RANGO // OӘͶAЯ - Another Outlaw Story [Engl.]

14. The End of a Long Day

Doc said no word. He only wiped over his forehead and looked into question filled eyes.
Stump had no force to ask a single word. But Kinski dared.
"How is she, Doc?"
The rabbit brushed over his face. "I don't know what to say..."
"What's that for a stupid answer?!" Stump cried loudly. "Is she still alive or not?!"
The doctor rabbit rubbed his head nervously. "Well, I... it's not easy to say..."
Stump ran forward and seized him by the collar. "Tell me! Tell me the truth!"
Kinski and Chorizo ran at them and pulled Stump away. "Calm down, bro! Calm down!"
"I can't be calm if that inane doctor doesn't give a clear answer!"
"That's enough!" Kinski shouted and managed to hold him quiet. "What is it now, doctor?"
Doc sighed deeply. "I'm sorry, but... she is in a coma."
There was a deep silence over the street. Only Stanley and Portley didn't seem to understand it well and looked at each other.
Kinski was busy to make sure that Stump didn't fall backwards. Nobody said something, until Jake dared to interrupt the silence. "How high is the probability that she wakes up again?"
Doc shrugged the shoulders. "Too many answers for one question. Today, tomorrow, in two days, in one week, in one month, one year... maybe never."
Stump had covered the hands on his face and sat down on the sidewalk.
Kinski and Chorizo joined company with him and sat down next to him on the right and to the left side.
But Stump wasn't in the mood to hear encouraging words. He was just sitting on the sidewalk and stared into emptiness.
"Why wasn't I nearby? Why wasn't I on the ranch?" Kinski muttered.
"There is no sense to upbraid," Chorizo said.
"Gentlemen," Doc said. "It's the best, you go to sleep. Maybe tomorrow everything will look different again."
Stump glanced at his two sons. "But where should we sleep?"
"You can stay with me in the hotel," Kinski proposed.
"That's a good idea," Chorizo acceded to him and helped Stump standing up.
Together they walked to the hotel. But before they left the place, Bill had to ask a question.
"Guys. Maybe it's not the best moment, but do you come to Amos's funeral tomorrow?"
"Of course, we will come," Kinski answered for all.
They said goodbye to each other. Despite the situation, Stump muttered a little "Thanks" to Jake, then they disappeared.
Jake looked at them with thoughtful eyes.
"Should I guide you to your room?" Bill asked.
"Mmm, no thanks," Jake said. "I will make a little evening walk before I go to sleep."
Bill nodded. "As you wish. See you tomorrow. If you want breakfast, ask Mayor John. He will organize you something."
With that Bill walked to the town hall, while Jake was crawling down the street. The sun was already gone, and the sky became darker. Jake looked at the cemetery where the last sun beams spent the last light. The rattlesnake shot a glance at it, and was thinking about what happened this day and what will be tomorrow.
He was ready to crawl back, when he realized a familiar movement. When he took a closer look, he saw Mayor John rolling in the cemetery. The turtle stopped, looked a moment and bent down. It was the same place where he had seen the dried flower in front of the gravestone. With sad face the mayor looked at the gravestone.
"I wish you could be here," he muttered.
Jake watched him from the distance, while the mayor was mourning about the loss of his wife.

Deep in thoughts, the rattlesnake entered the parlor. He pushed away the white blanket from the coach and coiled himself on it. It was dark outside, but a little light of the moon shined through the window. The head of the snake had filled with so many questions and thoughts. First, he had problems to find a good sleep position. But after a while he thought he found it. He closed his eyes and sighed deeply. He smelled the old dust in the room, with tracks of other persons, who have been here a long time ago in this room.
He smiled softly. He had to think about old times, before his escape of...
Suddenly he heard a singing voice.
"And so, the stranger had found a place to stay. And his destiny..."
Jake sighed deeply. Annoyed, he covered his face with his body to avoid hearing Señor Flan's song, who stood with his owl companions on the roof of the house and played their instruments through the night.