14 hours

16. We are outlaws

When Bill was gone, the silence filled the bathroom. Rango was still sitting in the bathtub and felt cold. Then he pressed the forehead against his knees and sobbed. Hot tears fell on his upper legs and disappeared in the water drops. His fingers glued on his legs because of the water on his skin.
After a while he wiped over his eyes and over his nose. His head was much clearer now and realized the pain which covered his whole body. With solicitous face, he looked over his body and recognized several bruises and some cuts on his arms.
Finally, he lifted his head and saw a big towel next to the tub. His shaking hands took it and rubbed his body dry. Then he climbed out and went over to the mirror. His naked feet toddled over the cold marble tile work. In the mirror, he examined his face and stroked over his hurting face muscles. While that his eyes caught his have-an-accident finger. It didn't bleed anymore. At least it wasn't damaged badly.
Gently he petted over it and sighed with relief.
When he looked at the mirror in the background, he saw his dirty clothes on the floor. He turned and watched them. With fingertips, he picked up his pants. There were useless of wearing. He needed a spare outfit. He wrapped the clothes in a dry towel, took them under his arm and opened the bathroom door very carefully.
He was on the first floor. On the ground floor, he could hear loud amused voices of Bill's gang, which rummaged in the kitchen.
On tip toes, he walked along the corridor and opened the first door which was a bedroom, where he could find a closet with clothes.
He took out well-looking beige pants and a white shirt. But after he had put them on, he had to admit they were too big for his size. McNelly wasn't a slim person, but it was better than nothing. With a belt, he fastened the pants and, in the shirt, he made a knot around his waist.
Glad about his new obtained civvies, his brain started to work after he had lost of thinking and had lost his hope of escape while his captivation. A bad feeling rose inside his stomach when he remembered about Bill's menaces. The panic came back and the chameleon ran to the next window. Around the house walls twined creepers. It wouldn't be a problem for him to climb down.
He opened the window and after some hesitation, he swung himself out and he held fast onto the long plants. Step by step he climbed down. His feet almost touched the ground and he was shortly before to breathe out with relief. But suddenly a hard grasp grabbed his shoulder and held him tight.
Rango screamed with fear and turned around wildly. But the person didn't release him.
The Gila monster eyed him angrily with narrowed eyes. "That's what I thought."
Rango grasped his shoulder when Bill added his pressure, but he loosened it again shortly after.
Bill chuckled. "You are so embarrassing."
His hand left the chameleon's shoulder, but instead he grabbed the chameleon's collar and steered him to the house door.
"That's not the way it works," Bill muttered and dragged the chameleon behind.
The green lizard tried to break away, but Bill gave him no chance. After they had reached the door Bill grabbed the chameleon's arm in addition and tugged him inside.

"Hey, here, biscuits."
Stump held a cookie tin over his head. Kinski and Chorizo didn't ask and took a handful of these cookies.
"Hey!" Stump complained. "Leave something over for me!"
They stopped their discussion when they saw Bill coming back with Rango in his grasp.
All of the three stared at the chameleon. Chorizo who was chewing a biscuit snorted with laughter full mouth. "What the hell happened to you?"
The chameleon blushed with shame, looking down at his improvised clothes.
"Shrunk in the dryer," Kinski chuckled.
"Our little friend," Bill started. "Wanted to snap fresh air."
The others murmured with disappointment.
"You wanted to leave us so soon? The fun starts only just now."
Rango winced when Bill lifted him on his collar.
"Give him a chair. I think he needs some rest."
With a grin, Kinski kicked a chair over to the chameleon.
"Take a seat."
Brutally Bill sat the chameleon down on the chair. Rango had no way to stand up again, in the next second, Stump and Kinski placed themselves next to him and put their hands on his shoulders to hold him down.
"Did you enjoy your bath?" Stump asked.
Rango cleaned his throat.
"Well, you know..."
"Uh, uh," Kinski warned and placed his hand over the chameleon's mouth. "I don't think you should speak too much. Isn't that right?"
"True that," Stump admitted.
"Hey, guys," Chorizo said with a cake full mouth. "Don't you think we should hurry up? The rest of that club could come soon."
"The Yellow Stone is over one hour away," Bill said while he was looking out of the window. "We still have time."
He leaned himself against the windowsill. "In the meantime, we could take some compensation for our detective work."
The others applauded.
"You come with me."
With that Bill grabbed Chorizo and left the kitchen.
"You take good care that our object doesn't run away," he said to Stump and Kinski.

"Hey Bill."
Chorizo and Bill stood in the living room. The Gila monster turned at his college who lifted a little golden watch.
But the bandit leader waved his hand warningly. "No valuables, what they could retrace on the black market. Look for some money."
With disappointment, the mouse put the watch away and rummaged in a desk. Meanwhile, Bill let wander his glance. It hurt him to leave all these nice-looking objects of oil paintings, vases and nicer expensive tchotchke.
His eyes stuck on some photographs in picture frames. One of it caught his attention. He picked the picture up and eyed it. It was a picture of a group. A big lady and some other rich people. Bill eyed the picture closely and realized a detail.
"Interesting. Very interesting."

It was quiet in the kitchen. Very quiet.
Rango sat on the chair like a convict.
Stump and Kinski were still standing by his sides and chewed cookies. From time to time Rango had to wipe away the crumbs from his pants. Suddenly his stomach grumbled.
Both rabbits stared down at the hungry chameleon.
"Oh, sorry," Stump apologized. "Your stomach has to be empty."
He handed him a cookie. The chameleon nodded thankfully. In the next second, the cookie disappeared into his mouth.
With surprise the two rabbits watched the hungry chameleon. After he had swallowed the little morsel down, he found his courage back.
"How did you find me?" he asked.
Stump chuckled. "Well, that's a funny story..."
"You don't have to know all details!" Kinski said quickly.
"Alright, buddies." Bill appeared in the kitchen. "Pack your bags, we leave."
"Did you find anything?" Kinski asked Chorizo.
"Not immediately, but after a little search in a closed drawer..." The mouse held a little sack with gold in his hands.
Rango stood up. "That's larceny."
Bill growled. "Larceny in a house of a criminal rat?"
"That's not the point."
He stopped speaking immediately when Bill pressed a gun at his nose.
"Listen, I'm a very patient guy, but annoying people annoy my fingers. Either you keep quiet or I could lose my patience by mistake."
The chameleon kept his mouth closed and Bill understood that as an approval.
"Fine."
He reached into his pocket and hold out a scarf.
Then he grabbed the chameleon's arm and turned him around.
"And you will put this on for a while."
Rango didn't know why Bill wrapped the scarf around his eyes.
"Hey, what is that for?"
"Little precaution measure." With that, he fixed together the knot behind the chameleon's head. "We still have to sort out a matter."
He pushed him outside.

The chameleon had no knowledge where he was and where they rode. He sat like the other bandits on a roadrunner which they had "borrowed" from the ranch.
While they rode through the dark desert the lizard sniffed to find out where the way guided them. But there was no suspicious smell in the air. No civilization was near.
Suddenly he heard them whispering, but he couldn't understand what they said.
"Here, this place seems to be perfect."
They stopped.
Someone climbed down from the roadrunner and came closer to the chameleon.
Rango sat stiffly. He was going to ask a question, but suddenly strong hands grabbed him and took him from the roadrunner like a little child and push him. Rango fell to the ground where he felt sand and little stones under his hands.
"Stand up," the Gila monster voice commanded and hoicked the green lizard on his arm.
Then Bill turned his still blindfolded face ahead of him and gave him a new push.
"Walk on."
"W-why?"
"Move!"
With hesitation the chameleon obeyed.
Carefully, he made one step after another. His hands cramped. What was that Gila monster going to do? He heard how Bill followed him from a distance.
"Stop!"
A clicking sound let him wince.
"What are you doing?!"
Rango swirled around, but before he could touch the blindfold his hands were forced behind his back in a painful way.
"It was a mistake to make a joke with me in the canyon," Bill's ominous voice whispered in his ear.
The chameleon struggled when Bill pressed his hands higher on his back.
Suddenly the Gila monster released him and pushed him away.
"On your knees. And don't forget to raise your hands."
Bill's voice was calm but firm. One reason more for Rango to break down psychologically under his command.
"N-no, you don't wanna..."
Rango felt how tears ran in his eyes when the cold metal of the barrel was pressed on his head. Bill stood on the right side of the kneeling chameleon. His face impression stone cold.
"First being cheeky, then whimpering like a little girl? You are something what we don't need in our land."
Rango swallowed heavily. His arms started to tremble.
The Gila monster hissed maliciously.
"And with your insult you dirtied a spatter on my good reputation as a leader."
A grin crossed the big lizard's mouth.
"That's something what I can't accept."
The trembling chameleon lowered his face. "I'm sorry."
"WHAT WAS THAT?!"
Rango startled terribly and sank more down. Immediately the Gila monster whipped with the gun against his back.
"Hands up!"
The chameleon gasped for air in desperation, but Bill showed no mercy.
"Sorry doesn't cut it!" He rolled the magazine of the revolver. "This won't serve my turn. You deserve an appropriate punishment."
A cold, horrible shiver ran over Rango's body when Bill stepped behind him and pulled down the collar of his shirt with his gun so that his bare upper back skin became visible for the gunslinger.
Rango's trembling raised hands wandered more behind of trying to hide his back.
"No, please, don't do it."
Bill clicked his tongue. "Sorry, I'm through with you. If I let you alive, you will only make your jokes with me even more. So much for my no aptitude of combination. A shame that my insufficiency led us to you."
"I didn't mean it like that," Rango said quickly.
Bill snorted. "You're just talking because you are afraid."
"NO, I mean it!"
The Gila monster chuckled mockingly. "Did you hear that, guys? He means it."
He didn't wait for a reply of his friends and paid his attention back to the still kneeling chameleon.
"Today you say so, and next morning something different. Who on earth believes that? Put your hands behind your head."
Rango did. Bill snorted with satisfaction and released the safety catch of the revolver.
Suddenly the chameleon turned around and wrapped his arms around Bill's legs.
"No! I surrender! I surrender! I stand corrected! You proved you have a big aptitude of combination! But please, don't kill me!"
Bill grunted. "For a sheriff, you can beg very nicely."
While Rango was whimpering on his legs, Bill gave the others a sign. Rango didn't hear the near coming footsteps until they grabbed his arms and pulled him away from the Gila monster. Then they lifted him up and forced him to stand on his knees again.
Someone grabbed his blindfold from behind and he had to look ahead. His tries of struggling were useless. In the next second, he could feel the cold metal on his forehead.
Rango's heart was thumping like mad. He realized nothing, just Bill's voice.
"Give my regards to your girlfriend."
He pulled the trigger. Rango's breath stopped.
An empty click was all what his mind filled. His vision behind the blindfold went black.
He collapsed, but hands still held him up.
"Hey, you aren't dead," Stump's voice echoed through his head.
Suddenly someone pulled away his blindfold. Then the hands released him and let him fall to the ground. Rango was still paralyzed, but his senses started to come alive again.
Around him, he could see dark desert, over him a sky of stars.
Someone kicked him gently against his legs.
"Do you wanna make a nap, or what? If I were you, I would walk to my girlfriend's house immediately where you can cry your eyes out."
Rango was starting to move his body parts again. Carefully, he sat up. Now he recognized the area. It was the land of Beans.
A hand hit his head from behind.
"Your little girlfriend was searching for you," Stump said.
"I think you should go to her before she hits us for nothing," Kinski added. "Her house is right behind the hill."
While Rango rubbed his head, the gunslingers left him alone with a little quiet chuckle until their footsteps faded away. The lonely sound of the desert surrounded him. All of a sudden, everything seemed to be unreal. Like nothing had happened.
He kept sitting on the sandy floor until he stood up with very weak knees. He ventured a step. It wasn't easy for him to make a movement. He felt like his body was just filled with jam.
He bit his teeth together and made one step after another. More and more, until he reached the top of the little hill. He looked down. Beans's ranch was not far away. After a while of hesitation, he ran downhill. But when his feet touched the wooden terrace, his movements became slow again. The chameleon took a deep breath and knocked against the door.

Stump craned his neck when lights turned on behind the windows. Shortly after the door was opened. A shadow stood in the door frame. They heard a relieved voice of a familiar woman.
"Rango!"
She flung her arms around his neck.
"Where have you been?"
First, there was silence.
"What happened to you?"
Finally, the answer came. "A work accident."
The four gunslingers, who all watched from the distance, smirked.
"Nice accident," Chorizo mocked.
Bill snorted. "Let's disappear."
With that Bill turned his roadrunner around and made his way to the town.
The others followed his example and together they rode through the desert.
After a while Kinski cleaned his throat. "Don't you think our joke was a little too much?"
Bill turned to them with a serious face. "Hey, we are outlaws. It's almost our obligation to teach him a lesson like that."
"Yes, I forgot." There was more sarcasm in his voice than regret.
"But why didn't we bring him to the town?" Stump asked. "Because of her?"
Bill lifted his nose. "No, that wasn't the reason."
"Why then?"
"I just wanna have a last sheriff free zone in town before he comes back."
Kinski grinned. "Aha."
"But it wasn't so bad to be an outlaw-detective for one day, wasn't it?" Stump asked.
Bill thought a moment. "Not really."
"Not really bad or not really good?"
"Maybe both."