My father had lived through wars and troubles, and it left him with a sense that nothing lasted but what a man made of himself. - Louis L'Amour

Books are precious things, but more than that, they are the strong backbone of civilization. They are the thread upon which it all hangs, and they can save us when all else is lost.

He had seen Hyle shoot, and he had seen only one man he thought was as good ... just one. He'd seen Con Vallian down in the Bald Knob country that time, and Con was quick. He was almighty quick at a time when a man was either quick or he was dead.

If they didn't accept him, the hell with them - he could go his own way.