Saint Cochrane's World by Dave Bara

Author:Dave Bara
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: SF, Sci-Fi, Space Opera, Military SF, Science Fiction
Publisher: Dave Bara
Published: 2018-02-12T05:00:00+00:00

THE PASS WAS ROUGH going. After an hour Dane ordered a halt and he and Brake drank water from their kits. They were both breathing heavily.

“We’re not making very good time, are we?”

“No Sire. But there’s still no sign of any company.”

Right on cue the sound of coil rifle fire crackled through the pass. The two men ducked instinctively.

“How far?” asked Dane. The mercenary turned a trained ear to the fading echo.

“Sounds like half a kilo, maybe. Hard to tell, sound carries funny in here.”

“Half a kilometer,” Dane drifted off into thought. “How soon before you’re ready?”

Brake shouldered his rifle. “Ready now, Sire. But...” he hesitated.

“But what?”

“I could double back, slow them down. You’re in better shape for the final run. It would give me a chance to scout for any funny business from the General and his men.”

Dane eyed his companion. His long beard and shaggy hair were matted with sweat and his breathing indicated that he was nearly worn out. The fact that he was twenty years older and several kilograms heavier than Dane was taking its toll. Brake returned his gaze, knowing he was being sized up and clearly not liking it. Dane suddenly realized he had placed his life in the hands of a man he knew virtually nothing about. He made his decision.

“Go,” he said, adding a nod of his head. Brake started to move off slowly, looking for cover. “But be careful, if Tannace has gotten this close to us he’s even more resourceful than I thought. And he’s just as liable to try something with you as with me,” Brake nodded acknowledgement.

“Aye, Sire. Good luck.”

“You too,” said Dane, then broke for the trail at a dead run, not looking back.

The terrain seemed to be an easier go now, and Dane realized the earlier problems may have been due to maintaining a slower pace to accommodate Brake. He felt his body reach a rhythm, legs and heart pumping together, rifle held high, poised in his hands. He even noticed that the leaves had turned color on many of the trees, some falling gently to the ground as he ran. Reds, yellows, and fading greens gave the forest a covering of splendor he hadn’t seen since he had left home. The thought of Quantar created a longing in his emotions.

He began heading down, the trail here all rocks and loose dirt. It made for tougher going. He heard the sound of coil rifles firing in the distance, but he couldn’t tell from the sound if they were on low settings or high, or if they were any closer than before.

He picked up the pace slightly on the broken rocks. Trees surrounded him on the trail now, and he had to watch for roots.

The sound of a coil rifle much closer and clearer made him slow for a second. It was now obvious.

Someone was shooting at him.

He turned to look back, still running, unable to determine if the rifle fire was within the bounds of the game or carried with it a more deadly intent.

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