creatures.”
He glanced around, searching for any other vehicles that would prove this wasn’t just an ancient village . The small homes and the cobblestone roads painted a portrait straight from Victorian England, yet the low-flying chopper was something seemingly more advanced than the aircraft of Earth.
He sudden ly caught sight of another peculiarity. Approaching rapidly from behind was yet another example of something that didn’t belong in a space faring civilization. Two giant creatures, reptilian in nature, were charging toward them, dragging some form of chariot behind them.
Hawke took hold of Kashuba’s hand and drew her to the side of the road with him, fearful that the human holding onto the reigns didn’t see them. The beasts, snorting and gasping, came to an abrupt halt directly beside Hawke.
“Quick, get in the back, spaceman,” the charioteer hollered, “We don’t have much time.”
His attention was drawn instantly from the scaly green “horses” to the bearded man holding the reigns. He held up a rifle in a manner that simply suggested “we’re armed”.
“Now, spaceman! I’m not willing to die for you!” he shouted, “Get in before the Shomani get here and take you back!”
The door to the chariot opened and two large men leapt out. One rushed toward Hawke as though to tackle him, but only took hold of his forearm and gestured anxiously toward the open chariot. Kashuba responded in defiance by holding tightly to Hawke’s other arm and tugging him.
“Get away from us, you savages!” Kashuba s narled.
“We have your ship, spacem an. If you wish to live, you’ll come with us,” the muscular man attached to his forearm stated, “The girl here is a servant of the Shomani and will do whatever it takes to keep you here under lock and key. You are standing in the village where you will surely die as a mindless slave yourself.”
“Get . In. Now!” the driver hollered, “They will be here any second!”
“You have my ship?” Hawke finally found the ability to speak, “The ship I arrived in?”
“Yes, now can we please discuss this while we stretch the distance between us and these murderers?” the muscular man insisted, this time tugging him forcefully toward the chariot.
“No, Hawke! We stay here! This is my home!” she cried, fighting against the others.
Shouting erupted in the distan ce. Hawke turned to see several Shomani rushing toward them. The last thing he heard was the voice of the driver saying something that sounded a little like “Do it.” After that, everything went black.
Five
Hawke awoke suddenly to the sound of violent explosions mixed with a cacophony of angry shouts. He was seated on a hardwood floor, propped against a wooden washtub. Another explosion shook the floorboards beneath him, causing ripples in the water of the washtub. He noticed suddenly that his right arm was in the tub. He started to draw his hand out of the water.
“I wouldn’t, spaceboy,” a deep voice startled him.
He noticed a man entering the small room with some metal objects in his hands. Hawke suddenly heard what sounded like rapid gunfire coming from the room directly above him.
“What’s going on? Where am I?” Hawke asked, wondering what the man intended to do with the unusual tools he dropped near the washtub.
“Your shiny little piece of jewelry is hot enough to burn straight through your bony wrist,” he said, “I’m here to remove that thing before it boils yet another tub of water.”
He turned his attention suddenly to the hand he had resting in the washtub. The gold bracelet was doing exactly as Kashuba said it would. The man grinned at him, revealing a mouthful of rotten yellow teeth. He held up a tool that looked like a hybrid of bolt cutters and toothy pliers.
“ Is the water getting warm yet?” he asked with a cruel smile.
“Actually, yes,” Hawke said, “Would you mind cutting the
He glanced around, searching for any other vehicles that would prove this wasn’t just an ancient village . The small homes and the cobblestone roads painted a portrait straight from Victorian England, yet the low-flying chopper was something seemingly more advanced than the aircraft of Earth.
He sudden ly caught sight of another peculiarity. Approaching rapidly from behind was yet another example of something that didn’t belong in a space faring civilization. Two giant creatures, reptilian in nature, were charging toward them, dragging some form of chariot behind them.
Hawke took hold of Kashuba’s hand and drew her to the side of the road with him, fearful that the human holding onto the reigns didn’t see them. The beasts, snorting and gasping, came to an abrupt halt directly beside Hawke.
“Quick, get in the back, spaceman,” the charioteer hollered, “We don’t have much time.”
His attention was drawn instantly from the scaly green “horses” to the bearded man holding the reigns. He held up a rifle in a manner that simply suggested “we’re armed”.
“Now, spaceman! I’m not willing to die for you!” he shouted, “Get in before the Shomani get here and take you back!”
The door to the chariot opened and two large men leapt out. One rushed toward Hawke as though to tackle him, but only took hold of his forearm and gestured anxiously toward the open chariot. Kashuba responded in defiance by holding tightly to Hawke’s other arm and tugging him.
“Get away from us, you savages!” Kashuba s narled.
“We have your ship, spacem an. If you wish to live, you’ll come with us,” the muscular man attached to his forearm stated, “The girl here is a servant of the Shomani and will do whatever it takes to keep you here under lock and key. You are standing in the village where you will surely die as a mindless slave yourself.”
“Get . In. Now!” the driver hollered, “They will be here any second!”
“You have my ship?” Hawke finally found the ability to speak, “The ship I arrived in?”
“Yes, now can we please discuss this while we stretch the distance between us and these murderers?” the muscular man insisted, this time tugging him forcefully toward the chariot.
“No, Hawke! We stay here! This is my home!” she cried, fighting against the others.
Shouting erupted in the distan ce. Hawke turned to see several Shomani rushing toward them. The last thing he heard was the voice of the driver saying something that sounded a little like “Do it.” After that, everything went black.
Five
Hawke awoke suddenly to the sound of violent explosions mixed with a cacophony of angry shouts. He was seated on a hardwood floor, propped against a wooden washtub. Another explosion shook the floorboards beneath him, causing ripples in the water of the washtub. He noticed suddenly that his right arm was in the tub. He started to draw his hand out of the water.
“I wouldn’t, spaceboy,” a deep voice startled him.
He noticed a man entering the small room with some metal objects in his hands. Hawke suddenly heard what sounded like rapid gunfire coming from the room directly above him.
“What’s going on? Where am I?” Hawke asked, wondering what the man intended to do with the unusual tools he dropped near the washtub.
“Your shiny little piece of jewelry is hot enough to burn straight through your bony wrist,” he said, “I’m here to remove that thing before it boils yet another tub of water.”
He turned his attention suddenly to the hand he had resting in the washtub. The gold bracelet was doing exactly as Kashuba said it would. The man grinned at him, revealing a mouthful of rotten yellow teeth. He held up a tool that looked like a hybrid of bolt cutters and toothy pliers.
“ Is the water getting warm yet?” he asked with a cruel smile.
“Actually, yes,” Hawke said, “Would you mind cutting the
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