The Story Of Red Dead Redemption

Chapter 16: Strive To Live

Kieran held the dagger that Arthur had handed him, staring at the Fat O'Driscoll, who was pinned down by Javier. A fierce internal struggle raged within him.

But the Fat O'Driscoll didn't care. As soon as he heard Arthur's words, he realized what these men were about to do to him. Desperately, he shouted: "Let me go! Let me handle this! I can do it. Let me kill this coward, Kieran! I'm stronger than him! I'll join you, give me a chance! Please, give me a chance—ah!"

Javier, annoyed, kicked him hard.

The O'Driscoll gang members were indeed trash, betraying their own without a second thought, showing no loyalty whatsoever.

Arthur, observing Kieran's hesitant demeanor, patted him encouragingly on the shoulder and said:

"Did you hear that? If it were him, he wouldn't hesitate for a second. Think about it, what wrong have you done? You're just an unfortunate soul, forced into the O'Driscoll gang. If you hadn't joined, they would have killed you."

Arthur could see that Kieran's hand was steadying as he listened. Arthur continued: "Am I wrong? Did they treat you well? Did you enjoy your time with the O'Driscolls?"

Kieran shook his head and said: "No, no... I was forced. Otherwise, they threatened to kill me. I didn't do anything wrong... really, I just ran errands and took care of their horses... I'm not a bad person..."

Kieran's face showed deep pain as he fell into a painful memory. In the months he had been forced into the O'Driscoll gang, he had seen them commit every kind of evil, and he truly despised them. Yes, he had committed crimes, but he didn't take pleasure in killing. He was just a small person trying to survive.

Kieran tightly gripped the knife, standing there.

"Did this man treat you well before?"

"No... no, he even beat me up this morning."

Arthur, seeing Kieran's state, felt a mix of frustration and pity. This was the tragedy of the weak—their constant evasion kept them weak. Dutch had always said that revenge was a luxury they couldn't afford. In the past, Arthur had believed that too. But now, he remembered something else.

Revenge is the game of the weak. Evasion is their being, and revenge is their rebirth.

"Alright, we don't have much time. Hurry up," Arthur said, gently pushing Kieran.

Whether it was Arthur's strength or Kieran's instability, Kieran fell directly onto the Fat O'Driscoll, the dagger plunging straight into his back. But the position wasn't right. Fat O'Driscoll screamed in pain, but there wasn't much blood.

Seeing that O'Driscoll wasn't going to die anytime soon, Javier lost patience and shot him in the head, saying: "That's enough. Don't waste any more time here."

Arthur nodded, pulling Kieran off O'Driscoll's body. "Now, you're one of us. You'll follow me from now on."

Kieran stood there, dumbfounded. This wasn't his first time killing, but it was the most bewildering.

Arthur didn't let Kieran stand there for long. He gave him a firm pat on the back. "Go gather the horses and bring the bodies back, put them on the horses. Don't forget the guns. Leave a good horse for me; you'll ride my horse."

Javier, listening to Arthur's instructions, asked curiously: "You said you had a plan before we started. Is it related to these bodies?"

Arthur confirmed: "Yes, I'll explain later."

After helping Kieran gather the horses, bodies, and weapons, Arthur said to him: "Alright, head back to the camp on your own. We have some other things to take care of. Any questions? Like, can I run away?"

"No, no, sir, I wouldn't dare..." Kieran was still a bit afraid.

Arthur laughed heartily. "You wouldn't dare. Everyone from the O'Driscoll camp is dead, and you're the only one left alive. What do you think Colm will do to you? Alright, we're off. Head northeast, follow the stream up through the gorge, and you'll see the camp. Wait there for us. If there are any issues, mention Arthur Morgan's name."

Arthur finished his instructions and left with Javier, taking the horses loaded with bodies. Kieran was left standing there with Arthur's horse, feeling dazed. Kieran didn't stay dazed for long. The sounds of animals in the distance urged him to quickly mount the horse and follow Arthur's directions towards the camp.

***

As Kieran saw a smoking, abandoned village in the distance, he thought, this must be it. Strangely, he didn't see anyone from this vantage point.

As he entered the village, he saw horses and wagons but no people. Before he could ask if anyone was there, several women with guns emerged from the wooden houses on both sides of the road. They pointed their guns at Kieran but didn't shoot immediately, recognizing the horse he was riding as Arthur's.

"Don't shoot! Ar... Arthur Morgan! He sent me!" Kieran raised his hands, showing he meant no harm.

Arthur had given Kieran his horse precisely because he anticipated such a situation, knowing that as a stranger, Kieran might face hostility.

Ms. Grimshaw, holding a shotgun, slowly approached Kieran. "State your business, sir."

With both hands raised, Kieran tried to control the horse with his feet, not wanting to cause any misunderstandings. "Mr. Morgan and his Mexican companion rescued me from the O'Driscoll gang. He offered me a place with you. They have other matters to attend to, so they sent me here first."

The phrase 'rescued from the O'Driscoll gang' worked well, as the surrounding people's hostility visibly lessened.

An older man, already red-faced from drinking, lowered his old rifle and staggered forward. "Welcome, welcome. Would you like a drink?"

Ms. Grimshaw, used to the man's drinking habits, didn't put her gun down but asked politely. "What's your name, sir?"

"Kieran, Kieran Duffy."

"Alright, Mr. Duffy. Since Mr. Morgan invited you, I trust his judgment. You can wait here for him. The camp isn't very convenient right now, so you'll have to wait in the house alone for a bit. I hope you don't mind. Once Mr. Morgan returns, I'll formally welcome you."

It was the safest course of action, considering there were no men in the camp at the moment. As for the old man? In Ms. Grimshaw's eyes, despite being the oldest member of the gang, he had never contributed anything useful.

He was just an old drunk, always with a half-empty bottle of whiskey. No one knew his name; everyone called him 'Uncle,' regardless of age. He carried a gun more to scare people than for any real use.

Soon, Kieran was 'escorted' into the room previously occupied by the Adler couple, who had returned to their farm, leaving the house vacant. As he heard the door lock from the outside, Kieran sat alone in the room, unsure of what awaited him. Alone, time seemed to drag on, and he began to reflect on his life.

He had worked in stables since he was a child. He remembered how his father had always dreamed of going to California, hoping to take the family there. He had looked forward to it too. But cholera took his father. Then cholera took his mother.

Only he survived.

After his father and mother passed away, he naturally lost his job at the stables.

People often say that if you can't survive, you should join the army. At least you could get a meal. He went, but looking back now, his time in the army was truly unbearable. Eventually, as expected, he couldn't stay and left the military.

Later, to survive, he met a few friends at a tavern and managed to get by with some petty theft for a while. But honestly, the criminal path wasn't smooth for him either. His friends were killed one by one, and in the end, he was left alone again.

Still alone, it was around this time that he encountered the O'Driscoll gang...

"Haha, thinking back, life has never really given me any choices, has it?"

Kieran laughed bitterly to himself. He didn't expect his future life to be any different from his time with the O'Driscolls. He only remembered his mother's final words to him: to survive, to strive to live.

***

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