The Promise

10. This is a hold-up!

Kinski held his revolver higher when Rango moved his hands.
"Uh-uh," Kinski warned.
Rango looked at him with a forced smile. "The rope is a little bit too taut. Maybe you could do it a little more unloose..."
"Shut trap," Kinski ordered.
Rango sighed. He sat on a roadrunner, like Bill and the others. Rango was the only one, whose hands were tied on the saddle. Kinski took care, that he didn't flee and had connected his roadrunner with Rango's together.
Bill rode first, beside him Chorizo, behind him Stump, after him Rango and last Kinski.
"I don't know, Bill," Chorizo said quietly. "Do you think it's a good idea? I know your plan is not so bad, but... a lawman remains a lawman. You can never trust them. Especially not him."
"I'm going to keep an eye on him," Bill said. "Don't worry."
Chorizo sighed. "I hope you know what you are doing."
Bill stopped. "We're there."
The others stopped their roadrunners and looked ahead.
Not far away lay the rails in the canyon valley.
"What says the time?" Bill asked Stump.
"Uh... if he is on time... just 4 Minutes and 11... 10 seconds."
"Good."
He looked behind himself. "Hey, little pet, come here."
Kinski guided Rango on his roadrunner to the Gila monster.
"Alright," Bill said. "You will wear a mask."
"Why me?" Rango asked.
"You do what I say!" Bill said annoyed.
Rango swallowed. "Okay, but could you take me off the ropes from my hands, please? I can't use my hands if I'm tied."
Bill snorted. He put out his knife and cut his hand ropes through.
Bill looked at Kinski. "If he makes troubles, shoot him in the leg."
Kinski grinned and nodded. "With pleasure."
"And more point!" Bill said to Rango. "No tricks! Get it? I hope you know why. I can't take a joke if somebody tricks me. Is that understood!?"
He grabbed Rango's hand and squeezed it. Rango nodded hastily. Bill loosened his grip and let Rango. "And keep your hands where I see them."
"Uh... okay," Rango replied nervously.
A loud sound from far away was to hear.
"Train is coming!" Stump said.
The train passed the valley with a loud clatter.
Rango swallowed.
"Don't worry, mate," Kinski said. "Everyone is nervous for his first illegal thing. You will see, it's not so bad."
"This is exactly what makes me worry," Rango murmured.
"Wait a second," Bill ordered.
After the train was almost over, he gave the signal.
"Alright. Let's ride!"
"YEAH!" Chorizo rejoiced.
In high speed, they rode down the hill and followed the rails. The train was fast, but they managed to overtake it. At least the back most of the train. The roadrunners seemed to know the situation. They ran very close to the last wagon. Bill jumped first and climbed up on the train roof. Next Chorizo. Rango had troubles at first, but then he made himself an effort and swung over. He held on the wagon, and climbed up. Next came follow Stump and Kinski.
Bill nodded satisfied. "Good. Let's go to the passenger wagon."
They went over the roof. Rango looked down. Between a gap in the wood, he could see roadrunners inside. Then they left the cattle wagon. The next were goods wagons. All the time, Rango thought about how he could flee. But Kinski still aimed a gun on him and it was a big risk to jump down from a train in this pace.
The nearest wagon to the passenger wagon was empty and had no roof.
"Nice wagon part," Rango said kiddingly. "Very airy."
Bill laid a finger on his lips. "Be quiet! The next wagon is the passenger compartment. Are your guns ready?"
His henchmen nodded.
Rango lifted his hand. "Eh... and what about me?"
"Oh, sure," Bill said sarcastically. "Stump, give him your spare gun... without bullets."
Rango raised his eyebrows. "Why without bullets?"
"You idiot!" Bill growled. "Do you really think we give you a loaded gun to shoot us? Do you think I'm stupid? You're miles out!"
Rango winced when Stump pressed his empty gun in his hands.
"But what if somebody realizes that it's unloaded..."
"Good heavens!" Bill said annoyed. "People always do what you want, if you say, it's loaded."
"Uh... okay."
"Don't be so shy, they don't eat you," Kinski said and gave him a push in the side.
The others laughed evilly.
"You forgot something," Bill said mockingly.
Rango looked at him with asking look.
Bill rolled his eyes and pointed at Rango's scarf.
"Oh, okay," Rango said.
He took off this scarf and warped it around his lower face.
"Alright," Bill said. "Mind on my mark."
He opened the door of the wagon and looked at the passenger wagon, which was an old big human suitcase.
"Okay, on the count of three: ... one – two – three!"
They ran in. Bill first and presented his guns.
"Hands up! This is a hold-up!"
All passengers lifted their hands up. The wagon had furnished with old wooden benches. Not very comfortable. The people on the benches were very different. The most of them were rodents and other animals like owls, rabbits and so on in all ages. Children, adults and men and women. One woman cried when she saw Bill with his gun.
Bill growled threateningly. "Shut up! No wrong movement or I shoot your brain out of your skulls!"
Now his henchmen appeared. Rango between them and didn't know to say.
"Go ahead!" Bill ordered.
Kinski and Stump went along left, Stump and Bill on the right side.
"What are you looking for?" Bill asked annoyed to Rango, who still didn't move. "Take the money."
"Also jewelry?"
Bill rolled his eyes. "Of course! Everything which is valuable, you idiot!"
"Okay," Rango said and went to a rodent woman, whose eyes were wide open with horror. Rango bared his head respectfully. "Excuse me, madam. But could you do me a favor and give me your..."
"Idiot!" Bill said and pushed him aside. "Give me your dough! Make it snappy!"
Rango growled quietly, but he could do nothing. It made him sick to rob innocent people.
"Mister Rango? Is that you?"
Rango turned around in surprise. An old man, a desert owl with a white mustache, sat on a wooden bank and looked at him through his glasses. "Of course. It's you!"
"Psst!" Rango said quietly. "That's top secret. How do you know? Is my scarf too loose?"
"I recognized you on your voice, and I saw eyes like yours just once in my lifetime."
"Oh." Rango scratched his head.
The old owl narrowed his eyes. "But you know me, don't you?"
Rango nodded. "Of course. You visited Mud a few months ago. I remember."
The owl smiled. "What's going on here?"
Rango raised his hands.
"Long story. Have no time to talk about it," he whispered.
The old owl raised his eyebrows. "Oh! I understand. You work undercover?"
"Eh... basically, or thereabouts."
"What are you talking about?" Bill asked annoyed. "Take the money! Hurry up!"
"Okay, okay," Rango said. "Sorry, Sir, but I..."
"It's okay, you can't risk blowing your cover."
He reached into his pockets and took out his purse and his golden watch. Rango took it and put it in his pockets. Suddenly the owl pressed something into his hand. "Take it, Mister Rango. I trust you."
Rango risked a look into his hand. It was a paper.
"I'm going to go to Mud, Mister Rango," the owl explained whispery. "But I have the feeling that someone is following me. Someone bad. If you can, return to Mud. If I have luck, I will come later and explain it, but I think, this is in good hands if you have it. It's very important."
"What are you talking about?" Rango asked.
"Later, Mister Rango!" the owl said. "Take care that it doesn't fall into wrong hands."
"Why? What is it?"
Suddenly, loud steps were hearable. At the next moment, a black clothed person appeared and swung his revolvers in all directions.
"Hands up! This is a..."
The person stopped. Rango paled.
Damn! It was Roscoe!