hotmtlnovel Book 3: Chapter 5: Bushwhacked
Book 3: Chapter 5: Bushwhacked
Book 3: Chapter 5: Bushwhacked
Bob
March 2224
Delta Eridani
We hoisted the pigoid carcass up, suspended from spears, doing our best to act oblivious to the other group that we knew were watching us. I checked the monitor windows in my heads-up display. We definitely had a covert audience, and they outnumbered us twelve to six. I couldn’t tell my crew things I shouldn’t know, but I could be prepared in case the others did something unexpected.
As we started our march back to Camelot, I couldn’t help noticing that my crew were really, really terrible actors. Overly loud comments, uttered with exaggerated inflection, would have made a stage director up and quit on the spot.
I needn’t have worried, though. Fred and his gang probably weren’t listening anyway. They stepped out, front and rear, just like last time.
Fred looked at me, standing in lead spot, and smiled his nasty smile. “Well, Robert. I see you’ve caught my lunch for me. And you don’t have the big guy to protect you today. Why don’t you go ahead and put up a fight, this time? I’d like that.”
Fred sneered at me. “You think this is going to protect you? You won’t always have your friends around, kuzzi.”
I looked around at the Caerleon gang. They appeared a lot less defiant, now.
“Today, we’ll let you off with a warning. And without your spears. Next time, it’s going to hurt a lot more.” I signaled to a couple of the guys, and they began collecting spears. Fred’s gang was thoroughly cowed now, and didn’t put up any resistance.
We sent them off, then turned to head back to Camelot.
Donald walked beside me. “Damn, Robert, that was impressive. But I don’t think Fred is that easily dissuaded.”
“You’re right, Donald. But most of his followers will be. People like Fred need followers. I’m hoping this will pull his teeth.”
Donald nodded, then started up a marching chant, and everyone else joined in.
I wished I was as confident as I sounded.