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

19. Sheriff's Deputy on Limited Appointment

"So, Mayor John is selling his personal things to get water for the town, doesn't he?"
Jake and Bill were walking down the street to the sheriff office while Jake asked about the waterless situation.
"Yes." Bill nodded. "But I don't think that it is the right way. I've already buried the hope that the water will come back while we are sitting here without doing. I tried to find out why the water doesn't come anymore. But the Jenkins brothers discovered me."
"Aha, the day, where you fled into the saloon?"
"Yes."
"And did you find something?"
"No... but..."
"Yes?"
Bill scratched his head. "Well, I don't know, I'm not sure, but I think I saw other people in the Jenkins Clan territory."
"What kind of other people?"
"I don't know. I had to run away before I could watch more."
Jake was thoughtful.
Finally, they arrived in the office. Jake crawled in first and rummaged through the almost redressed mess in the desk. At last, he found what he was searching.
"Here, that's what I found last night."
He threw something through the air and Bill caught.
It was the star for the deputy, which was made of an old bottle top with a picture of a star and a safety pin. With a deep sight, he pinned it on his jacket.
"So, and now?"
Jake thought a moment. "Let's start from the beginning..."

"So, the drought started 10 years ago, right?"
Bill nodded. "Yes, that's right."
"Was there a special event?"
"Eh.... No..."
"Do you know where the water comes from?"
"Not really. Just of a pipeline, which was there before Mayor John became Mayor."
"Did you check the pipelines?"
"Hmmm. No, that means... yes, maybe, some people thought the pipelines are broken, but there are still intact. After the water didn't also reach the ranches, it must be something wrong with the source."
"And the source is?"
"We don't know."
The rattlesnake sighed. "What about Mayor John? He founded the city, he has to know where the water has his source."
Bill lowered his glance. "Uhm... well, what I say is confidential... to say the truth, it was Mayor John's wife who started with the town. Mayor John let his wife do her work. And unfortunately, the plans of the pipelines were stolen 10 years ago."
Jake raised his eyebrows in surprise.
Bill put his fingertips together. "Suspiciously, isn't' it?"
"Indeed."
"Do you know who...?"
Bill shook his head. "We don't know who stole them."
"Hmm. Do you have a map of the city?"
"Yes. And from the city area."
Bill brought an old map, stretched it on the table and together they studied the area.
"This is Stump's ranch," Jake said and pointed to a little spot. "Here the main center of the city. But no water pipelines."
"That's what I told you."
"The map doesn't help us much."
"Hello!"
Both reptiles looked at the door, where three familiar figures stood there.
"Hey, I heard you are deputy now."
Kinski laughed and entered with Chorizo and Stump the office.
Bill crossed his arms. „Just on limited appointment. Just on limited appointment."
"Well, are you going to tidy the town?"
Bill snorted and lifted his nose. "We are going to find the water."
The free mammals silenced.
"Are you serious?" Stump asked. "All the years, we tried to find the problem."
"Maybe the clans have to do something with it," Jake muttered.
Chorizo shook his head. "If so, they wouldn't make a war about the water if they had water."
"I agree," Jake said.
"Don't take it amiss, Mr. Jake," Chorizo apologized. "But how should a stranger find a solution while we have been living here since birth?"
"Better than sitting without doing." Bill's voice sounded angry. "You can leave or help."
"What shall we do?" Kinski asked and scratched his chin.
"Maybe you could answer some questions," Jake chopped in. "Was something happen 10 years ago?"
All three thought about it. Kinski stared at the ceiling, Stump rubbed his forehead and Chorizo looked to the floor.
"EH.... No."
Suddenly Stump remembered something. "That means..."
"Yes?!"
"Not 10 years, but 11 years ago..."
"What's your point?" Kinski asked with surprise.
"Don't you remember anymore? At that time that black day. It was the time before Meggy was pregnant..."
Stump stopped suddenly and relapsed into silence.
Kinski put a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry for her, but... I was on holiday that year. What about you, Rizo?"
Chorizo shuddered a little. "Uhm... I wasn't in town that day."
"What happened that day?" Jake asked nosily.
Stump bared his head. "It was a tragedy."
Chorizo nodded. "Indeed. A bloody day. After that the town was pursued by bad luck."
"What a tragedy?"
Chorizo looked outside. "Mr. Merrimack can tell you more."