"Here's my answer," he barked, and he fanned the hammer on the revolver. Bullets tore through the priest's head and chest. None of the four bullets felled Leviticus. Again, every shot that struck his chest was deflected from his heart.

"Ah, you've chosen to sustain the Black Witch with your flesh," he stepped forward, wood creaked.

Cassidy holstered the revolver. He drew the heavy knife and hatchet, ready to join his family. Often life chose your death, sudden or slow, but today he would take down all he could, so Matilda could escape.

Ferocious was the assault, but the blades could only rend flesh. No pain did Leviticus show, though amused. The blow from the priest sent him to the floor. Another strike, dismissive, from a kick sent Cassidy bouncing over the floor.

Cassidy stood, stumbled, and vomited up strings of clear drool. "Boy, you hit like a priest," he chuckled, relief strange, yet the sense of freedom shocked him.

"You would've made a good host for my Goddess, my love," he reached out for Cassidy's serape.

"Matilda escaped," Barnabas rasped out a laugh, "she is free!"

Leviticus turned to the Captain, lip curled into sneer. Away Cassidy struck the priest's arm, and brought down the hatchet. The blow tore open his chest to the thick plate over the heart. Under Leviticus's backhand, he ducked, dropped the heavy blade, and withdrew the dynamite. The priest brought down a fist, blow murderous, but Cassidy moved aside to jam the explosive into the wound, which already healed to grip the explosive. Across Leviticus's eyes he slashed with the small axe. Away from the priest he dashed, turned, and fired. Inside the church, the boom was absolute. He flew off his feet into the wall.

Ringing ate away the world; even the thunder was unable to penetrate the buzz. Cassidy rolled over, coughed. Deep ache in his chest radiated through every muscle. Dust hung above the floor, black blood and viscera was splattered around the crater. Eyes, blue as the coming dawn, went to the doors and windows, but none of the locals entered. Out into the town the bounty hunter looked to all the corpses, which broken down in the rain to a black mush.

A break in the riotous tumult unveiled the patient moon. Throughout the firmament the dazzle of lightning flashed and faded. Against the face of its glow, the Black Witch was caught in its luminance. Broad wings fluttered dark as deepest night, which lifted its bulbous body high into the night. The Black Witch, Miquipapalotl, left her devout to rot to nothing, now her consort was dead. Just a beast, Cassidy told himself, as the animal god moved through the storm.

"She is gone," Barnabas rasped, though the grating and buzz had left his throat. "Our blessed Goddess has retracted her salvation," he said relieved. His body, again broken, was deteriorating away. Mind devouring pain that was quieted, though never silent, began to remind him of its scope. A low groan seeped out of a ruined mouth.

Cassidy kneeled beside the Captain, "We did it, Sir. We saved your family."

"I missed them," he groaned, broken, "so much!"

"You'll see them again," he watched the flesh melt from him, vision blurred, "I'll get you help."

The Captain groaned through gritted teeth, "Do you remember how I saved you?"

"Yes, more than a few times," he smiled weakly.

"Cass, I need you to save me," the ruptured eye rolled to him, and the other, gray as a dying storm, filled. "I feel the agony returning, and I shall go mad!"

He pulled the Captain to him, felt flesh soften, "I always wondered what my children would have grown up to become." Cassidy withdrew the revolver, as Barnabas considered.

"Once, he caught a tadpole," he smiled through the pain, "and he accidently killed it. I…think I always saw him as a banker. No need for him to have a hard life like me."

"And, your daughter," the bounty hunter asked, and the thunder rolled over the church. The hammer's click was lost in the rumble. The world blurred about him, yet an oath had been sworn.

"Oh, she was always brilliant," Captain Lee laughed; pain for a moment forgotten. "My little hopper can be anything her mind can come up with. I got to see her again, Cass, and she is growing up to be a fine woman. That was the real…hell. I wanted to be with them so badly. I'm so happy that I saw her again, and maybe, she'll be everything—"

The revolver boomed, Barnabas jerked though stilled, and Cassidy held him close. "It was an honor, Sir," he said, wiped at his eyes, "and I'm sorry."

From between the spent storm clouds, the tobacco stained glow of the moon leered. Over the bones of Lamp Light's locals it spread cancerous light. Sweet stench of their decay made the mouth water, yet the stomach revolted. Thick, dark mud made of the abominations' dissolution clung to the boots. Broken pews piled up along with other kindling supported the body of Captain Lee. Kentucky Bourbon, which Cassidy had found secreted away by the last preacher from the church, was poured over the timbers. Flame of the match burst to hungry life, and it fell into the pile. Warmth of the flames drove away the dampness that clung to his skin.

Flicker and prance of the pyre's flames lived in the eyes blue as approaching dawn. Just an animal, he lied, and turned to see his horse. It stood head down. Back to the fire he was pulled. Long was the night. Deep was this land's madness. The mind could only suffer so much, he knew, and it had broken Barnabas in the end. If it could ruin such as the Captain Lee, then when would it finally claim the bounty hunter.

Up to the heavens, the shrill shriek of the pagan train's whistle soared. It chilled Cassidy, for its heralded an ill omen. All life was a circle, to rise, to fall, and it would always turn from sane to mad.