Freedom's Landing by Anne McCaffrey

Author:Anne McCaffrey [McCaffrey, Anne]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3, mobi
Tags: Fiction, Science Fiction, Adventure
ISBN: 9780552142717
Publisher: Corgi Books
Published: 1996-03-31T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

At fourth moonrise three days after Mitford had sent out five teams to

search and disable, the sergeant was reviewing plans: renovations made by the

three architects among them for the abattoir barns. He'd sent a group of

engineer types to bring back some of the most interesting junk. The processing

equipment in the slaughterhouse had been completely dismantled although they'd

have to have serious overcrowding before anyone who knew what had happened in

that plant would live in it. However, there'd be more folks who hadn't a clue.

He heard one of the sentries hiss at him.

"Sarge, something's coming."

"Well, don't tell me. Challenge them, but Mitford reached for his spear

with one hand and eased the knife out of its sheath with the other F"Who goes

there?" the sentry yelled.

Yells answered him but not the passwords. He ducked.

"Shit, Sarge, they ain't ours," and he ducked behind the prominence on

his height. "RED ALERT!" He clanged fiercely on the metal alarm triangle set

on the height.

I"WHICH WAY ARE THEY COMING, GODDAMMIT, RAINEY!" Mitford roared.

"ATTACK!

ATTACK! TAKE YOUR STATIONS!" It was fortunate that, even with many out

on exploratory patrols, there was usually a handful of people awake at any

hour of the twenty-eight.

"COMING DOWN THE RAVINE, SARGE! Omigod , and Rainey ducked as a spear

clattered on the rock beyond him. "They're shooting at ME!" More spears came

spinning out of the darkness, aimed at the source of light which was the

"office' fire. Crouching to make a smaller target, Mitford dashed forward. In

the stocks, Aarens was shouting to be released as two spent arrows and another

spear fell close to him.

"C' MON," Mitford roared at the men and women rushing out of the main

caves, spears and knives ready, just as they'd been drilled. With grim

satisfaction, Mitford knew there'd be no complaints about his drilling them

after this. Only how many were attacking? he wondered, as he pounded up the

ravine and grinned as he saw the first attackers appear on the edge of the

lighted areas. A good fight, that's what he'd been missing. Seeing a target,

he paused long enough to launch his spear at an oncoming body. It pierced the

chest of the leader who dropped like a stone. Now the sentries on the heights

were using their weapons, firing arrows and launching their spears into the

crowd. Then the next of the attackers was howling as he charged at Mitford.

The sergeant met the frenzied attack: the man had a knife in each hand

but he hadn't the first clue about effective fighting, slashing the air in the

hope that one knife would connect. Mitford ducked, sidestepped and then

plunged his knife into the attacker's ribs. The man screamed, an awful wailing

desperate sound, knives falling from strengthless hands as he fell back.

Mitford remained in the crouching position as he quickly jerked his knife free

and then tackled the next attacker. He was peripherally aware that his force

was pressing in behind him. Then a stone, thrown from the heights, bounced off

his shoulder and he staggered against the wall of the ravine.

"HEY, WATCH WHERE YOU'RE AIMING," he roared as he saw Bart, Taglione,

and quite likely Sandy Areson swarming past him.

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