The White Revolver: Prologue and Chapters 1

The black man just sat, calmer than one with his visage should have been. His eyes were intense, his presence was threatening without him having to say a single word.

"Zed says your looking for me, here I am, now who the devil are you?"

The black man with the white revolver never broke his glare as he spoke.

"I am the Bringer of Justice." He said, in a voice that seemed to singe the air it traversed.

A thin grin spread around the corners of Hank's mouth. One thing he held no fear of, was the law. He had never been caught or jailed and fancied himself far smarter than any sheriff that walked the earth.

"You ain't no lawman, boy" he said with a disrespectful tone. "Not in any county this side of the Mississippi, ain't that right boys" he gave a hearty laugh and looked around the bar at the scattered patrons as they all began chuckling with him. Then they carried on as usual, as up until now, all eyes had been on the two.

When Hank turned back to face the man, he felt the uncomfortable nudge in his belly. The black man had his white revolver stuck firmly into his gut underneath the table. No one else in the saloon was the wiser. Hank's eyes were suddenly wide with fear. The very touch of the piece made him tremble with panic, made him feel like he was sitting in the judgment seat itself. He didn't dare move, he could barely force himself to breathe. He just looked into the other mans eyes and waited for his fate.

"Tell me" said the Bringer of Justice. "What is the most rotten, corrupted, and dirty thing in here?"

Hanks forehead was damp with sweat. The place where the white revolver was touching him felt like a branding iron searing his flesh, but he didn't dare to scream. He understood the question perfectly and knew the answer was himself. He was afraid to reply because he was terrified of his punishment. But the fear of not answering outweighed the former.

"I, I am sir," he said, with a weak and frail voice like a child.

The Bringer of Justice nodded and then spoke his verdict.

"You will be shown mercy. Tonight, you will have the chance to trade places with a lesser evil."

Hank felt a wave of relief wash over him, never so glad in all his life. Though, he didn't understand what he meant by trading places, he felt safe as long as he was shown mercy. The Bringer of Justice then posed his next question.

"Tell me, what is the second most vile and filthy thing in this place?"

Hank frowned in confusion. He didn't understand this question at all. He nervously glanced around at the other handful of people in the bar, hardly knowing any of them barring Zed. He looked back with a shrug.

"I, I really don't know sir," he said.

The Bringer of Justice frowned showing he didn't like the answer. Hank quickly blinked and looked around once more, his eyes catching the rancid spittoon. He gave a nervous laugh and turned back to him.

"Well, I guess the nastiest thing in here would have to be that old spittoon" he smiled, trying to lighten the tension, not knowing what else to say.

The bringer of justice only nodded.

****

No one had noticed either Hank or the black man with the white revolver leave. So when Hank's gang came into town an hour past dusk looking for him, not a soul could tell them where he was. His boys were too spooked to try and pull off the crime by themselves. They left the little town, figuring the authorities had nabbed him, and were possibly waiting for them as well.