Ravenous Page #3

Lindus?

I know I mispronounced it.

I'm making a point.

My point is, Captain,

we needfacts, not myths.

I told you the facts, sir.

Boyd, if you altered

your story now...

it wouldn't be perceived

as retracting a lie...

only... clarifying, um,

a muddled recollection.

The day that we spoke to you...

you were out of your head

with fever.

I was coherent then,

I'm coherent now, sir...

and I distinctly remember...

Perhaps up there

in the wilderness...

you got separated

from your company.

That's why I'm giving you

this second opportunity.

I advise that...

you change your story, Boyd.

Who's that?

New colonel.

A pleasure to meet you, sir.

Why don't we go inside?

- Yes?

- The colonel's here.

Thank you, Lindus.

We've brought in

an interim commanding officer...

until we can appoint a permanent

replacementfor Colonel Hart.

Captain, this is Colonel Ives.

Colonel, Captain Boyd.

Captain.

How's the leg?

Lindus?

Let's step outside.

Now, what is the matter

with you, Captain Boyd?

- It's him, sir.

- It's who?

- It's him, sir.

- Who is?

He's Colqhoun, sir.

Colonel Ives is?

He's the one that...

that killed them all, sir.

Are you mad?

Have Major Knox look at him.

Sir, Major Knox was here.

Major Knox.

Have Major Knox

look at him, sir.

- Major Knox.

- Major Knox.

He doesn't look

familiar to me, sir.

I do remember

the man wore a beard.

But, as I was saying, sir...

I was feeling

a bit ill that day.

- You were drunk.

- Captain, please.

Boyd, you say youfired

on this Colqhoun...

struck him in the shoulder.

Well, that would leave a wound,

now, wouldn't it, General?

I presume so.

Well, why don't we check, hmm?

- Colonel Ives.

- General.

Would you humor me a moment?

Of course, sir.

Would you...

Would you take off your shirt,

please...

and show me your shoulder,

please, Colonel?

Please.

Well, I, uh...

My last physical

examination was...

was not that long ago.

Surely Major Knox has no desire

to hear me cough.

The other shoulder,

please, Colonel.

Thank you, Colonel.

Not at all.

- Is there a problem?

- Not with you, Colonel.

General, we should leave now

in order to avoid the storm.

Boyd told the general

Colonel Ives killed everyone.

What?

He said Colonel Ives

was the man responsible.

Boyd gone loco.

I think he's the reason

nobody come back.

I have to warn you.

Yeah, Captain?

Consider yourselves warned.

Do you need this?

No, sir.

Oh, good.

You're not an eater

of ribs, Colonel Ives?

No, no, Major. I, uh...

can neverforget

it used to be an animal.

Sentimentalfellow.

What about you, Captain Boyd?

You don't eat meat?

Oh, no, he won't.

Only as a last resort.

That's a pity.

Oh...

Yeah.

Unh!

Boyd, no!

Ha ha ha!

Damn.

Ahem.

Checkmate.

- Ha ha!

- Aah!

Huh.

Well, well...

It appears a number of us

could use some rest.

Go on to bed, Boyd.

Clearing up.

Ifound your Private Reich

out there...

or what was left of him.

You didn'tfinish.

Well, I can't blame you.

He was tough.

But then...

a good soldier ought to be.

You know, not that long ago,

I couldn't do that.

Could barely take a breath

without coughing up blood.

Tuberculosis.

That, along with...

fierce headaches...

depressin...

suicidal ambition.

I was in pretty horrible shape.

In fact...

I was on my way

to a sanatorium to convalesce...

more likely to die...

when en route, this Indian scout

told me a curious story.

A man eats the flesh

of another...

he steals his strength.

He absorbs

the other man's spirit.

Well...

I just had to try.

Consequently,

I ate the scoutfirst...

and, you know,

he was absolutely right.

I grew... stronger.

Later, through circumstance...

my wagon train grew lost

in the Rockies.

- I've heard this story before.

- Mmm.

I ate five men in three months.

Tuberculosis?

Vanished...

as did the black thoughts.

I reached Denver that spring

feeling... happy.

And healthy.

And virile.

Did you eat her, too?

Well, as a matter of fact...

You're disgusting.

Here I am, one year later...

feeling more alive

than ever before.

And that's what surprises me

about you, Boyd.

You've tasted it...

felt its power.

Yet, you're resisting.

Why?

Because it's wrong.

Ah! Morality...

the last bastion...

of a coward.

Well, I'm sorry.

I'm sorry. Did I offend you?

You remember this?

You smell it?

Scent always jogs the memory,

don't you think?

You remember the energy...

the potency of someone else

coursing through your veins...

someone brave.

You know the disappointment

as it dissipates...

the strength...

slippingfrom your grasp...

the growing, killing need

to replenish.

But I don't have

to remind you of that.

You're feeling it right now.

I am going to kill you.

He die, you die.

What in heck

is going on out here?

I was on my way to

the latrine. Boyd attacked me.

He's a liar!

He's lying!

Boyd, I'm putting you

under arrest.

Martha, go wake up Cleaves.

Put Boyd under arrest.

Cleaves?

Cleaves?

Cleaves?

Cleaves!

Youfind Cleaves?

No.

- You check around outside?

- No.

Well,

check around outside, woman!

Cleaves?

Cleaves?

Cleaves?

Oh... oh!

Major Knox!

Major!

Major!

What?

All the horses... dead!

- What?

- Killed!

Oh, good gracious.

Unh!

That was for Cleaves...

and this is for my horse.

Martha...

Colonel Ives and I

have agreed...

Boyd'll be moved to a military

prison as soon as possible.

One of us must travel

to San Miguel by foot...

to get General Slauson.

Volunteers?

Safe travel to you, Martha.

Oh...

Knox?

Major Knox?

Knox!

Major Knox!

Major Knox!

Knox!

Talk to me. I'd like

to know you're still alive.

Be quiet, Boyd.

Good gracious.

Colonel Ives.

My sword is missing.

I'm sorry, Major?

My sword... in the parlor,

above the fire.

I haven't seen it.

What are you cooking?

It's, uh... stew.

You need any help?

No, no, though...

perhaps later, you might...

contribute.

You let me know.

Ives.

Ives!

Yes... Captain?

When did you do it, Ives?

Do what, Captain?

Kill Cleaves and the horses.

I was watching you

the whole time.

You be quiet about Cleaves

and the horses, Boyd!

You hear me?

Or I will put you out again.

Well, how'd that door come open?

That'll do it.

Good gracious.

Knox?

Knox!

Hello, Boyd.

I hated doing that.

Unh.

I told you my regimen had

certain curative powers, Boyd.

Get him up and around.

Oh... oh!

Leg still hurt?

Doesn't have to, you know.

You killed Cleaves...

and the horses.

What happened to you?

I thought I was dead.

I rememberfeeling panic

as my life slipped away.

It was like drowning

in darkness...

and then... there was nothing.

And then I woke up...

and Ives was feeding me.

By the time

I regained my senses...

there was no turning back.

I feel terrific.

So, you're going to kill me?

No. No.

It's Ionely being a cannibal.

Tough makingfriends.

No, I like you, Boyd.

We, uh, want to bring you

into the fold.

You got to eat.

Finished?

I'm afraid Major Knox's

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