A Glibertarians Exclusive: Mystical Child Part XI
From the diary of Robert “Cairo Bob” Allen, 1841-1928
December 4, 1886 – Carson City, Nevada
Funny how a fella goes from here to there. I rode into Carson City real late last night, and it would have taken another couple hour to ride out to the place. Horses were tired, I was tired, and so damned if I didn’t pass the night just like I had been doing before I took off looking for Spanish gold – sleeping in the stable stall with my horses. Could have took a room at the hotel or above the Dollar saloon, but figured I’d save my money. Slept plenty of worse places, and that’s the truth. The straw was fresh enough and the stable warm enough that I passed the night all right. Now it’s early morning. Still an hour before sunup, I bet, but I was antsy, couldn’t sleep any more. Just walked over to Miller’s Café, they open early, and got something to eat. Now I’m about to saddle my horse, ride out to the place, and see Isis. It’s damn well long past time.
***
December 4, 1886
A bird flew in front of Bob, making his horse shy up for a moment. “Come on, you goddamn stupid beast,” he said, but good-naturedly; the horse was, after all, just being a horse.
There were a few patches of snow on the ground along the trail west out of Carson City here and there, in sheltered spots. Bob had heard tell that the blizzard that hit Pyramid Peak up in Canada had just been a snowfall here, and the weather had turned mild since. Now, with the morning sun rising behind him, Bob felt like there was a fine day coming on.
Going home, he thought for the hundredth time that day. The idea that Isis might not welcome him back had occurred to him, but he dismissed it – somehow, he knew that this was the right time to go back.
And the wad of bills in his wallet surely wouldn’t hurt, either.
As was his habit, he thought as he rode.
Never did understand how a woman can have such a hold on a man, he mused. Not just by his pecker, neither. Isis, she’s got a hold of my heart. And my head. And my life.
Wonder, did she know just what she was doing when she sent me away?
Up the trail towards him came a farm wagon pulled by two mules. Bob recognized the couple on the wagon. “Mister Henderson,” he greeted them, “Missus Henderson.”
“Why, Bob Allen,” Chuck Henderson said, eyes wide. He pulled the mules to a stop. “Haven’t seen you in some time, figured you’d moved on. Are you back home now?”
Bob reined in his horse. If his old neighbors – Neighbors, hell, they live four miles away, he remembered – but if they wanted to talk, Bob figured he could spare a few minutes.
“Fixing to be home a while, yes,” Bob said.
“We see your wife now and then,” Elmira Henderson added. “She’s done a pretty fair job of keeping the place up. I hear tell some of the younger local men have come around a time or two, looking to shine her up, but she’s sent them all away right smartly.”
Bob chuckled. “Sounds like her, all right.”
“Where you been?”
Bob considered Chuck Henderson’s question for a moment. “Was gone up north,” he said, deciding to go with the truth – or most of it. “Had a job of work to do up Canada way. It’s done now, so I’m heading home.”
“I’m sure you’ll be glad to be home,” Elmira said with a smile. “Well, Charles, we’d best be off – need to move on, if we’re to get our trading in town done and back before evening chores.”
“You’re right,” Chuck agreed. “Well, Bob, welcome home. Glad to have you back.” Bob tipped his hat as Chuck Henderson snapped the reins to get the mules moving again.
Bob looked up the trail. It wasn’t far now.
Another mile, and he came to the crest of a ridge overlooking the Clear Creek valley. Below, a mile and a half away, he could make out the outline of his cabin and his truck field in the morning sun. He thought he saw someone moving, in the meadow by the creek.
A cavalry scout’s spyglass resided in one of his saddlebags, so Bob pulled it out, snapped it open with an ease borne of long experience, and looked.
And there she was. Isis was walking back from the creek through the lush meadow. Right there where the creek floods that flat every spring, Bob realized, and where all the wildflowers come up when it drains dry. Prettiest spot on the homestead. Fitting I’d see her there, even if everything is brown and dead right now.
He rode down the hill towards home. As he approached, the morning sun caught on the cabin’s glass windows. That glazing was one of the few luxuries Bob had on the place, and now it caught the morning sun and sent it back at him as he rode, dazzling, blinding, there and gone, there and gone.
Bob didn’t care. He was going home.
At the bottom of the hill the trail went through a small stand of poplars. When Bob had ridden through them, the cabin and fields lay before him – and there was Isis.
Her hands were dirty. She had clearly been up and working for a while, but sleep was still in her eyes; her long, black hair was still rumpled. She was wearing her old dress, the one she kept for choring.
Prettiest damn thing I’ve seen in the last eight months, Bob said to himself, and that’s for sure and for certain.
He rounded the last bend. Isis heard the hooves approaching as she was walking towards the cabin with a bucket of water from the creek. She stopped and looked towards the road.
Yep, Bob realized, she still has that same hold on me she always did. Strong enough to send me into the teeth of a blizzard chasing an impossible thing, just on the chance she’d take me back. And hell, I still don’t know if she even will!
“Shit,” he said, quietly.
He booted his horse and rode on in.
***
She was there in the meadow where the creek used to rise.
Blinded by sleep and in need of a bath.
I came in from the East with the sun in my eyes.
I cursed her one time then I rode on ahead.
And no, it’s still not over. Two installments to go.
Are they written already, or are you estimating?
well they are in the scheduled bit of the site
Doesn’t mean they have contents.
They have contents.
Okay. Thanks.
Unlike George RR Martin he probably knows how hos story ends
Hos’ stories all seem to end the same way.
Denouement in the local denomination?
Same as downtown?
Nice of you to square Dylan’s circle there on the sunlight.
I was wondering if anyone would catch that.
Not only did I not, I have no idea what juris imprudent’s comment means
Ok for the first time I googled the lyrics at the end of the story
If he’s coming from the East, the sun would be behind him in the morning. Animal cleverly worked around that mistake(?) by Dylan.
That’s assuming he didn’t wake up after noon. Epic bender, maybe.
Isn’t she the one blinded by sleep and in need of a bath?
Could read it either way, I guess.
It’s fucking Dylan. It could mean someone from another song.
I did, but I just assumed the original was referencing a sunset. Good way of switching the time of day, and it played in very well to setting the mood.
Women. Can’t live with them / Al Bundy
NOMA’AM
Another great lunch tale, thanks Animal,
A pretty chapter, Animal! I’m happy to see that the tale isn’t over yet!
No mysterious tombs in the wilds of Canada, but the narrative is still going strong.
But I’m guessing there’s still no Wendigo.
Related
That’s not what he sang.
STEVE SMITH NO WENDIGO, HIM NO EAT WHAT HE FUCK.
Isis is the Wendigo.
?
One of those classic sacrifice the country to save the state cases? Hopefully it works out better than Gov. Earl Warren to the Supreme Court.
A woman did ruin the Supreme Court, and that woman’s name was Earl Warren – Hank Hill
Thanks Animal. Good stuff!
What are the odds that the auction I’m watching on a Sako V-Action Deluxe in 7mm Remington Magnum will go for a tolerable amount of money?
I’d say it’s low.
Holy crap. Winchester 9422’s in 22 mag are going for $1500+.
It’s a great little rifle, but wow.
Supposedly the first of the Ruger-Marlins will be M1894s.
If you want a .22WMR, look at one of the older Marlin bolt guns. I’ve got a 742 I bought when I was about fourteen, and you can still drive nails with it. Great little rifle, and they are going for reasonable prices.
I have one, bolt action tube fed. Love that thing.
Maybe. Seems like prices are kind of flat on non-Tacticool stuff. Old Model 12s in field grade are going for next to nothing. Even a Pigeon Grade will cost you a bit less than it did a few years ago.
I got a 1940 Model 12 Black Diamond Trap in probably 90% original condition last year for (just) under a grand. That would have been unthinkable not too long ago.
I’m going to pay attention this lot. Might have a new bangstick by the end of the week.
I would like a bolt-action .308. Any that you think I should be on the lookout for?
Depends on what you’re looking for an your budget, but if it was me, I’d be looking for a pre-93 Remington 700 or a pre-64 Model 70 Winchester.
Thanks! I don’t own any larger rifles. I actually have a line on an older 700.
I have a Mossberg 100 ATR in 308 if you’re just looking for a bare bones 308 boltie.
What’s your intended use, and what do you want to spend?
General purpose hunting and shooting. Like to stay under a grand. My brother recently bought a Weatherby Vanguard. It’s pretty nice, but I don’t know shit about rifles.
Hence my question to my private gun experts.
Can’t go wrong with a Remington 700. Plenty of accessories like stocks/chassis and aftermarket triggers for that action. I have two of them, both in 300 Win. Mag (long action, not the short action you’d be looking for) and they are excellent rifles. One has a light barrel for carrying in the field, and the other is a 700P (police) with a heavy barrel. I’ve worked on the 700P more than the light stainless one, and it shoots about 1/3 MOA now with the right hand loads. The stainless gun shoots about 1/2 – 3/4 MOA but it has a factory trigger, heavier than the aftermarket Timney in my 700P.
My brother-in-law got it in his pointy head that he wanted to have a rifle. He’s broke, so you’d think he’d look for a used .22 or something, just for target practice, because he can’t shoot for shit.
But no. He had to buy some Tacticool black Rem 700 Sniper Special or some other such horseshit in .308, and now he can’t afford to mount a scope on it or buy any ammo. He’s had it for like five years and he’s never fired it.
He hinted around that if I had any scopes laying around unused, he could sure use one. I didn’t, but even if I had, I still wouldn’t have.
Guy’s a Grade-A knucklehead.
It sounds like you’ll have an opportunity to buy a “like new” Rem 700 at some point…
I got the 700P for 1/2 price on a sale from CDNN, added a $400 KRG Bravo chassis, and a Nikon scope that cost more than the rifle and chassis combined. no need to go super top shelf on the rifle.
Well, that sent me on a quick lunchtime Google hunt.
There’s lots for short-action 700s. Not that much for long-action 700s. Dammit.
Although that’s all I need at this point – tricking out yet another gun.
If/when I burn out the barrel on one of these rifles, I’ll probably convert it to something like .26 Nosler just for fun. I have a friend who has a 700 that used to be a 7mm STW, now converted to .26 Nosler and it’s a flat shooting firebreathing beast, although I doubt his barrel will last more than 800 rounds before the groups open up for good.
I’ve always wanted a rifle barreled for the old .240 Page Super Pooper, just to see the look on people’s faces when they ask what round I’m shooting.
I really like my Ruger M77. A used model in .308 will go for ~ 500- $600.
They also had heavy barrel and composite stock versions for more $.
My Remington 700 Sendero (long, heavy barrel) in .300 Win. Mag. is extremely accurate. I had a very little work done on it (trigger cleaned up and lightened to 4 lbs, barrel crowned and lapped) and it is sub-MOA (my best day ever at the range – 9 shots in a row through a hole the size of a quarter at 100 yards). Can’t remember exactly when I got it, but I think it was around ’95.
For long range shooting, plan to spend (nearly) as much on optics, though.
The glass on my long-range rifle cost almost twice what the rifle did, and that was on sale.
Glass is important.
+1
I think you mean, +4-12 x 50.
If you find the gun you want in 30-06 or 270 they will deliver the goods as well and may be more available.
Zep found a Benelli 30-06 (new) in the gun store (Prince?) in Milaca.
But have you seen the price of .30-06 ammo these days? Even military surplus ball ammo is going for multiple $/round, last I looked.
.308 with good bullets (not training rounds) is going for over $1.50/round, with some going for $2.00/round (or, I am sure, more).
I don’t think you can get any .300 ammo for under $2.50/round.
That’s why it’s good to have reloading capability, for sure.
I don’t have the head for reloading. I don’t trust myself to do precision repetitive tasks without drifting off and committing some potentially catastrophic error.
Hmmm… I still have some boxes of .30-06 after offloading my 1903. Maybe I should sell it off as well.
If I was gonna buy a new .308, I’d be looking hard at this:
https://ruger.com/products/americanRifleHunter/specSheets/26993.html
I’m not looking to add any new calibers right now though.
A friend of mine has a Ruger American Hunter. For a light deer rifle, I’d take it over any modern Remington or Winchester offering.
I’d also look at the offerings from CZ and Tikka.
I want to get the Ruger American Ranch Rifle in 300 blk. I have a can with that rifle’s name on it.
I’m trying to figure out the point of .300 BLK. Looks to me like somebody just wanted to shoot AK rounds out of their AR, for some reason, and came up with AKish ammo that an AR could function with.
Wasn’t the .300 BLK created to allow a suppressed AR with reasonable stopping power, while still being fairly quiet/subsonic?
Yeah, it’s based on the .300 Whisper, which was intended first as a subsonic cartridge for suppressed shooting. The gentleman (J.D. Jones) who designed the Whisper originally was relatively stubborn and refused to license the chamber specifications to a major manufacturer but was very protective of the IP. Because of this situation, eventually AAC, which had tried to license the specs from Jones for a while, made some (very) minor modifications to the cartridge specification and created the SAAMI spec for 300 “Blackout,” which is nearly indistinguishable from the .300 Whisper or .300-221 (as it was originally called by Jones).
I have built custom test barrels for myself chambered in .300-221 (since that’s what chamber reamer I have) and they function just fine with the Blackout cartridges, although AAC and others cannot advertise that.
The .300 Blackout makes a great pseudo-PDW in a short barreled machinegun platform. It can use a barrel as short as 7″ with a pistol gas system on an AR platform fairly reliably, with the right ammunition. Add a suppressor, and the performance of the system easily exceeds the capability of an HK UMP or MP5.
The mags and ammo are a little heavier overall, but the weapon system uses more common parts. Also it’s easy to switch to supersonic ammo when you don’t need the quiet, and you can reach out a little farther.
I have built custom test barrels for myself
*stunned, respectful silence*
What he said.
I’m honestly a little curious (or maybe suspicious) of the 300 Blackout terminal performance, compared to 9mm out of a rifle. I’d love to see a comparison in calibrated ballistic gel.
I agree the terminal performance is questionable. I haven’t had the chance to shoot any into ballistic gelatine. My concern comes mostly from the fact that most rifle bullets of the weight (mass) that make sense to use in the subsonic Blackout cartridge are usually meant to be going much much faster, and the jackets and expansion systems are designed to work at higher energies.
I think the Blackout probably needs a different kind of bullet than, say, a Sierra GameKing to get good terminal performance at, say, 900 fps. I haven’t tried yet, but some soft point bullets made for older slower cartridges like the 30-30 might make more sense.
I’ve also had some reliability problems with the Blackout in full auto mode that I can’t pin down. It’s either the magazine, or the gas system, but I can’t figure out which.
I neglected to say earlier:
Animal, I really enjoy this series!
I wasn’t expecting the plotline and character arcs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-1Ue0FFrHY
Lolol
The Green Berets
Anyone who fought in Vietnam can tell you that the war bore little resemblance to this propagandistic action film starring and codirected by John Wayne. But the film itself is not nearly as bad as its reputation would suggest; critics roasted its gung-ho politics while ignoring its merits as an exciting (if rather conventional and idealistic) war movie. Some notorious mistakes were made-
-in the final shot, the sun sets in the east!–
and it’s an awkward attempt to graft WWII heroics onto the Vietnam experience. But as the Duke’s attempt to acknowledge the men who were fighting and dying overseas, it’s a rousing film in which Wayne commands a regiment on a mission to kidnap a Viet Cong general. David Janssen plays a journalist who learns to understand Wayne’s commitment to battling Communism, and Jim Hutton (Timothy’s dad) plays an ill-fated soldier who adopts a Vietnamese orphan. –Jeff Shannon
Mistakes were made
Suns were risen on the wrong side of the planet.
in the final shot, the sun sets in the east!
I wonder if having the sun set on the East (associated with Communism – Eastern Europe, China) wasn’t symbolic/intentional.
https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/supreme-court-unanimously-strikes-down-warrantless-caretaking-firearm-searches/
This seems important.
Well…no more than they’ve done in the past, anyway.
Still, 9-0 is pretty solid.
9-0? Worse than we thought. They’re going to have to add at least 15 more judges to correct that imbalance.
I wonder if any red flag law cases are on their way to SCOTUS.
I hope so
Still holding its legal for vehicles. Bullshit. The text about being secure in their persons and effects from unreasonable searches and seizures is pretty clear it’s not just in houses.
“Shit,” he said, quietly.
He booted his horse and rode on in.
This doesn’t bode well.
So the plot might have a phase shift and result be unstable?
It depends on how much there would be to gain from such a result.
Everything you Double-Es write is just signaling.
For those who were on last night while I was “attending” an Irish wake via Facebook Live & I mentioned someone took a spill while dancing:
Yikes.
This article is sort of a Profile in Mental Retardation. As someone who’s left their asylum, I’m increasingly of the opinion of “Fine, let them live like that. As long as they stay there, I’m perfectly fine with them acting like that.
I don’t give a damn what anyone else does. You want to wear a mask everywhere, then be my guest. So long as no one is badgering me to wear one, I’m good.
*checks data*
Well, the first wave was mostly the NY metro area. The second wave hit last summer and cleared in three months. The third wave started right after the second wave receded and was by far the worst. The “fourth wave” is by far the smallest, measured by change from the preceding trough in cases, and like the first wave is pretty geographically limited (mostly, it seems, to states with strict lockdown policies). So I would “discuss how the FOURTH WAVE is going” by saying it went quite well, as it was over in about a month and was the smallest.