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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 3001380" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter 154, “The Mexican Fire Rod”, Friday, March 24th, 1882, 11:30 A.M.Ruby returns to the Lucky Lady, having been gone only about an hour and half. She enters the kitchen and as Maria makes her some lunch she tells her about Tombstone and the show.  After her lunch Ruby becomes bored, so she walks back over to Fly's.  No one else is there except for Mr. Fly. As she brushes her hair she convinces him now would be a good time to start taking some of those other photographs. "But first, I would like something special." She whispers in his ear and while he blushes Ruby convinces him to do it.  He arranges her as quickly as he can, takes the photograph and when it's done he laughs, "I believe someone's going to be very happy with that photo!" Afterwards Ruby goes through his collection of clothes and tries on different outfits. He takes his time taking many different photographs, in different styles and poses. "I'm sure at least a few of those came out well," Ruby winks at him. During their time together Ruby suggests that he takes photographs of the festival, but also sets up an area where people can get their family portraits taken on that day, since most of them will be dressed nicely and have an opportunity to do it.   She thanks him again and is about to leave when Mr. Fly says, "Don't you want your photograph from earlier, Miss West?" Ruby is surprised that it is done already. "Of course," she replies and eagerly awaits it. She can do nothing but smile when she looks at it. Both of their eyes were twinkling with meaning behind them and they looked so happy and so perfect together. "You were right about the pose, it suits the two of you," Fly comments. Ruby profusely thanks him again, picks out a picture frame and tries to pay him. "Oh, Mr. Cook already took care of everything." Ruby nods, "Of course he did. Thank you again and have a good day."  She walks down the street, happy and confident, clutching her new photograph in her hand.Instead of walking back to the Lucky Lady Ruby detours to the El Parador. She climbs the stairs to Mr. Gonzales room and knocks.   Gonzales happily lets Ruby in. Ginnie is still working in the library and he urges her to go downstairs and get a bite to eat. He ushers Ruby into the workshop and explains to her about the Dispel Magic scrolls that he is working on that he had talked to Mr. Cook about. "Scroll creation is a long and arduous task. To do it properly includes preparation of both the paper and ink, involving enchantments on both to retain the magical writings and also protect the parchment or paper from dangers such as fire or water. Writing the words to the spell is more than cartography as well, it requires precise penmanship, as one mistake with writing each Atlantian character could prevent the spell from working. Young Ginnie has shown an aptitude for magical writings and I am having her assist me. She is preparing the initial text which I am then re-inking with the enchantment. Placing the enchantment is a two-step process as well. First is the initial text which prepares the paper to actually receive the spell. Studying the spell to place upon the scroll is the most critically important part, which I would only do when I am refreshed and relaxed, as again any misstep would negate the process completely. Once the spell is on the scroll it then requires one final magical spell to activate, then it could be used by anyone trained in magic use.  Oh, you probably didn't want such a technical explanation. What is it that you came to see me about?""That's ok, I don't mind the lesson," she giggles. "And we've been really worried about this situation so any help you can give us is greatly appreciated. That's why I came actually. I'm wondering, would you be able to teach me how to use that wind of fire that we got from the Cowboy Gang? I have a feeling we're going to need it."  He says "Yes, I could teach you how to use that. Do you have it with you, I would like to examine it further.""No, Kate had it, I thought she gave it to you. Maybe it's here? If not I'll have to ask her for it." Mr. Gonzales sets about looking for the wand. Ruby comments, "So I heard you were fencing today, how did you do? Mr. Lacey is putting together an outfit so he can play against you."  He replies, "Mr. Lacey? I didn't know he knew how to fence. We should have set up a ring long ago." He rechecks a box at the far end of the workroom. He unwraps a red velvet cloth that contains a two-and-a-half-foot long metal rod and a short piece of parchment and asks "Is this is?" Ruby exclaims, "Yes!" He says, "I'm sorry, with all that his been going on these days I have been an absent-minded professor."Ruby suddenly hops up and gives Mr. Gonzales a tight embrace. "No apologies necessary. I know you've been busy, we all have been. But especially you with that whole Atlantis thing. Some time when we have more time I'd like you to tell me what happened, if it's all been resolved." Ruby takes the wand from Mr. Gonzales. "Now, how do you use this thing?" she asks while swinging it around in her hand.He holds up the rod, which is thirty-inches long and appears to be solid except for a hollow section the last three inches of what appears to be the top end. The other end has indentations in the metal where a person would place their hands and thumbs to grip the item, much in the way that people in ancient times wielded a two-handed sword. Ruby notices markings along the side of the rod. Some of the engravings look to be written in Spanish and others in Atlantian script.  He laughs and replies "I should know how to us it, it's mine."Ruby is surprised, "It is? How did the Cowboys get it?"   He replies, "I have absolutely no idea. I haven't seen one of these in three-dozen years. I'm frankly surprised that one of them still exists."  "Well, now we have it back," Ruby laughs. "Do these things run out? And what's this script say? I guess you have to do this," she grips the rod with her hands and thumbs in her best guess, "And then say what's written here?"He says, "Yes, that is essentially it. I did not want to make these items too complicated, as I needed sailors with a minimum of knowledge of magic to use them.    This is a Mexican Fire Rod and as far as I know only twenty-two of them were ever created. It was a collaborative effort by myself and two other Mexican wizards. As you may recall, I was once an Admiral in the Mexican Navy. We outfitted our finest eight ships with these, two to four per ship. The indentation on the end is to give it the appearance of it being a small cannon when mounted on the ship. In fact, it is far more powerful than most cannon. Some magical items, such as my Wand of Magic Missiles, can be recharged. These can not. When each of these was new it had a total of fifty charges. This particular one has thirty-eight charges still remaining in it.   The writing on the side in Spanish indicates the name of the Mexican Artillerist who this specific rod was assigned to, in this case a Lieutenant Frederico Alezla Valdes. I personally trained all twenty-two men but do not remember their specific names any longer. It would take some further research through past associates of mine but I should be able to eventually determine from that which vessel this rod was assigned to and how it was lost. Most of these were used up during the Mexican-American War that took place from 1846 to 1848. Mexico did badly during the war. I was part of a fleet that prepared for an American invasion in the Gulf of Mexico, but the only Naval encounters in the war were along the Pacific Coast instead. Most battles were land battles that took place within two hundred miles of where we are now. Mexico lost California and much of New Mexico and Arizona as a result of the war. The end of the war also temporarily forced Santa Anna and myself into temporary exile in Jamaica and then later Venezuela. The ship that brought us to exile had three of these mounted on it, which I believed at the time to be the last three Fire Rods and only ship of the eight that still existed at that point. I do not recall a Lieutenant Valdez being on that ship, so this must have come from another vessel."Ruby listens curiously to Gonzales explanation. "So this thing has made a long trip then?”  He replies, “Probably, but possibly not. I recall that one ship was lost in the Gulf of California, between the Baja Peninsula and Sonora. That is just a couple of hundred miles southwest of here. If could have been salvaged from that vessel.” Ruby is thoughtful for a moment, "You're life has been very full, interesting, and... meaningful, Mr. Gonzales." She looks down at the rod on her hand. "Mexican Fire Rod," she repeats.  "What's Jamaica and Venezuela like? I'm desperate to travel, although certainly not under the same circumstances as you."    He states, I did not care for Jamaica. The people there very poor and the politicians ruling the island care only for themselves. Venezuela was nice, although our stay there did not last long, with Santa Anna regaining power in Mexico less than five years after we had left. That however, only lasted for two years.""I don't really know anything about history. You're a walking lesson!" Ruby exclaims. "And I know you've been stuck here, you need a vacation too."  Ruby realizes that some of this is probably painful memories for Gonzales so she quickly changes the subject. "So what does this Atlantian script say? Must be what you have to repeat to make this wand work."He says, "Yes and it will not take me long to teach it to you. But given how you are casually flinging it around I felt it best to not to do that here in my workshop, not wanting it to be accidentally destroyed." He has a broad smile on his face as he says that so she realizes that he is for-the-most part joking with her. He then says, "Unlike the Wand of Missiles, this item can miss it's target. I believe you were on the receiving end of several misses. But to practice using it will exhaust some of the remaining charges so I'm not sure if you want to do that. If you do, then we could go out into the desert tomorrow and practice."  Ruby giggles as she realizes that she IS flinging the wand around. "Heh, good point." Ruby considers for a moment before responding, "Yes, I really don't want to waste the charges but it's probably a good idea to try a couple.  Tomorrow it is. I'm good at shooting and aiming guns, is it like that? Or is there something similar I can practice with so I don't waste the charges?”  He replies, “No, this is a rather unique item. Even if we use two charges that would still leave three dozen for later usage." She says, “Good.  Jake wanted us to practice with our guns and try out that bell we have, to test it. Do you mind if he comes along?"   Ruby remembers the photo and skips to the table where she has left it. "Look what we did today!" she says with a huge grin on her face as she thrusts it towards him.    He replies,  “Actually I do mind. The last time I invited him along on one of our outings he shot you. He would not be able to use either item anyway, not having wizard skills. If you want another companion I would prefer Katherine, Sonoma or Madge.”  He glances at the photo and says, "Very nice. Can I safely assume that this was done by Mr. Fly rather than the Barkers?"The disappointment on Ruby's face is apparent. "Yes, My. Fly took the photograph. You know what happened with the Barkers. Mrs. Barker insulted and threatened me, all because George wanted to marry me. Now I'm sure she'll be out to get me."  She looks at her feet and starts biting her lip. "You don't like Jake, do you?"He replies, "No, I do not. He is reckless and has endangered the lives of you and your friends. Yes, before you say it I will, I am also reckless and have endangered the lives of you and your friends. But I have much more life experience as well as magical skills to fall back upon. I know that he has many skills of his own, but most of those are geared toward individual rather than group actions.  I think as a military leader and family patriarch, thinking of my group before I think of myself. He may eventually get to that point, but he is not there yet. His first instincts are towards self-preservation rather than protecting others around him. And right now Johnny Ringo has managed to take away Mr. Cook's single greatest asset, his self confidence."Ruby takes the picture and holds it closer to her body. “Whatever you said to him last night made him realize he lost some of his confidence along the way. He knows what he has to do to make us all safe and he feels terrible about the fact that we WON’T let him do it alone. But he is confident in what he has to do. Are we supposed to sit and wait here for Johnny Ringo to come and kill us? He’s already come into our saloon and threatened to blow it up, he told us he kidnapped Ginnie, he DID kidnap Nanuet and Chester. His friends shoot at us everywhere we go. Maybe you didn’t hear but Billy Claiborne shot me on Saturday and I almost died. Nanuet got shot and almost died Sunday.” “Do you have a better plan for us?” she asks with tears welling in her eyes. “A lot has happened while you’ve been away.   And you’re so wrong about him. Look at all the things he’s done for me, he bought a saloon for me, he’s stuck around here for me, he turned down $50,000 that George Eastman offered him to break up with me.” Ruby continues with emphasis, “Fifty. Thousand. Dollars! And he’s kept me from doing some really stupid things over the course of the time we’ve been here. He gave me a home and a life I could be happy with. So if you count me as one of your group you should realize that he makes me happy, like no one ever has. I have fallen in love with him. I’m sorry you can’t see the good things about him.”Gonzales replies, "I never said that Mr. Cook didn't have positive traits. He does, and he has made you happy. But Ruby, he has also put you at risk. On that morning that we went to Tombstone both myself and Nanuet could have very quickly protected you from that rattlesnake without putting you at risk. But we never had the opportunity because he act instinctively. Ruby, I recognize that you are in love with him. You should recognize that love is an emotion that is second only to the emotion of anger when it comes to clouding a person's judgment. That prevents one from being able to look at things objectively. You see the best in Jake and ignore the flaws. But right now those flaws could get you killed, which is my primary concern.  Why should I wish for him to come along tomorrow? He can use neither the rod or the bell. He has no knowledge of magic. He is a normally good with a firearm, except that until he fully gets his confidence back I would not trust his shots to be accurate.  So the only reason that I would have for wanting him to come along with us would be to use him as bait, to draw Johnny Ringo out in the open. And I will not do that, he deserves better than to be treated like that. I value the books in the library but will use them as bait long before I ever put another person's life needlessly in danger.""I understand," Ruby replies quietly. "How is he supposed to prove to you that he has his confidence back?"  Before Gonzales can answer Ruby continues, "Forget it, it's not important. You won't believe him anyway."  Ruby sighs, "I think we should make it known we are moving the books, at least some of the less valuable ones. That way Ringo will come for us and we can hopefully end this."  She takes the wand and her photograph and walks to the door. "I bet Kate would be good at that scroll stuff."   He replies, "She might, but she has been rather busy as of late. I will see you tomorrow. We can ride out either late morning or early afternoon.""That's an understatement if I ever heard one. See you tomorrow."  Ruby leaves and on her way out says hello and goodbye to Dorita so she doesn't get mad. She tucks the wand inside her skirt so it can't be seen and heads outside into the warm Arizona air. She considers looking for Chumbley but instead goes back to the Lucky Lady. She hides the wand in a hidden spot in her room. Grabbing a lemonade and the puppies and sits out on the front porch, skirt hiked up, sunning in the beautiful weather.Ruby doesn't have to wait long until the perpetually happy Chumbley bounces up onto the steps to talk to her.  "Hello Miss West, it is so nice to see you again. Thank you for speaking to Mr. Clum in Tombstone. I appreciate it. He wasn't willing to establish a permanent office here so I decided to take Mr. Arcadiam up on his offer to run the Herald, now the Mirror. That's what I wanted to speak to you about. I was wondering if you would be interested in advertising in the Mirror? We will have another edition out tomorrow."She smiles and says, "Well congratulations on your new job then, Mr. Chumbley. Why don't you have a seat and we can talk about it." Ruby gets up and enters the Lucky Lady, returning with some cookies and a lemonade for Chumbley. She hands him the glass and plate before sitting and stretching our her long legs again. "Now, tell me something, how did Adair take this news? Considering that was his only form of advertising, I'm guessing not too well."As Kate approached the saloon she saw Ruby sitting on the porch with her puppies and talking to the diminutive newspaperman. Kate hoped her face had recovered from her earlier tears, and checked her high-collared white blouse and grey skirt for anything out of place. "You left me alone in the middle of the night," Kate teased, "but I see you found your way home alright.""Hi Kate. Yes," she smiles, "I did. I hope you didn't mind too much but I knew you would know where I went." Ruby hops up again, and again returns with a lemonade for Kate. "Chumbley's just about to tell me how Adair took the news of his biased newspaper being bought out."  "Thank you," she said, taking the drink. She nods to Kate. "Chumbley, is your old boss going to keep distributing his paper here?"   He replies, "I strongly doubt it. The only reason it was a success before, given the time delay caused by the stagecoaches, was that it was going against a paper run by a washed-out drunk and I was willing to put so much effort into it. He's smart enough to know that he won't be able to compete against me. I should be generally free of competition.  But I won't be surprised though if he does show up for the festival with a special edition given the large crowds that will be turning out for that. Can't see him passing up that opportunity."   Kate says, "I would be thrilled to hear how Mr. Adair took that news."</blockquote>

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