Chapter 5

Jack enters the Pernil saloon and finds Pay Orville performing for a table of roughs while Mary Klee lies passed out and being groped. Realizing Pay is stalling to prevent a beating and Mary’s likely assault, Jack holds back until Constable Aaron Destry arrives, disperses the threat, and orders Jack to carry Mary out. Destry confiscates the obscene mascot puppet and escorts them to his office.

In the constable’s warm, cramped office, Destry questions Jack and Pay. Pay explains he sought Destry earlier about Riven but returned to rescue Mary and distracted the men with ventriloquism. Jack states Governor Youngblood sent them to examine the Great Gorge—called the Gullet—west of Riven. Destry warns of the Blasted Lands, “wompies” in Riven, and nighttime dangers, but says the Manni-folk may offer safe passage and protective means.

Destry adds that an old road leads near Riven and that the Gullet casts an eerie night light; he recalls family trips trading with Manni for canned goods and books, which are precious in Pernil. He offers to keep Mary locked and fed to detox while Jack and Pay travel by a light bukka and two horses, with helio stations along the way, and asks for a private report on their return to avoid panic. Pay hesitates over radiation fears but agrees to daylight-only exploration if they go.

Outside, Jack entrusts Pay with Youngblood’s tote of Coca-Cola—one bottle allowed—and a substitute signed pulp to appease the governor. Jack retrieves Sophie’s notebook, flips to Nebraska using the prize-box, checks local news confirming Dale Gilbertson remains missing, then digs up his Glock from the barn and reviews Sophie’s account of Speedy teaching him to flip.

Jack flips back to Pernil with his gun secured. He finds Pay in the hotel lobby, Coke consumed as instructed, and reports there’s no new word on Dale. Their plan to set out for Riven stands, with Mary detoxing under Destry’s watch.