The Promise

23. Dunno

Roscoe cracked his fingers. "Nothing?"
His men shook their heads. "Nothing yet. As if the earth had swallowed them up."
Roscoe pressed his teeth together and turned around where Kinski, Stump, Chorizo and Wounded Bird were tied on a stony pillar around in the cave.
"And what about you? Where is he?"
Stump swallowed. Kinski shrugged his shoulders. "Dunno."
The coyote boss rubbed his hands very calmly. "So, you don't know where he is?"
Kinski looked at him unsurely. "Uh... nnnno."
"And you?" he asked Stump.
"I know nothing, I know nothing."
"You?"
Chorizo shook his head. "I'm always the last one who knows something."
Roscoe snorted. "But I could imagine where he could be. He is in Dirt and is going to take the gold."
The outlaws exchanged glances. "What is he talking about?" Stump asked Kinski.
Kinski shrugged his shoulders again. "I don't know."
There was silence. Roscoe paid his attention to Wounded Bird.
"And what about your little sheriff friend?"
Wounded Bird didn't want to make the situation worse than it was.
"In desert," he answered. "Whether he reached town, maybe."
"Very full of information," Roscoe said sarcastically.
He turned around and crossed his hands on his back.
"You know I'm very, very annoyed about that situation. And if I'm annoyed, this could be very unhealthy for someone."
Stump ducked his head deeper into his shoulders. He looked ahead where Bobby lay sleeping on the ground with the stuffed rabbit on his belly.
Roscoe took a deep breath. He had effort to control his anger.
"So, in this case, if the fat lizard and the green living grass aren't here, so, here my question to you: Who opened the door?"
Kinski swallowed. "Uh... don't know."
"So, no one of you opened the door?"
He looked at Stump. "I forgot. I forgot," he said.
"Really? So, in this case, I can't punish only one of you. Very annoying."
Stump bit his underlip. If Roscoe was annoyed, it wasn't a good sign.
Roscoe turned around. "Alright."
He gave two of his men a sign. "Cut off their ears!"
The rabbits and the desert mouse became pale.
The two coyotes grinned. "It will be a pleasure for us to do you a favor."
"Are you crazy?!" Kinski yelled. "Why? We didn't harm you!"
Roscoe gave a bored movement of his hand. "Someone has to pay. Your fat boss isn't here, so you have to hold your heads, or should I say more, your ears."
He lighted a cigarette. "Stan, Kyle. Do your work."
The outlaws got panic and tried to free themselves. The coyotes came closer and the first one grabbed Stump's right long ear.
"I think we begin with these two long eared mammals, shall we?"
"NOOOOO!" Stump yelled. "I still need them!"
The coyote chuckled. "Not any longer."
"Ouch!" Kinski screamed when the second coyote dragged his ear brutally.
"Useful for a wiper," Kyle joked and grabbed Kinski's other ear, too.
Stan grinned. "Let's cut together the same time."
"Alright dude."
"TAKE YOUR HANDS FROM US! DAMN!" Kinski yelled.
Roscoe stood a few meters beside them and smoked his cigar calmly.
"Call them back! Call them back!" Stump cried, while the two coyotes took out their knives.
Roscoe blew a smoke cloud into the air. "I didn't hear the magic word "Please"."
Stump felt the sharp knife on the lower part of his ear. "Please, please, please, please, please, please!"
The coyote boss took a new drag from his cigar. "Dear, what a weak, cowardly troop Bill has. Take it like a man."
Kinski winced from head to toe when the coyote moved the knife and petted playfully his skin.
Roscoe put his cigar in his mouth. "Clean the floor if you have finished," he said with the cigarette in his mouth and turned around.
Stan and Kyle nodded.
"Of course we will do, don't we?"
Kyle tugged Kinski's ears more so that the rabbit was forced to stand on his tiptoes. Also Stump pressed his lips together when Kyle did the same with him.
They looked at Roscoe, but he would never have pity with his victims.
Chorizo was so afraid that he didn't dare to say a word.
"Alright," Kyle said. "On the count of three."
Stan grinned.
"One-two..."
"NOOOOOO!" Stump yelled as loud as he could. "PLEASE DON'T!"
"Yell louder," Roscoe said without emotion. "I can't hear you."
"PLEASE...!" He gasped for air when Stan held the knife at his throat.
"Keep quiet! I can't work with such a noise!"
"Let him in peace!" Kinski screamed.
Kyle gave him a hard slap in the face. "Shut your trap! Let's start! One... two..."
"What did Bill told you?" Wounded Bird interrupted the countdown.
Kyle growled loudly.
Roscoe lifted his head and looked at Wounded Bird. "What's your question?"
The raven asked again. "What did he tell you?"
"Shut your mouth!" Kyle screamed. But Roscoe raised his hand. "Stop a moment. I can't hear anything."
The two coyotes, who had put the knives on the ears, released their victims disappointed.
Stump's knees became weak and he sank into the ropes.
"What was your question?" Roscoe asked.
"I asked, what did he tell you?"
"Who had told what?"
"Bad Bill. He should tell where the place is, right?"
"So, you also know something?"
Wounded Bird moved his head. "Maybe. You talked about gold."
Roscoe came closer. "What do you know?"
"I think I could tell you something which could be important for you."
Roscoe moved his cigarette between his fingers. "What exactly do you mean?"
"Maybe I could tell you something, if you don't harm us."
The coyote raised his eyebrows. "Is it so important?"
"Possible."
"Why you didn't say that before?"
"You never asked me. I hear first time here."
"Oh... yes, of course. I didn't talk about that with you. Sorry. But what is it? What do you know?"
Wounded Bird looked around. Maybe they had a chance to come out here.
"I could bring you to the place, which you are searching."
Roscoe scratched his chin. "Tell me what you know."
"First, we have to go to the place. But we have to be in good condition."
Roscoe narrowed his eyes. Then he nodded.
"Alright. I will let you in one piece, but be warned if you try to play a bad game with me. It could be your last game."
He lifted the cigarette in his hand and pressed it on Wounded Bird's beak. He opened his hand and the smoldering weed fell to the ground where the boss ground it butt under his heel.
"Did I make myself clear?" Roscoe asked threateningly.
Wounded Bird nodded.
Roscoe snapped his fingers and ordered Kyle and Stan away.
Kinski sighed in relief and looked at Stump, who had swooned.