Chapter Two Three Seconds in Hope

His right pistol fell. His left pistol was useless. A red line opened on his face. He stared at Jack not with rage, but with blank incomprehension. Jack's barrel rested on the center of his brow. The entire street went dead silent. Three seconds. The best gun in Hope had lasted three seconds. Jack walked forward. Rusk's legs began to shake. "You ain't killing me?" His voice was dry. Jack stopped before him. "You work for Titan?" Rusk swallowed. "Yes." "What did Crowe pay you?" "Two hundred." Jack looked toward Crowe on the town office steps. "Two hundred dollars bought both your hands?" Rusk's face flushed. Jack stepped on the fallen right-hand pistol and kicked it away.