THUG (part 3 )

Tom Clary fights for his life in Billings and fights with broken bones.

THUG  (part  3)

Big Jim and Tom Clary were having less than amicable relations.
The carnival was owned by Big Jim, he bossed every concession and
his cut was heavy. In addition to bossing the carnival, he owned the
boxing concession, he refereed the bouts and he kept the books.

So far Tom had not collected a nickel for his fights, things were
getting tense between them as they set up camp in Billings.

Jess Logan was the pride and joy of the ranching world around
Billings, Montana.  Jess was big, powerful and somewhat of a pretty
boy.  He had been fighting since he was a kid, but miraculously had
kept his pretty face intact.  At the school house dances Jess was
treated with great respect, not only was he big and tough, he had done
his share of hard rodeo riding, steer wrestling and bull dogging.
Jess was an 'all around' cowboy and a favorite with the young ladies.
He had intended to take in the carnival tonight and he had big plans.

Logan was familiar with the 'champion`s' reputation, it was not far
accross the Harding County line to where Tom Clary had broken the
kid`s neck while still in high school.  Word travels fast in ranch
country and like gun fighters of the 'Old West', Jess`s reputation
rested on him going to the carnival and beating Clary in the ring.

Tom Clary was also big and tough, but in a very special way, he had
a very high I.Q.  Not only was he smart, but he knew his limitations.
Tom was big, but he was small boned, fast as a bolt of lightning. 
He knew it was just a matter of time until he broke a bone.

Since Big Jim would advance him no money, he had to buy gauze to
tape his own hands and this worried him considerably.  Those hands
were small for a man of his size and he had to protect them.

The tents up, the ferris wheel up and running, the merry-go-round
blasting out a tune and crowds beginning to roam the mid-way.
Tom finished taping his own hands, slipped on his loose trunks and
walked through the crowd to the ring.  He was fearful, he always was,
his empty stomach knotted in dread, sweating lightly, he smiled as he
climbed through the ropes, thinking to himself, "never let them see
you sweat".

Jess Logan slipped on his trunks in the back of his pick-up, gave his
girl a long, lingering kiss and they walked to the boxing tent, arm in arm.
"I won`t be long", he told her," we`ll have fun tonight, you`ll see".
With that, he walked to the ring and climbed through the ropes.

Tom watched closely as he limbered up in his corner, out of the corner
of his eye he sized up his oponent.  First, he noted Logan`s clean
features, then his very, very wide shoulders and heavy boned frame.
These facts firmly in mind Tom did a quick analysis and he came up
with these assumptions;  Logan is a heavy hitter, if he gets me in a
clinch he will break my ribs on the ref`s blind side.  He has a pretty
face, he will carry his guard high to protect his face, wide shoulders
equal a weak sternum, or soft solar plexus.

Formalities over, the bell clangs the start of the first round.
Both men light on their feet, several short jabs warded off, Tom connects
with a left to Logan`s nose, not hard, a teaser, Logan counters with
a haymaker that missed by a mile.  Tom is now aware that Logan is
pressing, he is hyped up with adrenalin and ready for a fast kill.
This is going to be delicate work, Tom ducks and weaves as he feels
out the challenger and plans his attack.  Sure enough !  Logan raises
his guard every time Tom strikes with a left jab to his nose.
Repeatedly Tom jabs with his left, seeing the guard rise he bides his
time, jabbing, jabbing, then when Logan`s nose starts to trickle blood,
the guard goes higher and Tom brings over his devastating right fist
to the jaw.  There is a sharp crack !  Logan stumbles, but so does Tom,
he knows instantly what has happened, the pain is excruciating, his
right hand is on fire and the pain is radiating through his chest.

Tom knows his right hand and probably some  of his fingers are
broken.  With his right hand out of commission, now he really has
to use his head.  "Don`t let him know", he thinks, as with a mighty
effort he pulls up his right and changes stance.
Now he is a "lefty", he will lead with his broken right hand and
kill with his left.  It will be twice as hard, just to stay in this fight,
but it`s his only chance.

The blow Logan took to the jaw would have broken the jaw of a
normal man, but this guy had been hit by bulls, thrown on his face
and stomped on by horses and he was not about to lie down because
his head was mixed up.

After stumbling about, Logan trying to recover from Tom`s over-hand
right, his vision was blurred and his reflexes were not working
properly.  Logan waded in to Clary, throwing another haymaker
right, but Clary was`nt there, he had changed, now he was a lefty.
Logan throws another mighty right hand at Tom`s head and gets a
powerful left jab in the solar plexus for his efforts.  Now Logan is
feeling light headed, things are definitely not right.  As he tries to
figure out what`s wrong, two more rocket busting lefts to his solar
plexus,  a roaring sound fills his head, it is getting dark,  dark ,
dark......................................

to be continued

---- Eagle Cruagh

Author's Note

Remember:
This fighter is the same man who writes the sentimental
poems today. He is the a survivor. Try to equate the
development of this character with this brutal education.
------Eagle Cruagh

Reviews

[Brittany]

I'm surprised at how smart a fighter Tom is when he uses his head. Where'd he learn this...did I miss a part of the story? Anyway, well done.

[x]

That wonderful brooding passion is back in this write and the reader can once again, feel the story rather than just read it. Tom clearly doesn't belong in the ring but must be going through a 'rite of passage' which draws him in and the fights are as much mental, as physical, as Tom challenges himself, along with his opponent.
So, let's see now...He's not being paid, he's breaking his bones and suffering huge pain, his heart isn't in the boxing, so what is it that he's there for? Perhaps punishment for the broken neck or is it expectation that has been put on him by external forces and because he has honour, he has to follow through. Whatever it is, sometimes people do things in order to find out what it is that they don't want to be a part of. So, although this is a violent episode, there is much more going on here and depth of character is being explored.

A wonderful write and full to the brim with courage.

[Tracie Skarbo]

OMG this is amazing...you have put in so much excitment and I can't wait to see what will happen next. I got so worried when he broke his right hand. (Does this make typing hard for you now??) Anyhow I am off to the next part.

Tigra