The Hawkline Monster. Richard Brautigan

sorry,” Jack Williams said, laughing. “I’m sorry, boys. I own a saloon here. Any time you want there’s a drink waiting over there for you and it’s on me.”

      He was a fair man and people respected him for it.

      Greer and Cameron liked him immediately.

      They liked people who had strong character. They didn’t like to kill people like Jack Williams. Sometimes it made them feel bad afterwards and Greer would always say, “I liked him.” and Cameron would always answer, “Yeah, he was a good man.” and they wouldn’t say anything more about it after that.

      Just then some gunshots rang out in the hills above Billy. Jack Williams paid no attention to the shots.

      “5, 6,” Cameron said.

      “What’s that?” Jack Williams said.

      “He was counting the gunshots,” Greer said.

      “Oh, that. Oh, yeah,” Jack Williams said. “They’re up there probably killing themselves or killing off their animals. Frankly, I don’t give a fuck. Excuse me, Magic Child, I’m sorry. I’ve got a tongue that was hatched on an outhouse seat. I’m saving it for my old age. Instead of whittling, I’ll stop cussing.”

      “What’s the shooting about?” Greer said, nodding his head up toward the twilight hills towering above Billy.

      “Oh, come on now,” Jack Williams said. “You boys know better than that.”

      Greer and Cameron smiled softly again.

      “I don’t care what those cattle and sheep people do to each other. They can kill everyone of themselves off if they’re going to be that stupid, just as long as they don’t do it in the streets of Billy.”

      “That county sheriff from Brooks. Up there’s his problem. I don’t think he ever gets off his ass, not unless he’s looking for a piece of ass. Oh, God, I’ve done it again. Magic Child, when will this tongue of mine ever learn?”

      Magic Child smiled up at Jack Williams. “I’m glad to be back.” She touched his hand gently.

      That pleased the town marshal of Billy whose name was Jack Williams and who was known far and wide as a tough but fair man.

      “I guess I’d better get along now,” he said. “Glad you’re back, Magic Child.” Then he turned to Greer and Cameron and said, “Hope you boys from Portland have a good time here but just remember,” he said, pointing at the hills. “Up there, not down here.”

      · Ma Smith’s Cafe ·