The gruff voice brought me back to the table. My mind had been on other things. I was sweating again.
"Are you familiar with the story of Samson?"
He tapped his bible that was on the table. That damned bible. He always had it with him. That and his .45.
"Hell of a fella, that Samson. Killed a thousand men with a jawbone."
Here we go. Another lesson from the good book. My eyes darted about. There had to be a way out of this. I checked the dimly lit room for escape possibilities.
"He murdered even more just over a riddle."
His boot thudded on the floor and he brought his leg down and leaned in.
"Do you think you have that kind of convictions? Would you murder someone over an answer?"
"I'm not much for games."
He smiled a slow smile. His gold teeth glinting in the lamp light.
"That's why I liked you."
He leaned back and took a swig from the Rattler Whiskey on the table. The dead snake in the bottle staring at me with white eyes. It almost looked like the creature was laughing at me, mocking me with an empty stare. At least the snake ended his days in a bottle of whiskey. Wish I could do the same. But first I had to deal with the snake at the table, eying me for a meal. He was the only one that could drink that shit. Made my stomach turn."When I found you, I thought I had a regular Samson on my hands. It seemed like there was nothing you couldn't do. I suppose I was wrong. I suppose that's my fault for assuming as much, and for that I apologize."
"You have a 10 gauge to my back and you are apologizing to me? You really are fucked up you know that?"
"Well, you of all people should know, the importance of being honest with another person. That's what got you where you are at this moment. I just wanted to have a clean slate with you before I paint the walls with your insides."
This wasn't good. I needed a plan. Had to keep him talking long enough that the big fella behind me would ease up on that trigger.
"So tell me about this Samson. You said you thought I was like him?"
"What I didn't like about you, however, was your constant belief that you were smarter than me."
He picked up his .45 and thumbed back the hammer. My eyes widened.
"Samson died for his god and his pride. It seems you will have at least that in common with him."
"Now wait a minute. It wasn't--"
The muzzle flash lit up the room for one brilliant second. The two men in the back cringed as my blood and brains spattered all over them. The force sent me backwards in my chair. As I fell my leg hit the table, knocking the whiskey over. The snake in the bottle slid out and hit the floor with a wet plop. He cocked his head a bit and stared at the snake, coiled up near my lifeless foot. He picked up his bible and stood.
"Bury the snake with him."
He holstered his gun and put his hat on.
"The Devil will recognize the both of them."
