In 1899, the era of gunmen and outlaws has come to an end. The United States has gradually become a country ruled by law. Even the West has been almost conquered. Only a few gangs are still at large, but they cannot escape the fate of being hunted and will eventually cease to exist. .
Ambarino, Spider Gap.
In the white world where the wind and snow were raging, there was only a brown chestnut Morgan horse trudging forward on the path that could no longer be found. The man driving the horse on horseback is about thirty or forty years old. He wears a slightly worn brown and black gambler's hat. The blue cotton coat looks heavy, but it is unknown how much protection it can provide. of.
Because of the snowstorm, the man's weather-beaten face turned purple from the cold, and the beard on his face was covered with snow particles as fine as sand. The air exhaled from his mouth did not have much warmth left. Despite this, he still squinted his blue eyes. My eyes worked hard to identify the direction and ensure that I was walking in the right direction and path. This is not only for himself, but also for the life and death of a large team of people behind him.
Arthur Morgan, this is the name of this cowboy. If in the Great Plains and Tall Trees areas of New Austin, West Elizabeth, this name can definitely be described as thunderous, and in fact, this reputation is like a noose around his neck, and because of this, he Now he is riding hard in the snow-capped mountains regardless of his life's safety.
In front of the iron curtain shrouded in wind and snow, the outlines of several houses gradually appeared in the field of vision, and as the horses continued to approach, their appearance gradually became clearer.
Arthur's current mood is more of relief than happiness. He didn't believe in religion, and he didn't know how to worship gods, but this time he felt a little grateful to the God he had never cared about.
But now is not the time to relax, because as Arthur gets closer and closer, he finds that there is obviously a trace of someone walking on the snow with waist-deep snow extending from the other direction to this seemingly abandoned place for a long time. The small village, although the traces had been almost covered by the newly fallen snow, could not escape Arthur's eyes. This shows that this place has received a visitor not long ago, and it is unknown whether this visitor is easy to talk to or whether he is a threat.
"If it's really hard to talk, it's not a big deal to waste one more bullet." Thinking like this, Arthur urged his horse forward.
Quietly stopping and tethering his horse, Arthur walked to the end of the trail - the door of an abandoned hut, and shouted at the top of his lungs: "Hello! Is anyone there?"
no respond.
According to Arthur's personal experience, this kind of situation often reveals some unsafe signals. Although Arthur is confident that he has the ability to cope with all emergencies, out of the cautious habit he has maintained in the past few days, his right hand gently He held the handle of the revolver at his waist and slowly pressed down the hammer.
The door was slowly opened, and Arthur stepped in gently, but the next second, he exited the house while performing a standard French military salute. Directly between his eyebrows was the dark muzzle of a carbine repeating rifle.
It's still this hellish mountainous area of ice and snow, and it's still the mountain road where it's impossible to see the road ahead.
A convoy that would never appear here according to common sense is struggling to move forward in the wind and snow. It is no exaggeration to say that even if you walk in the same environment now, your speed will be faster than this convoy.
An older, slovenly man jumped out from behind the leading carriage, ran to the front of the carriage in three steps, and shouted to the man driving: "Abigail said he was dying, Dutch. Let's We need to find a place to rest.”
Dutch responded while urging the carriage: "I have sent Arthur out to look for it."
The sloppy man nodded and turned back to his seat with his arms folded, as if he had taken a very effective reassurance.
In the carriage, Hosea Matthews, the second-in-command of the Van der Linde gang, who was sitting in the passenger seat, said to Dutch in a low voice: "If we don't stop, we will all die... This damn weather is even in May. Sorry...I just hope the police are as confused as we are..."
"Look over there..." I don't know whether he really discovered something or simply wanted to interrupt the noise of the man next to him, but Dutch spoke. He shouted towards the front: "Arthur! Is there anything you can gain?"
In the snowy wind wall, the shadows of a person and a horse gradually became clear. The man on the horse was wearing a black gambler's hat and a blue cotton coat. It was Arthur who was sent out to explore the road before.
Arthur raised his head while holding the brim of his hat, and said, "I found a place that can shelter from the wind and snow so that David can have a good rest. He... you know."
As Arthur spoke, he turned the horse's head and merged into the convoy: "It's an abandoned mining town. It's been around for some years. It's not far from here. Let's go!"
"Come on! Drive!" Half to urge the horses and half to boost morale, Dutch shouted, leading the team towards the destination.
"By the way, Dutch, there was already a young hunter there when I found it, but he didn't mind sharing the place with us."
"Really? It seems we have to thank this young man for his generosity. There are so few people these days who are willing to share their land and housing with others, especially with a large group of people."
Near midnight, the convoy, which was dragging its entire family with people, finally arrived at the entrance of Coulter Village. Arthur saw a figure wearing a cashmere coat and a deerskin hat from a distance, and shouted: "Brother Munny, I'm back!"
When Brandi heard Arthur's call, most of her growing fatigue disappeared, and she cheered up and responded: "Mr. Morgan, bring the team over quickly. The more night comes, the more terrifying the blizzard will become!"
The convoy stopped. Many people got off the car one after another. These people turned around and unloaded the packages of different sizes and the wounded lying on the stretchers from the car. Although they were anxious but unhurried, they entered the room that had been roasted by the flames of the fireplace. A hut that is warm enough.
Dutch and Hosea jumped from the carriage. After Hosea nodded friendly to Brandi, he went to organize other people to take care of the wounded and settle down. Dutch walked directly in front of Brandi, held Brandi's right hand, and soon It is to say gratefully: "Thank you for your generosity and kindness, young gentleman. It is no exaggeration to say that you have saved us all."
Brandy's smile was very bright: "It's my honor to be able to help, sir."
"Dutch van der Linde, just call me Dutch." Dutch smiled friendly.
At this time, Hosea's voice interrupted the friendly exchange between the old and the young: "Dutch, Dutch! Although I'm sorry to interrupt your conversation with this little brother, our situation is really critical now."
Dutch politely asked Brandi to take care of business, and after Brandi nodded that it was okay, he turned and walked to Hosea.
"David is dead," Hosea said sadly. Dutch's pupils shrank slightly, and he turned to look at the lifeless man lying on the stretcher, his eyes half dejected and half sad.
"What do we do now? We need supplies." Hosea asked the question that everyone is now concerned about.
Dutch said without hesitation: "First of all, you all have to stay here and keep yourselves as warm as possible. I have sent John and Micah to explore the way ahead. Arthur and I will go out now... see if we can Find them."
"Is this the weather now?" Arthur asked.
Dutch glanced at the blizzard that was still raging outside, and whispered: "We'll go back as soon as we go... This is the only choice..."
After speaking, he looked at everyone in the room. During this period, these people fled with him under the noses of the police and Pinkerton detectives, running into walls like headless flies in the snow-stormed mountains. During this period, they suffered a lot along with them.
They are all good people, Dutch thinks so, because even in this critical situation, these people who he has always regarded as family and friends have not abandoned him. Among his group, the only person Pinkerton wants the most is Dutch Van der Linde. Therefore, even if these people really leave the team, Dutch will not only not stop them, but will also wish them a better life without him. Better. They were all still there, and to be honest, Dutch was grateful for them.
But right now, this persistent team is tired, confused, and demoralized. Now, what they need more than real supplies is the only thing that Dutch has the ability to give now, the only comfort he gives them. and inspired.
"Listen," Dutch paused and said, "Brothers and sisters, listen to me. We have gone through... a very difficult few days. I love David... Jenny... Sean, Mike... Maybe they'll make it, maybe they won't. But we've lost some of our mates. If I could... trade my life for them to come back, I wouldn't hesitate. But... we'll go out, and we'll find food. Folks, We are safe now, no one will come after us in a snowstorm like this, and by the time they get here, we will be... we will be far away. We have been through tougher times than this..."
Dutch set his sights on the gang's chef and logistics director, and said: "Mr. Pearson, Ms. Grimshaw, I need you to transform this place into a camp... We may need to stay here for a while. time."
After arranging the tasks, he turned his attention to his followers: "Now, all of you... everyone... warm yourself up and be strong, believe me. This is not our end."
After saying this, Dutch turned around and picked up the oil lamp on the side, beckoning Arthur to go out with him.
Perhaps it was out of the long-standing trust in Dach, or perhaps Dachi's words themselves had a unique magic power. Although everyone's current situation has not changed, the confusion in everyone's eyes has disappeared.
"Okay, everyone, let's take action..." Susan Grimshaw, the gang's chief housekeeper who has been responsible for overall planning and logistics, began to give orders in her iconic voice. Although she doesn't know what the future holds, she always knows how to do well in the present.
Here, Dutch closed the door of the house tightly and said, "We haven't met them yet, so... they must have gone down the mountain."
"Yeah," Arthur nodded in agreement, and then talked about another thing that he had always been concerned about, "Hey... I never had a chance to ask you, what exactly happened on the ship at that time?"
Hearing this, Dutch fell silent. It was obvious that he didn't want to talk about this topic, but the current situation would not be easy to get past without saying something. After thinking briefly, he finally choked out one sentence: "We are missing you, that's it. Let's go."
The two were about to leave, but Brandy, who had been observing the Van der Linde gang, took the opportunity to come up and said, "Mr. Van der Linde, Mr. Morgan, the snowstorm will be more severe in the near future. Where are you going?" "
"To find our other companions," Dutch said. "We never leave any of our companions behind... as much as possible."
"I'd like to go with you if I can," Brandy said.
When Da Qi heard this, he seemed a little surprised. He turned to look at Arthur, as if asking for his opinion.
Arthur glanced at this young man who seemed to be a little over-enthusiastic, with doubts flashing in his eyes, but in the end he nodded to Dutch and said, "Multiple people have equal power, Dutch."
Seeing that Arthur had no objection, Dutch no longer hesitated and said to Brandi: "Come on, young man."
At this time, a man's voice came from behind: "Hey! Do you need a horse?"
"Oh, yes, I need it." Dutch turned around and looked at the strong man leading the horse. "And, Mr. Smith, please go back to the house. Your hand needs to be well trained. Oh yes. Come on, bring this young gentleman a horse too."
Charles turned around and took out another horse and handed the reins to Brandi, saying, "I'm fine..."
"Go back inside, kid!" Dutch said in an unquestionable tone as he mounted his horse, "We...we need you to get better."
Charles didn't refute, he just nodded to Brandi as a greeting, then turned and returned to the warm house.
Three people and three horses galloped away in the direction the convoy came from.
"Okay, let's set off now." Dutch turned the horse's head and raised the oil lamp high to illuminate the front.
"I wonder what we'll find out there, Dutch." Arthur said as he controlled the horse at his crotch to follow Dutch.
"We have to try. Come closer and we'll try to follow the road."
"Damn weather..." Arthur complained.
"I've never seen this kind of weather," Brandi said, "but the snowstorm has been going on for two days and it should stop soon."
At this time, Dutch also turned his attention to the young man wearing a strange deerskin hat: "Yes, I think so too. Speaking of which, there are too few enthusiastic young people like you these days. By the way, there are also I haven't asked your name yet."
"Munny, sir, Brandi Munny."
"Ha, what a name. I knew it was you as soon as I heard it. Arthur, how did you and this little brother Munny meet?"
"Ha, after all, it was a harmonious and harmonious encounter."
"Oh, by the way, Mr. Morgan, I haven't apologized to you yet. It's really rude to point a gun at you as soon as we meet."
"Don't worry about it, kid. You should be cautious when wandering around in the wilderness."
"Haha, it seems that you have suffered a small loss for our indomitable Arthur. Yes, kid, you are a talent. I am optimistic about you. Believe me, you will have a bright future."
"Your kind words, Mr. van der Linde."
The three of them rode horses and held lanterns, walking along a road where no trace of their existence could be seen. Dutch and Arthur were talking about the current situation of the gang along the way. Arthur was always in a very low mood and worried; Dutch seemed to have a plan in mind, and it was unclear whether he really had a plan to deal with it or whether he was acting as a leader. The upright attitude that emerges in critical moments.
Dutch suddenly stopped talking about gangs and said, "Hey, I think I see something up ahead."
When Brandy heard this, he immediately took his carbine in his hand and pointed the muzzle far ahead.
In front, there seemed to be a faint light from an oil lamp.
"Who's in front?" Dutch shouted.
As soon as he finished speaking, Brandi, who was behind him, immediately pulled the trigger. The gunfire flashed away in the blizzard, and the light of the oil lamp in front also dimmed with the sudden bloom of this dazzling light. .
