“Open the hatch,” I told Jeanie while climbing back to my feet. I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, as the gears ground in echoes around me. I had the advantage – a first for me as far back as I could remember – being in possession of superior firepower. Yet even with this cannon in hand, I wasn’t prepared for the sight before me.
A handful of deeply tanned natives, one man and four women, stood in absolute astonishment, wide eyes taking in my ship. I stepped out onto the hatch’s first step, which broke their intense concentration. One of the females screamed and ran off toward the sparse treeline of lonesome palms.
I put on a broadening smile. This was going to be easier than I thought.
And you can almost say it with me...Aston, have you learned nothing? Thinking anything in life will be easy...ha.
While you're waiting for next week's snippet, be sure to check out my other novels and novellas.Or even better, buy a copy from Amazon through the promotion board to the right...
Why do I get the feeling that everything is not as it seems here? And, why am I always so pessimistic in situations like these?
ReplyDeleteI do have that tendency in my books... ;-)
ReplyDeleteI've got a very bad feeling about this. I just know it's going to end up with gunfire, pitchforks and angry villagers with torches. ;)
ReplyDeleteGreat snippet!
Ohh...upsetting the natives is never a good idea. Run, Aston, RUN!! Nice snippet!
ReplyDeleteThe over-confidence is somewhat ominous. Natives can put up a good fight...
ReplyDeleteGreat snippet.
I want to know more about these tanned natives of which you speak! Sounds like a fun bunch.
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree Ruth Aston that this was a good start (and I laughed), it's never so easy for our heroes. He should know better! But he'll learn his lesson I'm sure. Ha!
ReplyDeleteWith Aston, not Ruth. Spell correction at its finest.
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone for stopping by! We definitely find out more about these natives...whether or not they turn up with pitchforks remains to be seen. ;-)
ReplyDeleteSo these folks recognize a smile as friendly, rather than a threat display? Especially when paired with cannons?
ReplyDeleteThey've just now seen him...I guess we'll find out how they take his smile in the next snippet. ;-)
ReplyDeletelol, her reaction made me laugh. This was a nice snippet! Waiting patiently to see what the rest of them do. ;-)
ReplyDeleteIt'll be quite exciting, let me tell you... ;-)
ReplyDeleteOh, those famous last words again...
ReplyDeleteNice snippet! And good to see you back around these parts.
Thanks! I'm hoping to be back in a little more regular pattern. We'll see.
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ReplyDeleteWhy do I get the feeling that it won't be so easy?
ReplyDeleteFrom reading my other novels and short stories, I hope... ;-)
ReplyDelete