All are in peril in BG. Will Uncle Bubba survive? What are William Land's plans for CG? Will Tiger get to Raven before he's forced to do this favor for a mysterious Bounty Hunter and clear his name? Brandy and Bruce are about to face down Regan and...
Denver made his way to grave and admired his work, all that was left of Deep Pool and the carcasses were smoldering embers, he found it a sobering sight, that released some of the tension that still gnawed away at his nerve ends.
He had already surveyed the ridge and knew exactly where he needed to plant the charges, which he still carried in his saddlebag. He was also pleased that they had saved enough wire for him to remotely detonate the charges, this time several hundred tons of the cliff face would come tumbling down and with the best will in the world, it is not that precise.
When the job was done, he moved to a safe distance, he could see clearly that no one else remained inside the safety zone. As pre-warned, he drew his pistol and fired a warning shot into the air, waited for two minutes and fired a second, before pushing a handheld generator. There were a few tense moments before a series of explosions rippled along the ridge as planned, everything was looking good.
But all the best made plans have a flaw, intervention by mother nature, without explanation the ridge was shaken by a wave far larger explosions, that sent huge plumes of burning gas, shooting hundreds of feet into the sky.
It was that time of year, just before the rainy season, but due to this unnatural intervention, excited by the burning gases the skies darken and the rumble of thunder began to echo through the canyon, followed by lightning and everyone was ducking for cover as the heavens open up and a deluge ensued.
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Rivers of water were pouring down the ridge and the freshly displaced rubble was soon being washed across the canyon floor, the crew were knee-deep in sludge, then more claps of thunder rippled through their skin, penetrating deep into to their bones. The situation became more perilous and terrifying as random thunderbolts were exploding all around the canyon, it was nothing less than a miracle, that no one was killed, just a few burns were added to the list of injuries, that the now flooded Triage was dealing with.
The storm went as quick as it came and took with it all the emotion distilled the night before, which was just as well, because it took many hours of hard labour to dig the wagons free of the mire and to gather the horses that had scattered.
The time had come teams and new friends to say their goodbyes and get on their way, this was going to be a story shared with their children and grandchildren, on a stormy night.
"Denver, it's been a pleasure to make you and your family's acquaintance, I wish you and your family well, so long farewell, hoping we meet again before we arrive at the gates of hell."
"I hope so to my friend, you know where we live, there will always be a welcome for you and your men, so long farewell, let's hope the sight of those gates is a long time coming."
With the wagons fully loaded and the wounded safely aboard, Denver looked back across the muddy mess, that was once Deep Pool, his heart was full of despair at the hell that had rained down on this little known outpost, and fruitlessly tried to imagine it in better times.
Finally, turning to face the Wagon Train he gave thanks that his family and the posse were safe and then gave the order to leave, and never looked back. He'd no desire to see this place again, and thought in that case it was best he stayed off the Firewater.
