Editing AK-763 Chapter 2


The two riders brought there mounts to a halt away from the camp, and waited. The gangly beasts were local creatures and their riders wore clothing to protect against the sun and sand. Approaching when signalled and seemingly nonchalant about being under guard, it was obvious up close that the man in front and the woman behind were not desert people. The man's clear galangic confirmed it, as did his height and muscular frame. Whatever sand people ate did not grow a body like this.

Taking off his goggles and head wrap, he nods to whomever is the senior person present. "John. My name is John, this is my woman Mary." Carrying a tone both confident and courteous, he continued. "We were here to do some work for a customer; Mary runs an engineering firm specializing in long wear tooling. Our work is done here and between the desert storm coming as well as the dune raiders outside your camp thinking they are well hidden, we were wondering if you might have room for some folks who would not mind leaving the area."

When questioned about the Dune Raiders, John presented a detailed military style report. "Three camps, ranging from forty-five to sixty foot each. The usual complement of incompetent leaders whipping everyone into a ferver for tonight's raid. One camp half a click at two-seven-eight, another the same range at two-niner-two, and the last and largest half a click behind and between them at two-eight-five. Tactics are reported to be the first two teams storm and get the crap shot out of them, the last one comes in for the kill." If anyone asks questions he will answer them as best he can in the same matter of fact tone.

When the woman finally takes off her goggles and head dress, she reveals a wise smile and perhaps once beautiful face worn by the years, Both John and Mary appear to be in their mid-thirties but carry themselves with an age born of hard, unpleasant work.

"Your call." John says. "We can saddle up and head out, away from the Dune Raiders."
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