning.