The Wasteland Soldier, Book 3, Drums Of War (TWS) by Laurence Moore Read Free Book Online Page B

reason.”
    “I know the reason, preacher man,” snarled Munton. “Duggan and his bullies are the fucking reason. They were only children, Father.”
    “Children who know how to rob and kill! It’s your fault they’re dead! Shoot all the little bastards!”
    Billy had turned white. He was panting, the arrow still lodged in him.
    “Do we all not carry the stain of sin?” said Father Devon, sweeping his arms toward the soldiers and the villagers. “We walk in a world that was shattered by our many sins. But the Lord forgave us and gifted us Ennpithia to begin again. Do we know better than Him when it comes to forgiveness and understanding?”
    He looked to the skies, made the sign of the cross.
    “There is no man, woman or child here free of sin. Our very souls are black with sin. This is why we pray.”
    The villagers muttered. Duggan flashed a look at his men, kneeling in the rain.
    “Mr Munton,” said Father Devon. “There is a Demon inside you right now and he is tricking you. He is trying to control you. Push away the Demon, Mr Munton. Push him out.”
    The priest thrust both hands forward, raised his voice and followed each word with the dramatic gesture.
    “PUSH HIM OUT!”
    The villagers gasped.
    “Ignore his words of anger and violence and revenge. Push him out, Mr Munton. PUSH HIM OUT!”
    He used the pushing out action a second time. It was pretty effective. Munton was transfixed by the Holy man and the crowd were becoming more subdued. Quinn, lurking at the edge of the crowd, peered along the shaft of her crossbow and idly wondered whether to swap her aim from Munton to Father Devon. The old priest made her skin crawl.
    Jeremy appeared beside her, colour slowly returning to his face.
    “Better?”
    “Yes.”
    “Good.”
    “Please don’t buy Ancient tech,” he whispered. “I know you and Duggan are friends but he won’t …”
    “Shut up,” she hissed.
    Father Devon was talking again, inching closer and closer as he spoke. “You are a strong man, Mr Munton. You are stronger than the Demon. Let the Lord’s Light into your heart. Feel His love, Mr Munton. Feel the love of the Lord inside you. See the good He can bring you.”
    Munton’s face was streaked with tears. The shotgun was wavering in his hands.
    “Your children are with Him now, Mr Munton. They sit beside Him in the Above and they will wait for you.”
    Once more, he made the sign of the cross.
    “But it is not your time to join them. Please, Sal, discard the sinful weapon of the Before, the weapon of the Demon.”
    Duggan narrowed his eyes and peered around Munton into the trees. Had he just seen movement in there?
    “I think you got it right, Father,” said Munton, calmly, a crooked smile forming on his lips. He raised the shotgun at Duggan once more. “It ain’t my time for the Above but I reckon it’s his.”
    There was rustling and a sudden blur and the flash of twin sword blades. Munton gasped as cold steel was pressed against his throat and neck.
    “Drop it,” growled a voice.
    Munton unclenched his hands.

 
     
     
     
    FIVE
     
     
    Stone sheathed his sword, picked up the shotgun and clipped the stock across Munton’s face.
    He went down howling, blood gushing from his nose.
    “Stay down,” said Stone.
    The child thieves took one look at the bearded stranger with the long scar and the slender woman with the sword pointed at Munton and fled for the trees. Arrows whistled after them. Duggan rallied his men to pursue and swords were hastily drawn. Nuria worked her way along the line of prisoners, sawing through the ropes. The soldiers got to their feet, rubbing their wrists and thanking them both. Stone leaned the shotgun over his shoulder.
    A few villagers began clapping.
    “Hand it over,” said Duggan.
    Stone took a measured look at the grizzled man. He saw the sign on his tunic and the sword at his waist.
    “It’s empty.”
    “I’m not going to ask you again.”
    Nuria looked up. Stone took a step toward