Dieselpunk: An Anthology Read Online Free PDF Page A

Golden Opportunity.”
    Shaw turned towards the godfather. “Mr. Dragna, if you don’t mind, we’ve got work to do.”
    The godfather flashed Shaw a mean look. “I have a better idea. Since they want to play with dynamite, let them. Your girl and the tall mouthy one can go in the tunnel with their blaster. The Italian has a special place in my heart.” Don Dragna turned towards one of the two goons that had loaded the trunk. “Take him.”
    Sal put up a fight, Kennedy himself resisting the urge to fire his two remaining shots at the godfather and mayor. Sal took a blow to the right eye, his brow splitting like a ripe grape. Kennedy winced, Charlie stood still, tears drying and jaw set.
    The godfather turned back towards Kennedy and Charlie. “You two can leave your car here. Mr. Kennedy, I believe it is? I want you to be a gentleman and carry Ms. Shaw’s blaster down into that tunnel. Go on.” Kennedy picked up the box. He moved slowly down the embankment and to the tunnel entrance. “You too, young lady. You’re gonna get to play with your fireworks, don’t worry.”
    Mayor Shaw started to say something, but the look on Don Dragna’s face silenced him. He stood silently by and resolved to watch his baby girl bury herself alive at the hand of the godfather.
    “Ms. Shaw, I want you to watch my young Italian investigator friend here.” He motioned with a single finger wave to his thug and the man propelled Sal forward to kneel at the godfather’s feet. He motioned for a pistol and emptied all but one round out onto the ground. He stuck it in Sal’s hand. “Now then, amico , you’re gonna stick this in your mouth. Try anything stupid and I’m sure you understand what happens next to your friends. Got family? I’ll find out.
    “ Vinnie here’s gonna put a bead on your friend Kennedy. Let’s try, shall we? Vinnie, go ahead and play like you intend to shoot out Mr. Kennedy’s head.”
    The goon grinned and raised his Thompson, sighting down the length of the barrel at Kennedy inside the tunnel.
    “Good! Now, amico , stick the business end of that pistola in your mouth like you intend to take your own life  …  there we go.” Sal clamped his lips around the cold steel of the rervolver. Marie, I’m so sorry , was all he could think.
    Kennedy yelled, “No!” It didn’t matter.
    “Okay. Now we’re ready to play. Ms. Shaw, you got till the count of ten to push that handle on your blaster there and seal you and Mr. Kennedy in. I’m sure you’ll survive a few days, maybe even find something to do to entertain one another. If for some reason you refuse, mio amico here is gonna have three seconds to take his own life before Vinnie puts a hole in Mr. Kennedy’s head.”
    Charlie didn’t even flinch at the evil choreography of it.
    “If for some reason you should find a way to survive, rest assured that the first sign of you going public and amico’s familia are dead. Who knows, after we’re done, maybe I’ll even hire him.”
    Charlie pushed down on the handle before the count even started. By the time that the dust and smoke cleared, the godfather had already loaded up with Sal Marchegiani. The fleet rolled back into Los Angeles.
    Mayor Shaw stood for a moment with his head down, but only a brief one. Then he too climbed back into his Caddy and headed to the next phase of the invasion, Evergreen Cemetery.
     
     
    Kennedy’s Zippo flame seemed to do more harm than good, casting a glare that just muddied the dark with its auroral haze. He snapped it closed and the two pushed down into the tunnel by feeling their way along the damp walls. At some point the smell of wet stone changed to one that was familiar, albeit misplaced: fuel.
    Charlie explained the best she could.
    “ The potatoes that father has are only the last of ten shipments. He doesn’t know that. But if he drops them into the ground in L.A., it’ll be disastrous.”
    “ Doll, we don’t even have a staple crop of spuds here in the