A Fistful of Trouble (Outlaws of the Galaxy Book 2) Paul Tomlinson (reading strategies book .TXT) 📖

“Seconded,” said the banker.

The chatter bubbled up again and again the Mayor signalled for quiet.

“Third,” I said. “Patricia, that is Mrs. Brennan, is to be granted a divorce so that she is free to remarry.”

This time it was Mayor Brennan himself who led the objections. “That’s ridiculous!” he said, getting to his feet.

The uproar continued for some minutes. I waited for it to subside.

The sheriff had been sitting with his back to me. He turned his chair around to face me. “What makes the Colonel believe that the council would ever agree to these demands?” he asked.

“I was afraid you were going to ask that,” I said. Everyone else turned their attention back to me. “The Colonel has arranged a small demonstration to convince you of his... sincerity. He requests that you all adjourn to the marketplace to see it.”

“What is he up to, Quincy, do you know?” Madam Fifi asked.

“The Colonel chose not to share the details with me,” I said.

There was some discussion about whether they should go down to the marketplace, but it didn’t amount to much. They all knew they had to see what the Colonel was up to. The Mayor adjourned the meeting and said they should all proceed to the square outside.

“The robots and I will follow you downstairs,” I said. This wasn’t in the script, I was improvising.

As they were filing out, I managed to slip a note into the sheriff’s hand. I kept my body between him and the robots, so I felt confident this move wasn’t seen. I was sure that the Colonel would be listening through the robots’ ears to make sure I was sticking to the script and that he watched through their eyes, if only to see the expressions of the council members when his demands were delivered.

It was another clear desert morning. The sky overhead was deep blue. In the marketplace, the shade from the surrounding buildings was slowing the build-up of heat. The usual activity that went on around the shops had been suspended. Someone had seen me arrive with the robots and word had quickly spread. The town knew that something was going on. I could see people standing in windows and doorways. Others were in the spaces between buildings. Watching and waiting.

From the corner of my eye I saw the sheriff slip away. Hopefully he would read my note and do what I asked.

The others from the meeting stood together in front of the council house, looking at me for guidance.

“Where is he?” the mayor asked.

“The Colonel has sent another proxy,” I said.

On the other side of the marketplace stood the big blue robot. In place of his left hand and forearm, he was wearing the cannon.

“You brought that thing to our town,” Horace said.

“I did. And I’m sorry. I never planned for any of this to happen,” I said. I felt bad as it was – and I knew there was worse to come. “The Colonel wishes to inform you that if the council and the townspeople do not ‘come to their senses’, he will destroy Cicada City.”

The council members were disturbed by this and others around the square who were close enough to hear were also rattled.

“In order to show that he is not bluffing,” I said, “Colonel Hodge has selected a target to serve as an example. Madam Fifi, as you originally proposed Mr. Brennan for Mayor, your building has been selected.” I had to raise my voice over the hubbub this caused. “I want you all to know that the building has been completely evacuated. Only the premises will be destroyed. I’m sorry.”

Colonel Hodge had referred to Madam Fifi as ‘the sheriff’s whore’, but that was a phrase I had no intention of using. If the Colonel wasn’t happy about my going off-script, what was he going to do? He could only kill me once. He did have a choice between quick and painless versus slow and agonising, but I didn’t want to think about that.

Madam Fifi straightened her back and raised her chin. She said nothing, but she nodded her head once, accepting her loss with more dignity than I could have managed.

The big blue robot turned and aimed the cannon at the upper floor of Madam Fifi’s. He fired. Wood exploded into a thousand splinters and glass shattered, fragments raining down into the street. The orange ball of the explosion expanded inside the building and fire took hold. The robot fired at the top of the building again, inflicting more damage.

Deputy Jed Cole, Danny’s cousin, joined our group at the back. He was carrying a pump-action shotgun. He looked at me and nodded once, a signal that the sheriff had read my note and was acting on it.

Part of my hastily scribbled message to the sheriff was a warning about what was going to happen to Madam Fifi’s. I knew he would summon the volunteer firefighters and make sure the old fire engine was ready to roll as soon as the robot’s attack ended. Hopefully, they would prevent the fire spreading to other buildings, even if Madam Fifi’s couldn’t be saved.

The blue robot fired shots into the middle of the building, creating more big holes and new fires. And then it targeted the ground floor. The destruction would be absolute. Flames were visible in every window and through every hole in the walls. Smoke was rising, first showing as dark smudges against the blue sky but soon thickening into a rising black cloud.

Its work done, the big blue robot stepped back and assumed a neutral pose.

Madam Fifi’s burned. The outside walls caught light and I could hear the internal structure beginning to collapse. The flames were reflected in the windows of the buildings all around and the orange light also showed on the stunned faces of those watching. I glanced towards Madam Fifi. Her face was expressionless. Patrician Brennan was holding onto her arm, offering what support she could.

Madam Fifi’s girls and guys and robots