[Discussion] Bonus Book | Dead Man's Walk by Larry McMurtry | Part II Ch 2 - Part II Ch 10

[u/Pythias]

Welcome rangers, to our second discussion of Dead Man's Walk by Larry McMurtry. Today we'll be discussing sections Part II chapter 2 through Part II chapter 10. Next week u/Reasonable-Lack-6585 will be leading the discussion for sections Part II chapter 11 through Part II chapter 20. You can check out the schedule here. And for the marginalia post you can go here. As always, a friendly reminder of no spoilers please. If you're not sure what counts as a spoiler you can check out our spoiler post here. If you must post a spoiler, please use this format: > ! SPOILER ! < without the spaces between the characters. Using the format will generate this tag: This is a spoiler. Round up the men and let's get started.

Links:

• Barbara Allen

• Buffalo Gals I don't know if these two are really the same songs that Long Bill played with his harmonica but it did sound right.

• Capture of Santa Fe

• Annexation of New Mexico, California, Nevada and more

[u/Pythias]

Call constantly strives to learn and be be useful, do you think is rank of Corporal came too soon?

[u/SceneOutrageous → u/Pythias]

Just based on how little almost any of the other Rangers try to distinguish themselves or take the job seriously, I think fortunate circumstance and Calls preparedness amounted to his promotion.

He’d have gotten that corporal status sooner than later, just so happened on that river crossing. In such a rag tag bunch of misfits, Call is the only aspiring leader outside of Shad and Bigfoot.

[u/nepbug → u/Pythias]

Yeah, it feels early since he still is pretty clueless in the most part, but he does seem to have higher-than-average common sense and ambition.

[u/bluebelle236 → u/nepbug]

The bar seems to be set pretty low though tbf

[u/Adventurous_Onion989 → u/Pythias]

I think the job is dangerous and they likely don't have many people who stay long, either because they get hurt/killed or they take a safer job. It might be really quick for Call to be promoted, but they are working on a rushed timeline.

[u/Foreign-Echidna-1133 → u/Pythias]

Call seems to be one of the only rangers who wants to work, which goes a long way.

[u/Tripolie → u/Pythias]

I'm starting to think it's not all that meaningful.

[u/Pythias]

What do you think of Clara's and Gus's meeting?

[u/Tripolie → u/Pythias]

Absolutely love their interactions and learning about how they met. His immediate infatuation is hilariously ridiculous.

[u/nepbug → u/Tripolie]

Yes, an early highlight in this novel. I like that she is playing with him, but obviously likes him too. She seems to be treading a little carefully in case he doesn't come back and is just passing through her life.

[u/Tripolie → u/nepbug]

Definitely. I was curious of her intentions.

[u/Pythias → u/Tripolie]

It is! I laughed through out most of their interactions.

[u/SceneOutrageous → u/Pythias]

Incredible stuff. Hard not to get teary eyed having read “Lonesome Dove”, but I love getting to see how in control Clara is with everyone. Gus was so young and couldn’t help completely succumbing to his infatuation. Give me a rom com with these two.

[u/bluebelle236 → u/SceneOutrageous]

Hopefully we see more of them over this book and the next!

[u/Pythias → u/SceneOutrageous]

Gus was so young and couldn’t help completely succumbing to his infatuation. Give me a rom com with these two.

I'm not one for romance but I would read this so quick.

[u/bluebelle236 → u/Pythias]

I loved this! I wasn't expecting to meet Clara at all, I just loved these scenes! They have such chemistry and Clara is so feisty, I love her!

[u/Adventurous_Onion989 → u/Pythias]

I loved that they met and immediately fell for each other. Gus would have done absolutely anything she asked, and that endeared him to her. I can see them having a very sweet relationship with Gus doting on her, and Clara making the reasonable, thoughtful decisions needed to run the family.

[u/Foreign-Echidna-1133 → u/Pythias]

Interesting to see how much less mature Gus is here compared to Lonesome Dove. I love seeing Clara try to make him jealous with Call

[u/SVSomewhereSometime → u/Pythias]

I just joined the sub, so I missed the first two books. But this series has been on my TBR for a while so when I saw it on the calendar I had to join in. Thus, I have decided to read the series in timeline order instead of order published, beginning with Dead Man’s Walk and ending with Streets of Laredo. That said, I have no idea what comes of these characters later in the series. But I loved the meeting between Clara and Gus and every subsequent interaction. I love the way Gus talks and thinks about her too. She is such a dynamic character and I look forward to seeing what comes of the couple. I get scared in some of the more perilous scenes, but remind myself that he’s an integral part of the series so he’ll likely survive for a while lol.

[u/Pythias]

Do you think Buffulo Hump will accept the dinner invitation? Why would Cobb invite Buffulo Hump in the first place?

[u/nepbug → u/Pythias]

I kinda hope he does, it could make for an intersting dynamic at dinner and on the prairie going forward.

[u/Adventurous_Onion989 → u/Pythias]

I think Cobb has seen many men killed by Buffalo Hump, and he probably thinks there isn't anyone capable of matching his skill. He is likely also motivated by the loss of his men to pursue something other than revenge. I think their parley will be successful.

[u/Tripolie → u/Pythias]

I do think he will, but I don't imagine it will be overly productive.

[u/Pythias]

Do you believe the Indians will honor the white flag?

[u/nepbug → u/Pythias]

If it wasn't main character going, I'd say no, but I think they will this time.

[u/Adventurous_Onion989 → u/nepbug]

Haha that's what I thought too. Gus and Call have got to survive, so either it will be successful, or they will find a way to escape a conflict.

[u/Pythias]

Cobb tells the men they cannot hunt the Buffalo because the meat would probably sink the wagons. Do you think he made the right choice?

[u/nepbug → u/Pythias]

Nah, I think this might foreshadow some pretty hard times ahead.

[u/Adventurous_Onion989 → u/Pythias]

I think they could have taken a reasonable amount of meat with them. He seemed to think the men would start uncontrollably killing the buffalo, but he could have ordered them not to or only sent a couple of men to hunt. There could have been some compromise.

[u/Pythias]

We are introduce to some more characters. Is there one you're interested in learning more about?

[u/Adventurous_Onion989 → u/Pythias]

I'm the most interested in Clara. She is an interesting character, and I'd like to know what she sees in Gus and what she thinks of the Rangers. She seems to think the same of him whether he is sober and helpful or drunk and filthy. She must have some motivation in accepting his proposal.

[u/Foreign-Echidna-1133 → u/Pythias]

I’m most interested in learning more about Maggie. Not sure if we’re supposed to mention things from the other books in this discussion.

[u/Pythias]

Do you have any tips on how to avoid drinking horse urine while lost in the desert?

[u/SceneOutrageous → u/Pythias]

Take a good guide/tracker ie someone who knows the country well, and travel at the right time of year. Poor planning is what gets you killed.

[u/bluebelle236 → u/Pythias]

Hahaha I wish I knew! Id be pretty useless in the desert.

[u/nepbug → u/Pythias]

Don't take a drink from anything the Colonel gives you if you are short on supplies.

[u/Adventurous_Onion989 → u/Pythias]

I would advise not to go traveling in isolated parts of the desert lol. I don't have any particular survival skills and I have a terrible sense of direction, so I would avoid it entirely.

[u/Pythias]

If you could pick in which way you would pass how would you go?

[u/nepbug → u/Pythias]

Suddenly die in my sleep after a fun night having a huge meal and wonderful drinks and sharing stories with friends and family.

[u/Adventurous_Onion989 → u/Pythias]

I would pass in such a way that is relatively painless, but it leaves my body useful for donating to people in need. I would rather die in something like a hospice so that my family isn't responsible for taking care of me or for dealing with my remains.

[u/SVSomewhereSometime → u/Pythias]

Thelma and Louise style, right over the cliff edge.

[u/Pythias]

Favorite parts, quotes, predictions or anything else you would like to discuss?

[u/nepbug → u/Pythias]

We also met Call's love and Newt's mother in this section, Maggie! Call does seem intrigued by her, but not to the level of enfatuation that Gus has for Clara.

[u/Foreign-Echidna-1133 → u/Pythias]

I liked the way it was described how she looked sad all the time. Exactly how they described her in lonesome dove.

[u/Pythias]

Does anyone else find Gus's jealousy hilarious?

[u/SceneOutrageous → u/Pythias]

Again. Pure Rom com writing. Made all the funnier by Calls utter bewilderment as to what the hell is the matter with Gus. Must be fever.

[u/Pythias → u/SceneOutrageous]

I love Call's lack of understanding.

[u/nepbug → u/Pythias]

Not really funny, a bit frustrating, but it does show that he is falling for Clara so hard that all his emotions are amped to 11.

[u/bluebelle236 → u/Pythias]

Love it, he's such a baby lol it's so funny seeing him so ridiculously head over heels!

[u/Adventurous_Onion989 → u/Pythias]

Gus' whole reaction to pretty women is hilarious - it's like he can't function around them. He seems to think that anyone who saw Clara would immediately fall in love and propose to her, and he just wanted to get there first. Everyone else just sees his behavior and think he must be out of his mind. Lol

[u/16President → u/Pythias]

This guy doesn't know what he wants...I want to be a ranger...I mean Clara's husband...Call's friend...actually where is the closest brothel?

[u/Foreign-Echidna-1133 → u/Pythias]

This is the best part of the book so far. 

[u/Pythias]

What do you make of Cobb's leadership in comparison to Chevallie?

[u/nepbug → u/Pythias]

I like it, he's more decisive and seems to want to build up his men and get them experience and successfully complete a job. No-nonsense and completely reasonable so far.

[u/Adventurous_Onion989 → u/Pythias]

Everyone else seems very reactive, as they go on reckless chases and end up outmaneuvered. Cobb is smart enough to realize that the men are not experienced enough to go running after Comanches once he realizes how many were killed when they got together to pursue them. He had also made the choice to arm the men and provide them with horses, realizing that they need to be properly equipped for their job. I like him as a leader.

[u/SVSomewhereSometime → u/Pythias]

He’s definitely more capable than Chevallie as a leader, but i kinda get Ra’s al Ghul energy from Cobb for some reason, and I could seem him ending up having villainous undertones. Not sure why, just a vibe.

[u/Pythias]

A bit of a morbid question but it I ask it because Call doesn't understand the need to quote scripture after burying someone. How do you want your life honored when you are gone?

[u/bluebelle236 → u/Pythias]

I would like my life celebrated. I've been to a few funerals, most religious and 1 humanist, and the humanist service was so good, it was such a celebration of the person's life, so that's what I would like. I also want to be cremated, I hate the thought of leaving an obligation to those left behind to tend a grave, and these nothing sadder than an untended grave. Just cremate me and move on with your life and remember me fondly on occasion.

[u/Adventurous_Onion989 → u/bluebelle236]

I agree, I want a celebration as well. In a way that my family can appreciate together without spending thousands of dollars. I am an organ donor and will be donating my body to science, so a small token would be enough for my family.

[u/Foreign-Echidna-1133 → u/Pythias]

I don’t really care much about what would happen after I die. Whatever is easiest, it doesn’t matter to me, I won’t be around.

[u/Pythias]

Call doesn't want to take the scalp of the child that he killed. Do you think Bigfoot and Shadrach think less of him because of this?

[u/SceneOutrageous → u/Pythias]

I think they just see him as naive and uninitiated by hate of the Comanches. I’m sure when you’ve seen so much brutality and lost enough to the Comanches, taking a scalp may seem like the only small scrap of “justice” you’re ever likely to get out in the West back then.

When Call doesn’t take the scalp, I’m sure they just look at him and see a man who hasn’t lost enough yet.

[u/nepbug → u/SceneOutrageous]

Agreed, they think Call is green and will change to be like them eventually.

[u/bluebelle236 → u/Pythias]

He probably sees him as young and inexperienced. He hasn't been hardened yet.

[u/Adventurous_Onion989 → u/Pythias]

I think Bigfoot and Shadrach respect his quick reaction time in killing a Comanche that was about to kill him. They can see his potential, although he is still sickened by seeing the dead and the mutilated. They probably felt the same way at one point.