Killer's Eyes [Engl.]

2. Cold Eyes

The next morning...

Jake opened his weary eyes. He didn't sleep very well. He groaned and coiled his body and held his head in the morning sun.
He was not far away from the place where Rango and the bandits had stayed. The killer wanted to look later what the Jenkins cousins have done with him.
Although it was not a pleasure for him to hear Rango's low, pleading cries in the night.
But Jake was too proud. He didn't want to help him.
Nevertheless, Jake slept badly and didn't want to imagine what the bandits had done with the chameleon. Even the Jenkins brothers didn't stand for any nonsense.
Jake listened intently. Everything was quiet. Apparently the Jenkins cousins had finished their torture to the chameleon.
Jake waited a while. Then he went on his way.

Jake let carefully wander his gaze over the area, where he had left Rango last night.
But no one was there.
Jake didn't trust the peace and decided to sneak up very carefully.
When he finally arrived in the valley, he darted his tongue in and out. No one of the bandits to be seen. Nevertheless, Jake expected an ambush every moment.
He examined watchfully his surroundings. He could smell the smell of other persons and also the familiar smell of Rango.
His gaze shifted to the floor, where the sand was strongly churned up like after a fight.
Jake tilted his head and smelled intensely with his tongue about the ground. A light scent of old blood gave him a bad feeling.
What have the bandits done with him?
With distrust, he moved on over the free sand surface and let his gaze wander.
He stopped as he passed a small rock alley. At the end of the alley, he saw something lying on the sandy ground. He crawled hesitantly to it and smelled incessantly.
When he was just a few meters away, he realized what or rather who lay on the ground.
In silence, Jake let rest his eyes on the chameleon.
His pathetic state was not to be overlooked.
Rango lay on the side, his arms and legs were tied together on the back and he was gagged.
The bandits had taken off his clothes so that the injuries were clearly visible.
His body was over and over covered with bruises, several ruptured wounds, a large head wound, and whippings on his back.
The leader has used his whip very often.
Jake pushed the lizard gently with his revolver. But Rango showed no sign of life.
Jake shook his head disapprovingly.
"So young and so fast dead," he muttered in an indifferent tone.
He snorted with contempt. Basically, this lizard had to attribute to himself all alone. Yes, it serves him right. Such a swindler like him got what he deserved.
Pride comes before a fall, Jake thought. Then he turned around and crawled away.
But as soon as he was a few meters away, he stopped in his movement.
He thought he had heard a groan. He looked back, but Rango lay still motionless on the ground.
Jake was very suspicious by nature. He turned round and stopped right in front of Rango.
He let floating his tongue about Rango's face. He could feel a slight breath.
Jake looked around briefly. Then he held his head close to Rango's body. His highly sensitive nervous system felt a faint heartbeat.
The lizard was still alive.
Jake hissed angrily and glared at the chameleon.
Someone like him doesn't deserve to live.
With growling Jake leveled his revolver at the lizard. Why shouldn't he give him the death blow? Then it is over and done with him.
He held his revolver directly on Rango's chest where his heart was.
One shot would suffice, and then he would be free at last.
Suddenly Rango began to move slightly. A weak moan escaped his gagged mouth.
Jake growled angrily. "I will end your suffering soon enough."
He tightened his pressure on Rango's chest. Only one shot.
Jake was going to pull the trigger when Rango opened his eyes a little bit. He looked into Jake's eyes.
Rango's eyes were filled with fear, looking for mercy. Eyes, which pleaded: Please! Don't!
Jake felt, how Rango's breathing sped up. A hysterical breathing of panic.
But Jake strained his eye muscles into an evil look again which everyone's blood froze in veins.
He pressed his revolver stronger on Rango's upper body.
Rango seemed to have guessed Jake's gaze.
With groaning the chameleon closed his eyes and waited that Jake gave him the coup de grace.
When Jake realized that the chameleon had given up fighting, his anger subsided a little bit.
For a long time the killer had been waiting to take revenge on the chameleon for his defeat.
Now he lay in front of him.
His life in his power.
Jake pressed firmly his gun against the chameleon. Rango began to tremble, but kept his eyes closed. A desperate tremor with no hope of rescue. Rango was at the mercy of the killer of the west.
Jake looked at Rango's hands, which were tied together with his feet on the back. His hands were clenched into fists as they would search for security, but they couldn't find.
This lizard was clearly scared.
Jake shook his head and pressed brutally his revolver against Rango's breast. Rango cried out with moaning. The tremor of the lizard became stronger.
Damn it!, Jake thought. Do it now! It's just a lousy, annoying, little lizard.
Jake came closer with his head and was now very close to Rango's face. He felt how Rango's body was cramped and his eyes clenched.
He gave up. What more do you want?, it was Jake's mind.
Jake tried to sell this thought again. I want to see him suffer. I want to torment him for my humiliation.
Jake hissed menacingly and opened his mouth a little bit. He could also give him a deadly bite.
At this moment Rango leaned back his head.
Jake was a little bit irritated by this gesture. He felt Rango's breathing became slower.
Apparently the lizard was expecting Jake wants to kill him and he didn't want to fight against him. His hands were no longer clenched in fists. Now they lay in the ropes powerless.
He was willing to let fall himself. He was ready to die.
Surprised Jake pulled back his head.
The chameleon gave up voluntarily?
With growling Jake took away his weapon from the chameleon. But he kept his eyes glued to Rango.
Damn lizard!
But that was not a fair fight. How Rango lay on the ground, helpless and tied.
Jake was no one of the kind who killed someone when this person was already on the ground.
Only if someone had annoyed him. The mayor had been one of them. Yes, it had been a pleasure for him to torture him to death. But Rango...
"Damn!" Jake hissed. This lizard had annoyed him as well! The hawk-trick and then the humiliation in front of the whole town...
The rattlesnake pointed his gun at Rango again. But something stopped Jake to shoot him down in this position.
Growling and hissing Jake turned around and let Rango alone.
Let the lizard die a miserable death, Jake thought and a cold smile plated his mouth.