Twenty-Five Minutes to Go

[Zem Vymes]

Twenty-Five Minutes to Go - by Johnny Cash

Well they're building a gallows outside my cell I've got 25 minutes to go
And the whole town's waitin' just to hear me yell I've got 24 minutes to go
Well they gave me some beans for my last meal I've got 23 minutes to go
But nobody asked me how I feel I've got 22 minutes to go
Well I sent for the governor and the whole dern bunch with 21 minutes to go
And I sent for the mayor but he's out to lunch I've got 20 more minutes to go
Then the sheriff said boy I gonna watch you die got 19 minutes to go
So I laughed in his face and I spit in his eye got 18 minutes to go
Now hear comes the preacher for to save my soul with 13 minutes to go
And he's talking bout' burnin' but I'm so cold I've 12 more minutes to go
Now they're testin' the trap and it chills my spine 11 more minutes to go
And the trap and the rope aw they work just fine got 10 more minutes to go
Well I'm waitin' on the pardon that'll set me free with 9 more minutes to go
But this is for real so forget about me got 8 more minutes to go
With my feet on the trap and my head on the noose got 5 more minutes to go
Won't somebody come and cut me loose with 4 more minutes to go
I can see the mountains I can see the skies with 3 more minutes to go
And it's to dern pretty for a man that don't wanna die 2 more minutes to go
I can see the buzzards I can hear the crows 1 more minute to go
And now I'm swingin' and here I go-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o!

It had been a good hard week since I'd last killed me a man, and that son of a bitch deserved it.

The planet magistrate didn't think much of my point of view. Seems my attitude wasn't wanted in this here Empire. Seems also that stupid dead bastard was his rotten son. Got to put on airs and look civilized. It's a new era. An era ain't got much use for a man like me, and it was high time for an example to be made. My number was coming up, and coming fast. Were I on a clod a bit closer to the core, maybe I'd get me a fancy buttoned-down lawyer man.

But there ain't a bit of durasteel beneath my feet, and I'm trompin on chert rock and mud, breakin my back for the man before time comes around to break my neck.

Come around time for a killin here, and they even make a man bring up his own gallows on the sweat of his back. I got nails in my mouth and a hammer in my hand. The boss man's takin a drink of water with a blaster in the crook of his hand. He's got that killin gleam in his eye. He'd love me to up and take a swing at him with this here hammer, cause it'd be my last.

But I keep a'hammerin on this gallows. Plank by plank ticks down my time. I'm a murderer and I must die, and this town's thirsty for blood like I'm thirsting for a drink of water.

The townfolk gather behind me, screamin for my head. They push up on that barbed wire fence till they cut their knuckles on it. Some call me a killer. A few call me a Rebel, but I got no flag to wave for nobody.

My name's Zem Vymes and I'm a cold hard murdering son of a bitch who's seeing his last day.

Course, thing is about killing people, is you sometimes bury secrets with 'em. And I got me a whopper. One that'd sure as hell redden up that fat magistrate's face a bit, and make a rich man out of the free man who knew it.

When I laid his no-good son low, I also laid low the money he'd taken from his old man's coffers. Money for drugs, and the whores he'd cut on a full moon night. Money ain't a soul gonna find, and money whos only company will soon be my bones.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

The group meandered through dusty streets and equally dusty people, halfway between wandering and actually having somewhere to go. A tavern was decided upon, and they stepped inside to find a table and sit.

Prent had decided to stop over for supplies on some seemingly no-name planet, and to stave the boredom of waiting, Layla's crew had taken to the streets of the town in search of ways to pass the time until they could lift off once more. s'Il had only been with Sanis, James, and Cirr for a few short weeks now, and she was greatful for the chance to put her feet on solid ground and breathe fresh air once again. Even if said 'fresh air' seemed stale and plain to her olfactory senses. After living on Cathar for so long, she had come to enjoy the rich smells of incense, perfumes, spices, and fresh foods that permeated the air like a living being.

She had hated to leave it all.

With Tak sitting on her lap, s'Il sat at the table they all now surrounded, letting her daughter munch on a bowl of nuts. The Lupine leaned back only just a little, watching with a peripheral eye at the goings on of those around them. The bar they now occupied wasn't particularly crowded - in fact, it was almost empty. Even the tender seemed aggravated that he had patrons, as if there was somewhere else he wanted to be.

Her hand closed around the drink she'd ordered, and she took a sip. Swallowing, she made the barest of disdaining faces. Bantharot.

The cup was set back on the tabletop, summarily pushed away, and s'Il canted her head to the side, giving Sanis a look from the top of her good eye.

[Sanis Prent]

"Whiskey."

I sat beside s'Il, pocketing a ragged checklist of sundries we'd put into port for. Might as well use it for toilet paper, because pickings were a bit slim here.

"Out."

The gruff bartender shined a glass and glowered at me.

"You don't say. Ok, I'm not picky. Suprise me."

He filled a ceramic mug full of lukewarm beer, which I knocked back. It was heavy and heady, the kind of brew you needed mustard and lunchmeat to go with. Real liquid bread.

"General store's pickings are thin."

I tossed s'Il a thin-lipped expression as I crossed my arms.

"Not much to see here. They got fuel, so I figure we top ourselves off and push out. No sense staying when we can get work and supplies further down the rim."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

"Indeed," was her only half-mumbled answer as she seperated her dismissed drink from Tak's wandering hands.

Sanis' own expression went unreturned though, as the Lupine cast him only an unimpressed sidelong glance.

" 'We get work?' You act like I'm a part of your crew."

[Sanis Prent]

"Never said as much."

I corrected quickly, wiping foam from my upper lip.

"But you're on the ship, same as me and mine. Got as much a right to know as any, less I say different."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

s'Il offered no immediate reply, choosing to simply stare into Prent's eyes. "I see," she finally said.

No other words were said on her part, as the Lupine turned her attentions back to Tak. A glass of water was deposited none-too-gently before her, and s'Il helped her daughter lift the glass to her lips.

[Sanis Prent]

"You lookin fer work?"

I turned back, and the bartender's eyes met mine.

"Interested in hearing bout it."

I nodded, and the tender dropped a thick book on the counter that looked like it had been well-used.

"I got tips outstanding from a regular of mine and he ain't paid. Mighty kind of drinker, if his tab says anything of it."

My face had gone blank.

"You want me...to hustle deadbeats for booze money?"

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

s'Il turned from her daughter, her expression just as blank as Prent's. She stared at him, then the tender, then back at Prent.

Surely he wouldn't...

The Lupine turned her gaze back to the tender. "You've got to be joking."

[Sanis Prent]

Apparently the bartender knew it sounded outlandish, and he chuckled.

"Sounds a might funny with only half the information, offworlders. Spell your tongues a bit and I'll continue.

I doubt the fella'd mind paying his dues, as it sure beats his current predicament. See, he's got a meetin' with the rope at sunset. Course, I happen to know he's more than good for his bill. Only problem is, no matter how big his cache may be, I ain't privy to where he's kept it."

The barkeep smiled, straining the creases on his leathered face.

"I'll pay you a modest wage, comisserate with what's due me. I imagine he's good for a whole lot more."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

s'Il gave Sanis a critical eye before addressing the tender once more.

"A date with a rope... a criminal."

She made a face then turned back to Tak. "How lovely."

[Sanis Prent]

"That doesn't concern me...just wanna get paid.

And I need assurances it's the kind of money fit for laying my neck on the line. I'm assuming this planet's got law men, if it's further got nooses."

I leaned closer to the barkeep.

"You got any collateral? I break this guy out of the stockade, I want more to hold onto than a handshake."

The bartender laughed gruffly.

"I known the man half as many years as I've been in business. I'll wager every chit in my strongbox to you and bank my word on it. You think I'm crawfishing this arrangement and you breeze off with the cash. If not, I imagine you'll be in a might better spot."

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

"Arren't we forrgettjing a majorr detajil?"

Cirr, who usually preferred to be seen and not heard in these negotiations, spoke up from his seat opposite Sanis and s'Il.

"Usually, jif jI'm ljiable to be shot at, jI'd ljike to know about how many guns arre apt to be dojing the shootjing."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

This was getting less appealing the more people talked about it, and s'Il resigned herself to looking after Tak. She was only a passenger, after all, and had no say in who Sanis dealt with or what jobs he chose to take. Which was just as well, but still. He was her transportation, and the Lupine had no desire to be left stranded on this rock of a world.

Unless she could ensure that he had to keep her nearby.

Still tending to Tak, s'Il idly answered Cirr's inquiry.

"An easy obstacle to overcome."

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

Cirr made a face at her, and his ears quivered a little.

"jI'm not even gojing to prretend to know what you'rre talkjing about."

Of course, it wouldn't behoove any of them for him to openly mention s'Il's special talents. This was backwater territory, but it still flew an imperial flag from the mast in town square.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

She still focused her attention on Tak, but Cirr's reaction didn't go unnoticed completely. She had seen the Imperial flag herself and knew the danger of revealing herself in the presence of those of this world.

The Lupine turned to look briefly at Sanis, hoping he had enough wits about him to take her silent offer.

[Sanis Prent]

"I gotta smoke on this."

I pulled a stim from a crumpled pack in my jacket.

"s'Il, mind keeping me company outside?"

Pulling up from my seat, I left my beer and headed for the door.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

A smooth handoff and Tak now sat very happily in Cirr's lap.

Sliding her seat back, s'Il stood fluidly and followed Sanis through the empty tables. Without the normal patrons littering the bar, it was an easy task.

Stepping out into sunlight, the Lupine had to shield her eyes for a moment until her eyes adjusted to the brightness.

[Sanis Prent]

I fired up my smoke, and passed the pack onto her as a formality.

"You're taking a bit of interest in my affairs, for a passenger." I said, eyes squinting against the sun.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

"I just don't want to get left behind anywhere; especially on a planet like this one."

She politely declined his offer of a smoke.

"We've known eachother for a long enough spell, but sometimes I have to wonder about where your priorities lie, is all. And if I can make myself useful to ensure Tak and I don't get unloaded at the most convenient spot for you, then so be it."

[Sanis Prent]

"I got more riding on your protection than the money that changed hands between Dan and myself, if that's what you're wondering."

I nodded, exhaling.

"You got a right to that protection full and well, but anything over that's an imposition. Layla's an expensive mistress. That means my crew and I've gotta be extra creative to keep her in the sky.

I don't aim to confound your morals in doing so, but those are toes I ain't above stepping on. You really want to make yourself useful to me?"