Scrapyard Ship 3 Space Vengeance Read Online Free PDF

Traveler turned his body sideways and brought the attacker onto his back. He reached for his own heavy hammer, but felt a crushing blow to his back, delivered by Three Horns. He staggered, but managed to stay on his feet. Traveler pulled his own hammer free, raised it high, and brought it down with all his strength. The rhino at his feet died instantly, his cranium crushed. With one rhino dead and another one still unable to escape from the flames of the cook fire, Traveler was able to move about more easily.
    Three Horns and Great Hunter crouched low, poised to attack. The remaining rhino-warriors had come out from their domes and encircled them. But they would not enter this fight.
    Great Hunter charged, feigned using his hammer, then struck out with an uppercut to Traveler’s jaw. It connected, a blow hard enough to bring Traveler to his knees. Great Hunter pulled back and swung his hammer. Although there had been stories, more like tales or fables, of warriors catching heavy hammers mid-flight, no one there had ever actually seen it done.
    Traveler caught the broad head of the hammer in the palm of his outstretched hand and held it there, to Great Hunter’s astonishment. His expression quickly turned to fear as Traveler regained his footing and proceeded to pummel Great Hunter into the ground with his own heavy hammer.
    Traveler then turned to face Three Horns, ready for him to make his move. But there was no need for Three Horns to do anything at all. From behind, finally able to extricate himself from the fire, the first of the rhinos to attack Traveler, the one called Black Tooth, connected a solid blow to the back of Traveler’s head. His body fell to the ground. Near death himself, Black Tooth stumbled and fell back into the burning embers.
    Three Horns signaled to several nearby onlookers. “You two, throw Traveler’s body on the fire.” Turning to the others, he continued, “We will feast tonight and we will prepare for battle. Tomorrow we leave this habitat.”
    Chapter 5
    Chapter 5
     
    Jason was there when both Mollie and Nan entered the forward hold; both were nervous and held each other’s hand tightly. He still was uncomfortable with either of them going through this life-altering process. They both moved toward Jason. Mollie, hunched over, wiped tears from her cheeks and tried to smile. They looked at Jason but soon their eyes were drawn to the standing portals, like two beckoning monoliths, in the middle of the hold.
    Jason’s heart was heavy and he was reluctant to speak, afraid his voice might betray him. In minutes the Mollie he knew and loved would cease to exist. She would be walking to her own death.
    Nan scowled. “Oh, for God’s sake, Jason, you seem to have come out of it all right. Pull yourself together. Now, what are we supposed to do here? Enter one of these portals?”
    Jason didn’t expect to laugh, but he couldn’t help it. Leave it to Nan to be the eternal pragmatist. She smiled and headed for the two portals. Looking back over her shoulder she pointed to the one on the left, and Jason nodded. She stepped through and disappeared.
    Mollie watched with eyes wide open. Jason could tell she was holding her breath. Then, she let it all out as Nan reappeared through the other portal. Nan smiled and held her arms out wide as Mollie ran to her. They embraced. Nan looked up and winked at Jason. She kissed Mollie on the forehead and ushered her over to the left portal. Before stepping through, Mollie gave a little wave toward her father, smiled excitedly, and was gone.
    Now it was Jason’s turn to hold his breath. When she reentered through the other portal, Mollie was all smiles and giggles. Jason relaxed his shoulders and smiled. She seemed more than happy to be a little girl again, with nothing all that important to worry about.
    Jason turned to see his father, Admiral Reynolds, entering the hold. He, like the other crewmembers, looked ill and tired.
    “ It seems you’re … you all