williams, part two

by nick nelson

part two of two

to read part one, click here

walt walked up the hill, toward the broad front door of williams’s castle. the lights in the lower floor were off. there was a big tree just to the left of the front door and a man stepped out from behind it. it was connolly. what are you doing here, walt? connolly asked. i came to see williams. you are a little late. oh? and why would that be? some of us have prepared a little surprise for williams. he’s done too many guys wrong. that’s for sure. and nobody wronger than me, walt said. that’s true, walt. that’s so true. why don’t you come on upstairs. the meeting is just about to begin. i came to put a slug into williams’s rotten guts. connolly laughed. maybe that can be arranged. walt followed connolly into the house, and up a long winding staircase to the top floor. there was a light on in a room. connolly and walt entered it. williams was sitting in an easy chair in the center of the room. but he was not sitting easy. a bunch of the boys surrounded him, with guns drawn. look who is here, connolly said. walt! a couple of guys exclaimed. walt wants to do the honors, connolly said. i say, let him. nobody got done over as bad as him. that’s a fact, motelli said. any of you mugs disagree? sounds right to me, big shoulders said. none of the others said anything. all right, then, connolly said. do it, walt. walt drew his gun and stepped in front of williams. well, boys, walt said, i would like to do this nice and slow but i know you guys must want to celebrate so i will just get it over with. i won’t no speech because he ain’t worth it. * down in the car, harry heard the single shot. he had kept the motor running and took off like the rabbit at a dog track. * harry smith is waiting for me, walt said. i should go down and invite him up here for the celebration. i’ll do it, connolly said. benny and dave, you guys go get the booze. don’t wait for me to start. connolly returned in a few minutes. there’s no harry down there, he said, and no car either. the rat! walt exclaimed. the yellow double crossing rat! he ran out on me! connolly shook his head. i don’t like it either, walt. i’m in change now, and i will make sure he pays. we will hunt the sorry bastard to the ends of the earth.. hear hear, motelli said. we will drink to that, won’t we, boys? connolly continued. i swear to you he will spend the rest of his life, what there is of it, running, always running, from town to town, always looking over his shoulder, never able to relax, to enjoy a good night’s sleep, always waiting for a sound at the door, never able to sit in a bar and enjoy a drink without looking at the door… always on the move… down a hundred dark highways… in the wind… in the wind and the rain… forever. the end