[ WP ] It first began with gritty remakes of old iconic movies . Now children 's book companies are riding the trend by releasing gritty remakes of classic children 's tales .

`` It's done, sir.'' Thom whipped the cloth away, revealing a fine mahogany table beneath. He and Adam shared a grin, then turned to face Wyatt, bowing in unison. 
 
 `` So it is,'' Wyatt said, thumbing his chin. `` So it is.'' 
 
 `` Innovation at its finest, it is.'' Adam stroked the air four inches above the table. `` Country-of-the-art technology. The beaut's lighter than a feather; you ai n't gon na even feel it in your hands. Noiseless, too, and automatic camouflage. It's best gun you ai n't never gon na see.'' He and Thom burst into laughter, and Wyatt could n't help but join in. 
 
 Wyatt stuck his arms forward. `` If I may...'' 
 
 `` Of course.'' Thom scooped the emptiness up and hefted it over to Wyatt. He deposited the gun into Wyatt's waiting hands; as promised, he could n't even feel it hit his palms. He raised his hands to chest level: it was like lifting air. 
 
 Wyatt lowered it back onto his legs. `` So if I want to shoot it...'' he said, pawing his lap for purchase. 
 
 `` Whoa, whoa, whoa, watch where you're handling that thing!'' Thom threw his hands into the air, panic rising across his face. Adam dove beneath the table, covering his head with his hands. 
 
 `` Apologies, men.'' Wyatt raised his hands, balancing the gun across his thighs. `` This might take some time to get used to.'' 
 
 `` No worries, bossman,'' Adam said, `` This thing's foolproof, and when it comes to shooting up people, you're the farthest thing from a fool.'' 
 
 `` All you have to do aim and fire,'' Thom said, miming the shot, `` and it'll reload itself when it's out of ammo.'' 
 
 `` Yeah, the bullets are invisible, too. If it were n't for the blood, the blokes would n't even know they were shot.'' 
 
 `` Right, right.'' Wyatt holstered the gun and stood up, beaming. `` Gentlemen, you've outdone yourself. I could show up to this deal naked, and they would n't suspect a thing.'' 
 
 `` If that's the plan, I've got some clothes you might be interested in...'' Thom burst into a giggling fit, and Adam had to repeatedly elbow his partner in the ribs to get him to shut up. Wyatt pursed his lips: as grateful as he was, he could do without their frivolity. 
 
 `` I'll see you both tomorrow,'' he said, `` with the good news.'' Wyatt strode through the doorway, ignoring the peals of laughter echoing in his wake. 
 
 The night wind whipped at Wyatt, threatening to steal his hat. With one hand, he kept it pressed to his head; with the other, he clung to the gun's grip. If it was as light as a feather, the wind could surely make off with it. He maintained this position as he walked, as fast as he could, all the way to the exchange point. There, in the back of the alleyway, the dealer slouched against the wall, clutching a paper bag. 
 
 `` You got the money?'' he asked. 
 
 `` Coming right up.'' Wyatt unholstered the gun and cocked it. He slowly raised it to his chest: his opponent's only response was to raise an eyebrow. 
 
 `` Good night,'' Wyatt said, and he squeezed the trigger. Then again. And again. `` Bang,'' he said, as if it might help. `` Bang. Bang.'' 
 
 *Bang. * Wyatt stumbled backwards, blood pouring from his chest. As he fell, his grip relaxed, and by the time he hit the ground, the gun had vanished in the wind.
