Fianna Kelly Versus the Jeebees: A Collection of Steampunk Stories by Harry Dodgson Read Free Book Online Page B

airships
were strangers didn't mean I felt nothing for them. I had seen this gun in
action and it could knock the airships out of the sky in seconds.
    I
wondered what would happen if the jeebee tried to fire the railway gun with one
of my spent cartridges loaded. Hopefully the gun would backfire in its face.
Since it had three eyes, there was one looking at me all the time. I would have
to wait until its attention was elsewhere to drop one into the chute.
    "I
can fire as soon as that one gets closer," it said.
    The
jeebee was busy adjusting the controls when I had a better idea. I grabbed my
pistol, cocked it, and switched to shotgun mode in one fluid move. I swept it
out and pointed it at the jeebee.
    I
shouted, "Hey!"
    It
turned to face me and I fired point-blank into its face. Unlike most of them,
its head did not explode. It fell over backwards. I wondered if the helmet was
what kept it together. I flipped the lever back to bullet mode before I checked
to make sure it was dead. I remembered how bad they smelled up close so I just
kicked its feet a few times to see if it moved.
    Feeling
confident it was dead, I holstered the pistol and checked on the two soldiers.
I found out that they were just stunned. They woke up when I shook them.
    Lieutenant
Mills revived shortly after Lieutenant Reed. He said, "I don't feel so
good."
    Lieutenant
Reed replied, "Be happy that you feel anything."
    I
was staring at my feet as I added, "I am sorry about that green one. I
should have seen it coming."
    "You
did okay." replied Lieutenant Mills, "We just have headaches but I
see the jeebee has a big hole through its head. Remind me to never get you
upset."
    Next,
I checked on Bradan. All I could hear was the hissing sound of steam. I yelled
at him, "Wake up Bradan! You cannot sleep in the midst of a war. I need
you!" I slapped him. That hurt. I kicked him. That hurt too.
    EMERGENCY
RESTART
    I
watched for a minute while the letters and numbers spun around spelling
nonsense.
    SYSTEMS
OKAY
    "'Tis
good to see that."
    Lieutenant
Mills asked, "What is going on with the jeebees? They are running around
like chickens without heads."
    "I
am guessing that's what happens to them when their leader is killed," I
said.
    "We
can't leave them this way. It will be a mercy to kill them."
    I
replied, "It looks like the rest of the men have figured that out
too."
    We
just watched as the men ran out and killed the jeebees with their sabres. It
was a strange feeling. I hadn't just killed their leader, but indirectly I had
killed all of the ones still standing. I felt sick but managed to get to the
edge of the flatcar before my lunch came back up. When they said it took a
strong stomach to be a soldier, they weren't kidding.
    Bradan
started to go amongst the dead, collecting the jeebees for burial. He was
taking one at a time and laying them next to each other. I thought it will take
him hours to dig individual graves for them.
    The
passengers had left their train cars and were seeing to the wounded soldiers.
If not for them, that duty would have been mine. I was not feeling well enough
to take care of myself even. I was glad others were here to help out.
    I
saw a man, all covered in black, coming our way.
    I
said, "Albert! What happened to you?"
    "Miss,
I am sorry to say I was not properly braced when the engine stopped. I fell
into the tender with the coal. I have been unconscious and might still be if
the fireman hadn't found me."
    "I
am sure the Colonel will be relieved to see you, even as dishevelled as you
are."
    "Yes,
I must report to him immediately. Have you seen him?"
    "I
haven't seen him since Bradan and I joined the fight. I hope he is okay."
    I
closed my eyes and rested for a bit. I might even have passed out. When I opened
them, I noticed a reporter and photographer talking to the soldiers and taking
their pictures. I was hoping they would ignore me, as I must have looked like
an orphan who lived on the streets. I could tell that wasn't going to