"It's like someone rode through their camp and gave 'em a plague that killed 'em where they stood."
With that chilling idea from Winona, you are only left with the choice of heading back to the heard or trying to pick up a week dead trail. Either ay it seems you will leave the dead to the vultures and their belongings to the elements.
"Probably no chance of following any trail, let's get back to the herd."
"Agreed. Let's not linger here," says Winona. She slings her shotgun and pulls out one of her kerchiefs to hold over her mouth and nose as she makes her way back to the mounts.
Rufus shakes his head sadly at the remains, as he walks back towards his horse.
There was a trail coming in, but nothing leaving. As for that worrysome thought, I agree, lets not linger.
You head back to the herd and move on. In a few days you move into Colorado. The trip though most of the state moves swiftly with little real trouble. Sutter sets up camp half a days ride from Denver. Luke tells you "The old man is gonna give folks a few days of rest in a real city. Just half a days ride, so if you want some down time its yours"
Rufus makes it known that he wishes to go in, grab a drink and a bath (Not in that order), and then he will take in the sights of the big city. :)
Flying Eagle will go to the outskirts of the town to also get a drink and bath, but will not go into the heart of the "white metropolitan city" for fear of being treated badly.
Winona decides to accompany Flying Eagle to one of the boarding houses on the edge of town, the place where visitors who're just arriving often stay to drink and gamble rather than going in to the downtown area. This is admittedly risky—the same folks who would treat Flying Eagle badly due to his heritage may take a dim view of an indigenous man with the companionship of a white woman—but then, she is a territorial ranger. Hopefully anyone who gets belligerent can be "persuaded" to back down.
Winona takes a luxurious bath and eventually catches back up with Flying Eagle, having switched into a fine dress and hat for the town. She accompanies Flying Eagle on a small tour of some of the local businesses and stops to purchase an embroidered, beautiful kerchief from one of the local tailors.
"I like to collect kerchiefs from every town I visit," she explains. "A little sentimental, I admit, but it serves as a reminder of all the places I've been."
Rufus scrubs up in a bath, dresses up in his nice clothes.
He then comes out to meet Flying Eagle, and Winona.
So should we make plans to meet back here afore we all head back to the herd.
"Do you want to eat separately, or all together?"
"Let's all dine together. Since we're going to be in town for a few days, I wonder if there is a local show that we can catch, whether a dance-hall revue or borderlands Shakespeare."
With a population of more than 35'000 people and the heat of not only the railroads but Smith and Robards's warehouses and manufacturing, Denver is a large city with all the distractions one could hope for in the west. While maybe not the most welcome, Indians such as Flying Eagle are not unseen even if they are vastly outnumbered by the white settlers.
A number of dance halls and theaters can be found and shows are often nightly with new productions almost monthly. Entertainment can be found with ease and a number of other cowhands spent their coin in brothels', gambling dens, saloons and dancehalls.
Fair enough, I think that place there, would work for a place to stay, and as a place to eat. Shall we go ask about rooms
Rufus then puts actions to words, and walks across to the hotel.
Hey, do you have rooms for the 3 of us, and while we are here, meals
Rufus Finds the "G.R. Gregor Denver Hotel", It does have a stable out back. The Clerk smiles at Rufus "Yes sire! We have plenty of room. And if you seeking a meal we have a number of cafes and restaurant very close by, I would recommend Baldor's four doors down. Its right across from the Altor Theater. They have a new play going tonight I hear"
"How much extra to watch the play?"
"And do you know what play they are currently putting on?"
"I do believe the play is about .25 cents. Its a New play, straight from New York itself! "Shadows of a Great city", One of the other clerks saw it last week. They enjoyed the play, the Troup is well known and the singers are Paris trained!" He says excitedly
"Well, gentlemen," says Winona with a glance to her fellow riders, "I think we are going to get some culture."
Always interested in learning about the white man's ways, Flying Eagle agrees to watch the play.
How much to leave our stuff back there until we come back for it
After the price is negotiated, He drops the cash off on the counter, and puts his duffle on the counter.
Everything better be in there when I come back.
Rufus then heads off towards the theatre
The Altor Theater was anew, large Romanesque style building. It towered six stories tall and was almost like a grand cathedral dominating the street. The marquee out front proclaimed "Shadows of a Great city". Your find the inside of the Theater almost cavernous with four rows of balconies and more than twenty rows of theater seats. The stage is enormous with room for at lest two full stage coach teams, the great green curtains have more cloth than some entire towns you passed though. The room is dimly lit by Gaslamp and the buzz of the crowd has yet to fall silent. Above you, the roof lays hidden in shadows.
Winona takes one arm from each gentleman and leads them to the theater, where she pauses to crane her neck up at it in some wonder. "That's quite a sight," she says. "I'd say this city's doing pretty well for itself."
Once the trio purchase tickets and enter, she looks for a good mid-row seat and doffs her bonnet. She tucks her skirts down as she sits and whispers, "I have to say, I'm really looking forward to this."
"Me too. I have never seen a 'play' before."
Neither have I, shall we go see what all the hype is about
As you settle in, the lights seem to dim and the vast curtains are pulled back. The stage has a painted backdrop with scenes of a vast city street with what looks to be street lamps and stairs built right upon the stage. The orchestra starts to play as the actors appear upon the stage in finery and dress much more at home in the cities back east than the western states, even though Denver fashion is not far off.
The play spins a tale of a young lad pulled into the criminal world of New York and its gangs as his heart is captured by a young lady outside the criminal shadowland. The play is interspaced with song of such power and heartbreak, it pulls upon your very soul.
As the group takes seats, Winona explains to Flying Eagle, "It's a form of structured storytelling. Soon the lights will go down, all of the performers will move onto the stage up there, and everyone will go quiet. For a serious show like this the audience stays quiet as the performers engage the show. There are, of course, different kinds of entertainment where the audience is more raucous."
Winona watches the play enraptured by the story. As a ranger she spends much of her time on the trail, and while she's been in the cities, she never felt at home in them. The story of boy meets girl is an old one, but the idea of organized urban criminal syndicates in America is fresh in this era, when most people are still rural and large swaths of the country are open range. Winona finds the performances engaging, hypnotized and enraptured by the enthralling story.
Listening, and trying to understand what is on the go, Rufus just kind of lets go, and watches what is on the stage.
They story unfolds as rival gangs fight in back allies and commit robbery, murder and other foul deeds, but the songs of the the cast entrap you and hold your attention, Rufus finds himself truly captivated by the female lead, her accent slightly French but lovely and almost enchanting. He finds his heart torn as she finds her love is nothing more than a brigade hidden behind the gentlemen's mask.
I really must meet that lead actress
Rufus whispers to the others as he keeps finding his eyes staying attached to the lead.
After Winona's explanation, but before the play begins, Flying Eagle tells her "Oh, that's sort of like our tribal dances. Each one tells a story about the history of our tribe. Will this play tell a story about something that actually happened?"
You watch the story unfold as betrayal and gang violence leaves many of the characters slain or broken and Rufus and Flying Eagle are moved to tears as the very last the ladylove sings a heartbreaking song as the theater dims on her last note and curtains close. The theater erupts in applause and the lights come back up, the curtain open and the actors come back on stage to take a bow.
Rufus and Flying Eagle find themselves moved and overcome with emotion. To flying eagle its an almost draining moment and he find himself tired and drained as if he had been put though some great lose himself.
= Success
Flying Eagle notices...???
As the theater thunders with applause and many people seem to be overcome with emotion, Flying Eagle can almost see shadows leaping from the stage, mingling with the crowd. He seems one reach into Rufus and Another wrap around himself, but he is having a hard time trying to care, he is so very tired, Just emotionally drained and he craves sleep
As he claps, Rufus cheers with abandon, he quickly glances over at Winona, and Flying Eagle.
I really must try to meet that leading lady
With that, he will try to move towards the back stage entrance.
As he claps, Rufus cheers with abandon, he quickly glances over at Winona, and Flying Eagle.
I really must try to meet that leading lady
With that, he will try to move towards the back stage entrance.
Winona suggests, "Perhaps we could purchase a bouquet of flowers and try to make an introduction? If we're quick you might be able to catch her still taking off her make-up in her dressing room. Or for some shows the cast might come outside to socialize with the audience afterward."
Rufus looks around.
Did you see if there was any spot that there were flowers?
Rufus changes direction, and starts walking towards the front to inquire about flowers.
The Crowds are thick, some seeming to be as interested as Rufus trying to get back stage and a few stage hands seem to be acting as guards. Winona did see flowers for sell up front by a few venders. Most of those seem gone but might be out front. Looking though the front door, which also requires fighting crowds, you do see a few venders down the street talking and sharing a smoke. One has a small cart and you spot flowers within.
Flying Eagle seems tired, like after a long day or work or an emotionally tiring event. The play was very moving if strange for him and he keeps recalling bits and songs , almost to a distracting level.
"I'll go down the street and pick up a bouquet, and come back to meet you with it," suggests Winona.
Winona interrupts the venders speaking. One is happy to let you take some of his wares, they are not the best but what he has left and he is willing to sell for for two for 5 cents.
Winona pays the obligatory nickel and returns with the flowers for Rufus.
"Guys, I think we're under the influence of something other-worldly. I saw shadowy tentacles reach from the stage into the audience. They touched many people in the audience, including us. I think our enthusiasm for the show is artificially induced by this shadowy force, but I don't know what it is getting out of that. Maybe we should investigate."
I can do that, but only after I meet the leading actress.
Rufus thanks Winona as she brings the flowers back, and he starts making his way to the backstage doors.
Flying Eagle looks at Winona and says "Guess we'd better follow him, in case there's any further trouble..." and proceeds to walk after Rufus.
Rufus glances at the playbill as he makes his way through the crowd.
Leading actress, Suzzane Montreiul sounds French.
Once he reachs the door, he adjusts his Cravet, and straightens up his shirt. Then he knocks on the door.
You make your way backstage. The halls are small and cramped with people. Others seemed to have Rufu's idea and just had to see mademoiselle Montreiul. You catch a glimpse of the lady though the press of flesh, but clearly some of the male actors are acting much like guards as she pleasantly talks with those in front. But Rufus waits it out and even as others are sent away, he buys his time and sees his chance and knocks on the door.
A tall man open the door, you recognize him as one of the thugs from the play. He sees Rufus and says "The mademoiselle, is not taking more visitors" He says not unkindly seeing Rufus flowers.