Judge Dredd Year Two: The Righteous Man by Michael Carroll

Author:Michael Carroll
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Science Fiction
Publisher: Abaddon

Nine

ON DREDD’S SECOND night in Ezekiel, the town was attacked by raiders.

A watchman stationed in a camouflaged hide eight kilometres south of the town—on the very edge of radio range—reported a column of dust approaching along the south road.

On the streets, O’Donnell assembled his guards: ten of them, plus Dredd, Ramini and Montag. “Could be another raid. If it is, we’ve got maybe eighteen minutes,” O’Donnell said. “They’ll split up into two groups, hit us from the north and south at the same time. Ramini, your team will defend the south, tackle the first group. The rest of us will take the north. Don’t make yourself known until they’re within range, then hit them hard. Ignore the outriders and take out the leaders first.”

“No. Outriders first is a better tactic,” Ramini said. “And we should take them down before they get a chance to split. If we don’t, we’ve got two areas to defend. So we pick off the outriders first, that’ll discourage them from splitting. Then we target the main group.”

O’Donnell said, “Judge, don’t undermine my orders. I’m the deputy here.”

“I don’t care.” Ramini looked around at the assembled townsfolk. “I want the best marksmen up on the roofs of the southernmost buildings. That includes you, Montag. Target the raiders at the rear of the group, not the front, got that? Crashed vehicles at the rear makes it harder for the others to retreat; crashed vehicles in front gives them cover. Anyone own a motorbike?”

One young woman raised her hand, and Dredd recognised her as Eloise Crow, the woman he’d met waiting to begin her shift in the mine. “We have one. It’s only an old Suzuki, but it works.”

“Get it, bring it back here.”

As Eloise darted away, someone else called out, “Why the hell should we follow your orders, Judgie? You’re barely here a wet day! You don’t know squat about our town!”

O’Donnell said, “He has a point, Ramini. We—”

“We’ve read your reports on the previous attacks,” Dredd said. “You keep making the same mistake—letting them get away. The survivors tell their comrades the state of your town’s defences. The raids aren’t increasing in frequency just because the Earthers are getting more desperate, it’s because they’re wearing you down. They’re winning.”

“We don’t have the resources to stop them all!”

“Just do what I tell you, O’Donnell,” Ramini said. “And douse every external light in the town—we’re not going to make it easy for them.”

Dredd drew his Lawgiver. “Ramini, you’re the best shot. You take the watchtower.” He began to run.

“Where are you going?” she shouted after him.

“We need reinforcements.” Dredd raced westwards through the small town toward the mine entrance, where three of the mine’s guards had gathered.

The burly woman, Santiago, watched Dredd approach. “Another attack?”

“Looks like it,” Dredd said. “How many of you are there?”

“Nine, including me.”

“That’ll have to do. I want two of your people to remain here, in case the raiders get past us. The rest of you come with me.”

Santiago shook her head. “No. Miss Hanenberger gives the orders, not you.

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