Chapter Eight

The Mine!

“I know your head is fit to bust with questions,” Clementine’s voice became steadier. “Hold your horses for a while until we gets out of this hole.” She produced another lantern from within her garment and, with tinder and flint, lit the wick.

“I guess I ought to thank you, ma’m.”

“That can wait too. Now, come on. Stick close to me; I knows this old mine better’n my own back yard. I reckon those dang fools will soon realise they’ve been hornswoggled afore much longer. I don’t know if they’ll venture in here but, well, I’ve been wrong before.”

She jogged away, discouraging further discourse. Jed followed. The passage opened onto a cavern where the rails split off into different directions, leading into various tunnels.

“Most of these are blocked off. When the seams were exhausted, they was shut down. Or in some cases, they caved in of their own accord. Stick close to me and mind you don’t turn your ankle. I could carry you but I ain’t disposed to.”

She continued on her surefooted way and Jed was minded of the lonesome goat on the hilltop. He quickened his step, unwilling to get too far from the light of her lantern, and almost went over on his ankle right away.

Shouts and catcalls came from behind, amplified and roaring along the passage. The dang fools had cottoned on.

“Oh, shoot!” Clementine cussed. “Maybe they’re smarter than I figured. Get on board the express train to freedom!”

She shone the lantern on a truck - little more than a crate on wheels - standing on the rails. Jed climbed in. He was amazed to see his own clothes in there, as well as an abandoned cargo of rocks and ores. Clearly, he had misjudged and underestimated the formidable Clementine.

“All clean and pressed. Ain’t no time to explain or get changed.” She braced herself against the truck and shoved it with all her strength. The rusty wheels began to turn, giving a screech of protest. The truck picked up speed; Clementine clambered on board. They both looked back to see a glow of lamplight appear at the passage’s mouth. The townsfolk bundled into view, jeering and shouting.

“There they are!” cried one.

“After them!” said another.

The townsfolk clamoured to give chase. They split off into a range of other trucks to pursue the fugitives. As Jed and Clementine rolled into a tunnel, the townsfolk fired off the first shots. Bullets pinged off the rock face and the side of the truck. Jed ducked down. So did Clementine but only to grab a hefty chunk of ore. She stood and lobbed the ore at the nearest truck, braining the man at the front. The truck veered off the rail, tipping over and squashing the occupants against the jagged rock wall.

“Yee-haw!” Clementine bellowed in self-congratulation.

“Clementine, watch out!” Jed warned, pointing over his rescuer’s shoulder. Clementine turned and too late saw the low-hanging ceiling the truck was heading under. She was hit square in the brow. She fell on top of Jed and the truck rushed on, gathering momentum as the rails reached a steep incline. Jed floundered beneath the bulk of the big woman. For the second time that day, Clementine was out cold. Bullets zinged overhead.

Cries of the townsfolk grew louder. Jed freed himself from the deadweight of Clementine and peered over the rim of the truck. Some of the pursuers were riding along a rail parallel to his. They hollered and pointed and fired at their escaping sacrificial offering. Following Clementine’s example, Jed hurled lumps of ore in their direction. There was no time to aim, and barely enough light to see. Jed tried to knock out the occupants but instead found his missile got wedged in the wheels of the leading truck. Sparks sprayed out; the wheel screamed and stopped spinning, flinging the truck and its occupants forwards. The townsfolk were thrown against the rocks. Almost instantly, the second truck collided with the overturned first one. The lanterns its passengers were carrying burst into flame. The survivors flailed and staggered around, crying in agony.

But Jed’s truck kept rolling. The tracks were suddenly surrounded by air. He glanced down. The rails were supported by scaffolding so tall Jed couldn’t see what was supporting the scaffolding.

“There he is!”

Another truck was careering along on another track that snaked sometimes nearer sometimes farther from Jed’s. The occupants took pot-shots. Jed had to dodge the ricochets. One man fired and was shot by his own rebounding bullet. His body toppled forwards and out of his truck. There was a general cry of dismay as he plummeted past the scaffolding and was engulfed by the darkness below.

On the floor of the truck, Clementine stirred. There was a red welt on her forehead but the skin was unbroken. Dazed, she murmured. Then she shook her head to clear it and resumed hurling chunks of ore at their pursuers.

The tracks converged. The trucks came within a foot of each other. The townsfolk clawed at the side of Jed’s truck, trying to seize their prized prisoner. One man jabbed at the gunslinger with the butt of his rifle. Jed snatched it and fired - it was empty. He threw it away. Clementine punched the fellow clean on the jaw. He fell back taking down some of his travelling companions with him.

The tracks curved away again, divided by a broad pillar of stone. Clementine urged Jed to look ahead. Their track was coming to its end. A wall was rushing towards them about a hundred yards ahead. Jed gaped in horror.

“Get ready to jump!” Clementine advised. She nodded to a ledge that was also approaching. The other truck emerged from the other side of the pillar and the folks inside it were taking aim.

“Now!” said Clementine. She and Jed threw themselves from the truck, a second before it smashed into the wall. The impact caused it to rebound - the largest ricochet of the chase - into the supports of the other track. Struts and scaffolding were reduced to smithereens and the rail, truck, townsfolk and all collapsed in a commotion of noise and destruction.

Jed was clinging to the edge, hanging on by his fingertips. From far below a dust cloud rose but didn’t quite reach him. Clementine extended her hand to pull him up. They sat, breathless in the gloom, with their backs against the wall. An eerie silence filled the cavern. If any of their pursuers was still alive, they were no longer in pursuit.

“Thanks,” said Jed. “What now?”

“We ain’t out of the woods yet, so to speak,” Clementine laughed. “If we edge along this ledge, there’s a tunnel leads back to the entrance. If’n you’re up for it.”

“Surely am,” said Jed. “But what about you? You took quite a hit to your noggin.”

Clementine dismissed his concern with a wave of her hand. “Just keep moving, cowboy. Sooner we get out of here, the sooner we can have us a powwow.”

***

It took them an hour but they made their way out. Clementine took off her robe, reasoning she would not arouse as much suspicion if she was dressed as herself. If there was anyone hanging around the entrance, she could claim to have been one of the chasers rather than a chasee.

There was no one about.

Clementine beckoned to Jed to come out. “We cain’t go back to town,” she stated the obvious. “But I know a place not far off. Where they used to store the explosives. The path’s overgrown now; ain’t nobody been there for years.”

She strode on her way, expecting Jed to follow. It occurred to him he could strike out on his own and fend for himself - Hell, he could probably cover more ground without her. But what would become of her? She had effectively ostracised herself from her own community in order to save his life. He couldn’t just abandon her.

Clementine pushed a path through grass that was as tall as she was. Jed trailed in her wake, casting glances over his shoulder as the grass closed behind them. Clementine came to a sudden halt and Jed walked into the back of her.

“This is it,” she said. She heaved her shoulder against a door. A gust of foetid air escaped, hitting Jed like a punch in the nose.

The shed was compact and still housed several crates marked with warning signs. Clementine caught him looking. “Reckon those old sticks ain’t fit to scratch your behind with. I could probably blow my nose with more effect than them rotten things.”

Jed chuckled. “You’re probably right.”

A volley of cloth hit him in the face and chest.

“I reckon you’d forget your head if it wasn’t sewed on,” she teased him. Jed recognised his clothes. “Snatched them from the truck afore we jumped,” she said. “Here.” She reached into her blouse and withdrew his hat. She tapped it back into shape and planted it on his surprised head.

“You are truly a remarkable woman, ma’m,” said Jed, touching the brim.

Clementine lowered her broad backside onto a crate, which creaked beneath her. She gestured for Jed to sit opposite.

“Ain’t going nowhere afore sunup,” she said. “Might as well have our powwow now.”