[The Lone Gunslinger, Chapter 9, Injustice] "On repel!" "On belay!" The Tower Master signals and I push off from the edge of the cliff and arc out into the air and drop thirty feet before pulling my arm with the trailing rope into the small of my back and swinging back to the cliff face. I don't feel the friction heat through the thick gloves. The cliff face rushes up and I bend my knees and then push off again and drop another thirty feet. The sensation is exhilarating. This is nothing like parachute training where I was terrified before every jump. Repelling is fun. I drop and bounce off the cliff three more times and then I'm on the ground and hold my arms out to the sides and start running backwards. "Off repel!" I shout as I run out the rope through my D-ring on the harness at my waist. "Off belay!" Misfire shouts the proper reply and lets go of the rope and jumps aside. Misfire is my belay man. He stands below holding the rope while I repel down the cliff. If I were to lose my grip on the rope and start to fall, all he would have to do is pull hard on the rope to cause a braking action. Then he would gently let up some slack and I would be lowered slowly down to the ground. I run to Misfire's position and take the rope while Misfire runs to the stairs that lead up the path to the top of the cliff for his turn. I shake the rope once and make sure I leave enough slack for the next repeller, but not too much that I can't brake him if he falls. "On repel!" shouts Twig from the top of the cliff. "On belay! I shout my reply to indicate I'm ready. Twig bounces down the cliff until he reaches the ground. I jump out of the way as Twig spreads his arms and runs out the rope and then I take off for the stairs to take another turn and Twig assumes the belay position. We've been doing this for two hours and none of us are tired. Later they will bring helicopters in and we will do the repelling from the choppers. We have to do twenty-five repels from the choppers onto open ground, and then twenty-five repels through the trees, and then we switch back to parachute drops. Next week starts drop month, we will drop day, night, open ground, and then water until we have our needed seventy-five jumps static-line jumps for halo operations. "Here they come," someone shouts and I stop and look up. The Third Years are doing their first Drop Ship jump today and we have a perfect view from here on the repelling cliffs. Drop Ship jumping is when you drop from orbit. We won't be doing that until our third year. The most vulnerable part of a Drop Ship jump is the ten minutes during re-entry when the jumpers are encased in a fiery plume and are easy to target with missiles. Once the re-entry plume is gone it will be almost impossible to see them. I can see maybe sixty plumes of fire, but only six are the Third Years; the others are just Gunslingers that need to do their annual jump to maintain their Drop Ship qualification. Simon and Jaco are up there jumping too. Simon needed to do his annual and Jaco was a Third Year Raven Temple student before he lost his Raven partner and was sent here. Jaco has done a drop with the Raven Temple before and the Commander agreed to let him drop after he successfully went through the refresher trainer with the other Gunslingers. One of the fire-plumes starts trailing orange smoke and I smile. Jaco said he would pop smoke so I would know which one was him. Everyone knows there is nothing between Jaco and me, well, not like the way Raven partners are, but I'm not sure Jaco completely understands yet. I do think we are being used as test subjects though, to see how a Gunslinger partner team will work out. Gunslingers are either Lone Gunslingers, the elite special forces of the Order, or they are the Team Gunslingers of five. "Hero, hold up," shouts an instructor. "Yes, Sir?" I stop half-way up the stairs and look back down at the instructor calling me. The instructors motions me to come back down and I glance back up the stairs, I'm going to lose my place in line. "Now," shouts the instructor. I run back down the stairs and Twig passes me on the stairs. "What did you do this time?" asks Twig. "I don't know, probably something on my belay," I reply. I might have had too much slack in the rope and he wants to correct me. No big deal. "Yes, Sir?" I say sliding to a stop in front of the instructor. "Head Shed just called, you're wanted in the Commanders Office," the instructor says. "Put your gear away in the equipment shack and head down there." "Did I do something wrong?" I ask concerned. "Don't know, they didn't say, get moving," orders the instructor. I can't think of anything I might have done to earn a trip to the Commanders Office, but I run over to the equipment shack and untie my repelling harness and hang it up with the other harnesses. Horse is in a small corral munching on oats; Simon gave me back Horse. I nuzzle her nose and walk her out to the rode and jump up in the saddle, it's nice to have Horse back. The Drop jumpers aren't visible anymore as I glance up at the sky before heading back down the hill. I hope whatever I did isn't too serious, Simon will be mad when he gets back if I've gotten into too much trouble. I resist the urge to kick Horse into a gallop and walk her, the icy road and snow is slick and I don't want her getting hurt. The road down the switch-back is too slippery and I have to dismount and walk her down to the Administrative Compound. I tie Horse up outside the Head Shed. Head Shed is what we call the Command Building where the Commander's Office is located. I push the door open and enter the building; the inside seems exceptionally warm after being outside in the cold since early this morning. Several Staff Officers give me an odd look but don't say anything. The door to the Commander's Office has the emblem of the Lone Gunslingers painted on it with the word 'Commander" above. I take a deep breath and knock on the door. "Enter," shouts the Commander. I open the door and step into the Commander's Office and my blood turns to ice and that feeling of fear you get when you know you are in real trouble grips me and I can barely breathe--The Sheriff from Tarous Minor is standing next to the Commander's desk. "Have you forgotten how to report, Trainee?" asks the Commander. "No, Sir," I barely choke the words out and close the door behind me. The seven steps to the Commander's desk seem like a hundred miles, my legs feel like lead. I stop in front of the desk, come to the position of attention and salute. "Trainee Hero reporting as ordered, Sir." My throat is nearly clenched shut and I'm not even sure I managed to say the words out loud. I don't think I've ever been more scared in my life. "Unbuckle your gunbelt and lay it on my desk, Trainee," orders the Commander. I'm in shock and my fingers don't work right. I fumble at the buckle and it takes longer than it should, but I finally manage to get the belt undone and I lay it on the desk. "Do you have any other weapons on you, Trainee?" asks the Commander. "My boot knife, Sir," I choke out a barely audible reply. "Lay it on the desk," says the Commander. I kneel down and unfasten the sheath and then lay the knife and sheath next to my gunbelt. "Now your badge," orders the Commander. "Sir, what have I done, please, where's Simon, I want Simon," I beg, tears starting to flow down my face. "The badge, son," repeats the Commander. I remove my Lone Gunslinger badge from my coat and lay it on the desk sobbing. The Commander pulls my gunbelt, knife, and badge across the desk and drops them on the floor behind him. I can't stop the tears, something has gone horribly wrong. "Please, get Simon, I haven't done anything," I sob. The Commander nods at the Sheriff. The Sheriff steps to my side and places a hand on my arm. "Put your hands behind your back," orders the Sheriff. I'm too scared to resist and do as I'm told and the Sheriff puts handcuffs on me. "Errol of Brocal's farm, you are under arrest for running away as a bound-orphan prior to your sixteenth birthday," says the Sheriff. "I am executing a warrant issued by the Magistrate; you are being extradited back to Tarous Minor to stand trial." "Runaway? You were there, Sheriff, you know I didn't run away, it was my birthday, I left with you." The Commander picks up a piece of paper and begins reading. "Errol of Brocal's farm, a legally bound-orphan, born on the 25th of August at 4:30 in the afternoon, did runaway from his legal guardians at 7:30 in the morning on the 25th of August, nine hours prior to his sixteenth birthday. This Court issues a warrant for the arrest of Errol of Brocal's farm and demands immediate extradition in accordance with the Tarous-Raunu treaty of 1159." I drop my head at the injustice; no bound-orphan ever escapes. I will be convicted and spend the rest of my life working as nothing more than a slave on that farm. The man and woman found a way to bring me back, I'll never see Simon or Jaco or anyone ever again. The Sheriff pulls at my arm. "Let’s not drag this out." My mind is starting to numb, the Commander is just letting the Sheriff take me, it's so unfair, and I thought the Sheriff was my friend. I thought the Commander cared. My legs are shaking but I pull against the Sheriff just as we reach the door and I spin around and face the Commander. "You're a coward, you know this isn't justice," I shout. "I don't even want to be here anymore, they'll kill me and I'll be better off." "That's enough, come on," the Sheriff drags me out into the hall. The staff is watching me now, everyone is watching me being dragged away, and none of them are doing anything to help me. I see Gunslinger Michael; I think he's on the Commander's staff. I know Michael isn't a bad guy; he helped Misfire when he wasn't supposed to, and I don't know anyone else that's here right now. "Michael, Horse is outside, please take care of her," I shout over my shoulder. "I'll make sure she gets home," promises Michael. The Sheriff leads me outside to a waiting vehicle. I don't know what makes me look, but I glance up at the roof, the place I first met my best friend, Jaco, and I'm surprised to see two Ravens on the roof watching. They are older Ravens, and maybe it's my imagination, but I think they look angry. One of the Ravens, a male I think, pulls his talon dagger and steps up on the ledge of the building and spreads his glider wings out. Is the Raven going to help me escape? Why would he do that? My brain is too numb to think it all the way through but I'm sure that is exactly what he is planning to do. I shake my head at the Raven. "Tell Jaco what's happened," I shout at the Raven. "He'll know what to do." The Raven pauses, and then nods his head. The Sheriff turns to see who I'm talking to but the two Ravens are already gone. The Sheriff eyes me suspiciously before opening the door and pushing me into the back. "I know you think Conrad has abandoned you," says the Sheriff, "but that just isn't true. He has already sent for the finest legal team, they will meet us on Tarous." "I don't want his help." The Sheriff gets in the front and starts the vehicle and pulls away from the Command Building and turns onto the road leading to the Airfield. I watch out the window but I don't see the Ravens again. "Conrad has to obey the law or we are just thugs with badges," says the Sheriff. "Trust in your people, you are not abandoned." "What do you know of Gunslingers?" I say angrily. "My brother and I grew up here," says the Sheriff. "We were on The Long Run together, he made it and I didn't. I never tried again and joined the Sheriff Department." "So what, I don't care." "You're young, you're hurt, and you think you've been sold out," says the Sheriff. "We have to do this the right way or you will never be free of those two scum causing you all these problems." "Where are you taking me?" I ask. "Back to the Brocal's farm, you will stay there until the Trial." My jaw drops and I feel a panic that threatens to overwhelm me even further than I already feel. I am certain the man and woman will try to kill me. I consider trying to kick the window out and escaping, I should have let the Ravens rescue me. Then my fear and panic turn to raw panicked anger and I lean to the side and start kicking the door. "I will kill them," I shout. "You will do no such thing, you will behave and trust in your people to set things right, now settle down or I'll put leg irons on you," warns the Sheriff. There is no point in arguing with the Sheriff, everyone has betrayed me again. I lay sideways on the backseat hyperventilating. I was willing to forget the past and move on, I hadn't blamed Simon, or discussed, or accused him of anything, but I see now I will never escape. The Sheriff drives out onto the Airfield and stops at a Dart Ship with the emblem of the Hidden Canyon Sheriff's Office. "Can't you just put me in jail?" I plead desperately. "The Magistrate ordered you be returned to the Brocal’s; we can't give them anything else that they can use in the Trial against you." The Sheriff gets out and opens my door and pulls me out and I try to run in panic, but the Sheriff was waiting for that and before I know what happened I'm laying face down in the snow. Why did I turn down the Raven's help? The Sheriff drags me to the Dart Ship and then up the ramp. This Dart is different than the last one I was in, there isn't a bunk but instead seats and arm and leg chains attached to the seats. The Sheriff shoves me down in one and chains my legs first, then takes the handcuffs off and puts one of the seat arm chains on me. "I hadn't planned on chaining you up, boy," says the Sheriff. "I was going to let you ride with some dignity, but you're too angry and I can't take the chance of you hurting yourself." "You mean hurting you," I foolishly threaten the Sheriff. "There is that, but I'm not your enemy, boy," says the Sheriff. "You do have friends, just have some faith." The Sheriff puts a face mask over my nose and mouth; he is putting me into slow sleep. I don't know when I blacked out but the next thing I remember is the Dart Ship landing, and then the Sheriff is in front of me removing the face mask and the chains. "Wake up, sleepy head," says the Sheriff. "I'm awake," I say, but I feel a little strange. I think the Sheriff put something else in with the slow sleep gas, I feel detached and calm. "Now listen carefully, boy," says the Sheriff. "I have no doubt that with the training you received at the Gunslinger Base you could be dangerous. This is the moment you decide if you are going to be a murderer, or if you are going to survive through this and live to have a productive and happy life." "I'll behave," I say. "Good, one other thing, who is Jaco?" asks the Sheriff. I shrug. "Back at the Base you shouted to someone to tell Jaco what's happened," says the Sheriff. "I ran a search for a Jaco, but there isn't anyone named Jaco registered at the Base, or anywhere else." I shrug again. "I think there were ships following us," says the Sheriff. "If you have an escape planned, I suggest you reconsider, or you will ruin any chance you have of getting out of this." I just stare at the Sheriff. I don't know who would have followed us and I haven't planned an escape, but let the Sheriff be worried. Let them all be worried. They all betrayed me. I can't trust anyone. The Sheriff shakes his head and pushes a button and the ramp of the Dart Ship lowers. I'm a little surprised to see green grass, and then a warm breeze blows into the ship. I think it looks like its spring time on Tarous. I stand and follow the Sheriff down the ramp of the ship; he doesn't put the handcuffs on me, but then, where would I run to. Then I see them and my blood freezes. The man and woman are standing off to the side waiting. The man is holding chains. "I want it chained," demands the man. The Sheriff looks at me and whispers. "Think carefully everything you do." "What are you waiting for?" screams the woman. "Chain that dangerous animal up." "I was ordered to bring him here," says the Sheriff. "He's here. I'll be back to pick him up for the Trial in two weeks. A legal team will be arriving in a day or two, I expect him to have full access to his attorney, or I will arrest both of you for obstruction of justice." Justice, I almost laugh at that. There is no justice. The Sheriff turns and pats me on the shoulder. "Remember what I said." I don't bother watching the Sheriff walk back to his ship and leave. I keep my eyes on the man and woman. The roar of the Dart Ship fades away as it leaves and then the man walks over to me and holds the chains out. "Put them on," demands the man. I stare hard into the mans eyes and he flinches back, drops the chains, and then takes several more steps back. What has he seen in my eyes? Do my eyes look like Simon's eyes now? Has it taken this injustice to give me the eyes of a Gunslinger? I walk around the man and woman and head towards the barn. The barn smells horrible; I don't think anyone has been in here since I left. The oxen are gone, and a small favor that is, at least they are finally free of this horrible place. I walk over to my straw bed and stare down at the rotted straw. I'm not going to lie down there, and I don't know how I ever slept on that before. I find a hay bale in one of the stalls and drag it out to the center of the barn and sit down. This place is a prison not fit for the worst of criminals. I lie back on the hay bale and close my eyes. What am I supposed to do for two weeks? I don't fall asleep, the smell is too awful for that, but I try to relax and calm my thoughts. Then I hear the barn door and I open my eyes and jump up. The man and woman have entered the barn. The man has the chains in one hand, and a whip in the other. The woman is beside him holding a shotgun. They're going to chain and whip me. "Gonna teach you who your betters are, animal," says the man. "Beat him good," says the woman. "Peel his skin off for having airs and thinking he is anything but a filthy slave." I step back; there is no place to run. The man and woman advance on me and I look around frantically for anything to use as a weapon, but the barn is empty. The man cracks the whip once; his oily smile says he is going to enjoy this. I'm almost up against the back wall of the barn and then dark shadows are moving across the barn and down from the loft--Ravens! Two Ravens disarm the woman and shove her to the ground, and four Ravens are on the man, and more Ravens are taking positions around the man and woman. They rip the chains and whip from his hands and then he is on the ground, his face shoved in the filth of the barn. "Don't kill them," I shout. "Quiet, hatchling," snarls one of the Ravens. The Raven grabs the man's hair and pulls his head back. I can see the fear on the man's face and he is trying to blubber something about mercy. "If I see you in this place again, it will be your skin I remove, slowly," threatens the Raven. The Ravens kick the man and woman and make them crawl out of the barn. One of the Ravens close the barn door and then, they disappear back into the shadows. I walk out to the middle of the barn and look around, but they are really good at hiding. "Thank you," I say. "A deal," says a Raven voice. "Okay," I reply. "Do you love your mate, hatchling?" asks the Raven voice. "I do, but not the way I think Ravens love their mates," I say. "I did not ask the nature of your love, only if you love him," says the voice from somewhere up in the rafters. "I do," I say. "I will allow Jaco to return to Darai as a redeemed Raven if you give your life," says the voice. I wasn't expecting that. Does everyone want to kill me? I guess it doesn't matter, I'm not getting out of this, and the Trial won't do any good. I can either spend my life as a slave or do something worthwhile and give the best friend I've ever had back his own life. "Agreed," I say kneeling on the ground and tipping my head back to expose my throat. I close my eyes and wait for the Raven to end my misery. "I knew you loved me," says a voice--it's Jaco. My eyes fly open and I see Jaco standing in front of me. I jump up and scoop Jaco up in a bear hug, I've never been so happy to see anyone before. Jaco lays his head against my chest and I swear it sounds like he is purring. I feel a little self-conscious but I don't care and hug Jaco tight. "I do, Jaco, but it's more like the way brothers love each other," I say. "That's okay, Ravens are actually really good at accepting new ideas," says Jaco. "But, if you ever change your mind, I'm willing." "You're a sick, twisted, evil thing," I say. "Aww, thank you," says Jaco. "You should leave now, I don't want you to see them kill me," I say. "Kill you? They said give your life, not die," says Jaco laughing. "Huh?" "You're life, for me...with me...together forever," says Jaco. "That's the Raven way. The House has decided to accept you as a Raven, and me as a Gunslinger, get it." "Even if it's as brothers?" I ask. "You're really stuck on that," says Jaco. "It doesn't matter what kind of mates we are, we only have to love each other, that's the most important thing to the Ravens. Love is what makes us so strong. When you fight next to someone you love completely, you fight harder." "Umm... I've been arrested; they are going to going to make me a slave." "Naw, you'll be fine, but we only have two weeks to get ready," says Jaco. "What do we do?" I ask. "Well, first, fire your Gunslinger Attorney," says Jaco. "Moro is going to be your lawyer." "Who?" A Raven emerges from the shadows and walks over to us. "I'm Moro, we will discuss how much you will owe House Raven later, though you will be working off your legal fees for years. But first, it stinks in here, get this place cleaned up."