Free sci-fi ebook: Legends & Liars, Chapter 24

CHAPTER 24

Elana brought a dish of hot food to the table and sat, joining October, Jake and Tibbs.  October was pleading the case for the villagers, “These people need you, Jake.  They cannot stand up to Amasunto and his men.  It would be a slaughter.”

“That’s not our problem,” Tibbs chimed in.

Jake stared down at his hands.

“Does he speak for you, Jake?” Elana asked.

Jake looked up at her. “No, he doesn’t,” Jake said.  “But I can’t help you.”

“Can’t or won’t,” she said.

“However you want to look at it.”

“For once you’re making sense,” Tibbs told Jake.  “We’re not looking to be heroes.  We just want to get back to New Romani and cash in.”

“I’ll give you my part share if you stay and help,” October offered.

“You ain’t got no share to give, old man,” Tibbs said.

“Tibbs, shut up, will you,” Jake said and turned to October. “You’re still getting your share.”

“Won’t do me much good because I’m staying,” October said.

“No one has to die if we get out of here before they come.”

“This is our home,” Elana protested.

“This is a row of huts in a forgotten outpost on an asteroid that nobody cares about,” Jake said.

“That’s right!” Tibbs agreed gleefully.

“It may be an asteroid that nobody cares about, but this is where we live,” Elana countered.  “My children were born here.  My husband died here.”

“Do you want your children to die here too?”

She looked at him with sadness in her eyes. 

He turned to look over his shoulder and saw Lizzy and Toby playing with her swirler. 

Free sci-fi ebook: Legends & Liars, Chapter 23

CHAPTER 23

Escalante was a small outpost of small huts and tents, a store, electronics gizmo repair shop, and a saloon that buzzed with activity and celebration at the return of the missing friends and family members.

October was being treated like a returning hero, which in a way he was, being related by marriage to Elana’s mother to half the villagers.  He lay sprawled in a hammock stretched out between two small buildings.  Children hovered around him in awe and he sipped a cool yellow liquid from a tall glass.

“Uncle October, what is it like,” said an excited boy of about eight as he pointed to the stars, “out there?”

“You mean to tell me you’ve never been off Ceres?” October asked amazed at the thought.

“No uncle, none of us have,” chimed in another boy about the same age.

“Well, in that case, children, listen up,” October began, “while I tell you a story about the time I saved Captain Alexis Xernuroff during the great raid on Victor’s Glen.”

“You knew Captain Xernuroff!” asked a girl of ten amazed at the possibility.

“Know him!  If I hadn’t been with him in the early days, why he’d never grown to be the hero he is today.  Course that was way before he went on to head the campaign against the Warlights.”

“Yes, father, tell us how you saved the great Captain Xernuroff from a fate worse than death,” Elana said from the sidelines.

October looked up and saw the disproving, yet loving, look on Elana’s face.

“Children, I’ll have to tell you that story a little later,” he said.

The children gave a collective moan of disappointment.

He held up his hands to quiet the protest. “I promise.  Now, off you go.” As the children scurried away he got up and walked with Elana along the street. 

She was frightened and it showed despite her attempt to hide it.

“What’s wrong?” he asked concerned.

“Scouts have reported in that Amasunto has more men and he’s coming,” she said.

October was stunned. “Where in the galaxy does he continue to find such men?”

“It would seem there is no shortage of evil men, even here on this small rock in space.”

“What does he want with this place?”

“Revenge, I would think.”

“For what?”

“Christopher was the one who led authorities to him.”

“I don’t understand.  You said Amasunto killed Christopher.”

He did, afterward. And even though he did kill Christopher, it would seem that Amasunto’s blood thirst has no limit.  He has sworn to wipe our clan from existence.”

October held her shoulders and looked down at her. “What do the elders plan to do?”

“Some want to flee,” Elana said.

“Ceres is too small a place to hide for long.  He will find you no matter where you run.  They must know that.”

“What choice do we have?  We’re tinkerers and traders, not warriors.”

“We in time for dinner?” Jake’s voice came from behind Elana.

October and Elana turned to see Jake and Tibbs leading three mules as they entered the outpost.  October grinned broadly and turned to Elana.

“I just happen to know a warrior,” he said as he waved to Jake.  

Free sci-fi ebook: Legends & Liars, Chapter 22

CHAPTER 22

At the mining camp Jake handed one of the former prisoners, a teenager, a weapon. “Keep an eye on the trail.  You see anything move, shoot,” he said.

“Yes, sir,” said the gypsy boy as he trotted to the edge of camp where he could watch the trail into the valley.

Jake watched the boy for a moment with a far-away look.  

Joshua would be about his age, he thought.  Then he noticed the ground ahead of the boy begin to move.

The boy was not paying attention to the trail as he examines the weapon. Jake rushed forward and tackled the surprised teenager, knocking him away from the smoldering ground and yanked him back. The boy saw the transformation of the ground taking place and knew what it was. 

They sprinted away just as the ground erupted into a gigantic blue geyser, which proved beautiful and deadly as the plants around it turned black and burst into flames.

The boy looked at Jake, thankful but embarrassed. Nothing needed to be said. They watched a moment as the geyser died as quickly as it had erupted. Jake nodded for the boy to move out.

“What now?” Tibbs said as he nodded toward the others, “They can’t stay here.”

“For once I agree with you, Tibbs,” Jake said then turned to Elana. “How far is that outpost?”

“Escalante?” she asked.

“Yeah.”

“Half a day’s walk.”

“How many people are there?”

“A few dozen, maybe more. Why?”

“They have weapons?”

“Yes, some do.”

Jake looked at October. “What do you think?”

October studied the path below their camp. “They’d have to pass down there to follow us,” he said.  “If you watch our back, we can make it.”

Tibbs stepped forward to protest. “Hey, what about—”

“About what, Tibbs?” Jake cut him off.

“We’ll need every gun in case they decide to come up after the—” Tibbs caught himself and eyed the others, his paranoia and distrust building. “We just gonna let them go?  They might tell someone.”

“For god’s sake, Tibbs!” October exploded.  “If you’re worried about the ore, you can have my share.  These people are way beyond caring about your precious treasure.  They just want to get out of here alive.”

Tibbs seemed for the moment to realize the idiocy of his statement.

“You’re right, of course.  Don’t know what I was thinking.” He looked at Jake. “Whatever you want to do.”

There was no way Jake could trust Tibbs, but he didn’t have much a choice.

“Tibbs and I will stay here and cover you down the trail,” he said. “I know how Amasunto thinks.  He’s a fugitive.  He won’t stay in one place long.  Besides, his men know his dining preferences.  They won’t want to be out here alone with him any longer than they have to.”

“Do you want me to bring reinforcements back here?” October asked.

“No.  We won’t be staying much longer.” He nodded at Tibbs. “We’ll bring your share to Escalante with us.”

“Don't stay too long, Jake,” October said as he shook Jake’s hand and added as an afterthought, “You too, Tibbs.”

“Yeah, sure.  See ya,” Tibbs said irritably.

“Be careful... Mr. Lane,” Elana said.

Jake smiled. “It’s Jake.” 

She gave him a little smile.

Jake nodded to her as October gathered the kids and the three men and the teenager as they moved on down the trail.

Jake grabbed his weapon and headed in the opposite direction.  In the distance, he could see that Amasunto’s campfire was blazing brightly. He turned to Tibbs. “I’ll take the first watch.  Relieve me in four hours.”

“Right,” Tibbs said, adding under sotto voce, “Always think you’re in charge, don’t you, Lane.  We’ll see about that.”

Jake settled in behind a rocky ledge above the trail.  He set his weapon up, aiming so as to get maximum angle on the trail in each direction.  He raised the binoculars to his eyes and even though he knew what he might see he was shocked at the sight. “Bon appétit, you sick bastard,” he said as he watched the body of the convict turn slowly over the fire as his mortal enemy, Amasunto watched hungrily.