IMPOSSIBLE!

Drena Hills

"There is something very satisfying about doing the impossible!"

-

Walt Disney

"No Heyes, do not even think about it."

"What? I didn't say anything!"

"You didn't have to, you got that look. You know, the one you always get right before we hitch a safe to our horses and drag it behind us?"

Hannibal Heyes cast his partner a hurt look from the bar they were both propped up against nursing warm beer. "I was just thinking."

"Well stop thinking, drink your beer."

"Wouldn't hurt to go look just once more."

"I mean it Heyes," Kid Curry said firmly and gave him his best stare down. Somehow it always seemed to work better with people challenging him to a gunfight than it did his cousin, but it was worth a try.

Moss Hill had seemed like such a nice quiet town until an hour ago. Two saloons, no sheriff, run by a mining conglomeration back east; the poker tables had been full of miners off shift that couldn't play a decent hand of poker if their lives depended on it.

They had spent a pleasant day not knowing anyone or being a part of anything and it had been too good to last.

And it hadn't, the signal being the incredible explosion that rocked the entire saloon and causing every man to run outside to see what had happened.

The scene was staggering. A section of hill, which housed the entrance to the mine, had collapsed and taking with it the mining office and explosive shack, which had blown up creating an even bigger hole. From what they could gather an entire shift of miners were caught in one small section, still alive, but the small hole open to the outside above them too unstable to pull them up.

The entire situation had looked grim plus hopeless and to make matters worse the head mining foreman and administrator were out of town leaving only a mealy mouthed clerk afraid to organize anything even if he had been capable of an original idea.

They had run out with the others and after ascertaining the depth of the problem, Kid had dragged his partner away as fast as he could.

"Couldn't hurt to offer a few suggestions," Heyes said quietly in a soft, familiar, voice, Kid knew far too well.

Kid moaned and put his head down; it was too late, Heyes had the fever he always got when faced with an unsolvable problem.

"Heyes for the last time you know darn well the only way to get them out is the nitro the office kept in that safe, which I might add is in the bottom of that sink hole!"

Heyes gave him his widest smile, "So you've been thinking too huh?"

Kid shut his eyes trying to keep his temper. He had known the minute Heyes had learned all the explosives that might free the men had been destroyed with the exception of the nitro management kept cool and secure in the back office safe, Heyes was interested.

He had even queried about sending someone down to unlock the safe and get it, only to have the little clerk go into a panic and firmly insist that was impossible, company policy forbid anyone but the manager opening the safe and only management had the combination.

Impossible, there was that word again. Kid truly believed they had robbed more banks because someone said it was impossible than anything to do with how much money was inside.

"Heyes for one thing that safe is at the bottom of a 200 foot sink hole. For another you would have to crack it, thus letting everyone for three counties know you can crack it and three that nitro is so shook up it would probably explode the minute you opened the safe."

Kid was shouting now, not that it mattered, they were the only ones in the saloon.

"Might have settled by now, if it's packed good."

"Fine, fine, you wanna kill yourself, great do it, but I'm not hanging around to watch," and in a desperate bid to keep his cousin alive, he threw back the rest of his beer and stormed out of the saloon.

Heyes looked after him. He was heading for the stable and Heyes knew he was stubborn enough that he would ride out without him if he didn't stop him.

To make matters worse he knew Kid was right, the whole thing was crazy.

Impossible.

He grinned and forgetting his beer hurried outside.

Couldn't hurt just to take another look, then he'd catch up with Kid.

*************************

"I'm gonna need six men to handle the pulley," Heyes said to the group surrounding him and his quickly drawn sketch staked over a barrel. The men nodded and several raised their hands to volunteer.

"Mr. Smith there is no way I can allow you…."

His name was Mortimer and Heyes was giving him apoplexy. Why the very idea coming in and taking over and the way the men listened to him, where was their loyalty to the company?

"It's all right Morty all I want is the nitro," Heyes assured him.

"Oh that's all that is in there, Mr. Courtier, the company manager, keeps the payroll and office funds at the safe in his home."

"Not that he's got anything to lock up, company ain't sent payroll in months," someone grumbled.

"We can shore up the sides to get you down there,” Bill, the senior man present said worried, but trying to keep them on subject. "But your gonna have to open it in pretty cramped space, not to mention the lights gonna be real iffy.".

I've done worse and darker, Heyes thought eyes bright with excitement at the challenge.

He sobered for a minute remembering Kid's figure riding out of town. He had really meant to follow him. He had just intended to take another look, maybe offer a few suggestions, but then he had seen her.

She stood on the edge of the crater, her little form covered in dust and dirt, her long braids wild and loose, no more than 7.

"Daddy! Daddy please answer me! Daddy the man says you are still down there…"

He had watched as one of the women had pulled her back and huddled her among them crying and pulling off his gloves had yelled for whoever was in charge.

"Your gonna need someone to watch your back, hold the light, help pass it up," Bill said swallowing and cast his eyes down as the men around him moved uneasily. No one fancied the job it was clear.

"He's got it," came a voice from beyond the circle.

Heyes fought back a smile, recognizing the voice, he'd always known he would have.

************************************

"Did I mention how crazy this is?"

"Are you going to complain the entire time?" Heyes asked pleasantly as they carefully dropped down into the small area dug out around the safe.

"For the rest of our lives, but don't worry I have a feeling were not talking a lot of time there," Kid said, but as he said it he was testing the boards holding back the earth around them and making sure his partner had room to work.

Heyes merely smiled and forgetting everything else turned his attention to the safe. He could do his job without concern now that he had Kid behind him. His cousin allowed him the luxury of single mindedness and he settled in next to the safe and listened.

Kid felt a trip of dirt pour out on his shoulder and stepped out of its reach warily watching for any other sign that their small sanctuary was giving way. Willing the earth to remain at bay he stood quietly and waited not a doubt in his mind, despite his objections, that his partner wouldn't succeed.

*************************

It had been over an hour when suddenly Kid turned from the hole he was patching to see his partner smiling as he opened the safe door.

"Hoooooooooooooooooowhee," Heyes said putting his hat back on and pushing it back.

"I thought Mortimer said they only kept nitro in here," Kid said crouching down beside him to study the huge stack of cash sitting along side the small boxes of carefully packed explosive.

"I get the feeling this is why Morty was so excited about us leaving the safe be," Heyes said.

"Ya know Heyes I'm getting a bad feeling about this. Management gone, all the explosives destroyed, sure is a lot of bad luck."

"Unless you want to close a mine without paying anyone and take off with the money," Heyes agreed picking up the box of liquid explosive. "First things first, here catch!"

Kid jumped automatically and then glared at him, "Heyes remind me to kill you when we get out of here."

"I wasn't really gonna throw it! I'm not crazy!" his friend said hurt.

"Heyes, this really is the wrong place to try and convince me of that."

****************************

They were pulled out of the hole to a series of cheers almost as loud as the explosion.

"Now there is an airshaft here and here, if we could make an opening here," Bill said as the two ex-outlaws studied the map of the mine with him moments later.

"Yea, but its gotta explode out, we have to get it down to them," Heyes said and then stopped seeing something in his cousin's face, no one else had caught. "No Thaddeus."

"Can't lower it, might hit the sides, man is gonna have to take it down," Kid said thoughtfully.

"Excuse us a moment," Heyes smiled tightly and grabbing his partner's arm hauled him off to the side. "What are you doing?"

"Well you started this thing, somebody has to finish it and there ain't a man here but me who has a chance of getting that nitro down that hole without getting himself blode up."

"And you do!?" Heyes exploded.

"Heyes I did the exact same thing in St Louis in that bank chimney remember?"

"Yea, well that was crazy and a long time ago!" Heyes said desperately fighting for some argument against it. "You were younger!"

His baby faced partner grinned at him, "Heyes it was only three years ago."

"Like I said, younger."

"Heyes I can do it."

"And get yourself blown up in the bargain!"

Kid stared at him, "And what about you and that stupid safe!"

"That was different."

"How?"

"It was my idea."

"You are incredible," Kid said throwing up his hands and walking back to the men. "I'm gonna need some padding and a heavy duty rope…."

*********************************

"I just want you to know when your blown up with bits all over the countryside I am not picking them up," Heyes said arms folded as Kid checked the rope around his waist.

"Thank you Joshua," Kid laughed.

"God speed young man!" one of the women said kissing his cheek.

"Look remember to use your feet and yell out if we go too fast," Heyes said as Kid was maneuvered up and over the hole. "You got the diagram I made you right?"

"Yes Joshua."

"I'll meet you in that shaft with a team to help you through once you blow the opening," Heyes continued.

"Yes Joshua."

"And be careful!" he yelled lastly as his friend disappeared into the ground.

"What is the meaning of all this?"

The dark, gravelly voice made the men around Heyes freeze and he turned to face a small group of gray suited businessmen all frowning annoyed.

"Mr. Courtier, I tried to tell them!" Mortamer said running up terrified and practically bowing at the oldest man with the small bushy mustache.

"Keep it going," Heyes said turning back and ignoring the newcomers.

"Bill what is going on here!" Courtier yelled and the men once more froze.

"We are trying to save your men," Heyes said turning back on the man eyes dark and dangerous.

"What nonsense is this? Bill stop that immediately…"

"Bill you stop and your boss here is gonna join your friends."

"Get this man out of here," Courtier said dismissing Heyes as unimportant.

Two of the hired guns with the businessmen moved in to grab Heyes and instantly Courtier was glancing over at Heyes's revolver at his head.

"Tell them to back up."

"Do as he says."

"Now listen and pay attention because I do not have time for this. My partner is risking his life for those men and people start moving around up here and disturbing what is all ready unstable and he is gonna have more problems. I don’t like people that cause me and my partner problems are we clear on that?"

"You have no idea who you are talking too?"

"Neither do you," Heyes said and the way he said it, it came out like a growl and the man involuntarily shivered.

They group stared at each other; neither side sure of what to do and suddenly Bill put his hands back on the rope.

"Back to work boys, were running out of time."

One by one the miners glanced at the Mine Manager and then slowly followed Bill to their post.

"He's down," someone called as the rope suddenly tugged.

"Just what do you expect him to do down there with out explosives?" Courtier sneered.

"Funny you knowing there were no explosives," Heyes smiled. "But you forgot about the nitro in your office safe. You remember the one where you don’t keep any money?"

The man went a shade of pale.

"The safe is at the bottom of that hole."

"Yup, sure is, but given time and after everyone cleared out a man could go back, have it dug out, open it…"

"What's he talking about Mr. Courtier, I thought the owner hadn't sent no payroll?" one of the men said as people began talking nervously.

"All right lets all settle down," Heyes said eyeing the hole and wondering how his partner was doing. His query was met by the sound of an explosion beneath his feet. "Come on, we have to get down there and help them!" Heyes yelled holstering his gun and grabbing a shovel.

"Enough of this! You men are all fired!" Courtier said seeing his chance picked up the box of nitro and its remaining bottle and threw it.

The explosion sent up a shower of rocks and dirt and people were thrown to the ground screaming as the earth groaned under another assault.

The last thing Heyes remembered before darkness overtook him was the hole Kid had been lowered into being swallowed up in a wave of rock and debris.

***************************************

Kid hung on the rope for a moment letting his eyes adjust to the change in light. It always took his eyes longer than Heyes's, but he was patient and soon he could make out the twelve men beneath him watching from where they were slumped against the walls in the small pocket of air.

"Steady boys come to get you out," Kid said with more confidence than he felt.

"Ain't no way mister," said a skinny young man of no more than 16.

"You just signed your death warrant young fella," and old man said leaning back closing his eyes.

Kid's feet hit the earth and he tugged on the rope. The signal sent he quickly removed it and gingerly freed the small bottle of explosive he had padded against him.

"He got nitro!" the boy said.

"How the hell did he get that!" one of the men said.

"That's impossible."

"Only Courtier has the combination!"

"Yea well I got a partner who hates that word, personally gets insulted if it's used in his presence. Now you boys wanna help me get us out of here?"

"Yes sir!" the youngest boy said.

"What's your name?"

"Timothy sir."

"All right Timothy, I need you to get them wounded men back, you help him," Kid ordered the man next to him.

"You figuring to blow through to the south passage?" the older man asked.

"That's my plan."

"You know how to use that stuff?"

"I've blown a few walls in my time, roof once and believe it or not and entire train boxcar."

"Mister I like your style," the man smiled offering his hand.

Kid took it and then turning back to the rubble got to work.

********************************

The explosion blew with pinpoint accuracy and struggling to their feet the group hurried over to the small man size hole leading into the next shaft.

Surprised not to see Heyes peering in, Kid merely grabbed the closest man and sent him through and then a second scrambled past and a third.

The second explosion threw them off their feet.

"What was that?" Timothy cried.

"The whole place is caving in!" someone screamed.

********************************

"Where is it?"

Hannibal Heyes groggily tried to sit up only to realize he was being held down in the chair he was slumped in, by two large men.

Warily he looked around and realized he was back in the saloon, Courtier and his hirelings standing around him impatient.

It all suddenly flooded back to him and he struggled to pull free.

"I've got to get down to that shaft!"

"Tell me where the money is!"

"Let go of me," Heyes managed to free one arm, no easy feat and brought his fist sharply up into the man on his right's chin.

The man staggered back and Heyes, infused with adrenaline, ignored the pain in his head and swung madly at the second, catching him off guard. Frenzied by his success Heyes proceeded to leap on the remaining three underlings without any thought of being out numbered.

"I will shoot you where you stand…" Courtier yelled raising a gun and aiming it at Heyes's back.

The gun in Courtier's hand flew across the room.

"Get off him."

Kid's voice was so cold the room dropped ten degrees just by him speaking the command.

One of the men went for his gun and went down in a howl of pain. Slowly the others backed off leaving Heyes on his hands and knees gasping for breath, but defiant.

Slowly he looked up and managed a small smile at the dust covered man on the stair way gun in hand.

"You needn't have bothered, I almost had them."

"I could tell, but I felt left out."

"You look like a ghost," Heyes said struggling to his feet, only to have his partner reach him and help him into a chair.

"I almost was one. I take it that it was this bunch that interrupted things?"

The way he said it made two of the men take a step back. He was past angry and the quiet rage in his eyes as he noted the condition of his partner was terrifying.

"The men trapped….Did they…."

"All but one, young kid, stopped to help a wounded man, ended up with the mountain on top of him." Kid walked over to Courtier. "You in charge?"

"I most certainly am and if…"

It was the answer Kid needed and pulling his arm back Curry hit him so hard he not only broke the manager's jaw, but the wall he knocked him into.

Kid then let out a whistle and the room was filled with miners eager to help.

"Lock them up, ride into Lansing and get the sheriff," Kid said wearily, but not one man there would have tried him.

"On what charge!?" one of the suited men said horrified.

"Oh how about stealing company funds, murder, sabotage," Heyes said rising carefully.

"You mean he had our pay? We ain't been paid in months," Bill said angry. "Our kids done without cause of him."

"Yea well not anymore," Kid said going behind the bar and reaching down pulled out the money from the safe. "Reckon you can figure out who is owed what?"

"Thank you!" the man said swallowing and then coughing to cover his emotion.

Kid turned to study his partner as the room was quickly emptied. He was almost as dirty as he was; a nice size gash on his forehead for good measure.

"What did you do to yourself?" Heyes said looking Kid over as if he himself were ready for a Sunday Social. "How do you always get so dirty?"

"I don't know Heyes, people been asking me that ever since I could walk, usually after I've been somewhere with you" Kid said swinging his partner's arm over his shoulder and helping him across the floor to the stairs and their room. "You realize of course we did all this for nothing."

Heyes stopped him just as they passed the door to the outside and smiled as a little girl in bedraggled braids gave out a shout of daddy and running leapt into her father's arms.

"Not for nothing Kid, because it was impossible!"