Chapter 18: Shoot, Luke, or Give up the Gun
Having returned from the ranch, Trayne, Richardson and Beauregard found their street uncluttered by the local constablary, and then found the apartment unoccupied. Soon enough, however, Charles Conway had joined them. And shortly after 10 p.m., as men were checking their timepieces, Sunday and Ringgenberg had arrived.
Now, the men had all gathered as they had agreed. None could deny the satisfaction of completing a task and returning to meet with his pards. The next task before the congregation was to postulate a course of action; to accomplish their goal by hook or by crook, it seems, although which of those two paths would prove to be most effective, or even preferable, remains undecided. That is, even after they had informed each other of the results of their evening's work, from the recruitment of Hadden, Barnes and the others to the reports of the reconnaissance at Hunter's Point and Conway's assurance that he and Mr. Xu had made arrangements for the safety of the women, once liberated.
The men find themselves in a momentary lull, as each one of them considers the path ahead. It is as if each of the heroes is waiting to hear the opinions of the others, before offering his own ideas.