The Narrow Path To War by DL Frizzell

Author:DL Frizzell [Frizzell, DL]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-03-07T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty-Two

"You're going to answer for what you did," Redland snarled at Benac. "There was no reason for them to suspect you weren't really my prisoner."

"No, I will not answer," Benac countered. "In fact, it is you who will have to answer for it." He tilted his head back and poured water from a canteen into his mouth. He swallowed most of it and wiped the rest off his chin. "You could have easily shot me, lawman. Instead, you shot that man on the train.”

"You've ruined any chance I had to go back and continue my work," Redland seethed. "How do you think The Guile has gotten all this information over the years? You needed contacts on the inside to provide it, and I was supposed to return with certain...results."

"You have such a high opinion of yourself, lawman," Benac laughed. "You are not our only means of passing information, and certainly not the most important." Benac looped the canteen over his saddle and slid his tongue through his cleaved lower lip. "But it doesn't matter. We have bypassed that traitor Daigre, whose hands will take the place of Norio's in my saddlebag. The Plainsmen have all the evidence they need of another invasion and will make their move against us. The Guile will send his armies to meet them in return." Benac showed his satisfaction with a wide, deformed grin. "Thanks to you, this war is assured. We even have proof of their electronics now. The train, plus that lightning weapon that was used on me are more than sufficient for that. I will certainly become a citizen of the palace for my efforts, marshal." He beamed, looking all the more despicable for it.

It was the first time Benac called Redland by his title, and Redland despised him for it. It had never been his intent to become embroiled in the conflict, just make some extra money in addition to what the Council paid him. Now, everything he had worked for was forfeit. Benac had been shrewd to attack the station personnel. He was not the unsophisticated slob he presented himself to be, and Redland's underestimation of him led to his foolish mistake of shooting the train conductor. Redland begrudgingly admitted it to himself - he was now firmly in Benac's camp. His bridges were burned, literally, and he had no choice but to go along with the Jovian. His plan was not a total loss, but it would take some work to set it back on course.

Several hours later, the two saw the outline of Edgewood against the horizon.

"We will wait for Daigre on the plains east of the town," Benac directed. "There, you will kill him, and I will take back command of my Jugs and retrieve the scroll."

"Of course," Redland answered. He looked at Edgewood ahead and saw the grey smoke of the refinery rising into the clear blue sky. It was one of the Plainsmen's most important assets, both strategically located and home for a valuable industry.

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