Francine

By Dwight W. Hunter

The character of Francine was introduced in and played an active part in the novel, Mei Ling. At the time Francine owned a Social Club in the gold town of Florence, Idaho Territory and became the life long friend of a tough little Chinese girl, Mei Ling.
Bernard DuMont was an autocratic eastern industrialist steeped in the concept of social castes, imagining himself as occupying the top social rung and further imbued with the mission to protect and promote his family name. He further fixated on the notion daughters’ sole purpose was to serve as pawns to merge up caste families and consolidate wealth.
Disappointment entered DuMont’s life when his third child was born a girl. Worse yet, Francine matured with a rebellious nature, unwilling to accept the role he set for her. When Francine reached marriageable age all the young men, DuMont felt worthy of his daughter, were unsuccessfully paraded before her. Francine was more interested in other activities than marriage and turned a cold shoulder to the young dilettante’s ambitions until the pool of suitors ran dry.
Not willing to accept the situation of Francine being an undesirable bride, DuMont entered into a contract with a young threadbare aristocrat to wed his troublesome daughter. Edward and Francine fell in love and enjoyed a harmonious marriage, until disaster stuck, leaving Francine a widow.
With little more than the clothes she wore, Francine was offered employment by wheelchair bound gentleman, Mr. Whitcome. During the following winter Mr. Whitcome contacted pneumonia. When realizing he was on the verge of dying, Mr. Whitcome bequeathed his estate to Francine. Following her benefactor’s, Francine moved west and worked in riverfront bar where agents from both sides of Civil War were part of the clientele.
Using money from her inheritance Francine built and operated a successful Social Club in Denver, until powerful interests, not believing in competition, gave Francine cause to sell her business. She teamed up with a former drayage own and participated in several northwestern gold stampedes.
Francine’s life ended in Lewiston, Idaho Territory while being cared for by her Chinese friend Mei Ling.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dwight W. Hunter
• Release date: Feb 27, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301093649

Dwight W. Hunter

I was born and reared on the Nez Perce Indian Reservation in Northern Idaho, graduated from Nezperce High school in the class of '50, spent a four-year tour of duty in the Navy which took me to California, Tennessee, Japan and Alaska. After leaving the Navy I received a B.S. Degree in Engineering from Indiana Institute of Technology at Fort Wayne, Indiana and subsequently spent thirty years in the Aerospace industry and private business Shifting careers in 1986 I received an A.S. Degree from the Allied Health Department of Mission College at Santa Clara, California, followed by ten years as a Psych Nurse with the California Department of Developmental Services. Soon after retirement I revisited Idaho, to keep a blind date with Mary, who subsequently became my life partner. We pooled our money, bought a used van and RV trailer and became RV’ers. One day, while enjoying the sun and sea at Morro Bay, CA State Park, I made a comment that someone should write bodice ripper romance novels about retired senior citizens. Mary replied with a question. Why don’t you? In answer to her question I authored my first novel about a strong-willed retired lady and a less then bright snowbird cowboy. Like most nascent writers, following the birth of my first book I self published and quickly discovered potential readers were not scrambling to purchase this newly minted masterpiece. Setting aside my dreams for instant fame, I continued to write for my own amusement. In six following novels I shifted time frames to the post-Civil War era and younger women protagonists. To date I have written seven titles in the Sisters of Destiny Series. Members in this fictional sisterhood possess a common gene, giving them the chutzpa to out think, out shoot and out maneuver ego driven men thoughtless enough to stand in their way. After completing my seventh novel I learned about e-books and a friend offered to create a web site to market my books in their original print format. Unfortunately she died unexpectedly and the web site project suffered a still-birth. A couple of years later I heard about Smashwords and quickly learned my initial attempt at website marketing books, in their print format, was not the way to bring books to market. Mary and I have given up full time RV’ing and settled down in the quasi frontier town of Pahrump, NV. Since becoming domesticated, I have devoted a major portion of my time to converting books into Smashwords format for publication.

Book preview

Francine

Dwight W Hunter

Copyright 2013 Dwight W. Hunter

All rights reserved

Smashwords Edition

Also by the author at most e-book retailers, are six more books in The Sisters of Destiny Series. (Discover series titles at the end of this book.)

All novels in the Sisters of Destiny Series are completely fictional. Any resemblance to person or person's names living or dead is purely coincidental

Thank you for downloading this e-book. It is the copyright of the author, and may not be reproduced, copied and distributed for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy at Smashwords.com, where they can also discover other works by this author. Thank you for your support.

A brief opening statement

Writing character driven fiction relive lazy authors from laborious research... we just tune in and let the words flow. In the process of birthing a work of fiction... history, time, geography and other touchstones reference points get bent and fused into the story by the right of creative license.

Francine, the lead character of this novel, was introduced as a supporting character in an earlier book, Mei Ling. She appeared as the rough and tough, roll her own cigarettes proprietress of Francine’s Social Club located in a Northern Idaho gold town called Florence.

While writing Mei Ling, the character of Francine impressed me enough to let her tell how she arrived in Florence. This book, Francine, is the fictional biography of Francine’s early life, letting us know how she arrived at the cold, muddy and rough gold town of Florence in Northern Idaho Territory.

Table of Contents

Chapter01 Openers

Chapter02 Mei Ling

Chapter03 Ruby

Chapter04 Francine

Chapter05 The Contract

Chapter06 The Visit

Chapter07 The Meeting

Chapter08 Preparations

Chapter09 The Wedding

Chapter10 Getting Started

Chapter11 The House

Chapter12 Esquire

Chapter13 The Widow

Chapter14 Life's Many Facets

Chapter15 Surprising Sisters

Chapter16 Moving Day

Chapter17 Business Prospects

Chapter18 Along Came Weed

Chapter19 The Letter

Chapter20 Traveling Companions

Chapter21 Strange Cites

Chapter22 An Unexpected Visit Gone Wrong

Chapter23 Francine's Social Club

Chapter24 New of Past and Future

Chapter25 A Second Encounter

Chapter26 Startling Events

Chapter27 Life Shifting Events

Chapter28 New Feelings

Chapter29 The Die Is Cast

Chapter30 Ending and Beginning

Epilogue

About_the_Author

Sisters_of_Destiny

Chapter01 - Openers

Bang!! The discharge from s little Derringer ruptured the air as it belched a .41 caliber lead slug, followed by a shaft of fire and a cloud of acrid blackpowder smoke.

The bullet plowed into Black Pete’s back two inches left of center, grazing the lower edge of his shoulder blade boring its way through the victim’s racing heart before losing its energy as ricocheted around his rib cage. Fading echoes from the gunshot were punctuated by the clatter of Pete’s buckhorn handled knife hitting the splintery board floor adding counterpoint to the hastily composed overture of death.

Energy from the bullet slamming into Pete’s back shoved him against Francine, sending her backwards into a filigreed bureau where his lifeless trembling body briefly held her hostage. Crumpling to the floor, the dying body ripped open her robe exposing weighty bare breasts that rose and settled in step with her frightened breathing.

Natural reflexes directed Francine’s left hand to investigate where the cold steel blade recently rested against her throat as she struggled to conceal her nakedness. Lowering her adrenalin-widened eyes Francine saw and felt the last faltering life-ebbing twitches of Black Pete’s once virulent body resting on her bare feet and shins. Francine’s leg muscles, locked in fright, would not immediately respond when ordered to pull themselves free of the twisted carcass holding her in place.

Gawd!! Mei Ling. Every bone in my body knew that son of a bitch was going to slit my throat, exclaimed Francine, her voice quivering in fear, as she worked her feet free.

I’ll tell you one thing for sure. I don’t ever want to get that close to Saint Peter again... not in the foreseeable future... anyway. I haven’t had such a fright since a stud lumberjack backed me into a corner with one hand around my throat and the other ripping my bloomers. I’ve seen lots of saloon brawls in my day, where people got shot, knifed, beat to a pulp and a mixture of the before mentioned, but this is the first time any lowlife ever came so close to pulling my curtains.

Well, it looks like I saved your neck and probably put mine in a noose, the smaller woman said, breaking open her Derringer to eject a spent cartridge. How come you let him get so close?

I had no idea the bastard was in here, answered the older woman stepping to one side. I just finished washings and preparing to put on my clothes on when I heard someone behind me breathing fast and loud. I turned and there this ugly son of a bitch was coming straight at me, giving the body a kick. He had that damn knife in his hand and his tally whacker in the other."

Which hand are you talking about, Francine? asked Mei Ling through a beginning smile.

What do you mean, which hand? His right hand, it was holding a knife, of course. Hell, his left hand was almost empty that’s why he must have thought he needed a knife.

Maybe you should have waited another minute for him to grow a little.

Ya, sure, mocked Francine, sticking out her tongue. It was my throat he was leaning on, not yours.

Since you're so unappreciative of having your life spared and me being the only live person with clothes on, it looks like I get the job of going for the marshal. There isn’t any need to let this no-good lay here bleeding on your floor, Mei Ling remarked, turning to leave.

You did what? stuttered Marshal Gill Puckett.

Like I said, I just shot Black Pete before he could cut Francine’s throat, answered Mei Ling.

Are you telling me you shot, Pete? Is he dead?

Well, he sure isn’t breathing any more.

Where did you shoot him?

Through the heart... I’m pretty sure.

I mean where the hell is he?

Oh! He’s in Francine’s bedroom. He slipped in on her without any pants on and a knife in his right hand. When she saw him coming at her she started yelling for help. When I got there, he had a knife at her throat and I think his other hand was up her leg, so I just shot him and he fell dead.

Well, I’ll be dammed. Here you just up and walk into my office claiming to have shot a man and you’re acting cool as a cucumber, just like shooting someone is an everyday thing.

It’s not the first time I’ve shot a no-good asshole like him.

You’re kidding me, he replied, fixing her with his attention.

This is about the fourth or fifth. After awhile it gets hard to keep count.

You have to be bullshitting me. That’s down right hard to believe. How come you never got charged for murder?

Nobody ever saw me shoot anyone, except Olie. That time I shot a guy who was about to shoot him. Ask Olie, he'll tell you.

Oh hell, let’s forget your history. Right now we had better go find Ruby, the justice of the peace, and then the undertaker.

Marshal, what brings you and Mei Ling around so early? Ruby asked as the twosome entered her office at the Two Rivers Freight and Warehouse Company.

Mei Ling just confessed to having up and shot Black Pete while he was holding a knife to Francine’s throat. Thought you might like to go with us to look the situation over. That way you can get an idea of what we should do.

Considering the things I've hear about Black Pete, I’m surprised somebody hasn’t done him in before now. Ruby nodded hi, Mei Ling, nothing quite like getting your day started off with a bang. Excuse the pun, I should remember shooting someone is not supposed to be joked about, but in this case I feel it's worth an exception.

Good morning, Ruby, I didn’t think about the problems it would cause when I saw a man, with no pants on, holding a knife at Francine’s throat, I acted without thinking and shot him.

I suspect you put a permanent end to Black Pete's plan for violating Francine’s virtue. Looking at Puckett, Ruby asked, Has the undertaker been notified?

Not yet.

Bob! Ruby called to the warehouse manager. Would you have one of the guys round up Josh Willabee and tell him there is a body at Francine’s Social Club requiring his attention.

Who got shot? asked Bob on his way to join them.

Black Pete, answered Ruby.

Sure, I’ll take care of it. So Ol’ Pete finally got himself shot. If you don’t mind me saying so, the world will be a better place without him.

Ten minutes later, the threesome of Ruby, Marshal Puckett and Mei Ling arrived at Francine’s Social Club, where in company with a now dressed Francine; they stood looking at the heap of what twenty minutes before had been the notorious Black Pete... no known last name.

Having inspected Pete’s remains and picked up his knife, the marshal questioned Francine and Mei Ling about what had happened. Their interview had just finished, when the rattle of Willabee’s wagon, mixed with men’s voices, attracted their attention.

Sounds like the undertaker has arrived, Ruby noted. Mei Ling, you and Francine may just as well come on over to The Justice of The Peace’s office so we can get the legal work done. Turning to Marshal Puckett, Mind taking a few minutes so we can review what went on here before I leave?

When alone, Ruby asked, "What do you think Gill? The evidence pretty well points to justifiable homicide by a citizen protecting another person’s life and property from uninvited entry and assault with a deadly weapon.

I am in complete agreement with you Ruby. You know, I’m beginning to believe business women are tougher than most of the men I run into.

How did you arrive at such a lofty position of wisdom, Gill?

I remember how you acted when Cuddy’s son shot him and then committed suicide, along with some other grizzly incidents which gave me a weak stomach at times and again by just thinking about them. Now Mei Ling comes along tells me she had shot Pete, a few minutes ago, with no more concern than if a cat had been run over. She added something about having killed a half-dozen other men.

I've heard, on more than one occasion, about how little Mei Ling has taken care of herself for a long time. I’m not surprised at her having done in a few bad asses along the way. In my opinion I’m a pretty fair shot, but I wouldn’t care about doing what she did to save Francine. That was either one hell of a good shot or an awful lucky one. I tend to believe she felt sure enough of herself to take the shot without being concerned for hitting her friend.

Like I said before, you business women are a tough bunch.

With all the crap we women have to take... it’s all just a matter of survival.

O.K. Ruby, Judge Tanner has been known to say, ‘It’s hard to top you.’ Anyway, by the time you get your paperwork done, I’ll have this mess taken care of and come to your office.

Good plan Gill, Ruby agreed. No need to hurry, give me an hour or so.

Back at her office Ruby took the two women’s statements, including notations describing on-site evidence, adding her conclusions of the shooting being a justifiable homicide with no need for a trial. With the task completed, Ruby asked Mei Ling to stay while excusing Francine.

Mei Ling, the marshal tells me you were pretty calm when telling him about this shooting scrape, which doesn’t surprise me when considering I have heard you can take care of yourself. If you don’t mind, I'd like hearing more about your adventures. Perhaps we can get together for an evening of woman talk in a day or two.

Only if you are willing to share your adventures, I think such an evening would be both interesting and entertaining. Although we came from opposite sides of the world, I believe we hold many things in common. I, too, have heard about you being a woman of determination.

Three evenings later, on Friday night, Ruby and Mei Ling decided to have supper at Catfish’s Grubhouse. As usual, Ruby received a round of greetings when they entered.

Hey Ruby! Who’s your friend? asked several of the regular dinners.

Some of you should already know or have heard about her. She owned and managed the store at Oro Grande before moving to Lewiston. Gentlemen, this is Mei Ling.

Ain’t she the one who shot Ol’ Black Pete the other day? questioned a rough looking customer sitting about ten feet away.

Yes. I’m the one, answered Mei Ling, without any noticeable expression.

You no-good Chink Bitch! The man exploded, coming to his feet, drawing a small revolver from under his coat. Pete just happened to be a good friend of mine and I ain’t about to let no slant-eye crack get away with shooting him. Before he could take aim, two close-coupled shots rang out, spewing interlocking clouds of blackpowder smoke, followed by the crash of overturning furniture, the thud of a gun hitting the floor and a series of death gurgles as the victim’s body crumpled to the floor.

Immediately the room was filled with an assortment of irreverent oaths mixed with the sounds of chair and table legs scraping the floor and stampeding feet heading for the door. When the smoke cleared, Mei Ling and Ruby stood side by side, each holding a Derringer, still aimed at a point where the challenger had once stood.

Goddamn it, Ruby! If you two keep shootin’ my customers, how do you expect me to make a livin’? Catfish Charlie's voice was heard as his head appeared above the counter. When the two women turned in his direction, Catfish sucked his head back down like a frightened turtle.

If you ladies don’t mind, would you point those peashooters in some other direction?

Lowering their guns, Ruby answered, You can stand up now, Catfish the shooting is over. It serves you right for letting such lowlife riffraff in your upscale place of business.

By the time Catfish had drawn himself up to full height, his customers were cautiously slinking back into the room.

My gawd, Ruby, you damned near made me pee my pants, complained the leading customer with a laconic drawl.

You ain’t the only one, Jake. My pucker string’s pulled up so damn tight it’ll take ah pint of castor oil ta get it loose, voiced the next in line.

Better not disturb anything there fellows until the marshal and undertaker get here. By the way, has anyone gone for Puckett? Ruby asked.

Ya. Saw Young George high tailing’ it toward the jail, so I suppose that’s where he’s goin’, volunteered the last man to enter.

With excitement notching down, the men turned their attention to Ruby and Mei Ling who by now had their guns out of sight. One of the more curious men picked his way to where he could look down on the fallen man. After giving the body a careful examination, he turned to Ruby.

I must say that was some mighty fancy shootin’, he’s got a pair of holes in his chest no more than two inches apart. By gum... from now on, I bet either of you ladies can have all the road you want with nobody goin’ to argue about which side you choose to take.

Make way you rubberneckers! Marshal Puckett commanded, pushing his way to where he could view the dead man.

What the hell’s this town coming to? He questioned, shaking his head. Two shootins in three days... both of them by women. If this keeps up, the town is going to get a bad reputation. Turning around speaking with a firm voice he ordered, All right... you have all had a look, now get yourselves on down to a saloon, have a drink and do some bragging about being witnesses to a real live shootout. If I need any of you, I’ll let you know.

O.K, now which of you fair and gentle ladies did the shooting this time?

There are two holes in him which indicate we both did. Ruby answered, turning to face Mei Ling, who nodded agreement.

Walking to the body, he kneeled down for a closer inspection. Without looking up, Puckett announced, There sure enough are two holes in him all right, about two inches apart. Getting to his feet, he walked back to where the women stood.

This is one hell of a come off. The Justice of the Peace getting herself mixed up in a shootout will cause Judge Tanner to pull the hair he ain’t got when he gets here. Where’s his gun? Without waiting for an answer the marshal returned to the body. During his second visual sweep, he stepped around an overturned table to pick up a revolver lying under the seat of an upset chair. He smelled the muzzle then opened the cylinder... ejecting the cartridges and taking note none had been fired. Satisfied with his inspection he snapped the cylinder back into place.

It appears you both got him before he could get off a round. Are you sure he was planned to shoot you?

According to his last statement, after hearing Mei Ling’s name, he took on the notion to avenge the death of his old bosom friend, Black Pete. I can’t speak for Mei Ling, but when a rough looking character like him, pointing to the body, declares his intention to shoot someone and pulls out a gun to back up his talk..., you can bet your sweet ass I believe him, verified Ruby.

The short ensuing silence was broken by the sound of a wagon stopping outside and heavy footsteps entering the room.

Hey Marshal, what’s this I hear about you having more business for me, proclaimed Josh Willabee, the undertaker, walking over to look at his new customer before paying attention to the women.

You lady gunslingers sure are helping my business. Keep this up and I’ll make enough to feed the wife and kids through the winter. Then on the other hand, if you keep on shootin’ these no-account drifters, the taxpayers are goin’ to start complainin’.

Just as well load him up, Josh. No need to disturb Catfish’s business any longer than we have to, Puckett advised.

It’s about time somebody started thinkin’ ‘bout my business, chimed in Catfish, walking around the counter. All this excitement has ruined business for now, but should make a good draw for breakfast in the mornin’. Folks’ll be droppin’ by to see where the shootin’ took place and tell lies about what they seen...so guess it ain’t all bad for business.

Come on now, Catfish... how about showing a little respect for the dead? Wouldn’t happen to know who this guy is, or rather used to be, would you? Puckett asked.

Seems like I heard somebody call him Speck or somethin’ like that.

Sounds good enough for me, nodded the marshal.

Sorry about you losing your late supper trade, Catfish, Ruby sympathized. Figure out how much loss this unexpected melodrama cost you and I’ll take up the slack."

Ah shucks, Miss Ruby, don’t worry your pretty head ‘bout that, I’ll make it all back in the mornin’.

Ruby, don’t you think we can let the paperwork rest until tomorrow?

Sure thing, marshal, with Mei Ling and me on the loose we may be able to stir up a little more paperwork before morning. Ruby answered with a deadpan expression.

Chapter02 - Mei Ling

After supper the two women retired to Ruby’s small apartment where they could talk without being overheard or interrupted.

Tell me, Mei Ling, about your life leading up to becoming a successful business woman? I have heard talk about you starting out as a slave girl, later shipwrecked on the Columbia River, with some lethal pistol practice along the way. You certainly proved your shooting ability the other morning, which goes a long way toward bearing out the fact that you can hit what you shoot at. I would like to commend you on your markswomanship. Ruby finished, lifting her brandy snifter.

Thanks for the compliment. Mei Ling nodded, lifting her glass. Praise has more meaning coming from a woman of experience. It appears you already know most of my story.

I have heard a few of the highlights. Most likely what I have heard is more embroidery than fact.

At the end of a short pause, Mei Ling began her story. It is nearly impossible for anyone who has not lived in China to understand our way of life and what it is like to be a Chinese farm girl. In China, a girl has little value... less than most animals. Many are killed outright or let starve when born because there is not enough food for another mouth. Only boys are desired. They have freedom. They can own property and are allowed to make choices.

I think I understand, a little, empathized Ruby. I have only a fleeting glimpse of what life is like for the Chinese I see around here.

Even with the whites’ dislike for us, life is better here than in China, Mei Ling acknowledged then continued. Soon after I began to menstruate, my father sold me for a few gold coins so he could pay taxes on the small plot of ground he owns. Chicken men, as we call them, travel through the countryside with wire caged ox-carts buying girls when they reach puberty. After Father collected his money, I joined two girls who had experienced my fate the day before. By day's end two additional unfortunates joined our company. Pausing, to take a sip of brandy, Mei Ling continued.

"In a Chinese farmhouse there is little room or privacy, so being locked in the cage was not much of a change. The cart had holes in the floor which served as our toilet. In the evenings we each received a small cup of rice and water. Wearing only thin shirts and pants we had to draw close together during the night to keep warm. The following morning we headed for town, a trip lasting two rough bumpy days. Our bones ached from being cramped in the cage without being able to stretch or exercise.

In the city, Chicken Man sold us to a broker. Our new owner ordered us take off our clothes so he could inspect and sort us into groups. Regaining our clothes, we were moved to larger cages, inside a house, which held girls according to expected future value. The next day we were sold at auction. Girls with poorly shaped bodies, or who had been disfigured went cheap for use as coolies or toys for old men. The better looking ones were paraded naked in front of prospective buyers, who were allowed to inspect us in whatever manner they chose, other than going inside our bodies. Buyers were especially interested to know whether a girl was pregnant. If a girl was found with child, her valued dropped to near nothing. Those with breasts and well-shaped bodies were purchased for use as prostitutes. I was fortunate a considerate man bought me.

Along with one other girl, I was taken to his house where an old servant woman gave us a very rough bath causing our skin to turn red. Then we were given clean clothes and a bowl of rice with some fish and vegetables. A few days later my new owner sent me to a young doctor who had found a way to stop girls from having babies by cutting into their bellies. I became the first living girl the doctor cut into, by ‘living’, I mean he had practiced on dead girls.

After my belly healed I joined three more girls who had been changed. We were taught to become high-priced entertainers by a kindly old woman who spent many years in service to a man who had recently died. Upon completing our training we were auctioned off as the main event of a very fancy party attended by a few carefully selected rich men."

After another sip of brandy she continued. My owner was a very smart man; he planned the order in which we four girls were presented. Since I was the only virgin and by not having had my feet bound, I went last. I was sold for the most money. A well-respected merchant purchased me. He took me to a house where special customers were entertained. This house became my home where I lived and worked with five other girls, watched over by an older housekeeper, until I left for America.

I am beginning to understand why we, Americans, can never understand what living in China must be like, nodded Ruby. Please go on.

I was given beautiful clothes, jewelry and taught to speak English so I could entertain sea captains and merchants from England and America. A year later I had the pleasure to entertain Captain Lur Lensen. He soon became my new owner after falling in love with me the first night we were together and came to see me each night until I joined him on his ship. He promised to marry me when we reached Oregon, but he died before having the chance to keep his promise. When the Northstar ran aground near Astoria, a heavy object on the end of a rope flew through the air and hit him on the back of his head. The blow cut his head open and knocked him into the water. We never saw him again.

Didn’t Lur have a family who could have taken care of you? Ruby asked.

His parents lived at St. Helens, Oregon, but I never went to them. There were more than a hundred Chinese passengers on the ship, who after the wreck, were moved to the small Chinatown in Astoria. During the winter I lived there, I quickly learned how whites looked down on us yellow slant-eyes. So to prevent any embarrassment to Lur’s family or myself, I never looked for them.

Yes. I can imagine the kind of reception Lur’s parents most likely would have given you. I suspect by his parents being Norwegian they were unable to speak very much English. The language barrier would have made it all the more difficult for them to understand. Ruby acknowledged. Did you have any trouble being reaccepted by your own people after Lur’s death? I gather you and he lived together on the ship.

"I had no problems with the passengers. The original Chinese boss man for the passengers thought himself to have more power than he was given by doing whatever he pleased. He moved walls to build a private room for himself and took women passengers for his pleasure. When Lur told this man to change his ways, using me as an interpreter, the man attempted to show off his assumed power by telling Lur not to bother him... so Lur shot him.

By being Lur’s