Stone Soldiers: City of Bones Read Online Free PDF Page A

for a break in the machinegun volleys so they could return fire.
    They all spun around, eyes going wide when they saw the giant holding their comrade. Kenslir was easily head and shoulders taller than the slight Nigerian he held.
    "Eyaaaa!" a gunman screamed and fired his AK.
    A stream of bullets poured out of the rifle, killing the man Kenslir had been holding and striking the Colonel in the shoulder and forehead.
    He pushed the body away from him, flinging it forward like a missile- a hundred pound sack of meat and bones that knocked the trio off their feet and against the metal drums they had been using for cover.
    Before they could recover, the Colonel had drawn the twin Bowie knives hanging from his back. He let one fly with an underhanded throw, spearing a gunman who was bringing his rifle around. The large blade sank to the hilt in the man's chest, killing him instantly.
    "No! No!" the third gunman said, dropping his rifle and raising his hands over his head. "I surrender! I surrender!"
    His companion likewise raised his hands.
    "Throw your rifles over here," Kenslir said, ignoring the wounds in his shoulder and head. The wound above his goggles was now a gray color- the flesh turned to stone that seemed to push out bullet fragments, then fill in with fresh stone. As the men watched, the wound could be seen turning back to flesh as the first rays of dawn fell across the town.
    Both men complied and raised their hands over their heads as Kenslir watched them, transferring the remaining Bowie knife to his left hand. He dropped his right to the large submachine gun strapped to his leg.
    "On your knees- cross your ankles."
    " Yes, yes," the talkative gunman said. Both he and his angry, quiet companion complied.
    "Hands together, on top of your head."
    The gunmen again complied, one watching Kenslir with great fear in his eyes, the other with smoldering anger.
    >>>MOVE UP<<< Kensl ir cybernetically texted to the team. >>>LEE, LAWRENCE- PAST ME. TAKE UP FLANKING POSITIONS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WATCH FOR MORE OF THEM.<<<
    The stone soldiers all charged forward, Lee and Lawrence sweeping past on their gray feet. They each got o n either side of the road, crouched by the corner of prefab buildings. Lee quickly reloaded his M-60, dropping off a large ammo pack while Lawrence looked on.
    Smith and Cooper came around the pile of barrels and looked down at Kenslir's captives.
    The Colonel kept a hand on his submachine gun and reholstered his remaining Bowie knife in a sheath on his back.
    Smith noticed the other Bowie knife sticking out of the dead gunman's chest- he had no doubt the blade had sliced through ribs and sternum. "Good thr ow, boss."
    "You- what's your name?" Kenslir asked. He noticed the angry gunman was staring at Kenslir's bare feet and those of Smith.
    "I am Kaleem, and this is Saleel," the wide-eyed gunman said. "We are your prisoners- please don't kill us."
    "Sir- look a t their necks," Smith said, noticing each man wore a small bird skull on a cord around their neck. The corpse with the Bowie knife in his chest also had one.
    Kenslir stepped forward, causing Kaleem and Saleel each to jump. He rolled the corpse he had thro wn at the men over and found a fourth bird skull necklace. With a quick jerk, he pulled it from the corpse's neck, snapping the cord.
    Kenslir held it up by the cord, examining the necklace closely.
    "Are you Americans?” Kaleem asked, sweating nervously. He had noticed the soldiers' uniforms had no markings, no name tapes.
    Kenslir shifted his grip, putting the skull in his right hand- it began glowing a bright green instantly. He closed his hand on the skull, crushing the bone to powder and ending the gree n glow coming from it.
    "Magic?" Cooper asked.
    "Who gave you those?" Kenslir asked, brushing the broken bits of bone off his hands.
    "It was the witch!' Kaleem said excitedly. He seemed more panicked now. "She lived by the river. We went to her for help t aking this oil