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

44. Constraints and Fears

Bill blinked when he woke up this morning. The first thing he felt was his aching body and gave him the horrible certainty that it hadn't been a bad dream yesterday. He always knew what time it was from the gong from the city clock. It was still before noon.
The lizard tried to move, but the shackles always ruined his attempt to escape.
Dejected, he was doomed to wait and see what would happen to him next. He remembered reading the telegram. The description had fit the person who had been presumed dead. But then he had to stare with fear into the revolver which the chameleon had pointed at him. The Gila monster was afraid he would shoot him. Instead, the green lizard had only said that he wasn't in a rush. Then he had forced him into this small room somewhere on the first floor of the town hall, where he had tied him with an old curtain cord. But the string wasn't just tied around his wrists and ankles, it was also tied around his neck in a noose, which in turn was connected to a pipe on the wall. It was impossible for him to run away without running the risk of strangling himself. Since the chameleon had also gagged him, it was not possible for him to call for help.
He raised his head when footsteps crossed the wooden floor. When the door opened, he looked up and moaned beggingly at him.
Rango came up to him with casual steps.
"What is it? Too tight?"
The Gila lizard nodded exhausted.
A cold smile slipped over the chameleon's mouth. "Sorry, but I always fix my victims in an escape-proof manner."
At the word "victim", Bill opened his eyes in fear.
With tensed body, he watched how the chameleon pulled a chair over and sat down on it. It was not hidden from him that he limped a little.
"So what am I supposed to do with you?" The chameleon started his monologue and looked down spitefully at his bound victim. "I really don't know where I should start. I have a sensitive stomach and I get stomach ulcers easily if someone spies on me."
He stood up and reached into his coat pocket.
"That was a mistake."
Bill let out a terrified scream as the cold of the sharp blade pressed against his throat.
"I'm not going to kill you right now," the chameleon commented coldly. "But I've had good experiences with torture."
Bill rolled his eyes back. At least he wanted to faint. He didn't want to die, but torture was worse.
Suddenly the chameleon stopped. He interrupted his sawing movements with the knife and stood up. Bill saw how he went to the window and looked out. The pounding of chicken feet was clearly audible.
"Mm, this day just got a little more interesting."
He pocketed the knife and controlled the robe around Bill's wrists and ankles again. Satisfied, he went to the door. "I will come back. Don't try to flee. I find you everywhere."

The chameleon had barely reached the stairs of the town hall when he heard outraged female voices from the entrance.
"Let us go! You have no right to treat us like that!"
Rango waited a moment until the steps on the stairs had become quieter, then he went up the stairs too, until he came to the mayor's office.
When he arrived, a large group had gathered there. Mayor John was behind his desk, Joey was standing in front of him, while a couple of Jenkins brothers or cousins stood around two familiar lizard ladies.
When the eyes of Rango and Beans met, the breathing between them died for a moment in the room.
"How nice to see you again", Rango greeted the lizard girl and walked towards her.
"Oh, you know each other?" Joey asked in surprise as he pushed a chair in front of the desk.
The chameleon grinned. "We already had the pleasure of a chat."
The girl Beans narrowed her eyes while he only smiled mockingly.
"Are you still annoyed about that I hit you?"
At the next moment, the clap of a slap in the face filled the air. The chameleon sighed and rubbed his cheek. "Now I know it."
He smiled and looked at her angry face.
"Now don't look so angry. It's not good for the facial muscles. Especially not if it looks so cute on your face."
His voice sounded a little annoyed, but he kept his grin on.
"Why did you bring us here?" Rice fell into the passive battle.
"Just to torture an old man," Joey intervened. "You will come into play early enough. But first, another older man has to do us a small favor."
With that, the Jenkins leader took out a parchment, slammed it on the tabletop, and pushed it over to John. "And you will be so kind by now and do the paperwork for us."
With these words, Joey leaned back relaxed in the chair and laid his dirty boots on the table.
Meanwhile, Mayor John leaned forward and examined the document.
"What's this?"
"A deed of abdication," Joey replied calmly. "It includes that you cede all rights to the city and transfer the collection of houses to us, the Jenkins clans. So, sign it."
With that he pushed the paper closer to John.
"Come on, sign the paper."
At first John was silent, then he pushed it away. "I never sign that."
Joey screwed up his mouth huffily. "Mm, theoretically we could just kill you now, but since the ladies are here..."
He drew his revolver and shot behind himself, very close to the girls' feet.
Beans gave a startled cry. Her sister quickly took her in her arms.
"Is that enough for you?" Joey asked. "Or should I shake the air a little more?"
He shot again. This time even twice. Beans buried her face in her sister's arms.
"Stop it!" Rice yelled at him.
But Joey made his fun with them and shot again and again. "Look how nice these ladies can dance!"
The other Jenkins relatives laughed wryly.
At that moment, something rushed through the air and grabbing the revolver from Joey's hand. Speechlessly, Joey stared at the chameleon, which had brandished his whip and caught the captured weapon with his hand.
"That's enough," he ordered in a dark firm tone. "The girl is mine."
"I just wanted to get this half-grave to move the pen."
"I think that won't be necessary anymore. I suppose he's more cooperative now, right?"
His moveable eyes wandered over to the mayor. John had reached for an old fountain-pen with trembling hands. But before the tip of the writing instrument touched the dry, old parchment, he looked up at the painting of his deceased wife.
The signature came with a quick, convulsive movement.
"Well done, mister," Joey said and picked up the paper again. Then he held it over his head and walked over to the others. "Now the city is ours! And soon the water, too!"
The others burst out cheering.
"Guys! I feel like celebrating," Joey yelled. "Let's douse the success in our saloon before the party really starts."
Everyone agreed with that. With loud hoots and shouts, they stormed down the stairs from the house and shot with their revolvers into the air.
In the end, only John, Rice, Beans, Rango and Joey were left in the office.
"What about you?" Joey asked the chameleon.
But Rango shook his head. "I'll take care of the two women until the old man arrives."
Joey shrugged. "As you want. The main thing is that the old man shows up soon."
With that, he left and the two girls were left alone with the killer. John was also still sitting at the desk and didn't say a word.
Rango reached down to his two revolvers in their holsters and looked sternly at the two frightened girls. Especially his gaze rested on Beans, but then his eyes wandered to Rice. "If you don't want that your sister gets scared again, then I would advise you not to resist." He stroked the colts. "Then I won't take out my guns. Got it?"
At first the two girls just stared at him as if frozen, then they nodded.