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.
© 2014, Text by Michael Garriga
© 2014, Cover and interior art by Tynan Kerr
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
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
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
Dueling Banjos in the Key of A: Billy Redden v. Ronny Cox
Peleas de Gallo: Caesar Julius v. I Am
PART II: CHALLENGE
A Saint and His Dragon: George v. Dragon
Judicium Dei or Trial by Combat: Jacques Le Gris v. Jean de Carrouges
Tilting at Windmills: Argus Nicholas v. Don Quixote
On Moses’s Failed Insurrection: Unbada v. John Cantrell
A Black Night in the South: Ezekiel Ackers v. Alexander McCarthy Sr.
Slap Leather: James Butler “Wild Bill” Hickok v. Davis Tutt Jr.
The Black Knight of the South (A Gothic Romance): Cadet Moran v. Alexander “Lex” McCarthy Jr.
Catfight in a Cathouse: Cora Carol v. Vivian LaRouche
Shanks in the Courtyard: Miguel Ramirez v. Muhtady Nu’man
Code of Conduct: “Big” Mike Frato v. “Unkillable” Danny Greene
It’s a Family Affair: Danyelle Sellers v. William Sellers
PART III: SATISFACTION
Delivered into His Hands: David v. Goliath
Dueling Visions of David: Donatello v. Michelangelo v. da Vinci
A Prediction Come to Pass: Gabriel, Comte de Montgomery v. King Henry II
Old Hickory: Charles Dickinson v. Andrew Jackson
Man above Challenge: Emile Dauphin v. Dale Culver
Pistols
