Guns of Mars 81
A Martian action-adventure by The Legend Chuck Dixon
CHAPTER 25.1
The bounty man stared up into the barrel mouth of the thark’s rifle held inches from his face.
“You look like you could use a drink,” he said, his voice level.
The thark did look to be in far worse condition than when they’d parted company. His skin looked ashen and dry, his features more drawn than before. His arms were stained wine-dark with dried blood. The harness hung from his reduced frame, shrunken by thirst and exertion. Past Kal, the man could see a thoat saddled and ground reined on the scree below the ledge. His saddle.
Kal pressed the barrel against the man’s forehead.
“Hand me the skin,” he gestured with one of his free hands.
The bounty man did so. The thark turned the spigot and, with one eye fixed on his new captive, took a long pull nearly draining the skin.
“There’s more where that came from.”
“You would say anything to keep me from killing you.”
“I’m not lying. Your tongue wouldn’t lie.”
“You found this pristine source of water.”
“Take another drink.”
The thark raised the skin again. This time he swished the swig about over tongue and palate before swallowing.
“Where?” he said, pressing the barrel harder against the man’s skull.
“You’ll never find it without me.”
Kal grunted.
“You’ll die on the sand searching.”
Kal snorted.
“I didn’t want to leave you behind,” the bounty man lied.
Kal scoffed.
“I’ll need a partner in this. I’ve worked out a plan to bring the water to market and need someone to watch my back.” This was the current truth.
“Get up,” the thark said, raising the barrel of the rifle and stepping back.
The man rose.
“Drop your pistols and walk ahead of me.”
“It’s best we return in daylight,” the man said, drawing his guns from their holsters with a two-finger grip on the butts.
“We go now, little man. And none of your wizardry.” The thark gestured with his rifle for the man to back away.
The bounty man canted his head.
“That uncanny leaping of yours.” Kal stooped to pick up the pistols and secured them under the gunbelt over his girdle.
The man nodded and turned to climb the slope into the pass, the thark had mounted and rode behind, rifle trained on his back.
Special Note: GUNS OF MARS is now available in a hardcover edition. It is available at Amazon and at NDM Express.
