3861. OATMAN

OATMAN

(1871)

The Oatman survives : evening subsides

around him  -  the dark sky glowering the

city back. A fountain somewhere splashes,

and the man from the carriage ride rounds

the small bend, there by Nassau and Chambers

Street. He is singing to himself, supple reins in

his Irish hands, calling out  -  looking for others

needing a ride. 'Ev'nin' Sir, I'm here to you. They

call me Oatman, but the name's Barnaby. You

can call me neither if you'd like. And where you

headin' that may be takin' ye?' I look back, only

once, to see that other fellow, in black, wincing.

He knows where I'm headed, though this driver

doesn't. 'I'm to go north, towards Adams Grill,

by Herald Square, though you needn't be fast

and my business can wait.' I see him nod and

we're off. 'I was called Oatman 'caz I once ran a

a big lot of them, every year we did, but the farm's

now gone and they've taken all my water too. So

I've got to drive this rig here, like I'm a'doin' to you.'

He looked ahead; the borders of a few great hedgings

went past  -  great homes of the island's landed gents.

I spoke: 'These men, you know, they're all bastard

crooks, you see. I'm headed right now, in fact, to

do one out.' Beneath my cloak was my blackened

revolver; enough powder and bullet to do my work.

'I'm rather sure you won't believe me, but keep yer'

trap shut as much as you do talk.' In case he had

a notion to tell Carmody or Byrne, those cops I'd

fled, I gave him a five for his troubles. 'I'll now be

off, you thanks, let me out. I got my own work t'do.'

I don't think he knew a word, nor understood what

I was doing. I stepped down, and then into Adams.

Just as I thought and was told, there they were. The

two - I walked right in, and emptied my pistol into

the one, and then one for t'other as well, just to keep

him quiet. In the hubbub of screamin', I got away.

The wagon was long gone, and thankfully now he'd

have nothing to tell anyway. I headed my way, on

a dash and a frenzy, southeast towards Tompkins,

and never looking back I did get away.