The Book of Duels. Michael Garriga

The Book of Duels

THE BOOK OF DUELS

This is a work of fiction. Characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination, and any real names or locales used in the book are used fictitiously.

Ledger art for “A Scalping” © Megan Garriga

All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in critical articles or reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission from the publisher: Milkweed Editions, 1011 Washington Avenue South, Suite 300, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55415.

(800) 520-6455

www.milkweed.org

Published 2014 by Milkweed Editions

Cover design by Rebecca Lown

Cover illustration by Tynan Kerr

Interior illustrations by Tynan Kerr and Megan Garriga

14 15 16 17 18 5 4 3 2 1

First Edition

Milkweed Editions, an independent nonprofit publisher, gratefully acknowledges sustaining support from the Bush Foundation; the Patrick and Aimee Butler Foundation; the Driscoll Foundation; the Jerome Foundation; the Lindquist & Vennum Foundation; the McKnight Foundation; the National Endowment for the Arts; the Target Foundation; and other generous contributions from foundations, corporations, and individuals. Also, this activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund, and a grant from the Wells Fargo Foundation Minnesota. For a full listing of Milkweed Editions supporters, please visit www.milkweed.org.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Garriga, Michael Christopher, 1971–

[Prose works. Selections]

The book of duels / Michael Garriga ; illustrations by Tynan Kerr.—First Edition.

pages cm

ISBN 978-1-57131-886-2 (ebook)

I. Kerr, Tynan, ill. II. Title.

PS3607.A77335A6 2014

813'.6—dc23

2013043097

Milkweed Editions is committed to ecological stewardship. We strive to align our book production practices with this principle, and to reduce the impact of our operations in the environment. We are a member of the Green Press Initiative, a nonprofit coalition of publishers, manufacturers, and authors working to protect the world’s endangered forests and conserve natural resources. The Book of Duels was printed on acid-free 100% postconsumer-waste paper by Friesens Corporation.

For Robert Olen Butler

Table of Contents

PART I: OFFENSE

Slouching toward the Land of Nod: Abel v. Cain

Children of the Sun: Miyamoto Musashi v. Sasaki Kojiro

First-Called Quits: Josiah Pelham v. Luke Vanderhosen

Founding Fathers: Alexander Hamilton v. Aaron Burr

A Scalping: Wiley Thompson v. Asi-yahola

Steel Hole by Hole: John Henry v. Conor MacKenna

Into the Greasy Grass: George Custer v. Ptebloka Ska

Fiesta de Semana Santa: Sueño de Fuego v. Ignacio Lopez y Avaloz

Night of the Chicken Run: Charles Summers v. George Scarborough