Winfield M1873 Aperture
WINFIELD 1873 APERTURE. (See also, WINFIELD 1873, WINFIELD REPEATING ARMS COMPANY) The Winfield M1873 Aperture was a minor improvement on the original Winfield M1873, one which with a small and simple change offered greatly enhanced accuracy. The aperture sight is simple in its construction, that being the addition of a small disk with a centered hole, known to some as an iris. This makes use of the eye's natural tendency in which it centers objects by allowing the foresight to be seen through the aperture.
Unpublished manuscript, "Bad As They Seem"
Author: Hayden Collins
Undated
Bleached paper, typewritten, 8.5x11 in
-22-
Into the cave they went, the space narrowing, and then narrowing again until they were forced to crawl.
As they rounded a corner - Fin in the lead - they came to a stretch of tunnel hung with the bodies of dozens of gigantic rattlesnakes, strung up like lanterns, writhing and alive. Fin, perhaps half snake now herself, led them on, the cool scaly lengths of reptilian body running the length of their backs as they crawled passed. Not one bite was given. Perhaps the snake's message had traveled farther then they thought. Or, perhaps, the lantern snakes were not to keep people out, but to keep them in.
It had been hours, but still they crawled, snug as corks in a bottle, barely able to breath. They crawled in silence, tongues worrying at the icy stones that bought them passage, their clothing gone from red to brown with dirt and filth.
Finally, the tunnel opened out into a large room, ceilings high and spanned with bright banners above a table set for seven. At each place, a figure sat, still as statues.
The twins walked from figure to figure, stones still cold in their mouths. At the side of the smallest figure, the stones glowed red hot. Jos removed the ember stone, and placed it in the hand of the small figure. Nothing. Then, a flicker of the eyes and an impish smile.
And the Lord of the Dead could not bar their way, for they had not paid tribute to false idols, but to Him directly. He must answer, and he must let them pass, though they did not know if it would be enough to stop him from preventing their departure.
