1889: Journey To The Moon (The Far Journey Chronicles) by George Wier, Billy Kring Read Free Book Online Page B

Gagarin awoke to the pounding on her door. She slept in the workshop beneath and to the side of the Arcadia . The main house was full with all the guests: Jay-Patten, Koothrappally, Dr. Conklin, Jack and Abigail Ross, and Judah Merkam himself. Ekka preferred to rough it. She had turned in early, like most of the rest of the passengers.
    Her hand went instantly to the hilt of the knife beneath her pillow.
    “Miss Ekka,” a voice whispered, despite the fact he had been pounding a moment before. It was Billy Gostman.
    “What is it, Billy?” she called out.
    “Ma’am, there’s going to be trouble. Can you open up the door?”
    “A moment.”
    In the darkness she stood. She unbolted the door and opened it.
    “What is the trouble, Billy?” she asked.
    The light from outside was nearly blinding.
    Billy stood there, regarding her. All she could see of his face was shadow. The young man was at a loss for words. She grasped his arm, pulled him inside and flipped the electric switch, bringing up fully the illumination in the room.
    Billy stood stock still. He could make no comment. His eyes met hers, he looked down, then back up to meet her gaze before looking quickly down again.
    It took a moment for her to realize what was transpiring. She looked down to see her breasts jutting freely into the air.
    Ekka Gagarin laughed. “You have seen a woman’s breasts before, I am certain of that, Mr. Gostman.”
    “Uh. Yes ma’am. It’s just that. Oh, to hell with it. Your breasts are fine things, ma’am. Let’s leave that for the moment. I just found out that a column of soldiers is coming up the Denver Road. They are meaning to take possession of this place. They are going to commandeer Dr. Merkam’s ship.”
    “Where did you hear this?”
    Billy looked down at her breasts again, then back up.
    This man has been too long without a woman , she concluded . I will have to remedy that.
    “Billy?”
    “Sorry. Can’t stop...staring. Damn, ma’am, but you’re a right pretty lass.”
    “Thank you. The news, Billy.”
    “The circuit rider judge in town. He’s a friend of mine. Well, really he’s a friend of my old gal’s father. He passed the column yesterday and spoke with the company commander. Fellow by the name of Custer. I think he may be the fellow that nearly wiped out the Indians up north. Anyway, the judge says he’s to grab the ship and all the plans, the whole shooting match, by force if necessary.”
    “When are they to arrive?”
    “The judge came looking for me and found me in a bar a little bit ago. Don’t know how he knew I was working here, since I never told him. Said they were probably no more than an hour or so behind him. Depends on how long it took him to find me, but I’d say could be an hour, could be five minutes.”
    Ekka whirled away and grabbed her leather vest from a chair. She donned it in an instant and cinched it tight, hiding her breasts away from Billy’s prying eyes. “We must warn Judah,” she stated. “We’ll need the robots. Especially the big one.”
    “Yes, ma’am.”
    Billy turned to the door, but Ekka grabbed his arm.
    As he turned back, her face was suddenly there before his, very close. She kissed him full on the lips. “Get your guns, Billy Gostman. Hopefully we will not be required to kill anyone this night.”

     
    [ 10 ]
     
    All of the Merkam compound lights were out when George Armstrong Custer’s column turned off of Wasatch Avenue. By the last report, the place was normally lit up like New York City.
    “Damn,” Custer said.
    “Why, sir? What’s the matter?”
    “They knew we were coming. The place is blacker than a New Orleans crypt.”
    “What are your orders, Sir?”
    “Proceed with caution. And be ready for anything.” George slid his cavalry saber from the scabbard and said, “Follow me.” He started his horse forward at a walk.
    One of his lieutenants several horses back in the column turned to his partner in line and said, “I don’t like