Book 3 Chapter 43: Punishments and Plots

Book 3 Chapter 43: Punishments and Plots

I walked out with the Khan, and we headed toward Valdes and the man whod shot the Khan. The Khan led the way, holding the mans gun, and an apple. The Khan gestured to Valdes, and two other guards. Two guards brought out a table, and Valdes brought out the prisoner, who was sat in front of the table across from the Khan. He was trembling terribly and didnt seem able to look him in the eye.

The Khan laid the apple on the table, then knocked it twice with his knuckles.

Shank. Look at me, he said, his one remaining eye drilling into the mans skull.

Shank slowly looked up at the Khan. Youyou know my name my Khan?

The Khan nodded. I do. I know the names of all who ride with me into battle.

I I am honored.

This the Khan unwrapped the bandages over his now empty eye socket and pointed. Was caused by your bullet.

Shank looked at it for a moment, then looked away.The source of this content nov(el)bi((n))

Look at it.

Shank managed to bring himself to look at the Khans wound without turning away, though he was trembling.

Now. You were obeying orders to fire in my direction after changing formation. You did not shoot at me with the intent to kill, in fact, based on the state of this, the Khan placed the gun onto the table, the pathetic rusted and pitted thing that had seen hard service and no servicing, you were likely not even aiming for me at all.

I am sor-

The injury I suffered was not intentional, and so the punishment will be one in which I can only unintentionally hurt you. He tapped on the rifle. You have one hour. Clean and repair your gun in that time. When the hour is up, I will load it and shoot this apple off of your head. I will fire for as many attempts as it takes.

Shank looked pale as he checked the state of his own weapon, seeming to pay full attention to it for the first time.

If your gun is in order, I am less likely to miss.

Shank nodded furiously, reaching for the gun to get started.

Of course with one of my eyes missing my aim is likely not what it once was either way.

Shank blinked and looked back up at the Khan, still trembling.

I will see you in an hour. With those last words, the Khan left him there to disassemble and clean his gun with shaky hands and terror in his eyes.

I thought that the punishment was more than fair. Id seen what type of punishments the Khan could dole out when his fury was raised. Still, it seemed to have the right impression on Shank. From what I could tell, the man was very loyal, and devastated by what hed done. Judging by the fury with which he now serviced his weapon however, I got the impression that he didnt feel so badly that he wanted to die over it.

I took a deep breath, and followed my nose to find Bill, sitting at a table with a number of small tools laid out in front of him, and one of the small speakers disassembled.

Figure anything out? I asked.

Its a speaker. Loud. Received a long range signal.

I nodded, that was about what wed already guessed. Would there be any way to detect them?

Bills nephew came into view then, holding a small device that looked like a radio had been butchered and its innards connected to that of several other devices I didnt recognize.

Thanks Jeb. Bill took the device looked at it, fussed with a dial, held it over one of the speakers, and it squealed then went quiet. You can use this.

I moved to grab it and he put his hand on top of it. Credit, trade, or points? he asked.

I sighed and looked around, seeing Valdes in the distance. I called him over. Pay the man. I said, leaving him behind as collateral as I took the device.

I started walking through the city, starting in the garages where I uncovered only two more devices, our earlier search had apparently been thorough enough to find the rest. After that I began going through everything else, walking the entire length of Medina as I searched for any more devices. I found only three more, all of them on the battlements where Atlan had been holding back the forces of the Remnants when they broke through the wall. I thought back to the siege, remembering the order to hold and ignore the Remnants that had used Jump Packs to make it deeper into the city.

I stood next to the Khan while he took aim, noticing an incredibly slight adjustment in his stance before he squeezed the trigger. The gun fired, and winged Shank across the shoulder.

The Khan rolled his neck and aimed again. Still adjusting to the missing eye. he muttered, though I was certain hed clipped him on purpose.

The next several shots were similar, all clipping Shank without actually hitting him head on with any bullets in an incredible show of marksmanship.

Hmm, last round, he said, making a final last millisecond adjustment. He squeezed the trigger again and the apple exploded off of Shanks head.

I stopped renewing the Freeze on him, and Shank fell to the ground.

The Khan approached him with his gun. Good job cleaning it. he handed the gun back to him. From now on, whenever you are within the same settlement as I, you are to bring me your gun and we are to repeat this. Do you understand?

The man brought himself back up to one knee, blood seeping from wounds on each of his limbs. Yes, my Khan.

The Khan nodded, and looked around at the people that were gathered. Leave, he said simply, and the crowd dispersed. The Khan lifted a piece of apple from the ground as he walked back to where I stood, and bit off a piece of it. How goes your investigation? he asked.

Bill created a device to let me detect those speakers. Ive determined that whoever placed them is not likely an outsider.

The Khan looked thoughtful for a moment, eating the rest of his apple. It is a shame this man could not simply create a device that could detect the culprit.

I nodded slowly, that wasnt a bad idea.

While considering my next move, I took a walk through the Medina, seeing a number of people drinking and cavorting in exactly the manner I would expect after a heard fought victory. I was surprised to see Mercy and Nix at a table sharing a drink.

Donovan! called Nix, drawing more attention to me than Id prefer.

I approached the table nodding at her and Mercy. Nix, Mercy.

Sit, have a drink.

I inhaled smelling the incredibly mild alcohol content. I may as well drink water.

Mercy smiled. You can sit and drink water with us if youd like.

I frowned, but relented and took a seat, letting Nix pass me what I guessed was some type of Horde swill. I took a sip to clear my throat.

So, did you hear that Mama won the nomination? asked Nix.

I shook my head. No, but thats good news. Hows Potts taking it?

No one is too upset about it, though there was some tension for those first few days after. Solomon himself started telling people to fall in line though, and has become one of Mamas most ardent supporters.

I frowned.

He wants whats best for Potts, same as the rest of us.

I shrugged, conceding that was probably true in spite of whatever my personal opinion on the man was.

Mercy reached into her pack, and slid a book toward me. I glanced at it, recognizing it as the one Id loaned to her. In the center of it was a bullet hold that cleaved through all, but the very last few pages and the back cover.

Sorry to return it to you in this condition. It was in my jacket pocket during the siege and took a bullet for me.

Hrm better the book than you Did you finish it?

She nodded. Yes, I enjoyed it a lot.

Why? I asked, starting a conversation that kept my forebrain occupied just long enough for my hindbrain to come up with a plan that would hopefully complete my investigation.