1899- Journey to Mars

“Yes, sir, godfather.”

Pat reached and hefted the boy into the air and hugged him. “You know, I once got the drop on your dad. I had him dead to rights and could have put a bullet through him. But something told me I maybe shouldn’t do that. Now, I know why.”

Billy Gostman stepped into view.

“I don’t see any regulators, Pat,” Billy said.

“I talked the President into letting me come by myself. He doesn’t want you shot. You’re the most valuable person in the United States of America.”

Ekka Gagarin Gostman stepped up beside Billy.

“Ekka!” Garrett said, and put the boy down. He took her in his long arms and gave her a hard squeeze. She pecked his cheek with a kiss.

“Makin’ time with a fellow’s wife right in front of him. You always were slick with the women, Pat,” Billy said. There was a huge smile on his face.

Ten feet away, one of the robots being unloaded ceased walking and turned toward Billy.

“Recognition,” it stated. The stevedore slapped the robot’s iron frame and pointed to the deck of the dirigible. The robot’s head swiveled back and the robot began walking again.

Billy frowned. He turned to Ekka. “Say, you don’t think—”

“I don’t know,” she said. “Let’s take Mr. Garrett home and feed him proper.”

“Your accent has changed, Ekka,” Garrett said. “A little Texas is snuck into it.”

Billy lit a match and held it up for Garret, who lit his cigar with it. “Best you smoke while we walk,” Billy said. “The Missus doesn’t allow smoking in the house.”

“Fine by me,” Garrett said. “Lead on.”

Dakota Gostman led his godfather by the hand while Billy walked to Pat Garrett’s other side. Puffs of smoke from Garrett’s cigar twirled behind them.

“How far is it?” Garrett asked. “I’m not as young as I used to be.”

“Bullshit,” Billy said. “Your mother was a rattlesnake, Pat, and your father was a thunderstorm. You’re a force of nature and bullets can’t stop you, to say the least for time.”

“They can stop me, but they have to be properly aimed first.”

Pat Garrett noticed Billy serruptiously look over his shoulder, then scan the thinning crowd ahead. He whispered to Ekka, “What’s got him so nervous?”

“Spies,” she leaned in slightly and whispered back. Pat looked down at Dakota, who nodded and likewise whispered, “Spies.”

“I suppose this will be the usual misadventure with you folks,” Pat said.

Dakota looked ahead as if also inspecting the environment, then he nodded knowingly.

“Dakota,” Billy said. “Run on ahead and make sure Guthrie’s got the carriage started.”

“Yes sir!” Dakota released Pat’s hand and shot ahead and around the corner past a five and dime store.

“Carriage? Start?” Pat asked. Then, “Ah! You’ve got one of those new-fangled horseless jobbers.”

“That we do.” Ekka said.

“I’ve wanted to try the reins of one of them things,” Pat said.

“No need to,” Billy replied, and spat. “They don’t have reins, anyway. Besides, that’s what we’ve got Guthrie for.”

“Who’s Guthrie?”