Ray Gun Revival magazine, Issue 02

8/15/2019 Ray Gun Revival magazine, Issue 02

1/43

July 15 , 2006THR I L L I N G T A L E S F R OM B E Y OND T H E E T H E R

GalaxyStorebyScottM.Sandridge

RestArea

by

Tim

Baer

TheAdventuresoftheSkyPirateTheAssassinofPatienceBay,PartOnebyJohneCook

MemoryWipeChapterOne:TheSilverSun

by

Sean

T.

M.

Stiennon

Issue 02H T T P : / / R A Y GUN R E V I V A L . C OM
http://raygunrevival.com/http://raygunrevival.com/http://raygunrevival.com/http://raygunrevival.com/http://raygunrevival.com/http://raygunrevival.com/http://raygunrevival.com/http://raygunrevival.com/http://raygunrevival.com/http://raygunrevival.com/


2/43

Page2

Table of ContentsOverlordsLair.............................................................................................................................................................................................3

ShortFiction:GalaxyStore....................................................................................................................................................................4

ShortFiction:RestArea....................................................................................................................................................................10

Serial:TheAdventuresoftheSkyPirate....................................................................................................................................12

FeaturedArtist

Erika

Green............................................................................................................................................................25

Serial:MemoryWipe.......................................................................................................................................................................27

TheJollyRGR............................................................................................................................................................................................43

Overlords (Founders)PaulChristianGlenn PR,SoundingBoard,OurStrongRightHand

LeeS.King Copyeditor,Proofreader,BelovedNag,Muse

JohneCook ArtWrangler,DesktopPublishing,othersundries

Venerable StaffA.M.Stickel:SeniorProofreaderMikeLoos:Proofreader,TechnicalLeadPocketRGRTaylorKent:Producer RGRPodcasts,allthingsaudio,SlushmasterScottM.Sandridge:SlushmasterDavidWilhelms:SlushmasterWalterRosenfeld:ProofreaderMatthewMcConley:ProofreaderSerial AuthorsLeeS.King

PaulChristianGlenn

Johne

Cook

SeanT.M.Stiennon

Confidante, Mentor, and Site HostBillSnodgrass DoubleedgedPublishing,WebNetSolutions

Special Thanks:RayGunRevivallogodesignbyHatchbox Creative:, http://www.hatchbox.com

Website:http://raygunrevival.com

Forums:http://raygunrevival.com/Forum/index

AboutRGR:http://raygunrevival.com/aboutContactRayGunRevival:http://raygunrevival.com/contactSubmissionsGuidelines:http://raygunrevival.com/guidelines.html

Cover:BurningEmpiresbyarchaenon

OriginalArt,TakedasStrike,byE.J.Mickels,IIhttp://www.hisart.us/

Allcontentcopyright2006byDoubleedgedPublishing,

aMemphis,Tennesseebasednonprofitpublisher

RayGunRevivalThrillingTalesFromBeyondtheEther Issue02,July2006
http://www.hatchbox.com/http://raygunrevival.com/http://raygunrevival.com/Forum/indexhttp://raygunrevival.com/abouthttp://raygunrevival.com/contacthttp://raygunrevival.com/guidelines.htmlhttp://www.hisart.us/http://www.double-edgedpublishing.com/http://www.double-edgedpublishing.com/http://www.double-edgedpublishing.com/http://www.double-edgedpublishing.com/http://www.double-edgedpublishing.com/http://www.double-edgedpublishing.com/http://www.hisart.us/http://raygunrevival.com/guidelines.htmlhttp://raygunrevival.com/contacthttp://raygunrevival.com/abouthttp://raygunrevival.com/Forum/indexhttp://raygunrevival.com/http://www.hatchbox.com/


3/43

Page3

Overlords LairTheDeathandResurrectionofSpaceOperabyJohne(Phy)Cook

WithanodtoMarkTwain,therumorsofthedeathofSpaceOperaareexaggerated.I'vegota938

pagebook

on

my

desk

right

now

that

explains

how

and

why.

It's

an

impressive

work.

This

thing

is

a

tome,aboatanchor,atreasuretroveofshortfictionthelikesofwhichIhavenotseeninmanyyears.

I'vegotsmallerphonebooks.

TheSpaceOperaRenaissance(Harwell&Cramer,Tor,2006)isananthologyunlikeanythatI'veseen.

Theanthologystartsoffbydefiningwhatspaceoperaisandwhatitisn't.Forexample,'spaceopera'

usedtobeadisparagingtermthatdescribed'hacking,grinding,stinkingpulp',theworstkindof

formulaicdrivel.Therewasonegroupthattriedtostampoutspaceopera,andanotherthattriedto

recastitandbringitback.Thestruggleisfascinating.

Afterkicking

things

off,

the

anthology

divides

space

opera

history

up

into

six

periods,

and

provides

representativestoriesfromeach.Itstartsatthebeginning,spanningtheperiodbetweenthe1920s,

andfeaturesEdmondHamiltonandLeighBrackettandJackWilliamson.Thefollowingsectionsarethe

Draftees(1960s),Transitions/Redefiners(late70stolate80s),Volunteers/Revisionaries(early90s),

MixedSignals/Categories(late90s),andNextWave(21stCentury).

Thebottomlineisthattoday'sspaceoperaisn'twhatitusedtobe,andthat'sprobablyagoodthing.It

iswhatweusedtothinkofassciencefantasy,andthat'sfinebyme.I'vewrittenherethattoday's

spaceoperacomfortablystraddlesthespacebetweenhighfantasyandhardscifi.

ButIhaveoneproblem.Whenwefoundedthismagazine,weeachhadtheideathatspaceoperawas

indecline

and

needed

to

be

restored.

Imagine

my

surprise

to

read

that

nearly

every

Hugo

award

since

theearly80shasgonetoaspaceoperanovel.Ifspaceoperaisenjoyingarenaissanceastheeditors

suggest,whydidn'tanyofusknowaboutit?

Apossibleansweroccurredtomelaterintheday.Perhapsthereareasmallpercentageofhighquality

spaceoperanovelsthatwinawardsbutthemajorityofscifinovelsaresomethingelseagain.That

mightaccountforlongerworks,butwhataboutthethingsthatIknewmoreabout.Asaneditorfora

numberoffantasyandscifiezines,I'veseenthenatureofourslushpilesubmissions,andtheyhave

beenanythingbutspaceopera.Maybewhatwe'relookingatisasmallbutprolificgroupofnovelists,

andthelargermajorityofauthorsandstoriessailmoretypicalscifi/fantasywaters.

Ifso,wheredoesthatleaveus?

Itleavesusbackwherewecamein,lookingatthefictionlandscapearoundus,seeinganeedthatisn't

beingmet,andconfidentthatwecanbringsomethingtothetable.Weaimtohookpeopleonshorter

fictionandprovideapublicationtoseewhatgood,shortspaceoperalookslike,andapayingvenueat

whichtosubmitthatfiction.Insteadofjustdecliningstoriesthatdon'tmakeourpublication,we

activelymentortheauthorswithanonymouscommentsfromourseasonedstafftohelpthemwiththe

processofgrowingasjourneymenwritersontheirwaytowardbecomingsuccessfulauthors.

http://tinyurl.com/eoktehttp://tinyurl.com/eoktehttp://tinyurl.com/eoktehttp://tinyurl.com/eoktehttp://tinyurl.com/eoktehttp://tinyurl.com/eoktehttp://tinyurl.com/eoktehttp://tinyurl.com/eokte


4/43

Page4

Short Fiction: Galaxy StoreByScottM.Sandridge

Gorguth

pulled

the

loader

down

the

main

corridor

of

Wiks

Galaxy

Store,

his

little

furryhandsclenchedaroundtheplasticcordsliketheywerealifeline.Ontheloaders

platformwasareactorenginetwicehissizeandthreetimeshisweight.Hegrittedhis

flatteeth,hisfloppyearseclipsinghisvision,ashestrainedhistinymusclesalmostto

theirlimits.Theenginesweightwastakingitstollontheplatformscushionforcefield

projectors,whichweredesignedonlytoalleviatefriction.

WhycouldntWikjustbuyantigravplatformslikeeveryoneelse?

Gor!Hisearstrembledatthewhinyvoiceofhisboss.ThepudgyAmphroid

wavedhisAktoriancigarinthedirectionofDockingBayNine.Hisgreeneyesboredinto

Gorguth.Move

your

lazy,

furry

butt!

We

cant

keep

the

customer

waiting.

Hes

been

herethreewholeminutesforcryingoutloud!

Imcoming,Imcoming!Gorguthgroanedthroughclenchedteeth.Couldnt

thathairless,bugeyed,insecteaterseehowmuchhewasstruggling?Imnotpullinga

feather,youknow!

Ifyoucanthackit...Wikstonemadeclearhisintendedthreat.Gorguthstarted

pullingharder.

AshepassedWikalongthecorridor,heheardhisbossshout,Wegotanother

onedockingatFive,sobethereandreadytogetwhattheyneedinfiveminutes!

GorlookeddownthelongshaftthatledtoNine.Therewereatleastanotherfifty

pacestothedockingbay.ButtheresnowayIcangettherein

Doit!Wikshouted.OrIllsellyoutoaCarnar!Withawickedgrin,headded,

Theyconsideryourkinddelicacies,youknow.

Gorsbodystartedtrembling.Heloweredhisheadandearsandsaid,Yes,sir.

Thatsbetter,Wikmutteredpasthiscigarashetookapufffromit.Dontbe

late.

GorreachedDockingBayFivetenminuteslater,hisfurallsoakedwithsweat.At

leastit

was

an

empty

loader

he

had

to

pull

all

the

way

from

Nine.

As

the

transparent

doortoFiveslidopen,hebracedhimselffortheshoutheknewwasforthcoming.Gor!

Yourelate!

Imsorry,sir,Gorreplied,earstrembling.I

Noexcuses!Wikssquealwashigherpitchedthanthelastone,andGorcould

seethatthetwonewcustomerswereholdingtheirhandsagainsttheirears.Howmany

timeshaveItoldyounottokeepthecustomerswaiting?



5/43

Page5

Gorquicklysizedthetwocustomersup.Theywereabouttwicehisheightand

wereofaspecieshehadntseenbefore.Therewasntmuchfuronthemexceptontop

oftheirheads.Theyworeflightsuitsmadefromsomekindofsilverfabric,possibly

worntoprotecttheirvulnerableskin;Gorhadheardofsomespecieswhoworeclothing

primarilyforstatus,buthefiguredmostofthemwereobviouslyextinct.Thelaserguns

magnetically

attached

to

their

hip

pads

suggested

predatory

and/or

territorial

instinctsthatobservationmadeGorseyesturnyellowanddilate.Gggooddayto

you.Yourenothungry,areyou?Ah,Imean...

WiksneeredatGor,andthenheturnedbackaroundtogreetthetwonew

customerswithasmile,saying,Howmaywebeofservice?

ThetallerandstrongerofthetwoGorassumeditwasthefemalehadsmall

stubbleofneatlytrimmedfuraroundhermouthandonherchin.Herskinlooked

slightlycookedtoareddishbrowntint(toomuchheatexposure,Gorthought,asure

signofsuicidaltendencies).Sheadjustedthegalactictranslatorinherrightear,and

thenspoke

in

avoice

lower

in

pitch

than

most

females.

We

need

areplacement

for

a

nucleardrive.

Whatacheapdrive!Gorblurtedout.HisearsfloppedforwardduetoWiks

rebukingglare.Uh,Imean,ah...

Wikcutin,Whathemeanstosayiswhysettleforsuchanoutdateddrive?We

caninstallabrandnewM/Aramjetdriveforonly57,000IPCs.

Thefemalescratchedherhead.Wedontreallyneedthatkind.Wejumpfrom

placetoplacewithaH.A.M.

Awhat?Wikasked.

Thefemalesmiled.Thetypeofdrivethatrequiresthrowingswinethrougha

ramjet.

GoreandWikbothgavethefemaleablankstarefollowedbytwoeyeblinks.

Theybothfoundthemselvesaskingsimultaneously,Swine?Whattypeoffuelisthat?

Imjustmessingwithyou.ItmeansHyperdriveActivationMechanism.

Whichisinneedofacheckup,theblueeyedmaleaddedin.Hispale

complexionshowedthathewasapropernocturnalcreature.Butthereweresome

thingsaboutthemalethatdisturbedGor:hisvoicewasalittlehighpitchedforamale,

andit

looked

like

he

was

wearing

some

form

of

ritual

paint

around

his

eyes

and

on

his

lips.Whatastrangespeciesthesecreatureswere!AwarningglancefromWikkeptGor

silentaboutit.

Wecanprobablyhelpyouwiththat,saidWik.AH.A.Mcheckupwillcostyou

around5,000IPCs.

Thefemalewhistledandsaid,Damn!



6/43

Page6

GornoticedthatWikinterpretedtheexclamationasasignofexcitement,Areal

bargain,Iknow,butwehereatGalaxyStoreareallaboutbargainprices.Nowhereelse

intheGalaxywillyoufindacheaperpriceforanM/ARamjet.

Doyouhavecheaperdrives?Themaleasked.

Wikhidhisdisappointmentwell;Gorknewthatemployeeslikehimwouldbe

feelingit

for

the

rest

of

the

stellar

day.

But

for

the

moment

Wiks

fake

smile

remained.

Well,youcanalwaysgoforPlasmaPropulsionDrive.Theyrecleanerthannuclear,but

youstillruntheriskofabadreactionifhitintherightspot.

AsopposedtoanM/Areaction?Themaleaskedwithasniff.

Wikchosetoignorehim.APlasmaDrivewillcostyouaround30,000IPCs.

Wouldyousettlefor15,000?thefemaleaskedwhilescratchingherchin

stubble.

ThehairyfeelersonWiksheadbobbedforward,thenstraightenedbackup.

20,000isthelowestIcango.

Deal.

Done.Now,ifthetwoofyouwillcomewithme,wecanbegintheIPC

transactioninmyoffice.

AsidewaysglancefromWiktoldGorthatitwastimetogogetthedrive.He

brushedhisearsawayfromhiseyesandhurriedoff.Onhiswayoutheheardabrief

conversationbetweenthetwocustomers.

Youcoming,Darling?

Illwaithere...dear.

Onthe

way

to

Merchandise

Storage,

Gor

muttered

under

his

breath,

Gor,

do

this.Gor,dothat.Gor,yourelate.Gor,kissmygreenshiny

Hereachedtheelevatorplatformthatleddownintothestoragedeck.Heswept

hishandovertherecognitionconsole,andtheelevatordescendeddownatubeflooded

withcrimsonlight.

Ifonlyhehadenoughmoneytobuyhisownship,hecouldgetoutofthisplace.

Allhehadforsavingswas5,000IPCs,andithadtakenhimthreeyearstosaveupeven

thatmuch.Hethoughtaboutstowingawayononeoftheships,butrememberingthe

penaltyforgettingcaughtmadehisfurfrizzout.Ifonlybuyingpassageonashipwasnt

illegalforemployees.

Thedescentended,andhesteppedofftheplatform.Heloadedtheplasma

reactor,thenreturnedtoBayFiveandwentstraighttowork.Asheworked,henoticed

acouplearmamentsontheship.Ahwell,noneofhisbusiness.

Themalecustomerbegantoaskhimquestionsabouthisfamily,hisjob,wherehe

lived,whatspecieshewastheusualchitchatquestions(hehadnofamily,helived



7/43

Page7

whereheworked,andhewasTedalyon).Heaskedoneofhisown,Doallthemaleson

yourplanethavepaleskin?

What?Thecustomerasked.Thecornersofhislipsturnedupwards,andthe

sightmadeGorquiver.

IIapologizeifIoffendedyou,Gorsaid.

Thecustomer

let

out

astrange

series

of

short,

repetitive

gasping

sounds

from

his

mouththatsoundedlikeanAmphroidinheat,thensaid,Nooffensetaken.Imfemale.

Mypartner,Will,hesdefinitelymale.

Then,Gorasked,Yourenotangry?

No,ofcoursenot,sheanswered.

Gorpurredwithrelief,andsaid,MynamesGorguth,butyoucancallmeGor.

Janell,shereplied.Pleasedtomeetyou,Gor.

Sheheldoutherhand.Gorasked,Whatsthatfor?

WhereIcome

from,

she

answered,

this

is

how

we

greet

new

friends.

Oh,Gorheldoutafurrypaw.Sheclaspedherhandaroundhisandshookhis

armupanddown.Youknowwhatthatmeansonmyworld?

What?

Consenttomate.

Janellwasleftspeechless.

Gorwentbacktowork.

AshorttimepassedbeforeWillreturnedwithWik.TheAmphroidwasgrumbling

under

his

breathnot

a

good

sign

as

far

as

Gor

was

concerned.

As

the

two

reached

the

ship,WillshruggedhisshouldersandsaidtoJanell,Wouldyoubelieveit?Nofinancing

plan.

Wikadded,Thedealsoff!Gor,takeourreactorbacktoMerchandiseStorage!

BbutI,Gorstammered.Hisearsfloppedoverhiseyes.Ialreadyinstalledit.

Wiksbluishgreencheeksturnedpurple,andhisvoiceroseinpitch.Thentakeit

backoutandputtheoldonebackin!

TheAmphroidballedhisfistsandstompedaway,mutteringandcursing.Gor

threwdownhisplasmawelderandgroaned.Somuchfortakingalunchbreak.

Janellfolded

her

arms

and

tapped

one

foot

as

she

regarded

her

partner.

Now

lookatthemessyougotusinto.Anychancewecangetanucleardriveinstead?

Willshookhishead.Hewants15,000forthedrive,andhesaddinginstallment

paymentsnow:2,000per.

Gorsearsperkedup.Heclimbeddowntheshipslandinggearandasked,How

muchwereyoushortbeforetheinstallmentpayments?

Willscratchedhisheadandanswered,5,000.Why?



8/43

Page8

Gorsfurquivered.Anyroomforathirdcrewmember?Ihavefiftyyears

experienceasamechanicalengineer,andmyraceisimmunetomostformsof

radiation.

Wecoulduseagoodmechanic,saidJanellasshegaveWillacoldstare.Who

knowswhatelsemightbreakdownonourbrandnewDDC7CargoVesselagain?

Gorclapped

his

hands

and

leaped

in

the

air.

I

can

have

5,000

sent

to

your

accountinafewminutes.

Gortookoffrunning.Janellwatchedhimdepart,thenlookedatWill.Ill

negotiatewithWikthistime.

Willshruggedandsmiled,Whateveryousay,Dar

Janellsfistgothimrightinthegut,knockinghiswindout.CallmeDarlingone

moretime,andIllaimlower.

WhenWillcouldbreatheagain,hestartedtosay,ButyournameisFrench

for

Buthewasalreadycurleduponthefloorbeforehecouldfinishsaying,Darling.

#

Nodeal!Wikyelled,shakinghisfists.Thatuselessballoffurhasnorightto

transferhisfundstoyouraccount!Itgoesagainstcompanyregulations!

Gorsfurquiveredashewatchedtheexchange.IllgetsenttoaCarnarforsure,

hethought.

Janellcrossed

her

arms,

frowning.

And

what

regulations

would

those

be?

Wwhy,itsintheemployeecontracthesigned,saidWik.Hejammedastubby

fingerdownontohisdesktodrivehomehispoint.Noemployeecantransferpayfunds

grantedbythecompanywithoutwrittenapprovalbyhisstationsupervisor.

Janellrolledhereyes.Whypaythematall,then?

Look,Idontcarewhatkindofslaveoperationyouhavegoinghere.Sheleaned

forward,placingherhandsonWiksdesk,andlookedhimintheeyes.Allwewantisto

getoffthisstationandbackintospace.Now,youhavetwooptions:youcangrantthe

littlefuzz

bucket

permission

to

transfer

his

funds

into

our

account,

or...

She

patted

her

holsteredlasergunandsmiled.Wecandothistheunpleasantway.Yourchoice.

#



9/43

Page9

TheDDC7exitedthedockingstationofWiksGalaxyStorethatorbitedPlanetY

withonepassengermorethanithadwhenitarrived.Janellpunchedinthenavigation

coordinatesthatwouldtakethemtotheirnextdestination.

Theirnewpartnersatatthecommunicationconsole,sendinghisletterof

resignationafterthefact.

Asthe

ship

prepared

for

the

jump,

Gor

asked,

So,

what

do

you

two

do

for

a

living?

Well,uh,we,Willstumbledoverhiswords.Wereindependentarcheologists.

Wekindofhuntotherpeoples

Whathestryingtosayis,Janellcutin,werepirates.Wesearchoutdead

planetsthatoncehadlifeonthemandtakewhatevervaluableswecanfind.Thenwe

sellthemtothehighestbidder.Ifwerelucky,wefindacontractedexcavationteam,let

themdoalltheworkforus,thenrobthemblind.

Oh,saidGor.Hefinishedhisletter,thenpunchedSEND.Beatsworkingat

GalaxyStore.

THEEND

Scott M. SandridgeScottM.SandridgewasborninHotSprings,Arkansas,andgrewupinCorbin,Kentucky.Henowresides

inHolland,Ohio,whereeverybodytalksfunny.

Hehaslovedwritingsinceearlychildhood,butdidntgetseriouswithituntil2000.HeenrolledinLong

RidgeWriters

Group

in

February

2001.

His

first

short

story,

Treecutter,

was

published

in

Issue

4

of

TheSwordReviewinJuly2005.Hehassincegoneontopublishmoreshortstoriesandwritereviewsfor

TangentOnline.HeisalsoamemberoftheCrittersWritersWorkshop,acolumnistforTheSword

Review,andisaSlushmaster(SubmissionsEditor)forRayGunRevival.



10/43

Page10

Short Fiction: Rest AreabyTimBaer

Fiawlthrottledbacktheenginesastherigsettledtothegroundathisselected

restarea.Oh,myancientkidneys,hesaid.Thatwasalongandtiringdrive.He

flippedafew

switches

and

listened

in

satisfaction

as

the

rig

made

its

various

hydraulic

hissingnoiseswhiledeployingitsstabilizinggear.Groaningandstretchingashismuscles

complained,hegotupoutofhisgelrideseatandstartedafttotheexithatch.

Lettingsevenofhiseyesskimthetattletalelightsontheairqualityboardinside

theairlock,heslappedonetentacleontheopenhatchswitch.Takingacautioussniffof

theairforobnoxiousodors,hesteppedofftherigandontothegreenfoliagebeneath.

Squintinginthebrightlightofthisplanetsyoungstar,hecasthisgazeabout

lookingforthelocallifeforms.Heknewtheyweretechnologicallyadvancedhedhad

atoughtimeusinghisguidancesystemonthewayinduetoalltheradiointerference.It

wasbad

enough

with

all

the

xrays

and

other

random

junk

this

young

star

was

throwing

out,butthisplanetfairlybristledwithstrayradiowaves!Hemadeamentalnotetotell

hisdispatchertolabelthissectionofspaceasayellowcautionzonebecauseofit.

Ah!ATerran!hesaidashespottedacreaturestandingbehindawhitepicket

fence.Hecouldtellitwasblatantlyafemalemammalian.Healsonoticedherjawswere

workingnonstop,grindingawayatsomethinginhermouth.

Bokertov,hecalledouttoher,wavingthepolitenumberoftentaclesfora

greeting(three!)ashestrodeacrossthefoliage.TheTerranmadenovocalresponse.

Shesimplystoodtheregazingblanklyathimasshechewed.Yes,yesverypolite.I

shouldnothavebotheredyouwhileyouwereeating.Iunderstandtotally.Hecasthis

eyesabouttryingtolocateanotherTerranwhowasnotquitesobusy.Findingnone,he

returnedhisattentiontothisfemale.Thatsfinedonttalkwithyourmouthfull.Its

notimportant.IwasjustcravingalittleconversationwhileIstretchedmywearybody.I

justdroveinfromSkisoderkinandneededalittlerestbreak.

TheTerrancontinuedchewing,herwideeyedgazeneverleavingFiawl.

Yes,alongdrive.Helookedaroundagain,buthewasalonewiththisTerran.It

startedtocrosshismindthattheremightbealanguagebarrierbetweenhimselfand

whatwas

this

race

called?

Homely

Gradients?

He

shrugged.

It

didnt

matter.

Henoticedafewsmallflyingthingsupintheskythatflittedoneway,thenthe

other,allthewhilemakingsharpchirpingnoises.Thenhenoticedsomeotherflying

creatures,smallandblack,thattookdelightinswarmingaroundapileofsomething

mushylyingonthegrass.Surelythosecouldnotbetheracethatcausedtheradio

interference?No,ithadtobethislargecreature.Thelargeoneswereusuallythesmart



11/43

Page11

ones.Ittookalargeheadtoholdanadequatebraintoattaintheleveloftechnology

neededforthatmuchradiointerference.

HiseyesweredrawnbacktohisbelovedrigaPakkarSuperHauler.Thistrip

wouldmakepossiblethelastpaymentonitandthenitwouldbehis,freeandclear.

Thenhecouldstarttoearnsomeseriousmanna!Butrightnowhedwastedenough

timetalking

to

this

polite

Terran.

It

was

time

to

get

back

to

work.

He

only

got

paid

while

therigwasmoving.

Well,Idontmeantokeepyoufromyourmeal.LikeIsaid,itsbeenalongride

andIjustwantedtogetoutandstretch.Hewiggledthepolitenumberoftentaclesfor

afarewell(nine!)alongwiththepropergrimacetohisoralsphincterandstrodebackto

therig.

TheTerranneversaidaword.Shejuststoodinherpasturecalmlychewingher

cud,waitingtobebroughtintothebarnforhermorningmilking.

Tim BaerTimisafreelanceauthorwithseveralstoriespublishedinvariouselectronicmagazinesontheinternet.

Whenheisnotbusypoundingoutmorestoriesonhislaptop,heiskeptoccupiedtakingcareofhiscats,

thedogs,hiswifeandkids,andservingtheLordnotquiteinthatorder,butdonttellthecats!

ThisstoryfirstappearedintheOctober2005issueofTheSwordReview.

http://theswordreview.com/item.php?sub_id=226http://theswordreview.com/item.php?sub_id=226http://theswordreview.com/item.php?sub_id=226http://theswordreview.com/item.php?sub_id=226http://theswordreview.com/item.php?sub_id=226http://theswordreview.com/item.php?sub_id=226


12/43

Page12

Serial: The Adventures of the Sky PirateEpisodeOne:TheAssassinofPatienceBay,PartOnebyJohneCook

Ashadowpassedoverheadasthetwoyoungmencarryingbasketsfacedoff

againsteachotheronthetopofthehillhighaboveapristineSouthSeasislandbay.

Imustpass,saidatannedyoungman,hiswavyblackhairlooselytiedwitha

cordatthenapeofhisneck.Youmayaswellstepaside.

Holdon,Vennah!Idonotyieldthepath,saidtheother,whoseformalmodeof

speechwassomewhatdiminishedbyhisbarefeetanduntuckedshirt.

Thefirstcoppedasdramaticaposeasonecanwhilecarryingabasket.Iam

older.Age

goes

before

vitality.

Thesecondremainedresolute.Yourcreakingjointsandsnappinghipsareno

excusetoactthelout.Stepasideyourselforfacethewrathofmybladeforyour

impudence!

Youwillruetheday...somethingsomething!

Andlikewise!

Asone,theythrewtheirbasketstotheground,drewtheirweaponsfromrope

tiedattheirwaists,andsaluted.Theycircledeachotherforamoment,andthenthe

firstleapt

forward.

They

started

slashing

at

each

other,

fighting

back

and

forth

over

the

littlehilltop,showingmorecompetencethanyoumightexpectforyoungmenoftheir

age.

Thefightwasproceedingvigorouslywhenthesecondcombatantdrewup

suddenlyandstaredpasttheshoulderoftheotheratthebaylaidoutbeforethem.He

startedtopoint.Hey,Flynnlook,weveOW!

Haltinghisattackandjoininghisfriend,Flynnsaid,Sorry,Sandle,andturnedto

lookforhimselfwherehewaspointing. Thesoaringbird?heasked.

SandlefixedFlynnwithadrolllook.Inthebay.Someonessailingin,anditlooks

liketheyre

alone!

A

stranger

has

come

to

Patience

Bay!

Otherthanthepacketshipthatcomeseverysixweeks,theyreallstrangerswho

winduphere,Flynnsaid,givingSandleagoodnaturedelbowtotheribcage.Hespied

thegreyingmaninagreyingcraftsailintotheAbbeysremotebaydownbelowand

watchedtheraggedlittlecraftapproachthedock.

Doesntlooklikemuchofaboat,commentedSandle,restingthestickheused

asaswordlightlyononeshoulder.



13/43

Page13

Whatdoyoumean?askedFlynn.

Whatdoyoumean,whatdoImean?Thedingysail,theweatheredpaintIve

seenbetterrowboats.

Flynntookitallin,cuppinghishandsoverhisforeheadtoshieldhiseyes.You

justhavetoknowwhatyourelookingfor,myyoungfriend,hesaid.

Itlooks

pretty

humble

from

here,

Sandle

muttered,

idly

twirling

his

stick.

Itlookslikefreedomtome,Flynnsaid,softly.

Aftertyingup,thestrangerclimbeduponthedock,stretched,threwarucksack

overhisshoulder,andstartedhikingupthegravelpathtowardthewhitestone

buildingsthatcomprisedtheAbbeyproper.

Comeon,saidFlynn,clappinghisfriendontheshoulder.Thevintnerwillhave

ourheadsifwereturnemptyhanded.

Theysheathedtheirsticks,retrievedtheirbaskets,andstartedwalkingtoward

the

vines

planted

along

the

side

of

the

hill,

Flynn

striding

straight

ahead

and

Sandle

strollingbehind.

Sometimelater,astheywerepickinggrapesinthemidafternoonsun,the

visitorsheadpokedabovethehorizonashehikeduptherockytrail.

Sandlebegantonod,butthemomentpassedandhepretendedheddropped

somethinginthesoil.Flynnnoticedthestrangerspiercingblueeyesflitover,sizingup

thetwoashestrodetowardthem. Flynnfranklyreturnedthestrangersscrutiny

withoutmalice,withoutflinching.

Welcome,stranger,Flynncalled.Thestrangersmiled,butFlynnpressedon.

Ven,what

is

your

ship?

TheLoneWolf,saidthestranger,hisvoiceclear,cultured,andfirm,sounding

morelikehebelongedinpalacehallsthanonabackwaterisland.Then,sketchinga

quicksalute,thestrangercontinuedtowardthebuildings.

Younoticeanythingaboutthevisitor?FlynnaskedSandle,watchingtheman

entertheAbbeyscourtyard.

Otherthanhesgotabeggarsboat?saidSandle.

FlynnsaidSomethingaboutthatmansbearinggoesbeforehim.Hisstatureis

differentsomehow.Almost...

Destitute?suggestedSandle.

Flynnturnedtohisfriend.Regal,hesaid.Hethenturnedandlookedatthe

courtyard.TheAbbottrottedoutofthebuildingtoreceivethestranger,boweddeeply

beforetheman,andthenquicklyusheredhimintothecooloftheshadedinterior.

Theeyesofadistantobserverwatchedthewatchers.

#



14/43

Page14

Astheycarriedthefruitsoftheirlabortothevintnershut,Sandlesaid,Youve

beenawfulquietthisafternoon.Youcantbeuptoanygood.

Hm?Oh.Flynnsmiledselfconsciously.Justthinking.

Thatsnevergood,observedSandle.Letmeguessitsabouttheboat.

Flynnjustgrinned.

Sandleseyebrows

arched

as

an

idea

hit

him.

Tell

me

that

youre

not

concocting

schemestoacquirethatboatandsailawaysomewhere.

Flynnresistedbutbrokeoutinafullonsmile.

Sandleseyesnarrowed.Butyouknowhowmuchtroubleyoudgetinwiththe

Abbotifyoudid,soyourealreadypastthephasewhereyoureconsideringthatwith

anyseriousness.

Flynnssmilebecamesofter,aneffectthatseemedlikeanadmission,ifnota

confession.

Sandle

hitched

his

basket

up.

Uh

huh.

And

how

many

schemes

did

you

consider

beforeyouthoughtbetterofit?

Justthethree,hesaid,hiseyesdancing.

Sandleplacedagrapebetweenhisfrontteethandpoppedit,squirtingFlynnwith

theerrantjuice,promptingagoodnaturedshovefromFlynn.Soyourestickingaround

forawhile,butthatwontlastforever.Itsonlyamatteroftimebeforeyoumakeyour

breakandsailawayfromthisrockattheripeoldageof,what,fifteen?

Flynnchuckledbutdidntconfirmthestatement.WouldyoumissmeifIleft?

Sandlesnorted.Hark,no!Illgetyourbedandfirstshotatanygirlswhocome

here!

Flynnlaughedmerrily,perhapsattheideaofgirlsvisitingPatienceBay.Then,

soberingslightly,Flynnsaid,Ibethewouldntmissme.

TheAbbot?Sandlesnickered.Thatalldependsonhowdifficultyouareat

eveningmeals!

Flynnidlybrushedatthegrapeseedsstickingtohischest.Idonttrytobe

difficult.IjustcantexplainhowIllbecompletelycalmonemomentandthenhellsay

somethingthatwillfeellikeaskewersharpenedandwaitingjustforme.

Theywere

passing

by

the

stone

buildings.

Instead

of

answering,

Sandle

just

motionedwithhisstubbychintowardthetopicoftheconversationwhowasstanding

highonabalconyoverlookingthecourtyard.Seeingthemlookhisway,theAbbot

turned,claspedhishandsbehindhisback,andstrolledbackthroughshadowedarches

andintotheAbbey.

Thetwoyoungmenexchangedasignificantglanceandkeptwalkingtowardthe

vintnershut.



15/43

Page15

#

Asecondshipmadeportlaterthesameday.Thewirylittlemanwithno

personalityacceptedhelptyingup,andthensteppedoffhisboatontothedock,tipping

thedockhandgenerously.

Twoinoneday,saidthedockhand.Thelittlemansmiledasmilethatnever

reachedhis

dead

little

eyes

and

was

walking

away

from

the

dockhand

when

he

heard,

Cantrememberthelasttimewehadtwoinoneday.

Thelittlemanstopped,turned,andreturnedbacktothedockhand.Hesaid,Is

thatright?Hey,lookoverhereforamoment,anddroppedasilverycordinhisright

hand.

Thedockhanddrewclose.Whatisit?

Movingfasterthantheeyecouldsee,hewrappedthecordaroundthe

dockhandsneckandthatwasthelastanyoneheardfromthedockhand.

Itwastwilightwhenthelittlemanwalkedthroughthedesertedhutstowardthe

pathuptotheAbbey.Heturnedacornerandayoungmanwithbarefeetandapartially

untuckedshirtcruisedpast,bearingafishingrod.

Sandlegreetedhimwithafriendlywave.Welcome,stranger!Hecruisedpast

andspoketohimself,Wow,twoinoneday.Thenheturnedthedarkenedcorner.

Thelittlemanstoppedandlookedoverhisshoulder,asilverycorddroppinginto

hishand.Hecreptsilentlybacktothecornertolookaround,butcouldntseewherethe

youngmanwent.

Thelittlemanwaitedforsometimeforsomesignofwheretheotherhadgone,

butthere

were

any

number

of

little

huts

around

there.

Finally,

he

started

trotting

quietlytowardtheAbbey,vanishingintotheshadowsofthejunglelikeawraith.He

movedlikehethoughthewasunseen,unobservedbyhumaneyes.

Halfofthatwastrue.

#

FlynnstoppedbySandlesroombeforedinnerbuthewasnowheretobefound.

Hisbrowsfurrowed,andthenhemadehiswaytothegreathallwithitsopencurving

archesatthefrontandthreesides.Thetablesweresetinthecenterwiththemasteron

anelevateddaisthatbackeduptothekitchenontheothersideoftheWestwall.

Flynntook

his

normal

seat

at

one

of

the

outlier

tables.

Sandle

wasnt

there,

either.HewasdeepinthoughtwhenhenoticedtheAbbotwaveforhimtoapproach

themastertable.

Hewaitedaninsolentmomentbeforepushinghimselfupfromthetableand

presentinghimselftothemenseatedatthemastertableuponthedais.

Thisistheyoungmanhimself,theAbbotsaid,amanofmediumbuildanda

deep,resonantvoice.



16/43

Page16

Wevemet,saidthestranger.

TheAbbotcontinued.CooperFlynn,IdliketointroduceTuyMeklanek,anold

friendofminejustinfromBorneyBay.Hellbestayingwithusforalittlewhile,afew

weeks.IneedtoleaveforashorttripandhaveaskedVenMeklanekifhewouldoversee

yourlessonsinmyabsence.

Flynnstood

and

crossed

his

arms.

Which

is

it,

he

said,

looking

fiercely

at

the

Abbot,alittlewhile,orafewweeks?

Abrittlesilencesettledoverthetable,butthenewcomersquietlaughbrokethe

mood.MydearAbbot,Iseewhatyoumean.Thisonehassomespirit.

GivingtheAbbotablacklook,Flynnstrodeforward,holdingouthispalmtothe

newcomeringreeting.

VenMeklanek,IamCooperFlynn,atyourservice,hesaid.

CallmeTuy,saidthestrangerasherosetoreturnthesalutation.Itisa

pleasuretomeetanystudentoftheAbbots.

Meklanekkeptthecontactamomentlongerthanwasusual,bringingFlynns

attentionbacktohim.Westarttomorrowafternoon,notedMeklanek,andFlynn

grudginglynodded.

Flynnturnedtogobacktohisseat.HemissedseeingtheAbbotmaskathoughtful

grinbehindhiscup.

#

Flynnwasawakenedinthenightbyanurgenttugonhisarm.Heblinkedinthe

lightofacandlethrustfartooclosetohisface.Theflamestutteredeerilyinthebreeze

fromthe

open

window.

Whatisit,raspedFlynn.

Twoinoneday!Sandlewhisperedloudlyinhisear.Thereisanothershipcome

toharbor,andthisonecarriedagreatblackbirdofdeath!

Flynnrolledoversleepily.Whatareyousaying?Thattheappearanceofthe...

whatwasitagain?

Agreatcrow,ormaybearaven.Itwasreallybig,aFowlFatale!

Flynngroaned.Youvebeenreadingtoomanypulptalesfromthemailship.

Flynn

sighed

and

tried

rubbing

sleep

out

of

his

eyes.

How

big

is

big?

he

said

blearily.

Sandlepacedaroundashechattered,gesturingwildlywiththecandle,castingthe

craziestwhirlingshadowsaroundtheroom.Whenithoppeddownfromthecabinto

therail,itlookedlikeitswingspanwasbetterthansixfeetifitwasaninch.

Flynnlookedimpressed.Analbatross,then.

Sandlestoppedandwhirledtofacehisfriend.Ablackalbatross?



17/43

Page17

Flynnyawnedandlayhisheadbackdown.Itcouldbeabig,blackhummingbird

forallIcare.Sotellme,whatmeaningdoyoureadintothearrivalofthiswinged

harbinger?

Sandlesigheddramaticallyandspokeinasingsongyvoice.Thegreatblackbird

isthemanifestationofdoom.Thatshipbringsdeathofsomesort.

Flynncocked

his

head.

Like

bad

meatloaf?

SandlereachedoverandgrippedFlynnsshoulderinhisexcitement.Likean

assassinperhaps,orevenwomen!

Flynnshothimalook,andthensnorted.Gobacktobed,Sandle.Withthat,he

rolledbackoverandpulledhisthinpillowoverhishead.

Youllsee,saidSandle,pointingatFlynn.Somebodyshoursaremarked,andI

aimtobeready.Imcarryingarealsworduntilthatbirdleaves.

Withhisheadburiedunderthepillow,Flynnwavedhishandindismissal.Sandle

rolledhiseyes,tookhislamp,andhistheories,andleft.

Flynnlayinthedarkforafewmoments,andthenpulledhisheadoutfromunder

thepillow.Lookingcarefully(andperhapssheepishly)aroundthedarkenedroom,he

quietlygotupandclosedthewindow.

#

Afteradawnbreakfast,FlynnsparredwithSandleuntilhewastakenasideby

Thannon,theWeaponsMaster.Theybanteredwhiledueling,aswasThannonscustom.

StartingaclassicHarkiattack,Thannonsaid,Didyougetinsomepractice

workingoutthatinsidecorkscrewyesterdayafternoon?

Beatingaside

each

attack,

Flynn

managed

to

say,

I

was

theoretically

picking

grapes...butwegotinacoupleofhoursofsparringwhilewaiting...forthevisitorto

makeportandgetuptotheAbbey.Hah!

Engarde!yelledThannon,andstampedhiswaytowardsFlynn,whoparriedand

steppedoutoftheway.Whowasthestranger?

Werentyouatdinner?

IwaslookingforFeldt.Hewentmissingyesterdaylateafternoonjustbefore

dinner.

Flynn

ducked

one

swing

and

hopped

over

another

before

launching

a

counter,

theirpracticesticksgoingclickclickclickinthequietoftheearlymorning.Some

functionaryfromthedistantmainland...hesaid.Hesgoingtobeconductingmy

afternoonlessonsintheAbbotsabsence.

ThannondartedinandtriedtoslapFlynnsstickoutofhishandsbutFlynnsgrip

wasunyielding.Flynnpushedhimbackandlaunchedafierycounterattack.TheAbbots

goingaway?saidThannon.Didhesaywhere?



18/43

Page18

IwastoorelievedthatIwouldbegivenareprievefromtheoldwindbagthatI

didnt...OW!FlynnheldhisarmwhereThannonhadrappedit.

Thereisareasonthatformisproper,observedThannonsternly.Youarefree

todowhateveryoucanaccomplishinthisworld,butItellyouthatyouignorepropriety

atyourperil.ThannonfixedFlynnwithasignificantlook.Andbythat,Imeanrespect

foryour

elders

as

well

as

how

you

present

ablade.

The

principle

is

the

same

in

both

cases.

Flynnseyesflashedbuthecomposedhimself.Iapologize,MasterThannon.

Sandlewokemeduringthenighttryingtotellmesomethingaboutthearrivalof

anothership.

Thannonseyesnarrowedbriefly,andthenhegesturedwithhishand.Proper

formprevailsinthefaceofcarelessnessorfatigue.ThatswhyIingrainitsoearly.

Again!

Afterafieryexchange,FlynnmanagedtoflickhisstickinsideandraptheMasters

swordout

of

his

hand.

Thannon

smiled

ahumorless

smile

and

came

back

in

the

next

fewexchangestoexposenofewerthanfourweaknessesinFlynnsform.Flynnheldup

hishandinsurrenderandhalfbowedtotheWeaponsMaster.Afterthat,theremainder

ofthesessionproceededalongamoretypicaltrack.

Theywentbackandforthforanotherhalfhourandthenstoppedforamugof

waterinthemidmorningsun.

Youareprogressingquickly,acknowledgedThannon.DespitetheAbbots

misgivingsconcerningyou,youclearlyhavepotentialwithabladeifyousodesire.Have

yougivenanyfurtherthoughtwithregardtoatrade?

Flynnhadafarawaylookinhiseyes.ThenheblinkedandlookedatThannon,who

waitedpatiently.Hm?No,Ihavenodesiresotherthanleavingthisisland.

Youdontlikeithere?

Itsapleasantenoughprison,Iguess,saidFlynnashegesturedaroundatthe

islandaroundthem,butIwanttogetoutintotheworldandfollowinthewakeofmy

father.Ihaveafeelingthereissomethingunfinishedabouthisdeath.Whoknows?After

that...PerhapsVenMeklanekcansuggestsomethingwhenheinstructsmethis

afternoon.

Onhearing

that

name,

Thannons

head

snapped

around,

and

his

indolent

focus

suddenlycametobearentirelyonFlynn.

Isthatwhoarrivedonthesailboatyesterday?

Thefirstone,yes,Flynnsaid,carefully.

Thannonlookedathimforalongmoment.Timeforlunch,theWeaponsMaster

saidabruptly,dismissingFlynn,wholeftThannondeepinthought.

#



19/43

Page19

Afteralightlunchinthecoolnessofthegreathall,Flynnmadehiswayoutside

andupthestonestairstothebalconyandthendowntotheintimatelibrarywherethe

Abbottypicallyattemptedtraining,oneofmanylittlehavensofknowledgescattered

aroundtheAbbey.FlynnfoundMeklanekthere,pagingthroughdustytomes.

Flynnrappedlightlyonthedoorjamb.VenMeklanek,Iamhere.

Meklanekturned

around

holding

aleather

bound

volume

with

parchment

pages;

lightfromtheopenwindowspilledacrossthepageashestrokedhissaltandpepper

beardedchin.

Tuy,hesaid,introducinghimselfagainandgesturingtowardachair.MayIcall

youCooper?

Flynnstoodhisground.Cooperisabarrelmaker.Mostpeoplejustcallme

Flynn.Someherecallme...otherthings.

Tuylaughedtohimself.Flynnitis,then.Hereplacedthebookandthenwalked

aroundthedesk.Youknow,Ilikebooksaswellasanymanandbetterthanmost,but

whatdo

you

say

we

take

this

outside

for

now.

Maybe

you

can

show

me

alittle

of

the

island.

Flynnraisedhiseyebrowsinboredombutsketchedacourtesybowandgestured

towardthedoor.

#

TheypassedthevintnershutandFlynnstoppedlongenoughtogrababroad

vegetationbladewhichheholsteredathiswaist.Wheredoyouwanttogo?

Tuywalkedtotherockyoutcroppingoverlookingthejunglebelow,thenturned

andwaved

his

hand

negligently.

Around,

he

said.

Flynnsnickereddryly.Thatwonttakelong,hesaid.

Flynnledthewayalongtherocky,windswepthilltop,throughorchardsandsmall

gardenplots,finallyclearingapathandleadingthewaydownthroughlushhillsides.

Tuyasked,Sohowdidyoucometoliveonthisisland?

Flynndidntanswer,butTuywaitedpatiently.Theycametoashallow,fast

runningstream.Flynnspokeoverhisshoulder,Thewaterhereisclearanddrinkable,

proceedingtodemonstratethepoint.Tuyfollowedsuit.Ivereaditsbecausethe

volcanicsubstrataactsasafilter.Or,itcouldbebecauseCylloveshispeopleandcares

forthem.

Ive

heard

that,

too.

Flynn

looked

at

Tuy

to

see

his

reaction,

but

the

older

mansexpressionwaspatientandneutral.AllIknowisthatthiswaterisgood,said

Flynn,defensively.

Tuysaid,InoticedthattheAbbeyhasanunusuallyextensivelibraryofrareand

esotericbooks.

Flynngruntedandnodded,thenhoppedacrossthestreamandstartedhackingat

greeneryagain.



20/43

Page20

Keepingup,Tuytriedagain.Doyoureadanyofthem?

Flynnstoppedandwipedhisbrowwithhisarm.Ido,hesaid.Itisoneofthe

onlythingsthatkeepsmehere.Ilearnedaboutthemalmostbyaccident.WhenIwasa

boy,IreceivedfrequentlightwhippingsforwhattheycalledmylackoffaithandwhatI

calledbeingaboyIhadntactuallydoneanythingwrong,justaskedquestions.Of

course,those

were

the

days

when

they

whipped

themselves

for

their

own

thoughts,

and

Ijustthoughttheylikedtohitthings.ItdidntdomuchformyopinionofalmightyCyl

butittoughenedmeup.ThenonedayIdeliberatelystolesomethingmostlybecauseI

couldandwoundupintheAbbotslibrary.Halfadozenofthemchasedmeintothe

room,butwhenthedoorfinallyopened,itwastheAbbotwhocamein,andbyhimself.

IdpickedtheJodkinsoutatrandomandwassittingreadingitathisdeskandinhis

chairwhenhecamein.HewalkedslowlytothetableandsawwhatIwasdoingand

whomIwasreading.

Doyouunderstandthat?,hedasked.Ijuststartedit,Ireplied,but,yes,I

understandit

so

far.

He

nodded

once

to

himself.

He

looked

at

the

desk

where

the

item

Idstolenwasresting.Hegesturedtowardit.Areyoudonewiththat?Ithoughta

moment,andthengrunted.Hepickeditup,turned,andreturnedtothedoor.Onthe

wayout,hestoppedandsaid,IfyoueverhaveanyquestionsabouttheJodkins,feel

freetoaskme.Inodded,andheleftagain,closingthedoorbehindhim.Thelibraries

becamemysanctuaryafterthat,andtheyneverstruckmeagain.

Tuysmiled.AnddoyouunderstandtheJodkinsnow?

Flynnturnedandlookedathim.Hesverywisebutistooimpressedwithhisown

wisdom.Hewouldhavebeenmoreimpressiveifhedhaditdictatedinsteadofwriting

itin

his

own

ornate

hand,

but

Isuppose

thats

why

the

volume

is

so

precious.

Tuysaid,ItwasmygreathonortospendtimeinthelibrariesinNewBriton.I

knowofaJodkinstherewherehedidjustthat,anditis,byallaccounts,amore

accessiblework,butIthinkyoumayhavethemorescholarlyvolumehere,ifmysources

areaccurate.

Flynnlookedathim.IfImeverthere,Illbesuretolookitup,notthatIthinkit

wouldanswermyultimatequestions.

Andthoseare?

Flynnjust

smiled.

Flynnresumedhistrekandhackedhiswayclearuntiltheycametoanestablished

pathheadinggraduallydowntheslope.Theyfolloweditinsilenceuntiltheysuddenly

cameoutoftheshadowsofthetreesandfoundthemselvesonaspectacularexpanseof

whitesandandcrystalbluewater.Theshorelinemeanderedsedatelybacktotheleft

andright,revealingabroad,curvingbeach.



21/43

Page21

Behold,thepristinebeachesofPatienceBay!heexclaimed,andthenadded,

notthatthemonksevermakeitdownheretoenjoythem.

TheywalkedoutontothesandwhereTuyremovedhisshoesandstockings,and

theywadedalongintheshallowsoftheocean.Flynnpointedoutvariousfishinthe

shallowwater,thenremovedhisloosecottonshirtandrantowardthewaves,diving

headlonginto

the

surf.

He

started

swimming

with

ease

out

toward

atiny

island

acouple

ofhundredyardsoffshore.

FlynnwasoverhalfwaytherewhenTuypoweredbyhim,startlinghim.Flynnput

onaburstofspeed,catchingup,andkeptaferociouspaceuntiltheyreachedtheisland.

Theystaggeredashoreatthesametime,drippingwet,andbothstartedlaughing.Tuy

wasalittlewinded,butrecoveredhisbreathquicklyenough.

Youarefullofsurprises,arentyou,saidFlynn,breathingheavily,andthenhe

brokeoutintoagrin.

Tuysaid,Thatstomyadvantageinmylineofwork,andthenmockbowed.

Youllhave

to

tell

me

what

you

do

sometime,

said

Flynn,

thoughtfully.

Tuyjustsmiled.

#

Ontheirwayback,FlynnandTuywalkedthroughacourtyardthroughaflockof

chickens.Flynnstartedrunningaround,wieldinghiswoodswitch,andchasingthe

chickenshitherandyonwithgreatglee.Tuyleanedagainstastonewallandwatched

Flynnrunningandducking,duelingwiththechickens.

Flynnrappedonesolidlyontheback,causingittostumbleandsquawk.Aha!

Youredead!

he

said,

face

flushed

and

grinning.

Tuycoaxedthenervousbirdoverwithfeedandpickeditup,strokingittocalmit.

Youthinkthatkillingisexcitingbusiness,eh?saidTuy,casually.

Flynnstruckapose.Onlywhennecessary,ofcourse,butamanmustdowhata

manmustdo.

StrokingthechickeninhislapandlookingFlynnintheeye,Tuytwisteditsneck,

thethick,rubberysnapechoinginthecourtyard.Thechickenfloppedoverand

shuddered.Flynnseyeswentwide.

TuystoodandgaveittoFlynn,whodroppedhisswitchinthetransferandheld

thetwitchingchickeninstiff,tremblinghands.

Killingisneverglamorous,saidTuy,softly,evenwhenitisnecessary.He

pickeduptheswitchandgaveittoFlynn,whohelditinonehandlikeitwasalive.

Now,ifyoulltakethatbirdtoCook,wecanhavechickenfordinner.HeclappedFlynn

ontheshoulderandlefthimtherewithaswitchheldawkwardlyinonehandandadead

chickenstilltwitchingintheother.

#



22/43

Page22

Thefollowingday,itwaslateafternoonwhentheymadetheirwayaroundthefar

eastsideofthelittleislandandapproachedthedocks.

Youmustbeadecentsailortomakeitallthewayhereinthatlittleboat,

commentedFlynnastheywalked.

TheLoneWolf?Itssmall,butveryseaworthy.Itsbeeninmyfamilyforthe

longesttime.

Ive

been

on

much

grander

ships

of

course,

but

never

on

any

better.

Myfriendthoughtthatitlookedweathered.Howdidheputit?Iveseenbetter

rowboats.

Tuylaughed.Theresmoretothatlittleboatthanmeetstheeye.Itsweathered

becauseitsriddenoutmanyaswell,manyastorm.Andwhileitis,indeed,somewhat

modest,ithasoneprimaryadvantageoverarowboat.

Whatsthat?

Noneedforoars,saidTuy,winking,andFlynnlaughed.

As

they

approached

the

docks,

Flynn

started

squinting

at

something

there.

Well,

Illbe,hemuttered.

Whatsthat?

Flynnpointed.Myfriendthoughtthatanothershipdockedduringthenightthe

dayafteryouarrived.HesundertheimpressionthatitbroughtblackestDeathtothe

islandasitspassenger.

Tuytookamomentbeforeheanswered.Deathissobusythathedoesnthave

timetowaitonmereships,butIveseensomethatseemedtohavecloserrelations

withDeaththanothers,thatmuchissure.

Tuygrew

quiet

as

they

came

up

to

it.

It

was

another

smallish

ship

capable

of

beingpilotedbyoneortwo.ItwasmuchmoreornatethanTuys,withpolishedwood,

gleamingbrassfixtures,andstudiouslyfurledsails.

TuyturnedtoFlynnandcasuallysaid,Youvementionedthatyoupracticeyour

swordsmanshipinthemornings.Perhapswecansparsometime.

Flynnbowed,puzzled.Idbehonored?hesaid.

Tuyslappedhislegsuddenly.Inthatcase,Illstopbymyboatandretrievemy

sword.

Flynn

furrowed

for

the

barest

moment,

and

then

he

nodded.

ItwasfullytwilightbythetimetheyclimbedthelonghillbackuptotheAbbey.

Flynnhadsheathedhiseverpresentmacheteandpickeduphisswordfromthearmorer

toshowtoTuy.Tuywascarryinghisswordinhislefthandastheyenteredthemodest

frontcourtyardandskirtedalongtheeastsideofthebuildingtowardsthebackofthe

buildings.

ThatswhentheyheardSandleyellandheardtheclatterofaswordfightaround

thecorner.



23/43

Page23

#

TuyandFlynnlookedateachother,drewtheirweapons,andrantothebattle.

Sandlewasbackedupagainstthefarwall,barelyparryinghisopponentsfierce

attack.Tuyroaredsomethingwordlessandawirylittlemanwithdeadeyesspun

around.SomethingabouthimcausedTuytotakeaninvoluntarystepbackward,and

thenhe

gritted

his

teeth

and

joined

the

attack.

The

swordsman

backed

up

to

assess

the

newthreat.

Theswordsmanengagedthethreeofthem.HeseemedtoignoreFlynnandTuy

andconcentratedspecificallyonSandle.TuysteppedinfrontofSandleandFlynn

steppednimblytohisside.

Theswordsmantriedtwofrontalattacksthatwerebeatenback,andthentook

tworunningstepsstraightatthemandFlynnfellbackastep.Theswordsmanbounced

andflippedrightovertheirheads,landinggracefullybehindthem.

Sandleshriekedandwildlyparriedawickedchestcut.Theassailantrolledtohis

sideas

Tuy

and

Flynn

whirled

and

assisted

with

Sandles

defense.

Tuy

roared

again

and

together,thethreeofthemadvancedontheswordsman,pushinghimbacktowardthe

corner.

Theswordsmansurprisedthemall,movingsofastthattheycouldbarelysee,

engagingallthreeinavirtuosodisplayofswordsmanshipandsheerdetermination,

pushingthethreeofthembackbyhimself.Whilehewascrossingswordswithallthree,

hisstylewasveryunorthodox,usingonlydefensivemoveswithTuyandFlynn,butonly

offensivemoveswithSandle.Betweenthethreeofthem,theymanagedtoparrythe

quickthrustsatSandle,butthesinglemindedattackstowardhiminparticularwere

clearlyunsettlingSandle,asevidencedbyhowhecontinuedtoinchbackward.

TheattackerlungedatSandle,andFlynnandTuyconvergedtobeathimback,but

Sandleretreatedtoofastandtrippedoveraflagstone,fallingroughlyonhisseat.Seeing

thisopportunity,theswordsmantensedasifinpreparationtopounce.

Atthatmoment,anothershadowappearedinthecourtyardofftotheirright.

Itshim!yelledSandlefromhisseatontheground.Itstheassassin,Master

Thannon!

Atthat,Thannondrewhissheathedswordoutofhiswaistbandandflickedthe

sheathestraight

at

the

little

killer.

As

fast

as

the

projectile

was,

the

killer

was

faster

still,

blockingitandsendingittowardthethree.TuyandFlynnsplittoavoiditandthen

reformedinfrontofSandle.

Thannonenteredthecourtyardwithouthisnormalbanter,quietlyengagingthe

killerwithblisteringspeed.Thannonssworddancedinandoutwiththreeprobing

attacksandthenhebouncedrightatthelittlemanandranhimcleanthrough,pinning

himtothewall.



24/43

Page24

Thekillersswordfellfromhishandandhesaidoneobscene,gutturalword,the

onlywordheeverspokeduringthebattle.

Thannonpressedhimrightbackuptothewallandbenttowardshim,speakingto

himinlowtones.Thenhesuddenlysteppedbackand,withaflourish,pluckedhissword

freeoftheassassinschest.Thenthemanwithdeadlittleeyessimplybecameadead

littleman.

WeaponsMasterThannonturnedtothethreeandtookinthescene.Hewasnt

slightlywinded,instarkcontrasttoTuyandFlynn,whowerebothgaspingforbreath.

TheyturnedtoseetothewelfareofSandle,andsawthatSandlewasntbreathingatall,

thesharpswordsheatheburiedhalfwaythroughhisthroat.

Thannonfinallyspoke.Perhapssomebodycantellmewhatsgoingonhere,he

said.

TheAdventuresoftheSkyPiratecontinuesnextmonth.

Staytunedfortheconclusionof

TheAssassin

of

Patience

Bay

Johne Cook

JohneCookisafounderofRayGunRevival,andisaveteranauthorofonlinearticles,reviews,and

shortstories. Hewasa2004winnerofNaNoWriMo,theNationalNovelWritingMonth.

Johnehastriedhishandatanynumberofickyjobsbutfoundhiscareerin2000whenhewasntpretty

enoughtoworkasaDeskClerk(truestory).HeisaTechnicalWriterandHelpAuthorbydayand

creativewriter

/

magazine

editor

by

night.

Johnegothisstartreadingspaceoperainhisdadsextensivecollectionofclassicpaperbacks.Hetraces

hiswritingrootstoMissKinanesfourthgradeEnglishclass,wherehelearnedhecouldcapture

peoplesimaginationwiththewrittenword.

Hispenchantforwritingabouthimselfinthethirdpersoncamemuchlater.

Inadditiontoreading,healsohasafascinationforquirkymovies,progressiverock,PCbasedvideo

games,andracquetball.

Johnelives

in

south

central

Wisconsin

with

his

(longsuffering)

wife

of

20

years

and

the

rest

of

his

quirky

family.JohneblamesPaulChristianGlennforspurringhisrenewedinterestincreativewritingfour

summersago,butthatsanotherstory.



25/43

Page25

Featured Artist Erika GreenName:ErikaGreene,akaarchaenon

Age:24

Hobbies:

Art,

music,

politics,

fighting

games,

reading

FavoriteBook/Author:HarryPotterseriesandSherlockHolmes.MyfavoriteauthorisConanDoyle

FavoriteArtist:NormanRockwell,Dali,M.C.Escher,YoshitakaAmano

Whendidyoustartcreatingart?WhenIwasyoung,Ijustsortapickeditupinthesecondgrade

Whatmediadoyouworkin?IusuallyusePainterIX,and

Photoshop.

Sometimes

Opencanvas

and

an

intuos

2

Wacom.

Whereyourworkhasbeenfeatured?Ihavehadworkprintedformanylocalmagazines,andIhaveabustling

freelancebusiness.Workingonaseriesofcomicsatthe

moment.

Whereshouldsomeonegoiftheywantedtoview/buysomeofyourworks?http://archaenon.deviantart.com

/

http://www.archaenon.net

Howdidyoubecomeanartist? Watchingmycousin;he'sverygoodatreallifeportraits,andIwantedtobelikehim.

Whatwereyourearlyinfluences?MycousinLarryDuBose,Disneycartoons,oldOsamuTezukaandMiyazakimovies.

Whatwereyourcurrentinfluences?Dadaartists(Dali,Escher,etc.)andmusic. Musicplaysahugepartinmyart,andalmostallmypiecesarenamedafterasong. For

example,the

feature

image

is

named

after

an

ebm

band

Ireally

love.

Whatinspiredtheartforthecover? Thesong,BurningEmpiresbyvnv it'ssuchanamazingsong,andalltheirmusicmakesmewanttopaint.

Howwouldyoudescribeyourwork? Dark,different,manypeopletellmeit'ssuperdifferentfromwhattheynormallyseeandunique. Inormallycallitscribblymess

though,heh.

http://archaenon.deviantart.com/http://www.archaenon.net/http://www.archaenon.net/http://archaenon.deviantart.com/


26/43

Page26

Wheredoyougetyourinspiration/whatinspiresyou?IguessItrytobedifferent. I'mnotimpressedbyalotof

currentart,andhoweverythingisdoneinFlash,andallthat

jazz.SoItrytostaymoretraditional,notlosingsightofthe

greatartistswhenIwork.Iworkalotfrommusic.Icanlistento

a

song

and

envision

what

I

want

to

do.

Much

of

it

is

wasted

on

thecuttingroomfloor,buttheonesIdokeep,Itrytofinish,

andhavethemrepresentwhatIseeinmyfavoriteartists

music.

Whathavebeenyourgreatestsuccesses? Finallymakingthetransitionfromtraditionalhandpaintedarttodigitalartwith

mediatools.ForthelongesttimeIwasantidigital,thenI

realizedtimesarechangingandIhadtogetwiththem. Being

abletomeetothergreatartistsandsuch,andfinallygettingout

thereand

doing

art

for

aliving.

Haveyouhadanynotablefailures,andhowhasfailureaffectedyourwork?Yeah,Ihadacomicbookoncegodowninflames;itwaspoorlythoughtout,andthe

showmanshipwasick.ThenagainIwasstillinexperiencedandincollege.Soittaught

mebetterdesignandshowmanshipskills.IthinkIbenefitedfromthatsetback.

Whatareyourfavoritetools/equipment?MostlyPainterIX,andanIntuos2Wacom.WhenI

draw

on

paper,

I

use

prismacolor

markers,

gouche,

watercolor,andoilpaintsonregularpaintingpaper,

witheverythingfrompaintbrushestotoothbrushesto

gettheeffectIwant.

Whattool/equipmentdoyouwishyouhad?ACintuiqeWacom;it'slikeadesktopscreen,butyou

candrawrightonthescreen,asopposedtoeyeingit

whilelookingupwithastandardWacom.Iwouldlove

toalsohavearolloflambscanvas,andareallynice

setof

Grumbacher

oil

paints.

It

would

be

nice

one

day.

Whatdoyouhopetoaccomplishwithyourart?Tomakeasmallnameformyself,andbeabletoget

betterasIgetolder.



27/43

Page27

Serial: Memory WipeChapterOne:TheSilverSunBySeanT.M.Stiennon

It

was

a

relatively

quiet

night

in

the

Silver

Sun

Casino.

The

Palm

Room

was

only

halffullofmenandwomenpumpingtheirwagesintotheslots,whileonagood

businessnightitwouldbefullwithmorecustomerswaitingupstairs,sippingdrinksand

playingcardsuntilenoughspaceopenedupfortheguardstoletthemin.Lesserrooms

werepracticallyempty.Sundaynightwasalwaysslow.

TakedaCrosterpatrolledhisusualcircuitthroughthecasino.TheSilverSuns

ownerandmanager,JackBlaydra,wascarefulaboutsecurity.Heknewaswellasany

manthatthelocalpoliceforcelookedafteritsowninterestsmorethanthoseofany

citizen,andthatifanyonetriedtorobhim,hedhavetorelyonwhateverguardswere

onthe

premises

at

the

time.

Takedawasayoungman,buthedidntknowhisexactagesomewhereinhis

midtwenties.Hekepthisblackhairshavedclosetohisheadforutility,andhisfacewas

longandangularbeneathslightlybrownskin.HeworetheSilverSunsuniform

unobtrusive,withacircularbadgemadefromrealsilver.Hecarriedashockstickina

holsteronhisrightlegandapistolonhislefthip.

Takedasbadgehadhisnameetchedintoithewasoneofthecasinosmostloyal

guards,havingworkedthereforalmostthreeyears.Sincetwomonthsafterhehadfirst

wokenupinasqualidhotelwearingnothingbutapairofcheappants,withnomoney,

nopossessions,

and

no

memories.

The

memories

were

the

part

that

had

troubled

him

most.Everythingbeforethatlittleroomsimplydidntexistitwasasifhehadappeared

fromtheairatthatmoment,withanadultbodyandcapabilities.

HehadplentyoftimetothinkashestrodethroughthecasinosPalmRoom.

Plasmasignsflashedathimfromallsides,andhisearswerefilledwiththeclickka

chunkofslotmachines.Thecarpetsweredeepblue,andtheroomwaslitbyrecessed

lampswithshadestodiffusetheirvaricoloredlight.

ThesettlersinGreendomewerearelativelywealthycrowd,whichwasoneofthe

reasonsthecitycouldsupportacasinooftheSilverSunsscale.Thecustomersrangedin

agefrom

childrenthe

colony

had

no

minimum

age

for

gamblingto

octogenarians

whoselastpleasureinlifewasthehopeofajackpot.Mostworewellmadeclothes,

evensomedesignerbrandsorderedfromoffworldandshippedtoGreendomefrom

thespaceport.Ahandfulwereshabbybeggarswhohadprobablydecidedthatgambling

wasjustabitmorefunandalotmorepromisingthandrinkingthemselvesintoastupor

betweengraveyardshiftsatthesawmills.NoneofthemgreetedTakeda.Hekepthis

eyesaheadofhim,althoughherecognizedmostofthemfromothervisits.Otherguards



28/43

Page28

chattedwiththecustomersnotTakeda.HehadthreepeopleinallofGreendomewho

caredaboutanythinghehadtosay.

Hecontinuedon,passingthespeakerspumpingsoothingmusicintotheroom,

andtookaflightofstairsdowntothenextlevel,continuinghispatrolcircuitdowninto

oneofthecasinosbarsthisonewassmallanddimlylit,specializinginimportedliquors

forthose

who

could

afford

them.

The

bar

was

made

from

polished

red

granite,

and

the

bottlesontheirrackswerebacklitwithpalevioletlight.Lightflashedonthepolished

steelofchairsandtabletops.

Atfirst,theplacelookedquietjustonedrinkeroverinthecorner,hunchedover

abottleofbrandy.Then,withajolt,Takedarealizedthattheusualbarkeepaman

namedThristwasntathisplace.Healsonoticedthathecouldhearangryvoicesinthe

backroom.Takedashanddroppedtothestunrodonhisrightlegandgraspedthe

rubbergrip.Probablynothing,butTakedahadlearnednottotakechances.His

footstepsweresilentashelopedacrosstheroomandvaultedoverthebar.Themanin

thecorner

didnt

even

look

up.

Takedaputhiseartothegildeddoorbehindthebar.Avoicewasraised,cursing,

andTakedaheardanothervoiceforamomentbeforeanangryshoutcutitoff.Hedrew

hisstunrodandclickedthedooropen.

Thebackroomwassmall,containingafewracksofsparebottles,amixing

machineforspecialorders,andachairforthebarkeepduringhisbreaks.Thristwasin

thatchairnow,butnotbychoicehewasflankedbyatwotallmenindarkclothing.One

ofthemhadhishandonThristschest,forcinghimbackinthesoftcushions,andthe

otherwasspeakinginalowgrowl.Onemoretry,Thrist.Yougiveusthatmoneyyou

owe,or

well

see

how

you

like

eating

glass.

Please,thebartendermoaned.Justtakethemoneyintheregister.Illpayit

backlater.

Themanshookhishead.No.Wedontwantanyfusswithyourboss.Wejust

wantourcash,andwellgetitoutofyourlifeinsuranceifwehaveto.

ThemanstartedtoreachforabottleasThristscreamedandthrashed.Nogood.

Takedasawthatbothmenwerebuiltlikewrestlers,andThristwasbuiltlikea

bartender.

Takedaactivated

his

stun

rod,

and

the

steel

shaft

hissed

to

life.

Thats

enough,

hesaid,inhisusualdispassionatevoice.

Bothmenwhirledaround.Themanwhohadspokenhadasharplypointedblack

beardanddeepbrowneyes.Takedarecognizedhimasoneofthelocalpolicesquadoff

duty,sincehedidnthavehisbadge.Thatexplainedhissizeandstrength.Hispartner

wasalsoacop,withthickblondhairandaprominentscaronhischin.



29/43

Page29

Noneofyourbusiness,Croster,themangrowledback.Justbackoutthatdoor

andIllforgetIsawyou.

Takedatookastepforward,aiminghisstunrod.Hedusetheweaponifhehad

to,butusuallyhecoulddiffusesuchsituationswithoutviolence.Thristlookedrelieved.

Henoticedtoolatethattheblackbeardedcophadasleeveholster.Asmallblack

gunsnapped

into

the

mans

palm,

and

Takeda

found

himself

staring

down

its

barrel.

Lastchance,thecopgrowled.

Takedaknewthatifthismanshothim,itwouldprobablymeansomepaperwork,

afewbribes,andmaybeevenalittleblackmailfromthecopstotheSilverSunsowner.

Butbothmenwouldgetnothingmorethanasternlecturefromtheircaptainifeven

that.

ButJackBlaydrapaidhimforareason,

andTakedahadalwaysacknowledgedthe

possibilitythathisjobmightprovefatal.He

hesitated.The

cop

facing

him

could

shoot

fast

andaccurately,andTakedacouldseehis

partnerreadytodrawhisownpistol.Takeda

wasstrong,andhadgoodspeedandreactions,

butheknewhecouldntoutrunabullet.

Then,ashestareddownthepistols

barrel,somethingclickedinTakedasmind,

andsuddenlyheknewhowtotakedownthis

copand,somehow,heknewhecoulddoit.

Hecould

hear

the

breathing

of

the

old

man

at

histable,seetinyflecksofstubbleonthecops

chin,smellliquorofahundredvarieties.

Everythingwasperfectlyclear.Neverinthe

threeyearsherememberedhadanythinglike

thishappenedtohim.Buttherewasnotime

tothink.Hecouldonlyact.

Buttherewasnotimetothink.He

couldonlyact.

OriginalartbyE.J.Mickels,II

http://www.hisart.us/pageseven1.html

Takedadroppedandwhippedbackthehandholdinghisbaton.Abulletslicedthe

air

where

his

head

had

been,

but

he

was

already

down

on

the

carpet.

His

arm

snapped

forward.Thestunbatonwhirledthroughtheairandsmashedintothecopsfacewitha

loudclangandacrackofelectricity.Themangurgledandfell,firinganotherbulletinto

thefloor.Hispartnerdrewhisownweapon,releasingThrist,andputhisfingerthrough

thetriggerring.

Takedasaweverythingasifitwerebeingplayedbackinslowmotion.Herolled,

andtheblondcopfired,buthisbulletswentintothefloor,crackingastheypunched

throughthecarpetandcrumpledagainsttheconcretebelow.Takedaslefthandwent

http://www.hisart.us/pageseven1.htmlhttp://www.hisart.us/pageseven1.html


30/43


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Page31

AndCaptainVasswasnthappy.BlaydrahadshowedTakedathemessagehehad

sentanhourafterbothcopshadbeentakenawaytothehospital,demanding

recompenseformedicalcosts,lossofdutytime,painandsuffering,andafewhundred

SilversontopfortheCaptainspockets.Surprisingly,theCaptainhadntorderedTakeda

tobeturnedover.Hisnamehadntevenbeenmentioned.Still,Blaydrahadtoldhim

that

if

Vass

came

after

him,

hed

be

on

his

own.

Takeda

would

keep

his

job

for

nowthe

incidenthadonlyprovenhisvaluebutiftherewasanyriskofpolicereprisals,hedfind

himselfonthestreets.

Andwhatthen?Takedadidntknowanyone.Familieswereimportantincolony

citieslikethisone,andTakedahadnone.Noconnections.Nooldfriends.Hislife

consistedofthreeyearsthreeyearsinwhichhehadstartedasanutteralienandslowly

becomesomewhatacceptedinhisroleasacasinoguard.Ifhelostthejob,hedalso

losetheidentityhehadbuiltforhimself.Theonlyidentityheremembered.

Someonesatdownonthestoolnexttohim,andTakedaglancedup.Sherithe

secondof

the

three

people

who

cared

anything

about

him,

just

after

Blaydra.

She

was

a

girlfromafamilyofdomefarmerswhohaddecidedtosupplementherincomeby

servingdrinksonthegamblingfloors.Shewasabouttwentyyearsold,withshoulder

lengthblondhairthatusuallyhadbluehighlightsdyedintoit.Hereyesalwaysseemed

tobehalfclosed,asiflightblindedher.

Youokay,Tak?sheasked.

Whatdoesitlooklike?

Itlookslikeyouvehadenoughwhiskey.Givemethat.

BeforeTakedacouldstopher,shetookhisglassandknockeditbackinonegulp.

Thenshepasseditbacktothebarkeepandsaid,Youshouldgetsomesleep,Tak.Itll

bebetterwhenyouwakeup.

Sure.WakeupwithCaptainVassramminghispulserdownmythroat.

Vassdoesntwantyou,Tak.Histhugsarepowerful,butheknowshecouldnt

pressacaseagainstyoubeforethecitycouncil.

Hewontneedto.Ahitonthestreetwilldothejobbetter.

Shesmiledwarmly.Ithinkyoucantakecareofyourself,Tak.

Thatstheproblem,hesnarled.Ialmostkilledtwomen.

Sherisignaled

the

bartender

and

put

her

hand

on

Takedas

shoulder.

He

didnt

shakeheroff.Tak,webothknowtheydeservedit.Therearentmanymenin

Greendomewhodontsometimeswanttobeatupthecops.

No,hesaid,quietly.Itsmorethanthat.

Takedalookedupandmadeeyecontactwithhersomethingherarelydid.

Somethinghappenedtome.WhenIsawthemthreateningThrist.Iwas...Ichanged.I

gotstrongerandfaster.IfeltlikeIcouldseeandheareverythinginthecasino.Icould



32/43

Page32

movefasterthaneitherofthemcouldshoot,andIknewwheretheyweregoingto

shootbeforetheypulledthetrigger.

Takedaglanceddownathislefthand,usuallysoclumsyhecouldbarelyholda

forkinit.Hehadputabulletstraightthroughtheblondcopsgutwithit.

Sherishrugged.Iveheardfunnythingshappentopeoplewhentheyfight,

sometimes.They

do

things

they

couldnt

do

before.

You

heard

about

that

marine

who

rolledahalftonrocktosavehissergeant?

Thiswasdifferent.

Maybeitwasandmaybeitwasnt.ButImgladsomeonecanstanduptothose

cops,Tak.

Shesqueezedhisshoulderand,whenheglancedup,shewassmilingwarmly.He

feltatingleinhisheart,butalthoughhehadspenttwoyearsinclosecontactwithSheri,

hehadneverreallybeeninterestedinher,noranyothergirls,althoughplentyoflovely

youngwomenfrequentedthecasino.Shewaskindtohimhelikedherforthatbuthe

hadnever

seriously

considered

pursuing

her.

IdontknowwhoIam,hegrowled.

YoureTakedaCroster,Sherisaid.Whatelseisthere?

Youdontunderstand.Ivelookedupmycitizenshipprofiletheresnothing.No

profile,Imean,althoughIthinktherewasoneonce.Mycitizenshipisstillvalid,butthe

infoisblank.AndtheresnobirthrecordIvegonedowntothePopulationOfficemore

thanonce,buttheycantfindanyrecordofmyparentsormybirth.

Noteveryonereportsbirths,Tak.

Morethan

that.

Ieven

did

some

hacking

in

the

records

at

the

space

port,

when

I

wenttherelastbreak.NorecordofhowIgotonplanet,anyhotelIstayedat,anything.

Thefirstpersonwhosawmewasthehotelmanagerwhocheckedmeinthenight

beforeIwokeup.HesaidIseemeddrunk,butnothingunusual.

Iknow,Tak.Ivetalkedtohimmyself.

Helookedup,surprised.Youhave?

Shelaughed.Sure.Yourenottheonlyoneinterestedinyourself.

CanyouexplainwhathappenedtomewhenIfoughtthosecops?

I

guess

not,

she

sighed.

But

I

dont

think

its

anything

to

worry

about.

I

think

youjustgotsicksobadlyyoulostyourmemories.Maybeithassomethingtodowith

that.

Hiseyeswentbacktothecounter.Maybe.

Afterafewawkwardmomentsofsilence,Sheristoodup.Well,Idbetterbe

going.Ivegotsomecleaninguptodo.Takecareofyourself,Tak,anddontdrinkany

more.Getsomesleep.



33/43


34/43

Page34

Buthehadntsleptsoundly.Therehadbeendreams...dreamshecouldbarely

remembernowthathewasawake.Twothingsremainedclearinhismindasherubbed

hisneckandstareddownatthecarpet:fearandasingleimage.Theimagewasthatofa

woman,andtheonlydetailshecouldrememberclearlywereherpenetratingblueeyes

andasweepoflongblackhair.Hecouldntrememberanythingaboutherfromhis

dream,

and

he

didnt

even

recall

what

expression

she

had

worn.

There

had

been

other

sensations...darkness,pursuit,strangefeelings,andbizarredreamlogic.Allofthem

weretoovaguetomakesenseof.

Takedashookhishead.Hehaddreamssometimes,justlikeanyotherman.This

womanhadprobablybeenoneofthecasinopatronswhosefacehadstuckinhis

subconscious.Hecouldntremembereverymanandwomanwhodriftedthroughthe

SilverSunsgamingfloorsandbars.

Heateabreakfastofthickporridge,thenchangedintoafreshuniformand

strappedonhisshockstickandgun,droppinghisbadgeintohispocketratherthan

wearingit.

He

didnt

go

on

duty

until

seven

this

evening,

but

he

might

as

well

go

down

andreadsomewhere.SheriwouldbesomewhereinthePalmRoomcleaningupin

advanceofthatnightsopening.Takedaknewthatifshesawhim,shedaskabouthow

hewasfeeling.Hewouldntadmitittohertoanybodybutheenjoyedtheattention

shegavehim.Sometimes.

Withhiscomputerholsteredonhisbelt,Takedalefthisroomandmadehisway

downaflightofstairstotheguardpostjustoutsidethePalmRoom.Thepostwas

empty.Garthshouldbeondutytherefrom3p.m.tomidnight,sowherewashenow?

Notoutforapiss.Hisusualcoffeemugwasconspicuouslyabsentfromthedeskwhere

heusually

sat,

watching

Net

shows

until

something

interesting

showed

up

on

his

securitymonitors.

Afteramoment,Takedashruggeditoffandkeptwalking.Garthwasknownto

oversleepsometimes,particularlyifhehadbeendrinking.Therewereotherguard

posts.

TakedaenteredthePalmRoom.Theroomhadnowindowstotheoutsidenow,it

waslitonlybyahandfulofwhitemaintenancelights,andthegameswereoff.Most

partsoftheSilverSundidntopenforbusinessuntil7pm.Thepopulationof

Greendomewasntrichenoughtosupportacasinoaroundtheclock.Still,thereshould

havebeencleanersvacuumingthecarpetsandpolishingthemachineswhile

maintenancemenmadesuretheywereemptyandinworkingorder.Itwasonlyanhour

untilopeningtime.

Takedawalkedoutintotheroom,passingdeactivatedslotmachines,holo

wheels,cashgrids,andothergames.Hewonderedwhatheshoulddo,ifanything.Was

theresomevacationdayhehadntbeentoldabout?No,Sheriwouldhavementionedit.

Astrikethatshewasntpartof?NoonewouldhavetoldTakedaaboutthathis



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Page35

relationshipwithmostofhiscoworkersdidntgobeyondbusiness.Maybe,butthere

wasntanyreasonforastrike.Blaydrapaidhisemployeeswell.

Goodevening,Croster,saidavoicefromtheshadows.

TakedawhirledtoseeCaptainBrianVassstepoutfromwherehehadbeen

leaningagainstalargeslotmachine.Vasswasayoungmannotmucholderthan

Takedaandhe

had

only

lived

in

Greendome

for

five

years.

In

that

time,

he

had

become

themostfearedmaninthecity,withalarge,wellequippedpoliceforcetobackhimup.

Hedidkeepcrimedown,butonlybecauseheknewthepeoplewouldeventuallyrevolt

ifhedidnt,anditwaswellknownthathewasinvolvedinloansharkingandblack

mailing.SomepeoplesaidthatthemayorofGreendomewasathiscommand.

Vassskinwasapale,milkywhite,buthishairwassoblackthatTakeda

sometimesthoughthedyedit.Helookedlikeanidealsoldierbroadshoulders,straight

legs,hardchin.Hisdarkblueuniformwasperfectlycut,shiningwithgoldtrim.Hewas

thethirdpersonbesidesSheriandBlaydrawhocaredanythingforTakeda,butinhis

caseit

was

because

he

had

always

been

on

the

lookout

for

excuses

to

arrest

him.

Vass,Takedasaid.Wereclosed.

AcoldsmilecreptacrossVassface.Imnothereasacustomer.

Soyouregettingintoburglarynow?Takedaasked,slidinghishandtowardshis

gun.

Icouldshowyouawarrant,butthatwouldberedundant,Vasssaid.Anddont

goforthatgun.Youllgetmorethanjustacitationforresistingarrest.

Takedaheardtheclickofagunbeingcockedbehindhim.Hedidntneedtolook

toknow

that

at

least

one

of

Vass

officers

covered

his

back.

Howmanymenhaveyougot?hegrowled.OneofthemenItookdown

yesterdayhadagunonme.

Gillmanhasneverbeenmybestmarksman,Vassanswered.AndIvegot

enough.Now,Croster,thewayIseeit,youhavethreeoptions:eitheryoustickyour

wristsoutforcuffs,yougetbeatenintopulpandthencuffed,oryougetshotrighthere.

Whichwouldyouprefer?

Vasshanddroppeddowntocaresstheweaponslungagainsthisownhip:a

Damascuspulser,importedfromthebestmunitionsfactoryintheEmpire.

Therewas

no

choice.

Takeda

undid

the

clasp

on

his

arms

belt,

letting

his

weapons

droptothefloor.Thenheofferedhiswrists.Thiswasitnofight,norealconfrontation,

justaquietarrest,completelyatVassmercy,withoutanyfriendstospeakforhim.He

doubtedevenSheriwouldriskapetitionforhisrelease.

Acopsteppedoutoftheshadowsandsnappedapairofmanaclesontohiswrists.

Vasssmilebroadened.Smart,Croster.Ialwaysliketokeeptheseaffairsashonestas

possible.



36/43

Page36

Thecopwhohadhandcuffedhimpickeduphisarmsbeltandpushedhimforward

asVassturnedandledhimaway.Otherofficersemergedfromtheshadows,flanking

bothVassandTakeda.Hebowedhisheadandwalked.Hiscomputerhadbeenonhis

belt,allthebookshehadloadedonitgone.Thingshadhappenedfastlastnight,hehad

goneabouthisjobasnormal,andnowhewasunderarrestwithimprisonment,torture,

and

quite

possibly

death

ahead

of

him.

At

least

no

one

would

miss

him.

AstheyapproachedthemainentrancetothePalmRoom,Takedanoticedthathe

couldseebettertheshadowswerentnearlyasdarkastheyhadbeenonlyseconds

before.Thehenoticedthathecouldhearthefootstepsofthecopsaroundhimclearly

notjustasgroup,butasindividuals.Hecouldcounthowmanybythesoundoftheir

bootsstrikingthecarpetandthegentleraspoftheirbreath.Nine,plusVass,whose

heelsstruckthecarpetslightlyharderthanhisofficers.Takedacouldeventellthatone

ofthemwaschewinggum.

Helookeddownathiswrists.Thechainconnectingthemanacleswasa

centimeterthick,

made

from

astandard

steel

titanium

alloy.

He

pulled

on

it

alittle,

hearingitclink.Itwasstrong,andthemanaclesweretightenoughtoweakenhishands

bycuttingoffbloodflow.

ButTakedakeptpulling,puttinghisshouldersintoit.Thechainstretchedasthe

linksclickedtogether.Suddenly,Takedafeltstrong,strongerthanheeverhadbefore.

Heinhaledadeepbreathofair,tastingitsslightstaleness,andpulledhiswristsfarther

apart.Thelinkshissedfaintlyastheystrainedagainsteachother,andthecuffsduginto

Takedasmuscles.Hepulledharder,hopingnoneofthecopslookedathimjustthen.

Aweakweldinthechainbrokewithacrack,andthenTakedashandswere

encumberedonly

by

the

manacles

themselves.

Before

any

of

the

cops

could

react,

Takedastartedmovingtheappropriateactionsseemedtospringintohishead.

Hisownweaponswereheldbyamanafewfeetbehindtoofar.Instead,Takeda

slammedhisknucklesintothejawofacopnexttohim,droppinghimtothefloor.

Anothercopgrabbedforhim,butasolidkicktohiskneessenthimreeling.Takeda

brokeawayanddovebehindacheapslotmachinenearthedoorjustasapistolcracked

andabulletstruckthecarpetseveralfeetaway.

ThedarknesswastransparenttoTakeda.Heranalonganaisleofmachines,

seeing

the

faint

glow

of

maintenance

lights,

his

shoes

hammering

the

carpet.

More

shotsrangout,andheheardVassvoiceraised,snappingorders:Cuthimofffromthe

door.Keephiminthisroomandkillonsight.Travis,Iwantmenoneveryexittothe

building.

Abulletslicedtheairjustinfronthimhecouldalmostseeitpassby.Takeda

changedcourse,runningdeeperintotheroom,towardstheguardposthehadwalked

pastonhiswayin.Withanyluckhecouldgettothebackexitjustasmalldoorbythe

garbagebinsandevadewhoeverwasguardingthatdoor.



37/43

Page37

Notimetothink.Takedaran.

Ablueuniformedcopranoutfrombehindalargeholowheelandwouldhave

crashedintoTakedaifhehadntjumpedasideatthelastmoment.Thecophesitatedfor

amoment,recoveringfromsurprise,andthenwentforhispistol.Takedareachedfor

theonlythingavailableasmallslotmachineandheaveditup.Justasthecopgothis

pistolout

of

its

holster,

Takeda

pitched

the

machine

at

him

with

asurge

of

muscle

power.ThesounditmadeasitcrushedthemanintothefloornauseatedTakeda.He

couldeverysoundofcrackingbonesandsquishedflesh.

Hehesitatedforamoment,andthatmomentnearlycosthimhislife.Afiercered

boltslicedthedarknessinfrontofhim,andforaninstantTakedafelthissightdimonce

again.Thepulserboltdidntblindhim.BeforeVasscouldadjusthisaim,Takedaran.He

dodgedbetweengamemachinesandpillars,hearingpoundingbootsallaroundhim.

Thecopshadstoppedshooting,probablyrealizingthattheyweremorelikelytohiteach

otherthantheirquarry.

Takedapaused

for

amoment

to

evaluate

the

situation.

Judging

from

the

noise,

mostofVasssquadstoodbetweenhimandthenearestdoor.Anotherfewmenwere

comingfromthedirectionofthedoorhehadenteredby,andthetwogroupswere

formingaringaroundhim.Ifhewantedtogetoutoftheroomhewouldhavetocharge

onegroupandthesidewithfewermenmademoresense.

SoTakedaranbacktowardsVassandthemaindoor.Iftheydidntexpecthim,he

mighthaveachanceofavoidingtheirbullets.

Anotherboltofcrimsonwentthroughoneoftheslotmachines,blastingaholeof

moltenredandorangeinthemachinescenterandsendingsparksandflamingparts

flyingbefore

it

drilled

through

the

carpet

and

into

the

concrete.

The

stink

of

burnt

metal

wasalmostoverpoweringtoTakedasheightenedsenses.Headjustedhiscoursetoone

side.Vasswasthebestmarksmaninhisownforce.Ifhegotagoodlookathistarget,

oddswerethathecouldnailit.

Takedachargedoutofthedarknessatacopstandingbetweenhimselfandthe

exit.Themanfiredasingleshot,missinginthedarkness,andthenTakedaslappedthe

gunawaybeforelockinghishandsaroundthemansthroat.Actingontheinstinctsthat

filledhismind,Takedatwisted,andthemansspinesnapped.

Takeda

didnt

let

himself

thinkif

he

thought

too

much

about

what

was

happening,itwouldparalyzehi

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Ray Gun Revival magazine, Issue 02