Borderlands: Unconquered by John Shirley Read Free Book Online

make me . . . uhhh . . .”
    Broomy started toward him, and so did Roland, taking bigger steps, passing her, just as Mordecai turned to Daphne, saying something about how maybe they should get out of there into the fresh air.
    Broomy was jerking her pistol out again, aiming at Mordecai because he was in her way. Then Bloodwing dipped down and slashed at her face. Blood spattered. Broomy screeched and firedat Bloodwing, missing. It hovered, jabbed at her, pecking a hole in her cheek, then lofted to fly into the shadows of the rafters.
    Roland cracked Mordecai on the back of the head with his sidearm—and he did it expertly. Mordecai went down, out cold. Roland figuredthat was the surest way, in the circumstances, to save Mordecai’s life—just get him out of the melee.
    “I took him out for ya, Broomy!”Roland shouted, reaching down and grabbing Mordecai by the collar. Following Daphne, he dragged Mordecai outside as Broomy swiped at Bloodwing, shouting imprecations.
    A few moments later, relieved to be out in cleaner air, Roland eased Mordecai to the ground in the middle of the street. Bloodwing swooped out the open door and began flying around in tight, low circles overhead. Daphne looked upat the creature in amusement.
    “Is that thing his pet, or is he its pet?” she asked wryly. “Nasty-looking buzzardy object. Feathers around its neck but leather wings. Can’t make up its mind what it is.”
    “A lot of us suffer from that,” Roland said distractedly, slapping Mordecai’s cheek. “Hey, man, enough loafing. Wake up!”
    Then Broomy burst out the door, waving Mordecai’s rifle but blinded byblood. Bloodwing had torn the flesh of her forehead, doing only superficial damage but releasing considerable blood flow.
    “Where’s that bird thing? I’m gonna kill it!” She tried to swipe blood from her eye with one hand.
    Bloodwing swooped past and shrieked mockingly at her. She fired in that direction, and a grazing round knocked a few feathers off the creaturebut did no real harm. It divedat her, raked her hand. She yelped, dropping the gun, and staggered back into the saloon, undone by her temporary blindness. She shouted over her shoulder, “When I get my eyes clear, I’ll catch that critter and wring its dirty damn neck!”
    Mordecai was sitting up, groaning. “She hit me from behind . . . really is sneaky . . .”
    Roland decided not to disabuse Mordecai of the notion that Broomyhad knocked him out. “Sure, sure, let’s get outta here before she comes back. We gotta find Brick.”
    Mordecai got to his feet and picked up his rifle, then turned to Daphne. “You coming with us? I don’t know how you are in a fight yet, but I’m guessing you can hold your own, if your skill comes anywhere near matching your nerve.”
    She smiled thinly. “No thanks. Got something else waiting.”
    Ifshe had something else waiting, then why, Roland wondered, had she tried to sign on with General Goddess?
    She turned and hurried off, ducking between two buildings, and Roland tugged Mordecai in the other direction. “Come on, goggle eyes, she’s not into it. Let’s see if we can find Brick.”

T he outrunner was jouncing through the badlands, with only the moonlight to fend off the deepening night. Roland was driving, Mordecai riding shotgun. Bloodwing was perched on the back of Mordecai’s seat, hunched down against the wind of their passage.
    Luckily the terrain was smooth around there, not too risky in the dark. But you never knew, Roland reflected. It was always possible to fall intoa tunnel rat trap or blunder into an unexpected ravine.
    Thinking about that, he slowed down, peering east, trying to make out anything like a mining camp against the gloomy horizon.
    “I saw you swipe something from Broomy’s pocket,” Mordecai said, drinking another vial of Dr. Zed’s best. “Anything I should know about?”
    “I dunno yet,” Roland said. “Just figured she might have some intel we