Today we have a sneak peek from Jim Graham’s science fiction adventure, Birdie Down:
The Outer-Rim rebellion stumbles into its second day – and in the wrong direction.
The third generation residents of the resource-rich New Worlds are seeking to throw off the yolk of corporate rule. Ex-Resource War veteran, Sebastian Scatkiewicz and his colleague, Andrew ‘Birdie’ Goosen, have dared to take on the biggest company of them all. Hot from attacking the Lynthax Corporation head offices on Trevon and then on G-eo they’re planning to attack a third. But there’s friction in the rebel camp. Scat’s ignoring the advice of colleagues. His personal beef with Jack Petroff, Lynthax’s head of security, is affecting his judgement; his friends and political masters are doubting his motives; and the loyalty of the newest recruits is far from certain…
The first in a break-out series, based on the space adventure ‘Scat’.
Birdie Down is available from Smashwords for free, and on Amazon.com.
And now, from Birdie Down:
Muldrow dropped out of the cockpit and unbuckled his helmet before acknowledging Cummings presence on the roof top.
‘We’ve found him,’ he said.
Cummings stood legs splayed, leaning awkwardly on a stick to take the weight off his right leg. He was freshly showered and had changed into corporate coveralls. He no longer wore his body armour.
‘Where?’
‘Not far. Maybe 500 metres. Same side as us. He’s in a tree of all places. And there are three of them, not just the one.’
Cummings hobbled across to the roof top balcony. He looked across the open ground towards the forest.
‘Show me.’
Muldrow stood just behind him and pointed over his shoulder, trying to get the same view as his boss.
‘Around that corner there, about 500 metres along. You can’t see it from here, but there’s a tree that juts out a little into the river. They’re in the branches a little way up.’
Cummings looked across the tree tops. The roof wasn’t that high up, so he couldn’t see so far. Once the river was lost to view at the edge of the clearing, the top of the forest became one multi-coloured mass.
‘Describe it.’
‘Mangrove-like, but tall. Thick foliage, mostly green and red. Low branches. Waist deep in water now. Oh, and some big fish keeping them in place.’
‘They aren’t fish, Rick. They‘re damned dinosaurs.’
Muldrow chuckled.
‘Yeah. I see the similarity. How’s the leg? Looks like your Muay Thai days are done for.’
Cummings looked down at it, pursing his lips.
‘It bloody hurts. But I can still use it. Fancy a walk out?’
Muldrow understood that to mean Cummings was going back out there.
‘In your condition?’
‘Coming?’
‘Best I stick to flying, Archie,’ he replied, looking down at Cummings leg. ‘Are you serious?’
‘I want these beggars. No one takes my job from me and then gets to take half my leg.’
‘It were the rats, Archie. And it’s Petroff who’s threatening your job. I doubt these guys even know who you are.’
Cummings swung around. Muldrow heard the venom in his voice.
‘Well they will.’
Muldrow shrugged. Cummings had a vengeful streak in him that was best left unchallenged.
‘Get your fuel and get back in the air,’ Cummings ordered, ‘and make sure they don’t move on.’ He leant forward and grabbed Muldrow by the arm. ‘But Rick, don’t make it obvious. And don’t blow it. They’ve still to be there when we get to them. Clear?’
Muldrow flinched. Cummings took his job very seriously. He pitied the poor beggars in the tree. One of them, at least, was in for a whole lot of suffering before he got his audience with Petroff. And Cummings eyes looked a little misty. The oral pain meds and his brand of anger weren’t mixing well. That didn’t augur well for anyone.
‘Yes. Very.’[subscribe2]
