CHAPTER 17

Hera: Near the Chisholm Homestead, late afternoon

Uh huh, still standin’. So you buggers ain’t quite as bloodthirsty as you say. Good.

Legs’re startin’ to get a bit rubbery. Time for a stim. Hate these gorram things, ears start buzzin’ after the first couple, don’t quit til I’ve slept a good long while.

How to get ‘em out this way.........sure wouldn’t mind a ride long about now. Get’em to come fetch me? Might do. Where? Hmmmm.... road comes up that draw, gets narrow there. Mercs might expect an ambush, need a distraction.

And that’d be me, standin’ right there in plain sight. Okay, now how to rig this.........need some real fine line for the trip wire. Sun’ll be .....okay, shouldn’t light up the trip. They hit that, clothesline comes up, and cleans ‘em off the hover for me. Works. Just have ta borrow a couple things from Gordy, don’t think as he’ll mind.

Damn. Only way to make time is to go over that ridge again. Least I’ll be able to see where I’m puttin’ my feet this time, miss all the tanglefoot.

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Persephone: Eavesdown Docks, 15 Months Ago

Now to find the first thing smokin’ off this rock. Got money, so can pay my way easy for once. Thinkin’ on it, best divvie this up so it ain’t bangin’ ‘gainst my belly any more. Find a nice private spot out the way. Ah, toilet over yonder.

Shut the door, lock it, gun out an’ lay it beside me. Papers out, fold ‘em up, into this pocket here. Lessee...put two hundred in each boot, fifty each in the pockets, and.......you son of a bitch.

Count it out slow..........ain’t but a hundred and a bit in here, all them small value coins in the bottom. SUMbitch. Still prolly get me a ride outta here, but not much left on the other end, which could be damn near anywhere.

You little prick. Get my ass kicked, shanghai’d, kill four men ain’t done me no wrong. And this is what I got to show... a hundred plus and the clothes on my back. Shoulda just stuck to rollin’ gutter trash. Damn it.