Read Fianna Kelly Versus the Jeebees: A Collection of Steampunk Stories for Free Online

held out a wooden box.
"I noticed that you don't have a close-range weapon. The jeebees attack
very quickly and could be on top of you before you can ready your rifle. A
revolver could save your life."
    I
said, "I'm not very good with a pistol."
    "In
this box is a Belgian-made LeMat revolver. It will stop anything that your
rifle doesn't. Nine shots with .44 calibre bullets plus one 20-gauge shotgun
shell.
    I
didn't believe it. "You have got to be kidding! The pistol fires a shotgun
shell?"
    "The
Yanks loved the cap and ball version when they were fighting amongst
themselves. This style came much later and was not popular. If they have
another war, that could change."
    We
headed back to the stand and I opened the case. The pistol was not pretty. I
could see why it wasn't popular. Hopefully it was useful.
    He
said, "When I went to get a holster for it, the harness maker asked me
questions that I couldn't answer, like your waist size. He gave me all these
pieces and asked me to return the ones you didn't need."
    I
asked him, "How long have you known I would still be here?"
    "Colonel
Reynolds and I had a long discussion last night as soon as we heard about you.
I wasn't sure you would be here now, but I was ready just in case you
were."
    I
chose an attractive belt and attached a holster through the belt loops. I put
the holster on the left side for cross draw use and slid the pistol in with the
butt facing forward. The holster had been made to accommodate both barrels and
the large cylinder. I wouldn't be using it in a fast draw competition though,
but with it holstered, it didn't look that ugly.
    He
asked, "Is there a reason you prefer to have the pistol in the holster
like that? I know that cavalrymen are known to wear their sabres on the right
and their pistols on the left."
    "I
haven't used a sabre. This is just more comfortable for me."
    He
stated, "You probably won't hit the far target with this pistol, no matter
how hard you try. It was made for close quarters and does very well at that.
Stay with what you are best at, rifles, and pray you never have to use the
pistol. All of our men, both officers and enlisted, are now armed with pistols
and yet we still lose many to the jeebees."
    Firing
the rifle was satisfying. The bullet went very close to where I wanted it to
go. The pistol, on the other hand, put the bullet somewhere on the target. The
sights were misleading, if not completely useless for me. I fired 18 bullets
and two shotgun shells to get a feel for the pistol.
    He
brought the target to me. "I see you managed to hit the target. That is
all that counts as far as I am concerned."
    I
replied, "I would much rather hit what I aimed at."
    "Are
there any cartridges left in it?"
    "No,
I practice safe pistol use. It should not be ready to fire unless I am."
    He
smiled at me. "That is good to hear. Keep doing that when you can, but we
are fighting against the jeebees and most of us have no warning when they will
attack. I recommend that you keep it loaded with eight cartridges and the
hammer on an empty chamber. You can also keep a shotgun shell loaded if you are
careful to keep the selection lever raised."
    I
tried asking this again. "Speaking of loaded guns, where can I get
ammunition?"
    "I
think we can arrange for some to be put on the train. I presume you have
accepted the Colonel's offer?"
    "I
did."
    He
said, "You look confused."
    "Why
are you giving me these? As you know, the Colonel wants Bradan and I to look
for jeebee hideouts in exchange for a ride to London. What task need I perform
to earn these?"
    "If
a soldier had accomplished the actions you did yesterday, he would have
deserved a medal. The two men who were with you there will receive one apiece.
They both swear they are only here to receive them because of you. So for
saving the lives of two men and providing valuable information about the enemy,
I hereby present you with these tokens of our appreciation."
    I
replied, "It's not like they sat there watching