In reply to Mighty Dave (msg #231):

"I was out picking flowers," Jake said with a sarcastic tone, "What do you think I was doing? I was trying to get information to the Marshal who was at the Church, but obviously the world didn't stop for me. Hell between that bounty hunter showing up looking like ground meat and the two boy's being oh so nice, this is just another lovely example of what this great town has to offer. I'm heading now to help Evans, so how many of ém were there and what do you know?"

In reply to Alouette (msg #232):

"For now, yes," says the priest, clearly relieved to be asked. "The bells aren't to be used unless we're announcing a funeral, a call to Mass, or a meeting of all the townsfolk."

In reply to Jake Lawrence (msg #233):

"Find out fer yourself, deputy." The cowboy spits. "I got shit to do."

He bulls past, attempting to leave Jake behind...and Jake realizes he's seen this man before. Where, though?

The vision! He was the drunk cowboy in the vision, trying to hire the bounty hunter...

For an instant the huckster's eyes narrowed. "Something other than trying to kill Carl?" Jake asked, his tone was non-threating and even.

That brings the man up short. He glares at Jake again, the sort of glare that promises murder.

"I ain't got no idea what the fuck you're talking about. But if y'all wanna have a problem with me, I can oblige ya. Otherwise, stay out o' my fucking way."

"Ok," Alouette says and patters off into corner by the sacristy to replace the rope where it was hanging vertically. It vanishes into the little room a moment after, clearly still intent on fetching things.

...

After a few calm minutes, any of the assembled who have ever dealt with small children will recognise one of those busy little silences that usually indicate the cat is getting a new haircut or the artistic medium of jam on wall is being explored etc. etc.

In reply to Mighty Dave (msg #237):

As he took a moment to think,  Jake nodded slowly, "No need for that sort of thing, just an honest answer. See there are folks at the church who been shot, others who done been treated pretty rough ." He held up his hands to show he wasn't looking for a shootout. "So maybe you can understand my concern."

The man frowns, considers Jake's words, then says, "One of 'em held me at gun point, forced me to help him get in the building. Had to knock out my friend here so he wouldn't get shot. The other deputy...he weren't so lucky. Couldn't warn him in time. The one with me searched the deputies for the keys, opened the cell for his friends, then opened one o' them deposit boxes. Don't know where he got the key to that, but he started hauling dynamite out o' it, and that's when I decided to take my friend and git out. Them folks are crazy. Plumb lunatics!"

In reply to Alouette (msg #238):

While Alouette vanishes into the sacristy, the others in the room move about. Father O'Rourke re-enters the confessional, to finish taking confession from Danny Boy.

Meanwhile, Cantrell and Jesse resume their argument, though it's much subdued and less profanity-laden.

It appears that right now the clank is on it's own...a terrifying prospect for any who knew it well, which none in the church (except possibly the preacher, and he's busy) do.

Alouette reappears after a while somewhat dustier with hands full of what looks like grey wool. It holds this out to Cantrell, since he's nearest and would benefit most by it.

"Self found sticky," it announces.

In reply to Mighty Dave (msg #240):

Jake nodded slightly, as though he'd expect something as crazy as what Big Dave described, "Sounds like this all took a bit of plannin'. Get on to the church, just be careful of the clank."

In reply to Alouette (msg #242):

The big man seems noticeably disconcerted at the clank approaching him. "Er...that's...nice," he says, clearly unable to process the automaton. He glances at the "sticky."

"...are those cobwebs?"

In reply to Jake Lawrence (msg #243):

Dave shrugs. "I dunno. The guy with the scarf seemed off his rocker to me. Didn't really look like the plannin' type." He hefts Bill and nods, then pauses at the mention of the clank. "Oh, fuck. That thing's still around?"

In reply to Mighty Dave (msg #245):

"Yeah, don't think its going away anytime soon either... so just tell it you're seeking sanctuary or something like that." Jake mused to Dave.

The clank considers the bounty hunter's question. "Perhaps Father O'Rourke will know," it reasons, looking about for him, then helpfully provides some more information to aid in the identification of the substance: "Seventy percent of sixty tacks stayed in the sticky that was on the round object with the candles attached to the ceiling; high probability present sticky from behind the big cupboard consists of same substance."

It ticks a moment. "Self tried to fetch the fast brown spider friend who was there too: self told Spider Friend it was of interest to the Confederated States of America, but it went away...did y'all see it?"

In reply to Jake Lawrence (msg #246):

"Right." Dave says, and shuffles off.

There hasn't been a lot of explosions or gunfire that Jake can hear, but his help may still be needed.

In reply to Alouette (msg #247):

"Spider!?" Jesse yelps, looking around wildly. "Where!?"

Cantrell seems even more confused than he did before. "Y'all don't make much sense. And what are you, exactly? Some kind o' mad science gizmo, I bet."

Jake watched the other man leave, but didn't wait too long to get moving again.

OOC: Moving on, moving on... after missing everything.

In reply to Jake Lawrence (msg #250):

Please post an intro on the "Bullet for Rum Tum Tugger thread"...you'll likely see Evans and Adrian Vega outside, checking the door of the mining offices.

"Do not know, Jesse Hohlfeld," Alouette responds "High probability on the floor: Spider Friend ran around the floor a lot in the other place..."

It points itself out to Cantrell. "Angel," it says simply. "Name value: Alouette."
It hands him as much of the sticky as is not directly stuck to it and crouches down to look for its spider friend, since Jesse seems worried about where it is.

"Right." Cantrell says. "Sorry I asked."  He looks at the cobwebs and wipes them on his leg with disgust.

Jesse is currently looking about in barely controlled panic.

The door of the church opens. A figure crosses the threshold.

"Sanctuary!" the man says. "Sanc-"

Then he looks up at the people inside. His eyes bulge as he sees the bounty hunter.

"Well, well, well." The giant grins. "Looks what we have here."

"Huh?" Jesse looks up from his spider hunt. He grins. "Dave! Hey!"

If Dave's eyes were bulging before, now they look about ready to pop out of his skull.

"No...no way in...Oh, oh Jesus..."

Then he drops the man he was carrying over his shoulder, turns tail, and runs shrieking down the road.

"Dave?" Jesse says, following him out the door. "Hey! Wait up! It's me! It's Jesse! Dave, wait up!"

"You are forgiven," Alouette tells Cantrell, then looks up at the disturbance by the door.

"?"

It patters over to collect the new casualty, pausing to call after Dave:
"He's not Jesus, he's just differently alive!"

It tries to pick Bill up, but can't lift him.

Bill groans as Alouette nudges him, but doesn't wake. Cantrell heads over to them to assist, and the pair of them manage to pull the man inside and on to a pew.

Alouette puts the remains of the surplice used to bandage Cantrell over Bill, since that's the closest thing that resembles a sheet.

This thread is closed. Please resume posting on the "Chapter 12.1" thread.