Free Tainted Cascade by James Axler Page A

any of them could still walk. Sadly, all of the animals were crippled, so he solemnly drew a knife and began to mercifully slit their throats.
    Keeping a safe distance from the group, J.B. stoodguard with the pepperbox, a hand curled around the huge hammer.
    The body of the first slaver was in such ragged condition Ryan had no need to check for any sign of life. The man’s head had cracked open on a rock, and his brains were lying in the dirt, covered with scurrying ants. Upon closer inspection, the driver of the wag turned out to be a woman; she was so fat that her huge breasts sort of merged with her belly to round out her shape into a blob.
    She also didn’t have any blood on her clothing, and Ryan kicked a stone in the dirt to send it tumbling into her side. Instantly, the fat woman rolled over and fired a hidden blaster. The miniball hummed past Ryan, punching through his hair it came so bastard close, and he shot back, blowing a ragged hole in her arm. They needed her alive.
    Staggering back from the explosion of blood, the slaver turned and whipped out a boomerang. The spinning wood went straight for Ryan’s face, and he just barely managed to block it with his longblaster, the boomerang smashing into pieces on the iron barrel.
    Snarling, she draw a hatchet and started lumbering forward when an arrow slammed into her leg. With a cry of pain, the fat slaver turned to stare in raw hatred at Doc, holding an empty crossbow. Low and fast, Jak was running closer, a boomerang held in a raised hand. Dropping the longblaster, Ryan pulled a flintlock handblaster and cocked back the hammer.
    â€œSurrender!” J.B. shouted, aiming the massive pepperbox.
    â€œNuke you! Never gonna put me in chains!” she growled, and pulled a machete to hack again and againat her own neck. As crimson fluids gushed from the self-inflicted wounds, the companions could only watch as she slowly sagged to the ground and expired.
    â€œDamn fool,” Doc muttered, nocking in another arrow. “She thought we would do to her what she had done to so many others.”
    â€œMakes sense,” Jak said, tucking the boomerang into his belt. “Do unto others, all that.”
    Never having heard the message of peace from the Bible twisted in such a manner, the old man gave no reply, not sure if he should be offended or bemused.
    Just then, Krysty got the cage hatch unlocked and the prisoners crawled out of the box onto the soft green grass. Ten people exited the cage, with two more staying inside. It was readily apparent from the impossible positions of their bodies that the slaves’ dream of freedom had been granted early by the cruel gift of death.
    â€œThank you, mistress,” an old man croaked, holding an arm that was clearly broken in several places.
    Leading the man to the front of the buckboard, Mildred got some supplies from under the seat and commenced washing the arm with water and shine.
    â€œYou a healer?” the wrinklie asked in wonder.
    â€œThe best in the world,” Mildred stated truthfully, wrapping the arm in a dirty shirt before lashing it tightly to a broken spoke from the busted wag wheel. “This’ll itch like crazy in a few days, but don’t take this off!”
    â€œPain is life,” the old man said as if he had heard the phrase often.
    â€œFor a couple of months, at least,” she answered backwith a grin. Hesitantly, he smiled back, then inhaled sharply as she tightened the ropes even more.
    The rest of the freed slaves remained standing in a loose group, looking greedily at the food and weapons at the front of the wag. Some of them started to move toward the aced slavers, but then glanced at the weapons held by the companions and nervously stayed where they were.
    Frowning, Krysty looked over the forlorn people. Starved nearly to death and buck naked, they looked ready to keel over and buy the farm. What baron would ever want to buy a workforce like this?
    Reloading