The Promise

5. Why?

As terrible as the day began, as terrible as he went on. The people didn't dare to go out on the street, because Jake prohibited them from going outside. They remained in their houses and hoped that everything was just a nightmare.
Rango was in a hotel room and pace up and down disquiet. After a while, he went to the window and stared outside.
There was silence in town. Absolute silence. As if, death made itself at home.
Hours passed. Rango tried to sleep a little on the bed and to sleep over the heat of the day.
The wind blew around the houses. Rango left the window open and the curtains flapped slowly.
Suddenly, it was 5.00 pm, Rango heard a scream. Like a mad man, Rango jumped up and ran to the window, where he could see, Lucky ran down the street, followed by Jake.
"Stop damn creature!" Jake yelled.
He jumped forward and caught Lucky with his body.
Rango saw, it wasn't a tiggy. He left the room and ran downstairs on the street.
"I said, nobody leaves the house!" Jake said annoyed and pressed more together his coils.
Lucky cried anxiously. "I- I only searched my ball on the street."
Jake hissed menacingly. "No one ignores my rules! It's my town, get it? Now, I have to punish you severely."
"NO! Please! HELP!" Lucky cried.
"Too late, nobody is greater than me..."
"Jake, let him down!"
Jake held his breath and turned around.
"What did you say?" he asked and focused his burning eyes at Rango.
"You aren't allowed to make me rules, lizard! Did you forget?"
"No, I didn't forget," Rango replied pace. "But please, let him down. It was just a mistake. He is a child. And children are known to do silly things, aren't they?"
Jake growled, but he released Lucky. Lucky ran away like crazy.
Jake hissed with disgust. "Maybe, kids do silly things, but what you have done, was a mistake. I think you need something to cool down."
Rango swallowed.

Minutes later, there was a scream in the air. After that, something fell in the lake.
Jake laughed sneeringly, while Rango came gasping for air back to the water surface.
"Do you feel better now?" Jake asked mockingly.
Rango said nothing. Panting, he swam back to land. Water flowed down his body.
He gave Jake a dirty look, then he turned around. With wet shoes and saturated clothes, he went back to town and went back to the hotel.
Beans, who observed all, stood on the sidewalk and looked at him with a questioning look.
"Rango, why?"
Rango gave no answer.

It was early in the evening. Rango lay on the bed without his clothes and stared at the ceiling. His clothes hung out of the window on a rope to dry. Outside he heard voices from the Gas Can Saloon. There were no many people this night, because of Jake, who was also present to take a drink. After he finished, he left the Saloon and the people dared to talk more to each other again.
Rango sighed. How long should it go on like this? Rango was worried about Jake could kill someone one day. His temper was incalculable.
He stood up and controlled his clothes. There were almost dry. A warm wind blew about the country, but a cold atmosphere lay on this town. Rango startled when he saw how Jake walked down the street.
Rango turned around, threw himself on the bed and closed his eyes.
It's just a nightmare. It's a nightmare. I want to wake up now!
Suddenly, there was a loud mutter on the street. Rango opened his eyes with shock.
Gordy was drunken again and walked down the street with a rattlesnake in front of him.
"Didn't I say, no drunken people in my town?" Jake said annoyed.
Gordy didn't realize the danger and began to sing some crazy songs.
Jake hissed threateningly. "Bad for you. Someone like you, I don't need my town."
Rango jumped up. He took his clothes on and went downstairs.
He caught his breath. Jake had wrapped around his body around Gordy and was going to give him his last way.
"Jake! Stop that!" Rango called. "You promised to kill no one."
Gordy looked at him dizzy. "G-good even' S-sherif'."
"I said, I would think about it," Jake answered. "Now I think, this guy needs a withdrawal therapy forever."
The rattlesnake lifted his gating gun. Rango took several steps forwards.
"No! Please! I beg y..."
Suddenly, Rango felt a hard punch. He flew through the air and landed right against some barrels in front of a house.
The citizen, who were still in the Gas Can Saloon, ran outside and stared with horror at him. Rango lay on the ground and didn't move. Jake came closer. First, Rango showed no sign of life. But then he began to move slowly. But he didn't stand up. He was still dizzy.
Jake narrowed his eyes with anger.
Jake bent down to him and whispered something in his ear:
"That was a bad mistake, lizard. If you love your damn life, never talk to me like that."

Moments later, Rango lay on the bed in jail. He whined and touched his arm that hurt terribly. Jake had captured him in a jail cell and Rango didn't know when he could leave it again. He put his hands on his face. It's just a nightmare.

Jake hissed when he saw Beans coming near the jail.
"That's just close enough," he said.
Beans stopped.
"What do you want?" Jake asked suspiciously.
"I wanna visit him."
"Prisoners aren't allowed receiving visits."
Beans showed a little flat bottle and a cloth in her hands.
"I just wanna treat his injuries."
Jake hissed.
"Alright. Go in, but don't let him go out! I'm warning you."
"I get it," Beans replied.
Jake gave her the keys of the jail. Beans opened the door and disappeared inside.
Jake narrowed his eyes. He didn't trust that woman.

Rango raised his head when he heard footsteps.
"Beans! What are you doing here?" he asked in surprise.
"I was worried about you." She opened the door of the jail cell and entered. "What about your arm?"
"It still hurt a little," he replied.
"I've an ointment for you," she said and put the things on a little table.
Rango sat on the bed and looked at her nervously. "What's going on outside? Is everything okay?"
"It's okay. Jake stands in front of the jail. Nobody is in near."
"Thank God," he said in relief.
Beans sighed. "Calm down," she said. "Show me your arm."
Without words, Rango leaned backwards against the wall and Beans grabbed his arm.
She took the sleeve aside and looked at the bruise. It was tarnished something blue.
She rubbed some ointment on it. Rango winced a little. It still ached.
After Beans had finished, Rango nodded at her thankfully.
"Thank you."
Beans smiled softly. "You're welcome."
They lapsed into silence, until Beans broke the silence with a sigh.
"Rango, why?"
Rango looked away. "I can't change it anymore."
"Rango, why?"
Rango swallowed. "It's not your fault, Beans."
"Rango! Please. Tell me why."
Rango sighed. Beans will never stop asking until he told her the truth.
"Well... After the robber had attacked me, Jake found me. I was scared to die. I promised to do everything and he brought me to town. Now, he wanted the town and now, that's the result."
Beans was silent. Rango looked at her.
"It's not your fault," he said.
Beans dropped her gaze and stood up. Rango watched her.
"Beans?" he asked. "What are you thinking about? Beans?"
He stood up and touched her shoulders. Beans winced.
"I'm sorry," she said.
"You don't have to apologize," Rango said. "This can happen every day."
"But I can't take it anymore," Beans said with shaking voice. "I can't see it that you have to suffer because of me."
Rango turned her around. "Beans! It wasn't your fault! Don't you understand? Not your fault!"
She touched his face with both hands and looked deep in his eyes.
"Don't worry," Rango said. "I will put it in order very soon. And you will see, no long time, and the town can live a normal life again."
"But how long?" Beans asked. "Jake had ordered to shut up all weapons away. We have no weapons to fight against him."
"Psst!" Rango hissed and held his hand on Beans's mouth. "Maybe he is eavesdropping us."
"What should we do now?" Beans whispered.
"Uh... well, I... I don't know at the moment... I'm still thinking about it."
"You haven't a plan, have you?"
"Not yet."
There was silence again. Beans sighed. "Rango, you have to leave this town."
Rango was wide-eyed. "What? Why? I can't do this."
"Rango, do you remember? When you leave this town you can bring help. Like the last time."
"Beans, I can't!" Rango said quietly. "He will search me and he will find me."
"But I can't take it anymore to see how he brutalized you," Beans replied.
"But I can't let you down with him."
"For everything what happened and what will happen, I will take it on my responsibility."
Rango rolled his eyes. "It's not your f..."
"We'll manage all right. For us, it's the usual life to survive, we know it. But you, you can't. You have to leave this town. I'm sure you will find someone who can help us."
"Why me? Why not someone else?"
"You managed to defeat him with help, I'm sure, you can defeat him once more. If somebody can defeat him, it's you. I could never sleep if he strikes you again like today."
"But he will be very angry and he will vent his anger on you and all the others."
"My responsibility," Beans said sadly. "Please! Do it for me!"
Rango looked at her. She was serious.
"But how?" he asked.
"I will come up with an idea, don't worry," Beans said quietly.
She gave him a kiss, then she left him alone.

The tower clock belled 4.00 am. Rango was still lying in the jail cell and slept fitfully. Suddenly there was a loud banging in the air. Shortly afterwards, the night was lit up with colors. Rango stood up quickly and ran to the window. With open mouth, he looked at the fireworks in the sky.
Jake, who still lay in front of the jail, yelled some curses and slithered down the street where the firecrackers were fired up.
Moments later, Rango heard a key in the cell lock.
"Come out!" Beans said and opened the door.
Before Rango could ask a question, she grabbed his hand and together they left the jail.
"Where did you get the key of the jail?" Rango asked.
"Anvil has a replacement key," Beans answered, while they ran down the street.
"What about the fireworks?" Rango asked on.
"It was Spoon's idea to fire the firecrackers. On this way, Jake turned out there for a moment. Come this way."
Beans pushed him into Furgus's store, where Furgus was waiting for them.
"Thank the good lord, you escaped," Furgus said in relief.
"We have no much time," Beans urged.
Furgus nodded and guided them to the larder room. He pushed away some wooden boxes and opened a trap door.
"What's that?" Rango asked in surprise. He had never known about this.
"An old escape passageway, which is not connected with the water tunnel system," Furgus explained. "It was built in case of emergency to flee. On this way, Jake can never follow your scent to find you."
"Go in there quick!" Beans ordered.
Rango considered for a moment. "But, Beans, I can't do..."
"Go inside, please! Run away!"
"But..."
"We will manage it!"
"You mean, you want to manage it, right?" Rango asked anxiously.
Suddenly, someone yelled curses, which belonged to Jake, who came back along the street to the jail.
"Good heavens!" Beans said and pushed Rango down into the hole.
Rango wanted to say something more, but Furgus closed the door and Rango stood alone in darkness. He heard how Furgus pushed the box again over the trap door and both left the room. For a moment, Rango was unable to move. But there was just one way to come out. He sensed his surrounding and went down blind the tunnel.

It passed one hour, more or less, and Rango saw a faint glow of light. The moon shined. He felt old wooden boards, which blocked the exit of the tunnel. One of them was loose. Rango thrust it aside and climbed out. He looked around. He stood in a niche of a stone hill. Ahead of him lay the lonely valley areas of the Mojave Desert. At sight of the desert, which he got with Beans at night. He shook his head, when he remembered Bean's words.
Run away! Run away!
He ran aimlessly through the desert. He ran past the cactuses and jumped about stones. He hoped that the fox wasn't in near. If he appeared...
No, not yet, he thought and ran on.

Rango breathed exhausted. He couldn't run anymore. His lungs burned like fire and he had to gasp for air. He took a rest and put his hand on his knees. He didn't know how far away he was from town. He knew, if Jake realized that he had fled, he would search him and in the worse case, he will find him.
No, he didn't have to find him.
Rango swallowed. His heartbeat was calmed down, he continued on his way in a slow pace.
After a while, dawn began. The sun appeared on the horizon. But Rango didn't realize it.
Where should he go? And more, what should he do? He was alone. He sighed and walked in deep thought forward. If someone was in near to say some words of encouragement. But there was no one. After a while he began to talk to himself. First, some words like: all's well, everything is gonna be all right. You are just alone for a moment, just a moment... Alone for a moment...
"I walk alone, I walk alone", he mumbled. "I walk alone, alone."
He sighed. Then he hummed a melody and began to sing quietly with monotone voice.

"I walk a lonely road,
The only one that I have ever known,
Don't know where it goes,
But it's home to me and I walk alone."

He looked behind himself. There was no one behind him.

"I walk this empty street
On the Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Where the city sleeps
And I'm the only one and I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk a...
My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
'Til then I walk alone
I walk alone I walk alone. Til then I walk alone..."

He stopped and wiped away some tears. He felt like a coward. Like the last time, when he was banished from the town. Now, his dreams and plans are gone again.
But what should he do? He gave his promise. He had no right to chase Jake away. But on the other hand, he couldn't accept that the townspeople suffered under these circumstances. It was just something between him and Jake.
Rango blinked. The sun raised higher. He has to find a place where he could find shelter and where he could think about the situation in peace. But at first, he had to find some water. His mouth was very dry. Damn! He forgot to drink some water before he had left town.
He looked around. There were only stones, cactuses and desert, but of course no water.
He had no other chance to continue walking until he found something.
How could he release the townspeople from Jake? He couldn't ask desert dogs for help. Jake knew the hawk-trick. That wouldn't work. He had to come up with another idea.
Rango was so deep in thoughts, that he didn't see the fence in front of him, with a sign.
He crashed against it and fell to the ground. Surprised he read the words, which were written on the old wooden board.
"Keep out! No kidding!"
Rango stood up hastily. Civilization! And where there's civilization, there's water!
He lifted his head and saw an old shed, which was more an old hut, with an old buffalo skeleton head about it. It seemed to be abandoned, because no one was visible.
Uncertainly, he looked at the sign again. Maybe it should scare outlaws away, but not normal helpless people. If he asked very politely, the owner would give him some water.
With slow footsteps, he came closer to the old hut. There were no other houses in near. Not even a barn. Perhaps a lonely native was living here or an old gold hunter.
He arrived the door. He laid an ear on it and listened. There was no sound inside.
Maybe the owner wasn't at home. He lifted his hand and knock against the door reluctantly.
Seconds passed. Nothing happened.
"Hello, anybody here?" he asked.
There was no reply. He put his hand on the door handle and opened the door. He looked through the door crack. But nobody was inside. He looked around. It was a simple wooden room with four chairs, a table, shelves, an old stove in the corner and a door of another room, maybe the sleep room. Carefully, he entered the room.
"Hello?" he asked. "Don't be afraid. I'm here with good intends."
Again no answer. He paused when he looked at the shelves, where he found some cans with sweet corn, lenses, and red beans. He took out the can of beans and looked at it for a while.
He sighed and smiled softly. He had to think of Beans.
"HEY! What are you doing here in my shack?"

The song, which Rango sang, is part of "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" by Green Day.