Flint shook his head slowly. “It can’t be that way. Not now. This man,” here, he pointed at me, “might destroy a very delicate deal.”

  I tried to tell him there was no deal, but he didn’t believe me. I think, in the end, he didn’t want to believe me.

  Walking out, I found Hammer was right beside me. His face was like a thundercloud. I could tell he was just as pissed as I was. We made our way through the encampment, trying to ignore the stares and whispers that followed us.

  “Crazies,” someone spat as we passed.

  “Deal-breakers,” said another.

  “We’re going back to town, and we’re going to rail all your sisters!” Hammer shouted at them unhelpfully.

  The group surged and growled.

  Tugging on Hammer, I gritted my teeth and kept walking. We were outnumbered, and we’d brought bad news. People always hated anyone who brought them bad news.

  But then the insults turned into something more. A handful of sand hit me in the side of the head, stinging my eyes. I whirled around, ready to fight, but Hammer grabbed my arm.

  “Easy, Tanner,” he said. “It’s not worth it.”

  He was right, of course. Getting into a brawl with a bunch of angry Dusters wasn’t going to solve anything. We kept walking, but the abuse kept coming—kicks to the back of our legs, more sand thrown in our faces.

  I was just about to lose it when two of the Dusters stepped in front of us, blocking our path. They were young, probably barely out of their teens, but they had that hard look in their eyes that seemed to be the trademark of this crowd.

  “We’re confiscating your walkers,” one of them said, his hand resting on the hilt of his knife. “We need them more than a couple of strays like you two.”

  I exchanged a glance with Hammer. We both knew what we had to do.

  In one swift motion, we lashed out—each of us choosing the man on our side—fist connecting with a thieves’ jaw. They went down hard, sprawling in the sand.

  We didn’t waste any time. We mounted our walkers and rode out of that encampment like the hounds of hell were on our heels.

  The Red Desert stretched out before us, vast and unforgiving. I didn’t know where we were going, or what we were going to do next. But one thing was for sure—we were on our own now.

  Chapter 25

  We rode in silence for a while. The only sound in my ears was the crunch of my walker’s feet on gravel. The sun was starting to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and rust-red. It would have been beautiful—if I hadn’t been so pissed off.

  Hammer cleared his throat. “You know, Tanner, I get the idea you’re feeling low right now.”

  “Yeah?”

  “You shouldn’t feel that way. You’re a hero to lots of Dusters.”

  I snorted. “I’m no hero, Hammer. Not even to myself. I’m just a guy trying to survive—to do a job.”

  “There’s no call to shit on yourself like that! You saved Megan’s ass, just for starters. She told me about that. You saved lots of people at Fishjumper Lake. And just now, you warned the rebels about the Techborn trap. Those are all good things.”

  “They didn’t listen, Hammer.”

  “I know, I know. But that’s their problem. You’re a good man, Tanner. Sure, sure, you’re a little rough around the edges, maybe… but your balls are in the right place.”

  “Uh… you mean my heart?”

  “Mmm… sure, I guess so.”

  “Never mind…” I didn’t want to argue with Hammer, but I didn’t agree with him either. I was no hero. I was here because XCU put a gun to my head—and to Tina’s.

  We rode on for a while longer, until Hammer suddenly pulled his walker to a stop. “I can’t do this, Tanner. I know they kicked us out of their rebellion… but I can’t just ride away and let Flint and the others walk into a trap.”

  “Yeah? What are you going to do about it?”

  “I’m going back. I’m going to try and stop them before it’s too late.”

  I shook my head. “You’re a better man than me, Hammer Vargo.”

  Hammer grinned. “Take care of yourself. I hope we meet again someday.”

  With that, he turned his walker around and rode off in the direction we’d come. I watched him go, feeling a rare sensation: uncertainty.

  Part of me wanted to go with him, to try and save the Dusters from their own stupidity. But another part of me was tired of being shit on by guys like Flint. It was hard to risk your neck for people who didn’t even appreciate it.

  Maybe it was time to just let the chips fall where they may. Let the Dusters and the Techborn fight it out. Someone would come out on top eventually. It wasn’t my problem anymore.

  Riding my walker off into the desert, I was alone once more. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was making a mistake, riding away from the only people who might have a chance against the Techborn.

  Craning my neck, I saw Hammer as a dot on the last ridge we’d crossed. He was still visible on the horizon, his walker kicking up a trail of dust as he rode. The big idiot was going to get himself killed, and for what? A bunch of ungrateful rebels who’d just as soon shoot him as look at him?

  Damn it. I couldn’t let him go alone. As much as I hated to admit it, I’d grown fond of the big moron. Besides that, the thought of the Techborn coming out on top made my skin crawl. At least the Dusters, for all their faults, were only assholes—not monsters.

  With a growl, I wheeled my walker around and headed after Hammer. I pushed the machine to its limits, the wind whipping at my face as I rode. I caught up to him just as he was cresting the next big rise.

  He looked surprised to see me. “Tanner? Are you lost already?”

  “I couldn’t let you die alone.”

  Hammer grinned. “I knew you’d come around. You’re a good man, Tanner. Even if you don’t want to be…That’s what I was trying to tell you, and you proved me right!”

  “Don’t make me turn around again.”

  We caught up to the Dusters and trialed them until they camped. The desert slowly cooled around us. We spent an uncomfortable night in the hills, not daring to light a fire.

  In the morning, when the sun was just starting to peek over the horizon, Hammer and I dismounted our walkers on the ridge line. We had a clear view of the meeting spot below. I used Hammer’s primitive monocular to survey the scene.

  The Duster rebels were already there, milling around like a bunch of restless cattle. They looked bored, waiting for the Techborn to show up. I counted at least thirty of them, maybe more. Everybody was armed to the teeth.

  I handed the monocular back to Hammer. He took a look and whistled softly. “That’s a lot of firepower down there.”

  I nodded. “Let’s just hope they don’t find us before the Techborn arrive.”

  We waited, and the sun climbed higher in the sky. I worked hard not to expose any skin to that brutal star. As it was, I already had the tan of my life, and it was going to be a scorcher of a day.

  Finally, we saw movement on the horizon. A cloud of dust kicked up by something big. As it got closer, I could make out the shapes of wagons being pulled by some kind of heavy machinery.

  The Techborn had arrived, and… they’d brought gifts?

  I watched as they approached with their wagons. There were supplies, tools, technological gear, rare things like batteries and medical instruments, fine foodstuffs, perfumes, metals—all kinds of valuable goods from Arabella.

  The Dusters cheered as the Techborn approached. They were like kids on Christmas morning, eager to get their hands on the shiny new toys.

  I wasn’t feeling so jazzed. The Techborn weren’t known for their generosity. They were probably planning to buy the Dusters’ loyalty with trinkets and baubles—or to lure them in.

  Hammer banged his paw down on my shoulder. “Maybe we were wrong. The Techborn look real friendly. Just look at all that stuff! We must have been wrong, Tanner.”

  “Let’s hope. Shut up and keep watching.”

  We watched as the Dusters and Techborn stopped about a hundred yards apart. Flint Evans and Overlord Janson approached each other. They shook hands, all smiles and friendly gestures. I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but I could imagine. A whole lot of nothing, most likely.

  Hammer was practically bouncing with excitement beside me. “Oh man, Tanner, look at all that stuff the Techborn brought! Weapons, supplies—all that fancy Arabella tech. That’s a king’s ransom right there!”

  I shook my head and turned back to the scene below. Flint and Janson were still talking, their body language all friendly and open. But I knew better. I’d seen the Techborn’s true colors. They were snakes, every last one of them.

  Hammer started making up a dialogue, putting on a high-pitched voice for Flint and a deep, booming one for Janson. “Oh, Overlord Janson, thank you so much for these wonderful gifts! We Dusters are eternally grateful for your generosity!”

  He switched to the deep voice. “Think nothing of it, my dear Flint. We Techborn only want what’s best for you and your people. Now, if you’ll just sign this little treaty here, we can fit you up with a pink dress and a parasol. Then, we’ll begin our new era of peace and prosperity!”

  Hammer laughed, clearly amused by his own joke. I didn’t crack a smile. It wasn’t in me.

  I watched as Flint and Janson finally shook hands again, sealing the deal. The Dusters cheered, their voices carrying across the desert.

  Janson retreated, leaving behind the wagons loaded with gifts. Hammer was telling me how great this was, and how we must have gotten something wrong. I didn’t listen. I didn’t even blink as I stared through the monocular at the scene.

  A fly walked over my knuckles, but I ignored the tickling sensation. Finally, a single crack rang out across the desert. The sound was unmistakable. A thunderbolt rifle had been fired.

  I saw Flint Evans jerk back on his walker, then slump forward. He fell from the saddle and hit the ground hard.

  Overlord Janson had just returned to his side of the field at that point. He goaded his mount and took off like a bat out of hell, moving behind his bodyguard.

  The coward... leaving his men to clean up his mess.

  The Duster rebels let out a roar of outrage. They surged forward, reaching for their weapons. They were enraged.

  Chapter 26

  The Dusters charged forward, a tidal wave of fury and vengeance. They were out for blood—Techborn blood.

  Hammer revved his walker, eager to join the fray. “Let’s get in there, Tanner! Teach those Techborn bastards a lesson!”

  My hand came up, stopping him. “Wait. Not yet.”

  I reached for my thunderbolt. The weight of it felt good in my hands, familiar, like an old friend. Raising the rifle to my shoulder, I sighted down the long barrel. Overlord Janson was fleeing the scene, his mount kicking up dust as he rode.

  I took a deep breath, let it all the way out and squeezed the trigger.

  The thunderbolt roared, the recoil slamming into my shoulder. The bullet whizzed through the air, seeking its target, but Janson was too far out and moving too fast. The shot went wide, kicking up sand a few feet to his left.

  Janson’s head snapped around. He’d heard the shot. He’d seen where it came from.

  Our eyes locked across the distance. Even from here, I could see the cold fury in his gaze. He probably didn’t know who I was, but he sure as shit knew I was gunning for him.

  Good. I hoped he’d pissed himself.

  I worked the bolt on the thunderbolt, chambering another round. I’d missed once. I wouldn’t miss again.

  Beside me, Hammer was practically vibrating with pent-up energy. “Tanner, come on! We gotta go down there and help the Dusters!”

  “We will—by putting down Janson.”

  Raising my rifle again, I lined up another shot. But Janson was wise to me now. He zigzagged his mount, making himself a harder target. He was heading for some scrub and a fold in the land. Soon, he’d disappear.

  Cursing up a storm, I squeezed off another shot. Missed again.

  “Shit…”

  I lowered the thunderbolt, watching as Janson disappeared behind a ridge.

  “Tanner! Oh crap, Tanner!”

  Hammer was having a conniption. While I’d been focused on nailing Janson, a fresh horror had come into play. The Techborn treachery unfolded before my eyes.

  The Dusters had naturally charged forward on their walkers, a valiant wave of rebels seeking justice, but it was all a setup.

  The Techborn wagons, supposedly laden with gifts and promises of peace, suddenly transformed into instruments of death. Tarps were thrown back, and the trinkets spilled onto the desert. The black walls of the wagons fell open.

  There were gun turrets squatting in each wagon. A gunner manned each turret. Now revealed, they swiveled these weapons to train on the charging Dusters and unload.

  Six automatic weapons ripped through the air at once. The Dusters, caught in the open, stood no chance. They were slaughtered. Cut down like wheat before the scythe.

  Beside me, Hammer let out a howl of anguish. His friends and comrades had all been mowed down before his eyes. I could see the pain, the disbelief and the fury on his face.

  I grabbed his arm, holding him back. He struggled against my grip, wanting to rush in, to avenge the fallen. Of course, he’d only have been blasted off his walker like the rest.

  “No,” I growled. “We can’t help them now.”

  Hammer’s eyes met mine, wild with grief and rage. “They’re dying, Tanner! We have to do something!”

  “We did—and we will do more—but not now, not yet.”

  The massacre was grim. The Dusters had managed to shoot two of the Techborn gunmen, but whether still fighting or whirling to flee, they were slaughtered to a man. Their walkers lay in twisted heaps, the riders dead or dying.

  The Techborn had played us all for fools. They’d never wanted peace. They’d only wanted to lure the rebels in and exterminate them. Janson was quite a fucker.

  I tugged at Hammer’s arm, pulling him away from the carnage. “Come on. We need to go.”

  Hammer resisted for a moment, his eyes still fixed on the fallen Dusters. Then, with a shuddering breath, he nodded.

  We turned our backs on the slaughter, on all that death and betrayal, but we wouldn’t forget, and we wouldn’t forgive.

  We rode hard, putting distance between us and the ambush. The Techborn’s trap had worked all too well. The Dusters were in chaos, their leader had been killed and their best forces decimated.

  Hammer was seething beside me, his knuckles white as he gripped the reins of his walker. He wanted blood—Techborn blood. I could feel the rage radiating off him like heat from a furnace. The truth was, I wanted to nail a few of them, too—especially Janson.

  We circled around through the hills, staying low and out of sight. The Techborn would be looking for stragglers, for survivors. We couldn’t let them find us. Not yet.

  We crested a ridge and saw them below. The Techborn had gathered around their wagons-turned-killing-machines. They were laughing, congratulating each other. They were gleeful about their victory.

  That pissed me off even more. I felt like putting an accelerated bullet into each of their smug faces.

  Hammer got excited all over again as he watched the Techborn celebrate. He was like a barky dog sometimes. He tensed up beside me, ready to charge.

  Again, I held up a hand, stopping him.

  “Not yet,” I said. “We’ve got to be smart. We’ve got to do this right.”

  Hammer looked at me, his eyes burning with barely contained rage, but he nodded. He understood.

  We had to bide our time. We had to wait for the right moment to strike. The Techborn outnumbered us and outgunned us. We couldn’t take them head-on.

  One could say I’m a man who isn’t easily moved by events that didn’t directly affect me. But today was different. These Techborn assholes… they’d really pissed me off.

  It was their open celebration of the slaughter… I think that did the trick for me. Cheering and dancing and pissing on the dead and dying—it was too much to watch.

  Right then and there, I decided I was on the Duster side. Not just due to happenstance, but due to everything I’d seen. A man like Hammer—sure, he was a fool and a blowhard—but he’d never have done something so underhanded and evil.

  It took a special kind of monster to violate the sanctity of making a peace deal. Few could shake hands with eye-contact and a liar’s smile, only to mow down an envoy like a dog minutes after. These kind of people needed to be weeded out and dealt with.

  “Hammer, listen to me,” I said. “I need your help.”

  “You going down there now? You going to show them what’s what?”

  “Not now. They outnumber us, and they have machineguns. We’re going to have to be sneaky.”

  “Awww…” Hammer’s shoulders slumped.

  We watched the Techborn. They were drinking and scooping up all the offerings they’d supposedly brought to give to the Dusters. I got the deal, then. Janson had paid his company with the loot he’d promised the Dusters. It was diabolical.

  Janson returned during the celebration. He made sport with the dead, just as his men were doing. But he kept a wary eye on the hills where we were hiding. He never exposed himself, but rather stayed in the midst of his men.

  Hammer and I were sullen. We watched their gleeful celebration of murder. After a few minutes of that, I knew what had to be done.

  Janson. He was the key. He was the head of this snake. Cut him loose from the rest, and this enemy would wither and die.

  That wasn’t going to be easy. He knew I was gunning for him. He always seemed to be protected, always surrounded by his goons. He was quick to run off, too—but I’d find a way.

  “We need a plan,” I told Hammer. “How can we get to Janson?”

  “I dunno. But I’m with you, Tanner. To the end!”

  “That’s great…”

  We rode off, leaving the carnage behind us.