BILLY THE KID -- by William Welch
Landing in New Mexico in the 1880's Doug and Tony have a near-
fatal meeting with Billy the Kid.
Tony and Doug materialize tumbling into bales of hay alongside a
livery stable. Before they get their bearings, night riders charge
through the town. The two rvn to the Town Marshal, who is
undisturbed by the ruckus outside as he proudly displays his
prisoner, and tells Doug and Tony they're in Lincoln County.
Suddenly the night riders break in, and the Marshal is shoved against
the bars where the prisoner takes his keys and unlocks the cell door.
As the prisoner aims his gun at the defenseless Marshal, Tony grabs
his arm, but the bullet finds its mork. Turning to the two strangers, the
prisoner introduces himself as William Bonney - Billy the Kid. For sport,
Billy orders Tony to make a suicide dash into the street, but Doug grabs
a gun and shoots Billy, who falls motionless. Tony and Doug break free,
grab a couple of horses and ride out. In the Tunnel, Ann, Kirk and Swain
try to establish contact again. Kirk instructs Ann to go through their
research material on Billy. At the jail, Wilson, the leader of the night
riders, is amazed to see Billy raise himself and sit up. The bullet fired
by Doug hit his belt buckle and merely stunned him. Swearing to get the
stranger, Billy rides out. Meanwhile, Tony and Doug have found a deserted
shack and settle down for the night. In the Tunnel, Ann returns with the
research information, which states that Billy was killed by Pat Garret in July.
All his victims are listed by name except two strangers. Who Billy killed in 1881
-- the date they have fixed on Tony and Doug. They roust switch them at
once, but find that the power supply is low and will take hours to recharge.
When the Travellers awake, they go to saddle up the horses, but Doug who
returns to the shack finds Billy waiting for him. Doug tells him who he is,
but Billy angrily accuses him of lying. The tunnel technicians then realize
that a voice transmission may be the only possibility of saving Doug,
Meanwhile, Tony creeps up with a gun, but Billy shoots it out of his hand.
Both boys are domed to die when Quirk's voice informs Billy that the place
is surrounded. Billy is overpowered by the Travellers and tied up. Tony
wearing Billy's hat and gun, goes for help. When Tony rides into
Thatcher, he finds Garrett's deputies waiting for him. Sure they have
captured the dangerous Billy, they lock Tony up. At the shack Billy tied
and bound, makes a desperate lunge for the door, and Doug knocks him
out with the gun butt. With Billy seemingly unconscious, Doug goes for water
while Wilson and his men riche in, and release Billy. Doug seeing this heads
for Thatcher. A mob is gathering when Garrett arrives and informs them that
the prisoner is not Billy the Kid. Trapped in the office, Garrett sends one of
his deputies out to stampede a herd of cattle down the street to
break up the crowd. Tony leads Garrett to the shack, but they find it
deserted. Knowing that Doug will head for Thatcher and Billy will follow,
they ride back in time to save Doug. As Garrett leads Billy and Wilson toward
the jail, Tony and Doug disappear through time.
|
