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“Behind you!” The call came from the other side of the bloody field

Joe spun and shot

Hitting Ed square in the chest

Ed looked down at

the wound The gun in his hand fell to the grass Ed followed, his knees hitting the earth with a thud

“Joe?” His eyes began to glaze over

“Why, Ed? Why, daround He ripped off his own t-shirt and wadded it up, holding it to the wound But he knew his efforts were futile It was a lethal shot “Tell me why, old friend”

Ed started to shed Blood trickled from his lips “Money”

“Money?” Joe wanted to roar at the stupidity

“You don’t live here” Ed’s voice was barely a croak “It’s hard here without enough money”

“Da trash from the city dump”

Ed tried to shake his head, but couldn’t “Corrupt Everything corrupt Need money to live well Need money to buy…favours…to…be…happy…here…”

And then he was gone Joe stared at the man he’d trusted, not only with his life, but the life of the woround as he did, who’d been trained in honour AWho could have stood for so

“Joe,” Ryan said flatly

“I’h the air around hi him back down