He opened the desk drawer; it slid easily, smoothly, soundlessly. The first light of dawn revealed a dark wooden box. Adrian picked up the box and placed it on the desk in front of him. He studied it for a while, remembering how he had bought it in Fort Laramie in the USA back in 1876. Allegedly, it contained the very Colt .45 used by General Custer at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. He had kept it clean and in working order ever since, but had never fired it. Until now, he thought to himself.

He opened the box and took out the Single Action Army. The box also contained the traditional five bullets. Although the cylinder could take six rounds, an incautious user could detonate a bullet by hitting the hammer hard, so they generally left the chamber under the hammer empty until use. Adrian picked up a single bullet, half-cocked the hammer, loaded the bullet, then drew the hammer back to its full extent and released it carefully. One bullet would work against him now. He revolved the cylinder, although he knew he wasn't playing Russian roulette: He knew exactly where the bullet was.

Holding the gun so that the barrel was facing his chest, pointing directly at his heart, he cocked the hammer for the last time and the cylinder rotated its deadly contents directly in line with the hammer. Adrian looked out of the window, saw the morning light brightening the sky, and pulled the trigger.

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