Jack The Giant Killer Chapter 1

   Jack Maxwell sat on the deck overlooking the Arizona desert sipping on a bottle of whiskey and smoking a joint intermittently in between.  His portable radio by his side was tuned to FM radio titan KJAX  repeating  song after song of his Sixties favorites. "Walk right in, sit right down, Daddy let your mind roll on" it rang out as he surveyed the scene in front of him and its echo filled the air while he mumbled the lyrics.  He pondered many things in the morning. It was a routine that he enjoyed in his solitude residing in Mesquite in the desert early mornings when temperatures were mild and pleasant, watching the dawn of a new day as the sun peeked out on the horizon. Jack had few visitors at his modest estate he wistfully named the Ranchita. In actuality most of his visitors were residents as well...scorpions and rattlesnakes and a host of other dangers out in the vast expanse of the desert field. Jack often marveled at the diversity of life surrounding him in his self imposed isolation. Surrounded by deadly hunters and predators of different sizes and shapes. For instance , despite its size the scorpion can easily defeat a rattlesnake on the arrid battlefield with its venom that liquifies the insides of its prey. Even the smallest creatures had survival strategies. Size wasn't always an advantage. Jack had learned that, living in the desert.

    Far off in the distance, on the edge of the horizon Jack noticed the movement of three small dots approaching from the North below the mosaic backdrop of red and grey foothills. 
He estimated that at their present rate his visitors on horseback would arrive at midday. Meanwhile he made preparations to greet his unexpected quests and offer them hospitality.       "Must be tourists horseback riding lost way out here. If nothing else they'll need water," he thought. "Must have taken a wrong turn in Vegas," he joked to himself.

  Jack got up from his comfortable seat positioned on the apex of his deck and began the task of collecting water for the horses. "I hope they're not expecting a three course meal. This ain't no bed and breakfast," he thought.

   Just as he predicted,  two men on horseback with a third mount in tow, who could have passed as young Hispanics but who were in fact Indian scouts, arrived at his doorstep at noonday. Remaining on their horses they waited for Jack to approach them. When Jack seemed satisfied that they were harmless he stepped out on to his porch taking off his wide brim hat in the process and laying it aside. " You fellas seem a little lost to me. Is there something I can do for you?,"he asked. " Where you're standing is private property. The main road is somewhere in that direction," he said pointing vaguely in the air.

" We seek the man Enkoodabaoo.  We have traveled three cycles from our village to ask for his help. His name is Jack, the Enkoodabaoo. I am called Chitto and this is my brother Maska. We seek audience with the one named  Jack... the man who lives alone...Jack Dangerfield. Only he can help us.

Jack expressed confusion at their declaration.

  "Jack?...that would be me alright but you've got some of it wrong. I'm afraid you've been misinformed. I am Jack,  some call me Cadillac Jack, but Jack Dangerfield... well, he’s somebody else altogether. You see Jack Dangerfield is a character I created. He's not real.”

  The scouts looked at one another with consternation and then Maska replied.

  "We don't understand. You are Jack, the one who lives alone and traverses the sky and time itself. Jack Dangerfield travels the stars and confers with the great wind spirit. He counsels with the sky people and angels. In our dreams we are told that only he can help us.  We have come to plead with you to save us from the Maccapitew.”

Jack’s confusion continued.

"Wait, hold on...the Macca whatchoo? Is that some kind of wild animal around these parts that I'm not aware of yet? That sounds like an animal control issue and their office is in town”

   Chitto seemed impatient with Jack’s response and his eyes expressed frustration. “Maccapitew is our Indian word for “monster .”

 “ Wait, monster you say?” Jack questioned. “You've got more explaining to do ,Cheetos."

"That's Chitto sir, not Cheetos."

"Yeah sorry about that. I don't hear so good these days. Look, why don't you and Maska here hop down and come inside. You must be tired from the ride and all."

Chitto and Maska dismounted their horses and both wiped the sweat from their brows.

   Jack sensed that he needed to be more hospitable.  "Maska, tie them off and give them water.  You’ve got some fine looking horses there. They look like they have a lot of spirit.”

  Chitto smiled , “yes Cisco and Poncho have been raised from colts and the other called Banjo , he is also a fine steed. All three have served us well. My brother Maska was responsible for training them and caring for them since they were young. Maska is also known as Felipe since he is a lover of horses. I too am known as Miguel. It is my non-Indian name. I hope that doesn’t confuse you Jack.”

“No , I get it.” Jack answered,” It’s Indian stuff. No need to explain. How long have you two been riding to get here? Your mounts must be exhausted. And why three horses? Did you bring a spare?”

“A spare? Why no Jack, you see Banjo... Banjo is for you.” Chitto said.

 Jack thought a moment as he eyed the horse Banjo up and down. “Oh fellas, I’ve got to tell you the last horse I ever rode was painted and going round and round on a carousel in New Orleans. I’m not sure I’m up for a three day ride on horseback if that’s what you have in mind. No offense I hope. Nothing against Banjo personally. I’m sure any Indian scout or brave would be proud to ride him.”  Jack reached over and stroked Banjo and examined the beautiful blanket and saddle on his back as if perhaps silently reconsidering the proposition but then suddenly snapping back to reality.

"No ... no...As I was saying I'm sorry you've got it all wrong. My name is Jack, but Jack Dangerfield is fictional...he's made up. You see, I’m a writer and all that stuff about space and time... it’s just fiction. Even after his explanation he saw that they did not understand.  “But I'm curious, why did you come all this way to ask for help? How did you hear about me?""

  Chitto stood silent for a moment and then turned to face Jack. “It is you Jack who does not understand. Our story is brief but we come to you because our tribe, The Paiutes, is in danger and soon many more people could die. You must think we are crazy but I tell you, our dreams do not lie.

You are the one Enkoodabaoo and you have been chosen by the Great Spirit to free us from the giant.”

“Wait a minute. Did you just say “giant?”

Like in The Beanstalk.” Chitto and Maska both looked at one another puzzled by Jack’s words. “I hate to tell you but giants aren’t any more real than Jack Dangerfield and even if they were , one thing you need to understand , this Jack, the one you’re looking at now?... doesn’t do giants. Just for the sake of argument, how big is this  so-called giant anyway? Maybe this thing is just really tall and would benefit from wearing loafers or something. Did you ever think of that , fellas?”

  Chitto answered impatiently, “This thing is a warrior from a long lost tribe  called the Si-Te-Cah. They were a tribe of red haired giants from centuries ago. But what you also don’t know is that, from those times, the giants took women from our tribe who then gave birth to strange offspring who themselves became giants.”

“That’s a great story, Tonto, but if that was centuries ago what does that have to do with us?”

 “My name is Chitto, Sir.”

“Whatever....what is your point?” Jack pleaded.

“Maska, hand me the bag.” Chitto demanded. His brother reached inside his saddlebag and produced a pouch containing what appeared to be an Indian relic. Chitto held it up and revealed its shine and sparkle to the puzzled Jack. Chitto continued,“This amulet is sacred to  our people. The stone is priceless, but this is only part of the story.”

  Chitto took a deep breath and continued as Maska listened intently to the story he already knew. Jack sat quietly rubbing the whiskers on his face as he considered the facts being revealed to him.

  “My family was cursed by the Si-Te-Cah bloodline. This giant is the last remnant of that curse. He is our brother. Years ago our mother brought him to a cave in the wilderness when he was just a newborn baby. She knew the curse had returned.  You see , it had two sets of teeth like the giants from before. Our mother could not bring herself to kill it so she abandoned it deep inside the cave to die on its own. She regrets profoundly what she has done, but it does not change the need to destroy it.“ 

  “Hmm, not exactly mother of the year.” Jack said somberly. “ So what you’re saying is this...this giant guy is actually your long lost estranged brother through some kind of freak of nature...”

 “A curse.” Maska said impatiently. “We tried to end it but it survived in the wild and now that years have passed, it has grown larger and more dangerous. Now it has ventured out from the cave and eats our crops and livestock. It will not stop with that though.

The Si-Te-Cah were cannibals and our brother, this giant, is too.”

  Jack rose up from his seat and paced the room while rubbing his scruffy cheeks in a discerning manner as if plotting a plan of action. “Frito...Mitchell...?”

“That’s Chitto and Maska, sir.... and I should say that our names are not that difficult to remember.”

  “Right, right, sorry about that. It’s late and it’s been a long day for sure.” Jack said.

  “Surely no longer than ours Jack. We’ve been riding close to three days.”

  “Good point , Chachi, lets get some grub.” Jack proposed.

  The day turned into evening and the three enjoyed a tasty meal of turtle soup and cabbage while sitting around an open fire before turning in.

   “Miguel, Felipe... I’ve just got to ask. You know, we live in peculiar times, strange days indeed, wouldn’t you say? Please don’t take this the wrong way but let’s say I accept the premise of your story. Why would you need me at all? I couldn’t help but notice. You’re not carrying any weapons! Why not? Why don’t you brave Indians ride out to this giant’s place and shoot him. Bam, end of story, man! Can you guys explain that to me?”

   “How can you not understand? You are the Enkoodabaoo. “ Chitto continued. “My tribe has lived many years in the desert and our ancestors hundreds of years before and  one thing we know is that the desert holds many mysteries. It is a magical place. Is this not why you are here? The Paiutes are a peaceful people and we seek to understand the ways of the Great Spirit that commands the earth and sky. In the desert the spirit calls to many to fulfill their greater purpose. Some would call it their destiny. We, my brother and I have been told in our dreams that you and you alone can defeat the monster that threatens us. You, Jack Dangerfield have been chosen by the Great Spirit. Surely you have sensed it in your own dreams and have expected it to come to pass.”
   Jack rose up from his chair and scratched his head. “I honestly can’t say that I have but for the reasons I have tried to explain to you already. You guys are freaking me out. You realize that this is a pretty tall tale. You’ve gotta give me a minute to think this thing through.”         Jack walked over to the window and looked out into the ever increasing darkness of the desert dusk and pondered the situation now put before him. Chitto and Maska observed him while he stood there silent. Doubt and discernment played back and forth in his head as Jack sought to decide what to do, and finally it came to him.

   “You know boys, you need a 50lb nutsack for this kind of mission.” Jack said sternly.

   “Yes, Jack. Both Maska and I realize it takes great courage and strength to win such a battle.” Chitto replied.

   “That’s not what I mean though, yes ...bravery and strength but mostly ingenuity. I buy 50lbs of walnuts on some occasions and they come in these burlap sacks. I’ve got a dozen of them in my shed. I have an idea how to use them." Jack continued. "We'll need provisions. You two can bed down here tonight and we'll leave at first light tomorrow.  Now, about the horses... I’m not too keen on riding for three days so here’s plan B. We take my Caddy with my trailer hitch for the horses and we make a side trip into town before heading out into the desert. There’s some things we need from Home Depot and Guns R Us  maybe even the zoo downtown, but we'll figure that out later. Sleep tight compadres, I hope you brought your big boy panties for tomorrow we ride." 
   Chitto and Maska glanced at one another and smiled.