Sixshooter - A Science Fiction Western Adventure (The Coilhunter Chronicles Book 5) by Wilson Dean F

Author:Wilson, Dean F.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dioscuri Press
Published: 2021-03-30T00:00:00+00:00

24 – THE MONSTERS IN MEN

The next group of gang members came through, but they saw their netted fellows, and then saw the shadow of the Coilhunter further on. Some turned and ran, while Nox fired his grapnel at one and yanked him into the tunnel, before knocking him out with the butt of his gun.

​“The Coilhunter's here!” one of the fleeing men shouted. There was a flurry as men struggled against each other to flee the tunnels. Their shadows made a mockery of them on the tunnel walls.

​Nox waited for the next wave, but they didn't come just yet. Nox was primed and ready, and growing impatient. He knew they were wise to fear him, but the outlaws were very seldom wise. Many would march on with false bravado, right into his wire, or his net, or that smoking barrel.

​But not these. Not yet.

​Come on, little flies, he thought. The web's waitin'.

​He heard a gruff voice, the sound of a few well-placed slaps, and then a commotion as something heavy and metallic was put in place. Nox saw the shadow of it on the wall, but couldn't quite make out what it was.

​“What about our guys?” one voice asked.

​“Leave 'em.”

​Nox edged out past the netted criminals to investigate, keeping close to the wall. No doubt they saw his shadow stretching out to greet them, but they didn't tremble, and that other shadow never budged.

​Then he saw it.

​A mole.

​A tunnel digging machine.

​Hell, Nox thought. Oh, that mole could get him there alright. It could dig right down to the fires beneath.

​The machine powered up. Its rotating, dome-shaped and diamond-tipped drill spun into action, blasting out a ferocious din. It was pointed right at him, as if that tunnel hadn't yet been carved. Oh, it wasn't there to make a tunnel. It was there to bore right into him.

​He ran.

​That machine monster came after him, pushed by the other gang members behind, who steered it down the path of the tunnel. They could've made themselves new ones. But no. Taking out the Coilhunter was worth more than any gold or iron.

​Nox hopped over the netted criminals as he fled, then skidded to a halt as he heard their cries for help. The drill wasn't going to stop for them, no matter who their families were, or their friends. It was going to make minced meat of them, before it did the same to Nox. He was planning on letting them go with a warning, but their own kin weren't planning on that.

​The Coilhunter charged back and desperately pulled at the net to get them free. The weights kept them pinned, but it wasn't just that. They had little prongs that burrowed into the earth like moles of their own, and latched deep below. They were made to hold you down. You weren't ever getting up.

​Nox grabbed a knife from his boot and sawed at the rope. Every frayed thread seemed to take a lifetime. The drill turned the final corner to face them all.

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