Night Passage

Chapter 50

“You know about the militias,” Ploughman said.

Buck nodded.

“Well, I know some guy from one of the militias, come to me, said he needed something done for a comrade in arms back east. That’s what he called him, a comrade in arms.”

Buck waited.

“They talk funny as a bastard, these guys, you ever notice? He says that there’s a guy out here that threatens the comrade in arms back east and he has to be deactivated.”

Ploughman waited for Buck’s reaction. Buck had no reaction and Ploughman looked disappointed.

“Deactivated! They want him clipped, why don’t they just say so, you know? So I tell this guy, No. I steal shit, but I don’t kill people. I mean I’ll carry a piece sometimes and make people think I would, you gotta make them think so, otherwise whaddya do, go in the bank and say gimme the money or I’ll yell at you? But I never used it. I ain’t a life taker. So I says no. And the militia guy kind of nods and looks at me like I’m a freaking enemy of the people and he says, well perhaps they will have to send someone.”

Ploughman stopped, looking pleased. Buck waited.

“And that’s it,” Ploughman said.

“That’s what you got to buy off twenty years?”

“Hell, it’s good. It tells you who ordered the hit and that they probably sent their own man. That’s golden, for crissake.”

“Who did they send?” Buck asked.

“I don’t know. They found out I wasn’t the man, they didn’t have anything else to say to me.”

“You hear of them approaching anyone besides you?”

“No.”

“How much were they going to pay you?”

“Five.”

“Five thousand?”

“Yeah. They’re all cheap bastards,” Ploughman said. “I never saw a militia guy willing to go first class.”

“Where in the east?”

“Didn’t say. But I figure you guys know where he came from.”

Buck didn’t answer. He stood with his arms folded, leaning on the wall, admiring his boots. Then he shifted his look to Ploughman.

“Tell your lawyer to see me,” Buck said finally.

“Can you work something out?” Ploughman said.

“Have him call me,” Buck said and went and knocked on the door.