Eyes like dawn over the desert were flat, "Has anyone ever treated her with compassion in this town?" Knuckles popped, itched, and he studied the man's stupid smile.

"Vernon Cooley is the only one fool enough," Christy rolled her eyes. "You see what it got him. Ruben has made sure that everyone knows Kai is behind this, but he just doesn't want her to curse him, so he just tells folk: real quiet." She bit a finger with a smile, "He confessed it to me, one night."

The man scowled at that, but looked at Cassidy. Gregory wiggled, and he just noticed him. "What are you doing with that?!"

The bounty hunter's eyes narrowed, glanced back at the baby, "I'm taking him to his people, after this mess is cleared up."

"You should dash its head against a—"

Cassidy withdrew the revolver. It spun with a liquid grace, and reversed to slam into the man's mouth. "Boy, I think I've had enough of your blather," he said in a flat tone, as the man struggled to stand.

"My mouth," he held his lips, "I should—"

"You should what?" the bounty hunter took Gregory off his back. He put the sling around Christy's neck, but a look stopped the young woman's protests. He put her hands over the infant's eyes and ears. "I want to know, boy," he turned back to the cowpoke.

"Now, Mister, I'm real tired of you," he stammered, looked at her. The man's hand hovered over the revolver.

"A man should never go heeled," Cassidy smiled, "unless he wants to draw iron. But, I got the bulge on you." He holstered the pistol, fast as it was drawn, "Pull it and I'll plant you in the nearest bone orchard."

"I'll, you won't talk to me like this."

"Draw cur," Cassidy's grin widened, and the man's eyes retreated from him. "No, I suspected as much," the bounty hunter drew the man's gun from its belt. Crack of his hand across the man's face made Christy jump. "Now, get out of here, before I strip you down, have you run into the desert naked."

The man shuffled away, but cast glances back to make sure he wasn't followed. Cassidy retrieved Gregory, who pouted. "Now Ma'am," he looked at Christy, "has the whole town treated Kai like you?"

She swallowed, "I, yes, she isn't welcome here. Not like anyone can catch her. The menfolk of the Nayee have taken out for her, even before this."

"Why," he held down his hands, so they would not fly up to her face. "Why seek her out?!"

Christy paused for a moment; eyes frantically searched the past, "Well, we all started hearing tales about her. Kai was turned away from her people."

"Who told these stories?"

"Ruben, he was the only one, whoever spoke to her at length," she shifted, recoiled. "He tried to treat her with charity."

"By telling everyone she was a Witch?" his jaw popped. "So, all of you just hunted her, treated her like an animal?!"

"She is dangerous, and Kai was way too friendly with Ruben!"

"Jealous," the bounty hunter spat, "and you people tried to violate her!" Cassidy shook his head, "You brought this down on yourselves. There are no WITCHES, but I wish she was, so this town could reap what you've sewn."

Others turned to this damnation of their sins. To their shock Cassidy was defiant. All fell quiet; shame robbed them of their bravado and promises of justice. Darkness about the edges of the lights swayed. A chill wind, bitter as frozen tomb, dashed across them. Musk of wolves was tart on the tongue. Crackle of torches broke through the sacred stillness, blasphemous though soothing. Anything was better than the disquiet of the heart, and the sins come home to their masters. All of Nayee glanced at each other, for the scales of justice tipped out of their favor, and hand of righteousness would fall upon them. Wind kicked up, abandoned church bell tolled, yet its sour tone called none to its sanctuary.

Below this, a sound lingered. A rasp slid across the air like slice of bloody meat on rotted wood. The air whipped in slight jerked bursts, high tart perfume acrid. Gregory burbled. Cassidy froze, chill traced his spine. Feverish was the delirious heat, yet hairs rose in the bitter cold. Windows clattered about the town, as if devils knocked and waited for permission. Violent bangs shook walls, town shivered under the assault. Over the rooves, a scrapping drew across the air. Out in the desert, beyond the false sanity of civilization, howls rose from wolves, who drew closer under the shroud of darkness. Screams tore from women. Shaken curses men swore. The bounty hunter's hand rested on his revolver, coldness crept into him, and he patted the child. No man or devil would harm the youngster.

Out of a shadow a man stumbled, one of Vernon Cooley's Weepers. Pale as soured milk, skin was threaded with black veins. Whites of his eyes were stained, and tears ran down the pallid face. His gagged choke was full of worms. Up from the guts a scream boiled, almost human but ruined by an animalistic shrillness. Tremble jerk of muscles was fast, and he drew in on himself. More had emerged; all shuddered in agony. As all the chaos rose to an apocalyptic, tyrannous roar; this calamitous rolling tumult stopped. Complete silence seized the town of Nayee.

A deputy, who patrolled the streets, stepped towards the man. Cassidy whistled low, shook his head.

He turned back to the Weeper, "Buck, you okay?"

The man lunged to his feet, knife in hand. It sunk into the deputy's neck. A savage pull ripped it free, and blood sprayed. Wave of crimson teared across the greedy earth. Weepers screamed eyes wide. Bangs of gunfire filled the settlement. Cassidy's mind went to the Civil War, and held up his revolver. Phantom screams of dead friends, fellow soldiers, echoed in the back of the mind. Any stricken by the strange disease attacked any who were well. Bullets and blades turned the night ruby, and a bleak decree came to the town. Savage was the wrath of the ill and payment come due.