Meanwhile, an eccentric Confederate by the name of Simmons gives Kaliska the opportunity
to avenge her dead villagers on Sharitar,
a Pawnee warrior and survivor of an attack which wiped out his entire village.
He offers her an ancient quiver with
a single arrow in it. According to legend, it cannot pierce the heart of the
innocent, but will unerringly find the heart of the guilty. She may use the
arrow to put her mind at ease over his guilt.
In the employ of Simmons is Anthony Peter Coleman, a
Confederate expat. He and Kaliska discuss the implications of the arrow and
what others would do with such a weapon.
Michael Cavanaugh and Nathaniel Cavanaugh III arrive in
Dodge City on the same train as Coughinstone. They meet a man by the name of
Hickok, who invites them to the poker tournament. Michael, however, is in town
on business. Simmons plans on selling the arrow the next day and Cavanaugh
intends to steal it while it's being prepared for transit.
Coughinstone finds Blue Cloud, only to find that he's broke.
He pleads with Coughinstone, telling him the only thing he has of value, a compass he constructed, was used to buy
him entry into the poker tournament. Coughinstone takes his entry and prepares
to win the tournament for the compass.
He's accosted shortly thereafter by the tall, reedy, Agent James and the burly, bearded, Agent Anderson. They rough up
Coughinstone, but Coleman happens by and intercedes before any real damage is
done. The two share some terse words and words of thanks before going their
separate directions.
Later that afternoon, Kaliska and Coleman take the shot, but
it's fouled as it buries itself in the wall beside Sharitar. Before they
realize that it's homed in on the hiding Michael Cavanaugh, Agents James and
Anderson burst into the room. A brief standoff ensues before Cavanaugh is
revealed, Nathaniel arrives to save his brother, and Simmons finally arrives.
He explains that the quiver has the real value because it's been blessed in an
ancient native font. Blue Cloud has made a device to find that source and its
part of the pot at the poker tournament. As James and Anderson dash off to
weasel their way into the tourney, Simmons offers the four of them, Kaliska,
Coleman, and the Cavanaugh brothers, an honest job finding the secrets of the
quiver and, if possible, bringing it back to him.
Simmons spots them the price of one entry into the tournament.
They put up the quiver for another and enter Nathaniel Cavanaugh into the
wildcard slot for a third.
In the first few rounds, Coughinstone meets General Enomoto, a general from The
California Republic who is only in the tournament to recover his sword, lost during the Destruction of Kansa City. Coughinstone
says he'll return the sword if Enomoto concedes. The general agrees.
Coleman plays against Ambassador
Backpfeifengesicht, an offensive, racist, rude jackass of a Southerner, who
uses his irritating nature to provoke his opponents. Nathaniel Cavanaugh faces
off with "Doc" Williamson,
a professional card player and Northerner. Coleman later plays against Hickok
and Agent James. Hickok goads James into
violent action, for which the Confederate is expelled. I believe Coleman is
eliminated here too.
Michael Cavanaugh plays against "Hidden Bolt" Dalton, a known outlaw in The Adobe Walls
Council who's been granted special dispensation to take part in the tournament.
It's a trap to capture him, but he feels confident that he can escape. With the
help of his friends, Cavanaugh learns how Dalton is cheating and threatens him
with exposure to force him to quit.
Coughinstone, Hickok, and the Cavanaughs are the final
contestants. As they break before the final game, Kaliska and Coleman approach
Coughinstone and offer him a paid position with their expedition. He agrees and
their only remaining hurdle is beating Hickok. However, before they can
complete the hand, Agent James bursts in (Confederate agents practice bursting
into a great many things). He says, "Damn you! Take that!" at Hickok,
but he's arrested by Coleman and Nathaniel Cavanaugh before any harm is done.
In gratitude, Hickok drops his hand and concedes the tournament.
As the players rise to take their loot, they find it is
gone; stolen by Hidden Bolt Dalton as he rides off into the sunrise. They
saddle up and give chase.
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