Breakheart Pass Page #2

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Aren't you afraid of

someone seeing you?

I'm afraid we're not much

of a secret any more.

You should have told me about

the epidemic at the fort.

Why?

You'd only have worried.

Or are you afraid I might

have deserted, too?

No, I'd never think that.

Let's wait until we

get off the train.

Can I get you something?

There's some food left.

No, thanks.

A drink?

That I'll have.

Would you untie my legs?

Don't be silly.

- I won't go anywhere, I promise.

- I'm sure you won't.

I'm all cramped up and I

need the circulation.

I give you my word.

I'll only untie your legs.

And if you want to hop off the train,

it's a long hop to anywhere.

There. Better?

Give me a hand up?

Oh, my God.

You promised.

When a man is a killer, arsonist,

a cheat and a coward,

it's hardly surprising if he

turns out to be a liar as well.

- Is your mother still alive?

- Yes. But what's that to do with you?

- But she's not well.

- How do you know that?

If she were, the commander of the

fort would be visited by his wife,

and not his daughter.

It's strange, you coming out

here with diphtheria around,

and the Indians on the prod.

It must have been an urgent

invitation that brought you.

But not by letter. Your invitation

came by telegraph, right?

- You gonna marry the governor?

- Really. This is quite intolerable.

Before you leave, tie my hands again.

Not so tightly.

Why all this concern

and interest in me?

I should have thought you,

Mr Deakin, had enough worries.

I have.

Thank you.

Have Ferguson ready with his telegraph

equipment when we stop at 7.00.

- And get Mr O'Brien.

- Yes, sir.

- Why are we stopping?

- Morning, Governor.

My orders are to contact

the fort daily at this hour.

I hope you have no objection.

Make it short, please, Major.

Time's important.

Fall out, everybody. Everybody out.

Nice fresh air out here, men.

Everybody outside.

Come on, get it out

of there, Bennett.

Guard mounts for everybody. Murphy,

you post guards on the other side.

And you, you, you and you, up on

the top. Keep your eyes open.

White Hand's around here somewhere,

men, waiting to pounce on you little boys.

So stay awake, stay alert,

and keep your iron unbuckled.

I'll be right back.

I've gotten through to them, Major,

and they've acknowledged.

My regards to Colonel Scoville,

and congratulations on the

capture of Levi Calhoun.

That's the train, Calhoun.

What do I tell 'em?

How do I know you won't

pull no fancy tricks?

I swear I never would.

I don't believe you, soldier.

My God.

The fort's answering, sir.

As God is my witness, Calhoun,

I'll see you before a firing squad.

Don't you give me

no trouble, Colonel.

I got your bluebellies locked up.

By God, I'll skin 'em alive, one by each.

Major Claremont.

The epidemic's worsened.

- Is there news of my father?

- It has his signature, so he must be fine.

They're asking about

our time of arrival, sir.

With this weather, I guess we'll be

at Breakheart Pass in about 20 hours.

Transmit that. Add my

compliments to Colonel Scoville.

Then get Myrtle City. Request word on

Captain Oakland and Lieutenant Newell.

Yes, sir.

- I can't get Myrtle City, Major.

- Keep trying.

- Dead, sir.

- I don't understand how it could've gone.

Weather's been good.

It worked yesterday.

- Sergeant Bellew, board the troops.

- Yes, sir.

Troopers, fall in. Board the train.

Murphy, get 'em aboard.

You be sure you take a roll call.

I don't wanna leave anybody behind.

- Seen Dr Molyneux this morning?

- No, not yet.

- Shall I send for him, Governor?

- No, it isn't necessary.

Dr Molyneux had better adjust to army

schedules. We don't run a restaurant.

Dr Molyneux.

The governor asked for you, sir.

It looks like some sort of seizure.

Apoplexy, I'd say.

You mind if I have a look?

- What the devil for?

- I do know something about medicine.

Why not, Major?

All right.

- The skin's broken above the left ear.

- Of course. He fell.

- Died before a bruise could form.

- Apoplexy kills instantly.

No, a seizure like that would turn

the lips and the fingers blue.

It's lucky we have the law aboard.

Now, what does that mean?

There's a puncture. Right there.

Just below the ribs.

Looks like somebody knocked him out,

stuck a surgical probe up under his ribs.

God save us.

- It's hard to believe.

- The fact is, we have a killer aboard.

Yes, we have.

Move it along, men. Murphy,

keep an eye on that detail.

I'll check the drivers.

Sergeant, as soon as the engineer is

finished, put the men back on the train.

- We've got to move along.

- Yes, sir.

Madigan, you and Bennett over

here, keep a sharp lookout.

Keep them logs moving, men.

Think how lucky you are. You're warm.

On the double. We don't have

all day. Get that wood up there.

It's colder than hell out here.

- Where's Deakin?

- Inside. Don't worry yourself.

At least he's got good sense.

Men on top, all aboard.

Back to your cars.

Dr Molyneux is dead. Two of the

major's best officers are missing.

And we can't get through

to Myrtle. Do you mind?

Go ahead.

Nobody heard anything.

Nobody saw anything.

And nobody knows anything.

It can only get better.

Well, you know, maybe they

were accidents after all.

We might have seen the end of it.

Have you gone crazy?

He fell. My fireman fell.

He's dead.

You can't be sure.

Somebody better check on him.

Somebody that knows

somethin' about doctoring.

He might try to run off on us.

Looks like every bone

in his body is busted.

Move out, men.

Can we make up the lost time?

Men are dying in that fort.

- Sergeant Bellew, board the troops.

- Yes, sir. Troopers, fall in.

Do you mind if I have a look

up there in that locomotive?

If it's all right with the marshal,

it's all right with me.

Go ahead.

Whiskey. He was reeking with it.

God is my witness, I never saw

Jackson touch that stuff.

Trooper Rafferty reporting, sir.

I'm your new fireman.

Hop up, young fella.

Morning, sir.

Good morning. You must

be Carlos the chef.

I am. And you must be

Mr Deakin, the murderer.

How about some coffee? It's hot.

Thanks.

Thank you.

Marshal Pearce.

You're all mighty relaxed in the face

of what's transpired aboard this train.

- What?

- If Deakin's right, Molyneux was killed.

The telegraph line to

Myrtle no longer works.

It could be ice

or animals, even wind.

I think this bears investigation,

more than you're giving it.

Some little time ago I

had a choice, Colonel.

Major.

Keep your nose clean

and you'll get there.

What about it?

Never had no call to be a detective.

We're gonna all be on

this train for a while.

We just might find out what

happened before we have to get off.

Could be you did it all.

Could be.

Or you.

Oh, hell, we're stopping again.

Oh, no.

Oh, my God.

- We're going backwards.

- Oh, my God.

- He's right. We're not stopping.

- I know.

What's going on?

Quickly. Get in your bunks.

Down there.

- Move. Get in those bunks and stay there.

- Sarge, I'm scared. What's going on?

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