Read Online Alien Bounty by William C. Dietz - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: William C. Dietz
Tags: Science-Fiction
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weapons aren't subject to the effects of wind or gravity as are slug throwers. Of course they don't pack much kinetic energy either, so if you're trying to drop a charging Envo Beast, you might choose something with a little more wallop. But an energy beam does go where you aim it and for this situation the blast rifle was ideal.
Number four took off like a jackrabbit and ran right into the energy beam. It sliced down through his left shoulder and cut diagonally across his chest. The two halves of his body separated in a bright shower of blood.
A vid cam swooped down for a better shot as McCade turned his attention to number five. Something winked to the right and fire splashed the rock by his head. Number five was shooting back!
McCade rolled left as another energy beam screamed through the space he'd just vacated. Number five was a good shot.
McCade eased the barrel of his weapon through a gap in the rocks, caught a flash of movement, and fired. His energy beam punched a hole through number five's right leg, causing her to stumble and fall.
Using her hands and one good leg, number five managed to drag herself behind a ledge.
McCade let her go. Two down and three to go.
Swinging his weapon left, McCade searched for numbers one and two. He just caught a glimpse of them as they made it to the base of the island. He'd have to stand against the skyline in order to see them and that would provide number three with an opportunity to blow his head off. Where was number three anyway?
Conscious that numbers one and two were busily climbing his way, McCade moved to the right. If possible he wanted to find three and deal with him before one and two arrived.
He could feel the seconds ticking away as he quartered the ground below. Each second brought numbers one and two closer and increased the odds against him.
He was just about to give up when he saw a flash of white toward the top of his scope.
McCade tilted the rifle down and found his cross hairs centered on number three's back. The bastard was running away! His finger touched the firing stud and stopped. Later he might regret the decision, but McCade couldn't bring himself to shoot a man in the back.
He turned and was just starting to get up when numbers one and two popped up from behind a jumble of rocks. They were fast!
Something snatched the blast rifle from his hands and McCade dived sideways hoping to ruin their aim.
He hit hard and felt rather than saw the bullets that followed along behind. They spanged off the surrounding rocks as he rolled onto his back and felt the slug gun fill his hand. It came up and he saw a white suit fill his sight.
It was number one! Number two had an arm around one's throat and was using her as a shield! One struggled and two's bullets went wide.
McCade screamed at her. "Drop, damn you, drop!"
Number one dropped. McCade felt the slug gun buck in his hand as she did and saw three red flowers blossom down the front of number two's cool suit. Number two staggered, the slug gun flew from his hand, and he fell over backward into a pool of his own blood.
McCade kept the slug gun centered on number one as he struggled to his feet. He hoped it was over but couldn't be sure. For the first time he noticed that she was very, very pretty, with wide-set brown eyes, a long, straight nose, and a generous mouth.
Her voice trembled when she spoke. "He took the power pak out of my weapon. Are you going to kill me?"
McCade bolstered the slug gun and patted his pockets for a cigar. "Not unless you think I should."
She looked at number two and shuddered. "All of them outranked me so they made me take the point." She paused. "They call me Reba. I'm surprised to be alive."
McCade found a broken cigar, stuck it between his teeth, and puffed it into life. "I know what you mean, Reba. So am I."
Nine
McCade was allowed to rest for one rotation before the next test began. He spent some of his time eating and sleeping and the rest being tutored by
Number four took off like a jackrabbit and ran right into the energy beam. It sliced down through his left shoulder and cut diagonally across his chest. The two halves of his body separated in a bright shower of blood.
A vid cam swooped down for a better shot as McCade turned his attention to number five. Something winked to the right and fire splashed the rock by his head. Number five was shooting back!
McCade rolled left as another energy beam screamed through the space he'd just vacated. Number five was a good shot.
McCade eased the barrel of his weapon through a gap in the rocks, caught a flash of movement, and fired. His energy beam punched a hole through number five's right leg, causing her to stumble and fall.
Using her hands and one good leg, number five managed to drag herself behind a ledge.
McCade let her go. Two down and three to go.
Swinging his weapon left, McCade searched for numbers one and two. He just caught a glimpse of them as they made it to the base of the island. He'd have to stand against the skyline in order to see them and that would provide number three with an opportunity to blow his head off. Where was number three anyway?
Conscious that numbers one and two were busily climbing his way, McCade moved to the right. If possible he wanted to find three and deal with him before one and two arrived.
He could feel the seconds ticking away as he quartered the ground below. Each second brought numbers one and two closer and increased the odds against him.
He was just about to give up when he saw a flash of white toward the top of his scope.
McCade tilted the rifle down and found his cross hairs centered on number three's back. The bastard was running away! His finger touched the firing stud and stopped. Later he might regret the decision, but McCade couldn't bring himself to shoot a man in the back.
He turned and was just starting to get up when numbers one and two popped up from behind a jumble of rocks. They were fast!
Something snatched the blast rifle from his hands and McCade dived sideways hoping to ruin their aim.
He hit hard and felt rather than saw the bullets that followed along behind. They spanged off the surrounding rocks as he rolled onto his back and felt the slug gun fill his hand. It came up and he saw a white suit fill his sight.
It was number one! Number two had an arm around one's throat and was using her as a shield! One struggled and two's bullets went wide.
McCade screamed at her. "Drop, damn you, drop!"
Number one dropped. McCade felt the slug gun buck in his hand as she did and saw three red flowers blossom down the front of number two's cool suit. Number two staggered, the slug gun flew from his hand, and he fell over backward into a pool of his own blood.
McCade kept the slug gun centered on number one as he struggled to his feet. He hoped it was over but couldn't be sure. For the first time he noticed that she was very, very pretty, with wide-set brown eyes, a long, straight nose, and a generous mouth.
Her voice trembled when she spoke. "He took the power pak out of my weapon. Are you going to kill me?"
McCade bolstered the slug gun and patted his pockets for a cigar. "Not unless you think I should."
She looked at number two and shuddered. "All of them outranked me so they made me take the point." She paused. "They call me Reba. I'm surprised to be alive."
McCade found a broken cigar, stuck it between his teeth, and puffed it into life. "I know what you mean, Reba. So am I."
Nine
McCade was allowed to rest for one rotation before the next test began. He spent some of his time eating and sleeping and the rest being tutored by
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