The Gadget: The Rondon Chronicles Book One by V. Timlin (speed reading book .TXT) 📕

a wash tub and chair that were abandoned against a wall when a woman had dropped her laundry and escaped inside.

Anouk peeked from her hiding place. Nat was standing sideways to her. A man, a couple of inches taller, stood in front of him, a wide smirk on his face. Nat’s jaw was clenched as he met the man’s eyes. He had to be Captain Biddulph.

“Glad you still remember me, Nat Walla,” the captain said. The street was now empty of other people and Anouk had no trouble hearing the cheerful tone of his voice.

The captain turned his head towards his man standing with his back to Anouk and winked. Captain Biddulph’s big round blue eyes were images of innocence, a permanent question in them. Two white scars on his tanned skin dampened the impression as did a small tattoo behind his ear that came into view when he turned his head back to Nat. Was this the man Rose had seen asking after Arnar? His dark greying hair peeked out from under a dark cap, and he looked about the same age as his boss. Yes, he must be.

He wore what Anouk recognised as working-class attire—light-blue shirt, brown waistcoat and dark trousers. The two men with him wore the same combination including similar dark caps on their heads. They looked local.

The captain reached for Nat’s revolver, his palm up. “I’ll take that.”

Nat’s jaw was tight. With a moment of hesitation, Nat put his gun on Biddulph’s open hand.

“Wise choice.” Biddulph tucked Nat’s revolver under his belt and turned his gaze down the street towards Anouk. She pulled her head back and curled into a ball. She shook in terror. Had the captain seen her? She listened for approaching footsteps, lifting her hand to the handle of her katana.

No footfall came, instead the captain spoke again, “Where is the lovely Miss Herring? Lord De Meriweth has spoken so fondly of her, and I’m quite disappointed she’s not with you.”

Anouk’s blood turned to ice. Stalo had spoken of her? Fondly? That was the creepiest thing she had ever heard. Nat remained silent. Not daring to risk peeking out again from behind the wash tub, she started to gnaw her thumbnail. She had to help Nat. She looked around, seeking inspiration. There had to be something she could do—other than a running attack with her katana. That wouldn’t end well.

A rattling sound echoed down the lane and Anouk eased behind the tub to see the source. A horse-drawn wagon drove along the street, heading straight towards the four men. Its driver appeared oblivious to what was happening and why this strip of the street was almost empty.

Anouk considered this her chance. She scanned her immediate surroundings and found what she was looking for, a rough-edged stone. She grabbed it and turned her attention back to the men, willing them to look at the wagon. And one of them did…

Captain Biddulph pointed his revolver at the driver and fired. The bullet knocked off the driver’s cap. The horse whinnied in terror and reared up on its hind legs, pawing the air with its front hooves. It started to push back, its eyes rolling in its head. The driver shouted, trying to get the horse under control, but only served to fuel the animal’s fright. The wagon crashed against a wall, sending empty barrels into the air like bowling pins. The men’s attention from Nat faltered for a split second.

“Now if ever,” Anouk snarled and jumped from behind her hiding place, hurling the pebble at the closest man. It hit his gun and ricocheted to the back of the captain’s head.

“What…” Captain Biddulph spun on his heel and pulled a trigger again. Anouk dove back behind the wash tub. The bullet hit the wall over her head. Fuck, that man had good aim.

“Get the girl and kill the bounty hunter,” came the captain’s bark.

“No,” Anouk screamed and scrambled up, toppling the tub over. It fell with a crash, spilling the foaming water on the street. Where Anouk had seen Nat last, now swirled a thick cloud of white smoke. She pulled her katana and darted towards it. “Nat!”

Another shot went off. Anouk dropped into a crouch as a whizzing bullet passed over her head. She crawled, trying to locate Nat, smoke burning in her eyes. She blinked the tears off. A figure appeared in front of her. It was a man crouching, holding a knife in his hand and wiping his tear streaming eyes. A squeal escaped Anouk’s mouth as she jumped back. The man cursed and lunged towards her, thrusting with his knife.

“Stop, you bitch,” he growled.

Anouk dodged aside and kicked him in his chin. “Learn some manners, asshole.”

Someone took her by the shoulder—Anouk spun, ready to slash with her sword, but Nat blocked the down coming strike.

“Sorry,” Anouk blurted. Jesus, she had almost sliced him in half.

“Let’s get out of here.”

Anouk nodded. They sprinted down the smoke-filled street.

“Where is the captain?” Anouk called to Nat.

Echoes of gunfire boomed behind them.

“There,” Nat growled.

They ran out of the smoke straight into an intensifying chaos. A man knocked into Anouk when he charged down the street shouting, “Fire, fire.”

She almost dropped her sword and without Nat’s quick reflex, she would have fallen as well. He caught Anouk by her shoulder and pushed through the crowd, leading her to an alley.

He stopped and knelt down next to a round metal lid in the road. It screeched when he lifted it.

“What’s down there?” Anouk asked.

“A sewer. Hop in.”

Anouk’s eyebrows shot up. “Really?” She wouldn’t have thought they had a sewage system in The Pits based on the amount of filth on the street. Maybe they had something against hiding the waste underground. She approached the hole. The smell wafting from it almost melted her nose hairs. Well, someone was using it.

“Hurry,” Nat barked. As if to emphasise, a gun went off behind the corner.

Sheathing her katana, Anouk scurried into the hole and climbed down into the stinking