Read Magnificent Guns of Seneca 6 for Free Online Page B

you need to do is get a room and establish some sort of presence.   Don’t move too fast, or you’ll spook people.   Just get the lay of the land for a few days and see who knows what.   Buy some drinks.   Nothing like a free drink to loosen a man’s tongue.”
     
    “How am I supposed to pay for all that?” Bob said.  
     
    “You didn’t bring no money?” Saringo said sharply.
     
    “Well, no, they didn’t let me keep any when I got arrested.”
     
    Saringo snorted with laughter and said, “I’m just kidding with you, Bob.   Lighten up for Pete’s sake.   Here.”   He reached into his pocket for a small sack of coins and said, “This here’s enough for two full weeks of shelter, food, and drinks to bribe the locals for information.   Use it wisely because there won’t be any more of it for two weeks, and after that, you only get half this much.”
     
    “What about a gun?”
     
    “The hell you need a gun for?”
     
    “What kind of outlaw doesn’t carry a gun?”   
     
    “That kind that just got out of a goddamn maximum security facility and should be grateful to still be drawing air, Bob.”
     
    “All right, Mr. Saringo.   I understand.”
     
    Saringo dropped the bag of coins into Bob’s hand and said, “Listen, I put a little extra in there out of my own pocket so you can enjoy yourself tonight.   You been through hell, and I reckon you can use a few drinks and maybe some female companionship to get your head right.   But just tonight, okay?   Come first light, you better be hard at it, or else.   Understand?”
     
    Bob nodded and said, “Thank you kindly for the consideration, sir.”
     
    Saringo patted Bob on the arm and said, “You sure are a puzzle, Bob Ford.   Anyway, go on now.   Get to it.”
     
    The freighter’s cargo hatch popped open and Bob leaned forward to take his first breath of fresh air, but caught a face full of hot dust.   He lowered his head and ducked into the gust, no sooner stepping onto Seneca’s surface before the engines whined again and the transport started to lift.
     
    He scurried out of the way and looked up to watch the ship ascend, seeing its thrusters glow as it pushed up into the atmosphere.   Bob stood still for a moment, looking into the sky.  
     
    “Get out of the way, you goddamn idiot!”
     
    Bob leaned back as a destrier pulling a wagon charged past him, its hooves smashing the ground where Bob’s feet had been standing a second before.   People stared at him and shook their heads as Bob backed away from the road and headed for the town’s main square.  
     
    He passed rows of bakeries and medicine shoppes until he came to a large wooden building with swinging doors and windows in the shapes of tombstones.   Dalewood Saloon was splashed in chipped red paint above the porch roof.   Bob walked in and waved to the bartender, “You have any rooms for rent?”
     
    “Yes we do.   How long you staying?”
     
    “Not sure, sir,” Bob said.   “Can I pay as I go?”
     
    “Five dollars for the first night.   For two extra dollars I’ll send a woman up to your room after supper.”
     
    “I’ll let you know, if that’s all right,” Bob said.   He dropped a coin into the bartenders hand and said, “Where’s the gunstore?”
     
    ***
     
    The clerk looked up from his newspaper at Bob and nodded, taking stock of him in one glance.   Nervous eyes with grey skin and a sickly build.   Hollow, wet looking eyes when he said, “Good morning, sir.   I’d like to see some of your guns if you don’t mind.”
     
    “Nobody gets to see guns unless they’re buying one.   You got money?”
     
    Bob smiled nervously as he reached into his pocket, to pull out the sack of coins.   He set it on the counter and said, “My Pa just died and this is what I got from his estate.   You reckon that’s enough?”  
     
    The clerk squinted at the coins inside the bag and said, “It depends what you’re looking for.   I got