Gifts and Consequences by Daniel Coleman

well.  He tried unsuccessfully to cover both his head and ribs. 
    When the attack stopped it took Allen a second to realize it was over.  He opened one swollen eye to see Spider looming over him.  The spindly man was fidgeting with excitement and even did a little jump in the air.  His buggish eyes were as prominent as the full moon overhead.  Emboldened by George’s attack, Spider ventured near enough to land one weak kick on Allen’s thigh.  It felt kind compared to the beating he’d received from George.  He stepped back to a safe watching distance. 
    George paced slowly next to Allen.  “Are you ready to be a little more forthcoming?”
    What else do I have? thought Allen.  It was no longer an issue of getting roughed up and losing his gear.  Allen looked at his hands for an answer and saw his watch.  He fumbled for a few seconds in pain, but couldn’t grasp the strap with his crushed hand so he extended it to George. 
    Using his stick, George motioned to Spider, who crept closer with the large blade extended.
    “That won’t be necessary, my over-anxious friend,” said George.  “He’s making an offering to us in goodwill.  Seems he’s finally learning the meaning of charity.”
    Spider deflated and sheathed the blade.  He removed Allen’s watch with a pout on his face. 
    Before George could instruct or nudge him, Allen reached into his pockets with his uninjured hand.  He offered cash totaling seven dollars and change.
    Forty cents , he thought.  That’s how much I had.  A quarter, a nickel and a dime .  Anything was preferable to thinking about the pain.  Blood from a head wound ran into his eye and he had to open his right eye, even though it proved extremely painful.
    “How kind of you,” said George with a mock bow.  “Why don’t you see if our friend is being totally honest, Spider?”
    The young man stared at his partner through long sandy bangs.
    “Find out if he’s holding out on us,” repeated George.
    “Oh!” said Spider and jumped to roughly pat down Allen.  He had nothing of value left. 
    “Set him up against that tree,” ordered George, motioning to a nearby mesquite tree.
    On a scale of one to ten Allen’s pain was a twenty as he and Spider worked to get him propped up against the rough tree.  In the meantime, George dug into the backpack and produced four sections of bungee rope.
    “Now take his belt off,” said George.
    “Uh, what for?” asked Spider recoiling.  “We’re not gonna do anything, uh, anything weird, are we?”
    George just showed Spider his hefty stick.  That was all the urging Spider needed. 
    As soon as Spider began fidgeting with his buckle, Allen remembered the $300 hidden in a pouch on the inner sleeve. 
    Should I mention it? he wondered.  They might not find it, but if they do, George will think I was holding out on him.  I can’t survive another beating. 
    The buckle was loose and Spider was sliding it out of the belt loops.  Allen’s head was still fuzzy from the beating, but he felt the belt clear each loop as if counting down to his execution.
    Undecided until the belt was free he exclaimed, “It’s a money belt.  I forgot about the money in the belt.”
    George walked to where Spider held the belt and ripped it out of the smaller man’s hands.  Spider danced back out of George’s reach then edged forward with wide eyes and fidgeting hands.    
    It only took George a second to discover the cash.  He counted it deliberately then put it in his pocket.  “Still holding out on us?”
    “I forgot about it until he started taking off the belt,” he panted.  “I swear.” 
    George paced in front of Allen.  He stroked his beard.  “What do you think, Spider?” 
    “He held out on us, George.”  Spider’s head bobbed and he couldn’t stand still.  “He didn’t tell us about the money in his belt.”
    “You’re right.  He didn’t.”
    In one fluid motion George turned sideways and took a