Righteous Men In Summer Days
EethanSamurai
When he fails to catch an old enemy, an intolerant US Marshal must grant a ferocious gunslinger amnesty in exchange for his help to apprehend the outlaw.
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I’m not your target audience–I don’t much care for Westerns–but this caught my attention.
I see where you’re going with the “old enemy” bit but am wondering if there’s a better way to word it.
Is the “old enemy” an escaped convict? A former con who was released, but whom the MC doesn’t trust? Just some jerk he doesn’t like?
A US Marshal, these days, may not have the authority to grant amnesty, like Zentaneous said, BUT…did they have district attorneys in the old west? Even if they did, did they stick with such formalities when time was of the essence?
Part of what caught my attention was his alignment with a villain in order to catch another villain. Does he break him out of of jail, putting himself on the wrong side of the law? Does he convince his comrades that permitting this alliance is the right thing to do, or is he on his own?
Either way, unless someone can suggest a more appropriate word that puts across the same concept, I’m fine with the usage.
That said…I feel like there might be another way to say all this that still adds a sense of urgency that each alternate version lacks.
Nevertheless, it has my attention. Good job.
As Zentaceous pointed out, a U.S. Marshall doesn’t have the legal writ to issue an amnesty. Their job is to catch the bad guys, not ?issue pardons after sentencing by the courts. Only state governors and the President of the United States (if a Federal offense is involved) have the power to pardon, spring a convicted criminal from prison.
And ?it seems to me the a stronger dramatic conflict would entail if the the marshal had to enlist the help of a bad guy not because he’s gone rogue, is insubordinate, but in spite of the fact that he’s a by-the-rules-no-exceptions kind of guy. ?Circumstances compel him to defy his defining characteristic.
Finally, I suggest considering an alternative foe whom the marshal must partner up with — a cunning Indian chief who has been leading his tribe in an insurrection against the Paleface invasion and occupation of his native land.
fwiw