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Injuns?” Yang asked his cousin.
    Yang was not asking about Indians.  Like many hosts at RSI Gaming they used code words to communicate news and information from their village , which was only six miles east of Squabash .  Yang , however, and the others were completely cut-off from communication while working as a host. 
    By asking about Indians, he was asking about his family.  Yang’s mother and little sister lived alone in the village.  When he got time off from his job as an outlaw he would go and stay with them.  Yang had been serving as a host inside the game for weeks without a break.  He was anxious for news about his family.
    Gus replied, “Two days ago, I saw smoke signals.”  He pointed roughly to the east, towards home.  Smoke signals were good news.  This meant he had seen Yang’s family and all was well.  Yang nodded in understanding and flashed a grateful grin at his cousin.
    Yang worried about his little sister, Liang.  Liang was turning fifteen next month and was growing more beautiful every day.  He did not want to see her working as a host in the Squabash saloon or worse.  Yang was determined to earn enough money as Eli the outlaw to pay for her to get away, maybe even go to a University.  When he was “Off” he would return to their small house like a hero.  Liang would follow him wherever he walked.  She was proud of her big brother who was becoming famous and making money inside the game.  Yang would hold her small hand in his rough hand and tell her stories of gunfights and bank robberies as they promenaded about the village market.
    Everything in Yang’s plan depended on his popularity.  Yang got paid based on how much players were willing to play as “Eli” the outlaw.  The players who only viewed the action paid less , but they were unlimited.  If Yang could attract a player who was controlling the action , and 10 or more observers , he would net a very good payday.  Lately Yang had been doing well.  His popularity was on the rise.  Robbing the stagecoach and other dangerous stunts are the best way to grow a reputation with the players.
    “I see dust on the road,” Sam piped up.
    “You boys ready for this?”  Eli asked as he clambered into his saddle, pulling on the reins to wheel the horse about.
    “Ready,” Gus said.
    “Let’s go,” Sam said. 
    There was no way for Yang to know if his cousin was speaking or if he was merely parroting the enthusiastic response from the remote player.  Either way, he was committed to the adventure.  Yang felt his legs contract and spur the tall horse to begin cantering down the rise.
    “I will make the jump,” Eli cried over the growing sounds of horse hooves.  No one argued, and so it was decided.
    The three cowboys began trotting down the rise.  They had all robbed the morning stage before.  They knew what to do.
    “Any sign of the Marshal?” Eli asked loudly over the sounds of horse and hoof.
    “Have not heard or seen him for days,” Gus replied.
    This was good news.  Hopefully the Marshal was “Off” taking a long break back at the home village.  Yang knew the Marshal from when they were boys.  His real name was Chin.   Everyone called him Tommy Chin.  But , since he was appointed Marshal in the Wild West game , he insisted that everyone called him by his new western name which was Marshal Dirk Redburn , or just “Marshal.”
    Tommy Chin was a bully when they were growing up.  He had a mean streak that continued after they were working at the plastic brush factory.  Tommy Chin brought his natural mean streak into his Wild West Alive persona and this had propelled his popularity with the players.  His mean streak served him well at Wild West Alive.  His natural bullying brought him popularity and got him the highly coveted role as Marshal of Squabash.  The Marshal was guaranteed a control player and many viewers every day.   Tommy Chin was making good money.
    When Yang and Tommy Chin were