Sagwa came shooting out of the crimson colored book. As she landed upon the soft stalks of grass, Sagwa became aware of a constant rat-a-tat from an unfamiliar, boisterous noise that seemed to be all around her. The frightened kitten kept low to the ground, fearing the high-pitched whistling and the heart pounding explosions that rattled the new world.

Ahead of her, Sagwa saw Wadsworth fumbling around, trying to get his bearing of the place. A sudden explosion (about ten feet behind Wadsworth) sent dirt and rock particles flying into the air that pelted both him and Sagwa. The kitten shrieked, dropped to the ground, and covered her head with her paws. The dirt and rocks fell upon her, scathing her none.

Sagwa quickly looked up to see if Wadsworth had managed to escape harm. The kitten didn't see the butler but she heard Frank shrieking shrilly like a little child as more explosions continued. Sagwa simply shook her head. She couldn't believe that a Major in the United States Army would act so wary in times like this. How was she to maintain order and control with a panicky major?

Then an awful sound filled Sagwa's ears. She couldn't quite place the cries of agony she heard. But the kitten knew of her keen awareness to the sense of death in the pungent aroma. She could almost feel the torture of the dying and the emptiness of the death. This awful sensation caused the kitten to curl up into a tight ball, hugging the ground and squeeze her eyes shut. In distress Sagwa cried out for someone to help her.

Her cries were answered swiftly. A pair of hands gently picked up the paralyzed kitten, swooped her into his arms, and placed her against his chest. Sagwa didn't open her eyes; she simply clutched the shirt and tried to hide from the awful sound and aroma that kept filtering into her mind.

Sagwa had thought that it was Memphis who had picked her up. Normally he was the only one around who would come to her aide. And thus, out of habit, Sagwa thanked him gratefully, "Thank you Memphis! I thought I'd be too paralyzed to move! Shhyuh-shhyuh!"

"You're welcome," the voice replied. "But I'm Jesse, not Memphis."

"Jesse?" Sagwa questioned in surprise, quickly looking up. Sure enough, the young outlaw had been the one to pick her up and get her out of harms way.

Jesse continued, "It's perfectly natural to become paralyzed in your first battle. I was like that when I was in the Civil War. Took a little coaxing to get me moving though."

Jesse then ducked behind a large boulder and dropped into a natural depression in the ground. He then let Sagwa hop out of his arms. Jesse stated, "Hopefully you won't ever have to get used to that sound."

"Which one?" Sagwa asked sarcastically. "The sound of those horrible explosions or the cries of suffering I keep hearing? Which of those do you hope I won't have to get used to."

"Both," Jesse replied. He sat down next to Sagwa and told her, "Here's a known truth: men are wolverines. We will fight with one another for the silliest of reasons and the two sides who fight, neither want war; only peace and resolution."

"How true," commented Memphis, hopping down into the trough. He approached Jesse and Sagwa.

Jesse immediately stood up and watched Memphis approaching them. Jesse inquired, "So you know what it's like to be in combat?"

"Oh yes," Memphis replied, neither smiling nor frowning. He kept a distant, weighty stare. Memphis told him, "But what's really astounding is the fact that you said that both sides want peace. True, but it seems that neither party wants to sacrifice victory for peace. Each side must have his own glorious success."

Memphis then glanced at Sagwa, saw her wide-eyed, troubled expression, and gave her a soft smile. He bent down infront of her and told the kitten comfortingly, "Being here is a mistake. Let me get the others and we'll get out of here."

"Okay," came Sagwa's reply in a quick, breathless reply.

Memphis straightened himself. Jesse stated, "I would like to help you find the others."

Memphis gave Jesse a quick look over. He told him, "I know where the others are. They're just trapped and the enemy is raining hell on them."

"Well, I can run distraction," Jesse offered pleasantly. He was willing to lend his crafty skills of diverting enemy fire in order to rescue the others.

"What do you have in mind?" Memphis asked, giving Jesse a skeptical frown.

Jesse thought for a second and then smiled. Now it wasn't just a plain, simple smile that he normally had. This was an exuberant, radiant, and mischievous simper that spread rapidly across Jesse's lips. To follow his giggly grin was a simple nod.

* * * * * * *

Frank huddled alongside of Wadsworth and Jack, muttering indignant words that he thought were appropriate for the time. Their shelter was a medium size boulder that barely had the width to hide the three. Bullets ricocheted off the rock, sending fragments into the air. Luckily for the enemy's captive prey, the use of large artillery was not called upon, seeing how the enemy lacked the weapons to disintegrate the rock.

Jack commented to both the butler and major, "Don't worry. Help is on the way. We're not in trouble yet."

"Yet?" Wadsworth exclaimed in fury. A whistling zing alerted him of the closeness the last round had to hitting him. Wadsworth squeezed even closer to Jack, gritting through clenched teeth, "I think you would hardly say that we're not in trouble! We're being shot at! How much more trouble do you think we really need before we actually are in trouble!"

"Just calm down," Jack stated coolly, trying to allow more space for both the men to hide even tighter behind the boulder.

"Easy for you to say," Frank grumbled snidely, "You're in the middle of us and thus have nothing to fear."

Jack chuckled softly and waited patiently for help to arrive. Surely they wouldn't be stuck in the hellhole forever!

* * * * * * *

Sagwa shook her head in amazement at the scene before her. Normally Sagwa kept an optimistic outlook in life but she was beginning to feel the slight feeling of doubt in the plan unfolding in front of her eyes.

The plan was a mere diversion created by Jesse in order for Memphis to safely direct Jack, Frank, and Wadsworth over to the trench. In theory, the plan would work. But in reality, would a galloping black horse with a rider who looked like one of Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders startle the enemy long enough for the plan to work? Or, would the stunned enemy quickly recover and begin shooting at the outlandish stunt?

"It's worth a try," Jesse told Sagwa, giving her a friendly smile. Jesse continued, gazing at the top of the trench. "At least then I won't be cooped up in this Godforsaken place any longer!"

Sagwa didn't reply. She knew from the wars in China that some of the men who went out to battle never returned back home. Even though Sagwa was unfamiliar with the aspects of war and why they were started, at least the kitten knew of the tragedies that happened within them. And this uncertainty left Sagwa feeling cautious and scared, fearful of her friends' lives.

Turning to Memphis, Sagwa gazed at the new clothing that he wore. It was a light, jungle colored, camouflage uniform that Memphis wore. The pattern was light shades of various hues of green and brown, mixed lightly around in small groups. Even the helmet bore the same jungle pattern as the uniform. The pants retained the same guide of colors as the blouse and the helmet did. To complete the uniform were brown leather combat boots and a Thompson machine gun.

Sagwa gave the weapon an incredulous stare. Gazing concernedly at her friend, Sagwa asked, "Are you taking the gun out there, Memphis?"

"Yes," Memphis replied. He gave the disquieted kitten a reassuring smile and told her, "It's not like I have a choice whether or not to take it out there. It doesn't matter even if I don't take the gun out there. They're still going to shoot at me and I might as well try to defend myself."

Memphis bent down and stroked the kitten's head. He told her, "But just because I shoot back it doesn't necessarily mean that I'm aiming to kill. I just go to disable them to stop them from killing others and myself."

"Well I still don't like it," Sagwa replied with a sniff.

"Let it be," Jesse told Sagwa, coming up to her.

Sagwa gave the outlaw and inquisitive stare. Then she gasped in surprise when she saw that Jesse was riding on his chocolate colored thoroughbred. She wondered outloud, "How did you get your horse here?"

Jesse smiled pleasantly to himself. He replied, looking at his hand, "I think I've found a new hobby, drawing!"

Jesse then looked at Memphis and asked, "Are you ready to go kick some railroaders' butt, Sir?"

Memphis gave Jesse an annoyed glance. Memphis told him, "For one, I'm a sergeant so you don't have to address me as 'Sir.' Secondly, it's not exactly the railroad we're going after."

"Then whom are we going after?"

"You're better off not knowing," Memphis replied.

Sagwa breathed, trying to brush off her nervousness, "Well, I guess I'll just wait here until you guys return."

"Yes, but just don't leave here," Memphis told her. "I may have messed up on this one but I'm not going to get any of us killed because of my mistake."

Memphis let a couple of seconds go by to allow for Jesse to collect his thoughts and psyche himself up for the diversion. Then Memphis stood tall. "All right," he said, "Lets ride."

* * * * * * *

Frank, Jack, and Wadsworth huddled behind the rock, fretting over their possible doom. Frank and Wadsworth protested about the lack of a plan and having to be rescued. In their opinion, at anytime, the enemy could pull out the large artillery and really start blasting the rock to pieces!

Wadsworth grumbled in a whine, "And I almost had everyone on tape! They almost confessed to the murders they've done! I almost had them too! My master disguise really fooled them into thinking that I was the butler and not out to destroy them! Hah! What kind of fool did those idiots take me for? But now since you guys arrived I doubt my plan is actually going to work!"

"The nerve!" Frank exclaimed haughtily. "You aren't the only one who was on the verge of exposing a serious crime! I was about to get Colonel Blake permanently removed from his post at the four-oh-seven-seven. Then I would of taken control of the M.A.S.H. unit and then I would have that sorry-excuse of Army surgeons taken care of and whipped into shape!"

"Both of you, be quiet!" Jack hissed in annoyance. He spotted Memphis crawling along the tall grass towards him. Jack watched as Memphis was signaling a course in which they were to take to get to the safety of the trench. Jack nodded in agreement of the plan and simply waited for the diversion.

* * * * * * *

Jesse crouched down on top of his thoroughbred, patiently waiting for the right moment to execute his part of the plan. While he waited, Jesse whispered gently into his steed's ears. "It'll be all right," Jesse said, "We're just going to go on another raid like how we used to do in the old days. Nothing more, nothing less. We just need to get through this and I know we will."

Just then the barrage of artillery halted. That was Jesse's signal. Jesse gently spurred his horse and the two clambered out of the trench and disappeared over the side.

Sagwa watched him leave. She had regretted the plan ever being formulated. Surely, Sagwa thought, there would of been a far better plan than this one to rescue the stranded. For indefinitely though, the strange remorseful feeling Sagwa felt could not be overlooked and clouded her optimism with pessimism.

* * * * * * *

Jesse rode hard into the midst of the escalating battle, trying to ignore the sounds of whistling bullets flying in front, behind, and over him. It was apparent on the faces of both feuding parties that the element of surprise had been won. For a short moment the gunfire ceased all together and both sides simply stared silently (in wonder) at the heroic figure riding past them.

Upon seeing the battlefield rendered useless due to dumbness, Memphis frantically waved for Jack, Frank, and Wadsworth to come his way. Without hesitation, Jack told the others, "Okay, lets move!" and leapt to his feet.

From there the three men hustled along the shattered remnants of boulder and dived into the trench to safety. There, Sagwa greeted them friendly and in a relieved, grateful voice.

Memphis continued to hold his post, watching for Jesse to return. The quick diversion had worked. The enemy had ceased firing long enough for the Jack, Frank, and Wadsworth to get to safety. But now the shock of the American "cowboy" was over and replaced with anger and hatred.

Jesse tried to look for a place to safely let his horse run free. He knew that both him and his trusty steed were vulnerable and almost easy targets for the new-age weapons the enemy shelled at them. Jesse wished there was a way he could fight back, to get the others to stop shooting at him.

Then Jesse remembered his revolvers and pistols at his side. He quickly drew them out and charged the enemy line, shooting rapidly as he went. Jesse didn't know if any of his shots hit their mark for the smoke of the gunpowder was thick and heavy. All Jesse cared about was the soldiers having to duck to avoid being hit, thus giving him time to flee and clear out of the area.

Just as Jesse neared the trench, he felt a searing pain rip through his left arm. The force of the blow sent Jesse tumbling off his horse and crashing hard into the soft lush grass. Momentarily the brave outlaw was knocked out.

Memphis saw Jesse take a shot to the arm. Memphis became concerned about the young outlaw but then he had to quickly leap out of the way of the frightened horse as it stampeded towards the trench. Once the horse had gone by, Memphis crawled back to his position.

He called out to Jesse, "Hey kid! You still there?" No response.

Memphis crawled over to Jesse, trying to flatten himself out on the ground as much as possible so not to be seen by the enemy. When Memphis arrived, he saw that Jesse had regained consciousness and was trying to move.

Memphis placed a hand on Jesse's shoulder, pushing him back to the ground. Memphis instructed, "Don't sit up. They'll shoot you quicker than your railroad boys back at home." Memphis glanced at the bullet wound and commented, "Looks like it nicked you."

"Feels like it," Jesse grimaced. He gave Memphis a small, enthusiastic smile, "I've had worse. Way worse than this. Except, I had a beautiful young woman who took care of me." Jesse's smile faded as he thought back on Zee. Jesse stated softy, "I miss her…"

"And you're going to see her real soon," Memphis finished for him. "You're a tough kid. This shouldn't even phase you from all that I've heard you've been through."

"Thanks," Jesse laughed. He told Memphis, "I just wanted to say, I never stole Sagwa's book. I am very fond of her writing but I'd never steal her work."

"I know, I know," Memphis replied knowingly. He suddenly remembered, "Oh no! Not the book!" He slapped his forehead and groaned, "The book is back through that front line!"

"I'll get it," Jesse replied fearlessly.

"No," Memphis quickly rejected. He sighed determinedly, "I'll do it. You're busted up and sides, you've got so much to live for."

Memphis instructed, "I'm going to get up and go. When I do that, I want you to clear out of here. Get down into the trench and don't send anyone after me. And most of all, don't come after me yourself. Do you understand?"

Jesse nodded.

"Good," Memphis breathed. He looked at the near-distant book on the ground in between the two fighting sides. Memphis sighed in thought, "No man's land. A place few ever dare to venture."

To Jesse, Memphis smiled, "Oo-rah!" At that Memphis leapt to his feet and ran behind the friendly fire. Along the way, Memphis ducked behind boulders for cover before continuing his course.

As soon as Memphis had leapt up, Jesse rolled to his stomach and began crawling towards the trench. When Jesse reached the side of the trench, Jack and Wadsworth helped to pull the young man into the depression and out of harms reach.

Sagwa stared at Jesse's bleeding arm and asked in a quavering voice, "Where's Memphis?"

"He ran back through the shelling to get the book," Jesse replied, giving his words a heroic sound.

Sagwa gasped in surprise. She began to feel frantic and helpless, waiting for her friend to come back. It was difficult, sitting and doing nothing while a friend risked his life for all of theirs.

Wadsworth came up to Sagwa and stated, "I wouldn't trust your friend Memphis Raines, Sagwa."

"Why shouldn't I?" Sagwa demanded, turning an angry glare upon the lying con. Sagwa continued, "Memphis is an extremely brave and noble man! He is risking his life so that we may return to our world!"

"Yes, I'm not questioning his nobility," Wadsworth remarked, carefully choosing his words. "But tell me what he means by, 'this is all my fault' and 'I'm not going to get any of us killed because of my mistake'?"

Sagwa stared at him in stunned silence. For once Sagwa didn't have a ready reply. In fact, Sagwa began to wonder the truth and validity of Memphis's statements. Sagwa wondered to herself, "How could it be, though? Memphis would never lie to me nor steal my stories! He just wouldn't!"

"I'd think twice," Wadsworth told her, "before you completely rule your dear friend Mr. Raines out of the list of suspects."

* * * * * * *

Jesse watched anxiously with Frank and Jack at the edge of the trench, waiting for any signs of Memphis. Then they spotted Memphis breaking through the smoke filled air and sprinting towards the trench. All around bullets flashed and explosions from other enemy attacks shook the earth.

Jesse announced, "Here he comes! He's got the book!"

Jack nodded to Jesse. The two fired a couple shots at the enemy to provide covering fire for Memphis to travel safely by. Just then Memphis leapt into the trench, narrowly avoiding being struck by a couple of machine gun bursts. The exhausted sergeant passed by Jesse and Jack, ignoring the fact that they were congratulating and praising him for his act of courage and honor.

Memphis stopped infront of Sagwa and saw her look of contempt. None-of-the-less though, Memphis told her, "I've got the right book this time."

"Indeed," Sagwa growled. "Seems like the gig is up Memphis, I know all about what you've done."

"I never wanted you to find out like this," Memphis sighed. He suddenly clasped his chest with his right hand and crumpled to the ground.

Sagwa's suspicion quickly turned to alarm. She rushed to him and cried, "Memphis! Memphis! What's wrong? Are you alright?"

For an answer, Sagwa saw the bullet that Memphis had taken while in pursuit of the book. The shell had struck directly above the heart; a fatal wound. But this knowledge, Sagwa wasn't aware of.

Sagwa stated in worry, "You're going to be alright aren't you?"

Frank dropped beside Sagwa and Memphis, examining the wound. He started to relay what he saw to Sagwa but Memphis cut him off.

"Sagwa," Memphis began softly. "Believe me, I only wanted to help you find who stole your story."

Wadsworth spoke up in a confused manner, "What are you talking about? It's you who stole Sagwa's story isn't it?"

"No," Memphis replied. "I'd never steal anybody's piece of art or anything for that matter! I vowed that a long time ago! Sagwa's been a long time friend of mine and I wanted to help her find who stole her story so I created this labyrinth in which she could find the real culprit."

"Well, so who stole the story?" Frank inquired.

Memphis gazed at Sagwa sadly. He said, "I remember you saying that you lacked motivation to write. Well, I hope the events that you've been through today will inspire more story writing and I hope that you'll continue with your writing. You're a terrific author with lots of potential. Don't ever lose sight of achieving your absolute best. Best of luck, semper fidelis."

Then Memphis closed his eyes and spoke no more.

Sagwa turned to Jack and saw that he had already opened up the last book, a pearly white one. The rainbow was already coming out of the opened pages. Then Sagwa turned to Frank and looked at him frantically.

"He's going to be okay isn't he?" Sagwa demanded in a panicky voice.

Frank couldn't bear to look the kitten in the eyes. He stated in a quiet whisper, "Perhaps the new world will do him better than this."

"No!" Sagwa exclaimed as the rainbow fell over her. Then, as before, she was lifted into the air and shrunk. Then she descended into the book and the book closed.