Return-Path: owner-quest@maison-otaku.net
X-Authentication-Warning: kozue.maison-otaku.net: majordom set sender to owner-quest@maison-otaku.net using -f
Date: Fri, 16 Jan 1998 15:55:14 -0500
From: ackcor 
To: Jonny , Quest ,
        JQ Fanfic ML 
Subject: [Quest] fic: "To Risk Death Daily", The Conclusion
Sender: owner-quest@maison-otaku.net
Reply-To: quest@maison-otaku.net

Yes, here it is!  The finale!  Finally!  Sorry it's taken so long to
post; you can't imagine how hectic this past week has been.  I've had no
time to log on at all.
So, enjoy the last part of the fic!  Part II of "The Unexpected Visitor"
will be shipped out soon if all goes well.  Remember, as always,
comments are welcome and appreciated!

						--Dark Sentinel


First, let's recap a bit from the end of the fourth part:

However, Jonny could see something was wrong with the station, even
though it was quite a ways away.
	The shack was black and in ruins as Gold approached it.  A man
straggled out from behind the smoldering station house, limping.  He was
bruised badly and his clothes were in tatters.
	"What happened?" Jonny cried as he dropped off of Gold and hurried over
to the man.
	"Bandits," he croaked.  "Watch out for them...they stole my horses and
my food, and they burnt my house to ashes!"
	"Come with me.  I'll take you to the next station."
	"No," the victim rasped.  "Mail comes first, before me, or you, or your
pony.  You'll have to go on with your horse.  Otherwise..." he broke off
and coughed.
	Jonny looked doubtful.  "GO!" the man managed to shout, but he crumpled
to the ground as his body was racked violently with wheezing.
	With a last, pitying look, Jonny hurried back to Old Gold, who was
panting heavily.  He'd have to take it easy with Gold, otherwise he
could get seriously injured.  "I'll send help!" Jonny called over his
shoulder as he prodded the stallion into a swift trot.
	"Fifteen miles, yes, a horse with stamina," Jonny talked to himself as
Gold sped over the ground to the best of his ability.  "But thirty
miles?  No horse could do it.  Not even the strongest, most long-winded
Thoroughbred in the world go that fast that far.  There's no way I'll
average fifteen miles per hour.  I'll just have to take it easy."
	Even though a safe journey would have made it easier on both the
breathless horse and his nervous rider, destiny had something else in
store.

*	*	*	*	*

Okay!  That's where I left off last time, so here's the conclusion...



	THE REAL ADVENTURES OF JONNY QUEST

	"To Risk Death Daily"

	Part V

	Jonny realized that if danger arose, Gold would have to run faster than
he would be able to.  So, just to be safe, he slowed the stallion to a
plodding walk.  This way, Gold could catch his breath, and be able to
run faster should there be need to.  Jonny also knew that the mail came
first.  This wasn't exactly the way to make the mail go through more
quickly, yet this action could save both the mail, Old Gold, and himself
in the long run.  He tarried for a moment in indecision, then decided to
let Gold cool down.
	And this proved to be a wise resolution, for not even thirty minutes
later, Jonny caught sight of two men on the horizon.  They spotted him
and cruelly kicked their horses into a sprint, in a straight intercept
course.
	Old Gold tossed his head nervously, and Jonny patted his strong neck. 
At least now Gold had a bit more stamina to outrun them.  Hopefully the
thieves had slow, tired horses.
	This was partially so.  The horses were quite full of energy, yet they
were slow as horses go.  Jonny was glad for this and swerved Gold to the
right to avoid contact.
	The thieves anticipated this and sped closer.  Just as they were about
twenty feet to Gold's left, and preparing to shout some kind of warning,
Jonny pressed Gold into a flying gallop.  The bandits swerved their
horses steeply to the left, and one nearly threw its rider.  They took
off in pursuit.
	Jonny leaned forward and motivated Old Gold to a greater speed.  He
reached discreetly towards one of the cantinas, the one which held his
pistol.  He cocked it and slowly brought his hand to his side, preparing
once again, for a gun battle.
	The bandits fired first.  The bullet narrowly missed Gold's ear, who
calmly kept going, without shying or skittering aside.  Jonny was
eternally grateful to whoever had trained this horse to be so good.
	He swivelled in the saddle once more, firing with deadly aim right into
one bandit's chest.  Without a sound, he fell to the earth.  The
riderless pony galloped on, then stopped, confused.
	One more bandit to rid himself of, then hopefully it would be smooth
sailing until–
	Jonny's thought was cut short by excruciating pain in his left arm. 
He'd been shot!  He pressed his other hand against his arm, clenching
his teeth and squinching his eyes shut in agony.
	Caught off guard, he lost his balance in the saddle and fell to the
ground, still clutching his arm and silently sobbing.
	The bandit pulled up to Jonny.  Old Gold stood nearby, whickering
fearfully.
	"Surrender your horse and the mail if you value your life, boy," he
threatened coldly.
	Jonny's back was to the thief.  He clutched his gun and slowly brought
it close to his face.  He heard the bandit's gun click in readiness.
	The outlaw aimed at Jonny's back, preparing to deliver the final shot
and take the mail for himself.  With a shout, Jonny rolled onto his
other side and fired.
	The man stood for a moment, motionless as a statue, then crumpled to a
heap in the grasses.  Jonny stood up shakily, and hobbled to Gold.  Gold
nudged Jonny's injured arm gently and knelt down a little to help him
mount.
	"Gold, you're the best," Jonny managed as he clambered into the
saddle.  With a "Giddap!", Old Gold was off through the rolling hills to
the next station.
	As the winded stallion ambled in using the last of his stamina, Jonny
nearly slipped off the saddle involuntarily.  The station master hurried
out and looked him up and down.
	"Boy, what's happened to you?"
	"I was ambushed by four Sioux, attacked by bandits, and shot in the
arm, all on the same horse.  Sir, he's going to die for pity's sake if
you don't get him some good care soon.  The man one station back was
ambushed by the same bandits and is in need of help."
	The station master stared, mouth ajar in astonishment.
	"I only need a quick snack and a bandage, then I'll be ready to go. 
The next station is the end of my route."
	The man treated Jonny's arm quickly, and led him inside.  Here he ate a
few pieces of bread, grapes, a glass of juice, and some hot soup.
	"Last run," Jonny told himself as he mounted Whirlaway, an excitable
black mare.  "Last run, last run, last run..." he chanted rhythmically
with Whirlaway's pounding legs.
	All was calm for forty-five minutes or so, when they entered a timber
patch.  A distant howling startled Whirlaway, who jumped and skittered
to one side.  Jonny nudged her back onto the path and proceeded
cautiously.
	Another howl echoed the first, and before Jonny and Whirlaway knew it,
a pack of coyotes was on their tail.  Jonny shouted in fright and fired
his pistol above the mass of fur to scare them away, but they kept on
going, nipping at the mare's heels and terrifying her.
	With a squeal of horror, Whirlaway burst from the timber and out into
the open plains.  Her mouth was foaming, her ears were slicked back, her
eyes rolled, exposing the whites.
	One coyote took a risk and dove onto her rump.  With a buck, she sent
both the coyote and Jonny flying.  Jonny landed in a patch of grasses
off to one side.  He watched in amazement, his pistol idle in his hand,
as Whirlaway fought.
	Plunging, rearing, and bucking, Whirlaway took the whole pack on at
once.  She snapped and nipped at the coyotes in front of her.  She
bucked a few off her back, and lined up bull's eye kicks for those
behind her.  When coyotes on her sides attacked, she spun in circles,
biting viciously at them.  One coyote that happened to be close in front
of her nearly was crushed as she gnashed at him while rearing with
razor-sharp, rock-hard hoofs.  
	At last the alpha coyote let out a bray as a signal, and the whole
assembly of coyotes followed him, dashing away with their tails between
their legs and their heads hanging.
	Jonny stood up and brushed himself off, laughing.  "Whirlaway, I don't
know how you did it...but you did.  Good work!"  He looked her over and
was pleased to find nary a scratch.  "Let's go; we BOTH get to rest at
our next stop."
	Mounting up, Whirlaway took off in a sprint and tore over the plains,
kicking up shredded grasses and veils of dust in her wake.  And she
didn't stop until she arrived at the next station.
	Once there, Jonny leapt off Whirlaway and grabbed the mochila.  He
plopped it on a fresh horse's back and shouted to those inside.  A new
rider hurried out of the cabin, his mouth still full, and climbed
aboard.  "What's in the cantina?" he asked.
	"The war has started over in the east!  North versus south!  You're
carrying important news, man!  Go!" Jonny yelled.
	The rider took off, a mass of grit blurring his retreat.  "Godspeed!"
Jonny called after him.
	Tired, dirty, and in pain from his arm, Jonny walked inside.  Time for
a long, relaxing, hot meal, then some sleep.  "How was your ride?" the
man asked, who had introduced himself as Mr. Smith.
	"Adventurous.  I didn't know it was this full of danger," Jonny replied
sleepily.
	"Yes, well, you knew that it would be tough when you signed up, right?"
Mr. Smith asked, smiling warmly as he served Jonny a clay bowl filled
with delicious vegetable stew.
	"Yes, sir.  Must be willing to risk death daily," he quoted.  "I knew."
	Mr. Smith watched in silence as Jonny slurped up the last of the stew
and took a fresh pair of clothes from the cot in the corner.  Mr. Smith
bade him good-night and retired to his bedroom.
	Jonny changed into the fresh clothes, which felt good on his aching
body.  Tomorrow...rest.  And a letter to his father.  He couldn't wait. 
He lay down on the cot and fell asleep the moment his head hit the
pillow.

	THE END

    Source: geocities.com/televisioncity/3324

               ( geocities.com/televisioncity)