The Argo Goes West

106, Battle of Sacramento, part 4

"Open the gate!"

While Joe Arbogast continued banging on the castle gates, the unarmed crew of the Argo were killed one after another with arrows fired by the centaurs.

"Everyone, get down!" cried Jerry Baxter, the conductor. People followed his instructions. However, Casualties did not decrease.

"It's wrong to get down," groaned Wilbur Wright.

"Why?" asked Orville Wright.

"Bullets come from the front, but arrows fall from above in a parabola. In other words, getting down is not only ineffective, but more dangerous."

"I see."

"Better stand," Wilbur continued. "The target is smaller and you can see the trajectory like a fly ball in baseball."

"Then you have to tell everyone that."

"But can they understand what I am saying?"

"Even if they don't understand, they will do what you say if they don't want to die."

"Let's do so."

Orville and Wilbur Wright yelled at those who were lying down to get up.

Floyd Murdock, a Washington Post reporter, was running after Sergeant Romolo. However, his heart was about to explode and he sat down in the street. Murdock didn't tell Romolo to wait. (If he had said that, Romolo would have said, "Take your time."). A carriage passed by. Murdock begged for a ride in the carriage. Murdock also picked up Sergeant Romolo on the way, and together they arrived at the west gate of Sacramento.

The gates were barred, and gunshots and screams could be heard beyond.

There was a lookout on top of the gate, and Murdock and Romolo tried to climb the ladder to see what was going on outside. But the gatekeepers stopped them.

"It is dangerous."

"We know it's dangerous," said Romolo. During the expedition, Romolo was careful with his language, as his superiors had told him not to get into trouble with the citizens.

"Did you get permission?"

"If it's the Acting Mayor's permission, Vice President Roosevelt is currently negotiating. I believe that permission will be obtained soon. "

"Then please get permission before climbing."

The gatekeeper went by the rules. Still, Romolo persisted in his persuasion. As Murdock listened to the conversation, he grew increasingly frustrated. Many people were killed and injured outside the fortress while they were arguing over and over like this. Murdock worried about his business rival and best friend Joe Arbogast. Murdoch made up his mind.

Murdoch pulled a pistol from Romolo's holster and pressed it to the gatekeeper's temple.

"Open the gate without yelling!" Murdoch threatened the gatekeeper with the face of an outlaw.

"I can't do it without the permission of the deputy mayor."

"Deputy Mayor! Deputy Mayor! Deputy Mayor! Don't care! People's lives are at stake."

Murdoch cocked his pistol.

"You're kidding, aren't you?" The gatekeeper turned pale. he told Romolo. "Please, stop him."

"Okay," said Romolo, turning to Murdoch with a straight face.

"Plantagenet shall speak first: hear him, lords." said Romolo. An exaggerated and theatrical way of speaking.

"No," replied Murdoch.

Romolo said to the gatekeeper. "I can't convince him. If you don't want to die, do what he says."

"Oh..."

Not knowing it was a play, the gatekeeper looked up at the sky in fear and despair.

Then Murdoch saw the Argo steaming toward him. Murdoch twirled his handgun around like a gunslinger and hit the gatekeeper on the head with his grip. The noisy gatekeeper fainted and fell silent.

"Let us open the gate."

"As you wish," Romolo said jokingly.