Railroad! Collection 3 (The Three Volume Ombinus) by Tonia Brown

Author:Tonia Brown [Brown, Tonia]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Science Fiction
Published: 2014-03-17T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

Midnight Mission

In which Dodger gets caught

Creeping across the campground in the wee hours of the morning proved simpler than Dodger hoped it would. The natives were fast asleep, with no reason to suspect someone of sneaking around the reservation. A sentry waited here and there, but most of them were young men either dead asleep themselves or bored into other distractions—one of which was quite passionate, from the sounds of things. It was, by far, one of the easiest look-see missions he had ever undertaken.

Of course, having a partner only he could see, hear and speak with certainly helped things a bit.

Once he reached the open field, Dodger dropped onto his belly and slowly inched across the area until he was almost atop the now-unguarded ICE-machine tent. A quick peek inside told him half of what he needed to know. The same cart of peas rested in front of the machine, well on its way to thawing out. As far as Dodger could see, nothing had changed. If the Utes planned on stepping up production on the frozen vegetables, they had a funny way of going about it.

Well? Boon asked.

It’s just as we left it, Dodger said in underspeak. Nothing has been touched.

Would you like for me to take a closer look?

No. I have a feeling I know where everyone has gone.

He left the teepee behind and turned his attention to that strip of dead grass that formed a path farther into the reservation territory. Following it on foot as long as he dared—almost another full mile, from his guess—Dodger dropped to his belly again when another construct came into view. He adjusted the SPECS until he could make out a large brick hut surrounded by the same burly men who’d guarded the ICE machine teepee earlier that evening.

That must be it, Dodger said.

And you are certain it’s a forge? Boon asked.

Only one way to be sure. Dodger nodded to the hut.

Boon understood the gesture. I’ll only be a moment. The spirit slipped away in the moonlight to check out the suspicious building.

Dodger returned the lens of the SPECS to its normal setting and lifted the pair to rest on his forehead. He propped himself onto his elbows, making sure to keep himself pressed enough into the grass to keep cover while he waited for Boon’s return.

Dodger? Boon asked

That didn’t take long, Dodger said.

You were right. They’re assembling guns inside of the hut.

Dodger punched the ground with his fist. Damn it!

There is a forge, but it is cold at the moment. They must’ve cast as many guns and as much ammo as they had the metal for.

What do you think of them?

The weapons? In the silver moonlight, the spirit shrugged. They reflect their build—hastily made and poorly constructed. I wouldn’t be surprised if more than half blew up in some poor fools’ hands.

I was afraid of that.

Boon turned his nose into the air a bit, bordering on haughty. I don’t know who is responsible for such atrocities, but they should be ashamed to call themselves a weaponsmith.

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