0¶382ąGOING WEST 91ąThe story of Dave Sherman on Amiga a5by Sane/Scorpio ±e1 34PART ONE 91More than 100 years ago, in 1865, the civil war in the United States between the Union and the Confederacy came to an end. To be more exact: 9 April 1865. Soldier bDave Sherman 9was one of the lucky men of the Confederacy who survived the bloody war... Dave lived in a town called Montgommery in Georgia. This place was almost ruined because of the war. Dave had no job anymore because the Southern army was abolished. Dave had a wife, two sons and a daughter so he had to find another job to feed his family. Dave didn't know what to do. Luckily Susan (Dave's wife) had a niece called Linda Hamelton in Mobile/Alabama who's husband and only son died in the civil war. Charley Hamilton - Linda's husband - died because he threw himself on a granate thrown by a Yankee, to save three of his fellow-soldiers. He died like a hero... Nick Hamelton - Linda's only child - died because he deserted together with his mate Jack Allison, five days after he deserted and lived in "peace" he was caught by the right hand of General Lee, Harry Dyke, and was sentenced to death because of desertion, he was hanged in Alabama. Jack Allison was not lucky too, he 1managed to ran away, but he was shot in back by his own army, when he crossed the river alabama. Though Jack escaped, he didn't survive. Six days later Jack died of blood poisoning in Shreveport/Louisiana. The Shermans could stay at Linda's place for a few weeks. Then, in the evening on June the 27th 1865, Dave was sitting in the local saloon in Mobile. He heard two men speak about fertile grounds. Dave walked to the men who were standing behind the bar, drinking beer. Dave ordered a beer and introduced himself to them. Their names were Hank Fields and Henry Aberfan (they were both immigrants from England). They told Dave they heard the West was paradise for farmers. Dave said he had heard some pretty bad storys about the west. "Sure!" said Hank, "There are some Indians who can be mean and the bad boys who are busy they are busy! See what I mean?". "But the proffits win from the disadvantages..." said Henry. "My brother went South 5 months ago, and he sure is happy as he says in his letters.". After some more chatting about this subject, Dave decided he would go to West too. "Come with us, together it's safer than alone..." Hank said. Dave agreed and went home. The next day he told Susan about his plan, she agreed. They would leave in two days. June the 29th 1865, the group consisted of 18 people: Dave and Susan Sherman and their two sons and daughter. Linda Hamelton, who decided to join the group because she had nothing to lose. Hank and Maggie Fields and their three sons and two daughters. Henry and Brenda Aberfan and their son and daughter. And last but not least Allistar Mc Pike - an old man of 60 years - who had no reason to stay in Alabama anymore. His wife died because she was shot by an insane soldier who wanted more food as she could give him. His daughter was raped by the same soldier and cut to pieces after the soldier got his orgasm. Mc Pike saw the soldier leaving his house. When Mc Pike entered his house he saw what happened and he ran after the soldier. He got the soldier who's name was Marty Tannen, he broke both legs and waited a few hours so the pain would become unbearable for Tannen. Then Mc Pike broke Tannen's back, hanged him and burned Tannen's body afterwards. Mc Pike returned home. Two days later he got a telegram from the southern authoroties: his youngest son was crushed by his own horse when he fell of it. Before the war Mc Pike's oldest son married a black girl, of course in that time, in the south, it was not allowed to do that. Mc Pike's son and his black wife escaped to the north and married there, Mc Pike said he had lost his oldest son. Then, he never ever wanted to see this "nigger-lover" again. The group had 4 waggons, one with the Shermans, one with the fields, one with the Aberfans and one with McPike and Hamilton. The long journey had begun! Two weeks later, they had reached New Mexico, after they had crossed Texas first. The first problems arised... New Mexico was part of the territory of the Gila Indians. The river Gila in Arizona and New Mexico, which was named after the Indians, was sacred to this Indian tribe. After the group had crossed the Rio Grande they wanted to get some water for social use. They didn't took water from the Rio Grande because the force of the curent was to high to take water from this migthy river. So they waited till they reached the Gila river. Unfortunately, a dozen of Indians were riding along the river. When they saw the whites taking water from their sacred river, they were furious and started attacking the group. Dave, who had experience with Indians because he served the cavelery more than 3 years said they had to make a circle with the 4 waggons and sit behind the waggons and shoot the red-skins. The fight lasted for more than 2 hours, all twelve indians were killed but the damages for the group were huge... Three of the fourteen horses were killed and one horse was badly injured on the right leg. But what was more important; Jim Field, the middle son of Hank, got an arrow through his throat! The sight was horrible; Jim gasping for air, holding the arrow with both hands. A lot of blood gushed out of Jim's throat and nobody could do something... Slowly Jim died, it took more than 30 minutes to fetch Jim. When the arrow struck Jim, Maggie got mad, she ran towards the Indians and threw stones. One of the Indians catched Maggie and disappeared. Hank stayed sane and did not went after his wife. When the last Indian was shot, Hank began to cry, he lost one of his sons and his wife at the same time. Martin said "We'll go after the red dog and shoot his brains out!". Hank agreed and together with his two sons - Martin and Peter - he went after the Indian who caught Maggie. They didn't have to search far... Two miles south they found Maggie. She was raped by the Indian and afterwards cut from her cunt till her neck. Hank broke down and couldn't stop crying. He made his vows: every Gila Indian he would see would die. Peter brought Hank back to the group. The others were just finished digging a grave for Jim. They buried him and waited for Martin. In the meantime Martin dug a grave for his mother and buried her, he cried. The mood in the group was a grave one. No one spoke a word. In silence they went on and ten miles westwards they decided to build their camp. To be continued in the next issue of eEternal! 9×