After the Legate came two law enforcement officers, Sheriff\u2019s deputies, Jane now saw.\u00a0 The younger man, with buzzcut hair and a thin mustache, was in front.\u00a0 He called out to the Legate, asking the older man to stop and getting a cold shoulder in return.\u00a0 Behind him came an older, heavier deputy, with a beard and a paunch and his hand resting on the butt of a gun at his hip.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you there,\u201d Mustache continued, pointing at Jim.\u00a0 \u201cDrop your sword, sir, so we can have a polite conversation about what\u2019s going on here.\u201d\u00a0 The deputy looked around at the Bearers of the Sword that surrounded the building.\u00a0 \u201cA polite conversation that also made some sense would be a nice bonus.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim only narrowed his eyes and tightened his grip on his sword.\u00a0 Jane was sure she had seen him somewhere before, though not recently.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you, Qayna,\u201d the Legate said.\u00a0 He stopped and sat on the metal casing of the generator.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019ve done exactly as we\u2019d hoped.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFunny,\u201d Jane said.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t see that I have.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone here should consider himself under arrest!\u201d Deputy Mustache insisted, pointing his pistol at the ground beside the Legate.\u00a0 \u201cYou with the sword, put it down… now!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRaphael,\u201d the Legate said, and his voice sounded old.\u00a0 \u201cCan we end this?\u201d<\/p>\n
Deputy Beard drew his pistol, a large-caliber revolver.\u00a0 \u201cYou heard what the man said.\u201d\u00a0 He raised the gun.<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks, pard,\u201d Deputy Mustache glared at Jim.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s over,\u201d Beard said.<\/p>\n
Bang!<\/em><\/p>\n Deputy Mustache fell to the ground, bleeding from the back of his head.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you, Rafi,\u201d the Legate said.\u00a0 \u201cNow, let\u2019s get down to a little business, shall we?\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" After the Legate came two law enforcement officers, Sheriff\u2019s deputies, Jane now saw.\u00a0 The younger man, with buzzcut hair and a thin mustache, was in front.\u00a0 He called out to the Legate, asking the older man to stop and getting … Continue reading