Springfield 1866 Compact Striker

SPRINGFIELD 1866 COMPACT STRIKER. (See also, RIFLES) The original Springfield 1866 is a breech-loading rifle bearing an extractor and .50-70 caliber centerfire cartridge. As is the case with most weapons referred to as compact, the barrel has been shortened to make it easier to carry and handle. The addition of a knife to the firearm in place of a bayonet began as a field modification, but became popular enough as to have been imitated during the weapon's production. This knife can be used to great effect both in light and heavy melee combat situations, and its reputation as a reliable striking instrument gave it its name.

Letter found in the possession of -REDACTED-
Undated
5/6

His eyes were wild and getting wilder now as he spoke, his words coming faster.

"I shouldn't have gotten mixed up with them I know, I know it now and I knew it then, but I was desperate, and then got word back from Colorado that the ranch had burned and Lorie and Janice were gone to Jesus and well about then I started to feel like nothing much I did mattered any more, like I might as well make a deal with the devil, if it would keep me in drink. If it could help me forget."

I asked him what the hell he was on about, what the hell he thought was so bad he regretted it any more than all the rest. I've seen him take the lives of a dozen hunters and ask about dinner after. He's calm and he gets the job done and he doesn't have an emotion on him. Now he was coming apart right in front of me. I guess the confessional will do that to you. I don't envy those priests their jobs any.

"I took a job with the brothers! Not to hunt with them - otherwise I wouldn't be here talking to you, none of their thirds ever survived, see? - but I did other jobs for them. I didn't care that there might be a curse or that they were looking stranger and stranger. I didn't care what anybody had to say about it. They were offering a hell of a lot of bonds for the work, and my people were dead. What I've seen in the swamps is unnatural, but what I saw those two do was worse."

I leaned in close then, nodding. Hoping he'd keep it together long enough to confirm whether the rumors we'd heard are true. When he finally looked up and started to talk I barely recognized him, his face was twisted up with desperation and regret.

Our sleeping companion's snores stopped of a sudden, and he yelped, groaned, and rolled over. I wondered what we would see if we could step into his dreams