Assignment Darklanding
Page 6
A low rumble started to shake the ground.
“Run!” the sheriff yelled, waving and propelling the two women before him. They quickly outran him as they weren’t carrying an injured person. Rocks started to break free from the sidewalls, falling to the tunnel floor and rolling downhill. Shaunte and Billy dodged them as they ran out the entrance.
Billy kept running, but Shaunte stopped and turned, removing her mask as she gulped for air. The thunder of a massive cave-in echoed out the tunnel mouth, sending a massive dust cloud spewing forth.
CHAPTER EIGHT
The sheriff ran into the Company Man and they both stumbled and fell. The sheriff hit the ground face first to keep the injured man from landing on the concrete. They both grunted in pain.
Extra hands appeared from nowhere and gently lifted the injured miner off Thad’s back. Long skinny hands reached under the sheriff’s shoulders and lifted him upright. Blood ran down his nose and into his mouth.
“Damn,” he grumbled as he tipped his head back.
The Ungloks each put their hands on the sheriff and together, they muttered the same phrases. When they finished, the others walked away, leaving Jotham along with the Company Man and the sheriff.
“What was that all about?” Thad asked.
“They say it is a great honor to lead a rescue.”
“I hear that’s what they say,” the sheriff replied, still having no idea what they were talking about.
“Whenever you go underground, we will go with you,” Jotham intoned, a hand over his heart.
“Even when you’re my deputy?”
“Hang on. There’s never been an alien deputy,” Shaunte interjected.
“On Ungwilook, we’re the aliens. We could not have saved those people without him. Everyone would have gotten trapped in there. I need him, and I know that I have the authority to hire any deputy I want. So I’m hiring him, if he’ll take the job.”
“They say that we shouldn’t need laws or enforcers,” Mast Jotham said.
The sheriff waited. “I’d like to say that it’s our job to make ourselves obsolete.”
“I’ve never been obsolete before. I’ll try it.”
“Welcome aboard, Deputy.”
Shaunte looked closely at the sheriff and the new deputy. She knew the sheriff was right. He could hire who he wanted. She wondered if they could pay the alien less while billing the Company for the full amount.
“Hey! What are you doing here?” The realization dawned on the sheriff. “You’re supposed to be watching my chair.”
***
The injured were taken to the small infirmary, where they were treated and released. Even the broken bones were set and the people sent away. They held one person back—the foreman. His concussion rendered him useless to care for himself. The nurse was put on overtime and the payment would come from the foreman’s salary.
It was how things worked in the frontier.
The sheriff and the Company Man were the last two to leave. It was past midnight and the two walked the empty streets of Darklanding on their way back to the Mother Lode. Her quarters were at the end of the hallway from his room. She had five times the space, but all the responsibility. He didn’t begrudge her that.
Dixie was sitting on the bar when they arrived. She glowered at the Company Man.
“I’ve been worried sick about you,” she said as she slid to the floor, making sure that her skirt caught on the countertop to expose her red silk thong. She brushed her skirt down with a demure, “Oh, my…”
“She was perfectly fine fighting the mine’s evil demons. But we had a good team, so she was safe. You needn’t have worried about her,” the sheriff said smoothly, not taking the madam’s bait.
Dixie grunted at him. The two excused themselves as they went to Shaunte’s office. She unlocked the door and he smiled when he saw his chair, right where he left it. She worked her way past it and flopped heavily into her chair. He dropped into his, having finally taken a load off his feet. His shoulders sagged as the sudden realization of how tired he was hit him.
“Nightcap?” she asked as she removed the liquor from her desk drawer. “I’m sorry, I don’t have any glasses, it appears.”
He stood to keep from falling asleep and held out his hand. She slapped the bottle into it. He unscrewed the top, sniffed it, and took a swig. He swallowed it and smacked his lips.
“Good stuff,” he said, handing the bottle back. She looked at the bottle in disgust before wiping the mouth of it with her sleeve, then a second time before she took a swig and coughed.
“If you don’t mind, it’s been a long day. I’ll take my chair and get out of your way.”
She didn’t say anything to stop him. She was tired too, but had a report to complete. Three dead, nearly a score injured, and the mine closed. It wasn’t going to be a fun night.
“Thanks for coming in after us. I’ve never heard of a Company Man taking a risk like that. I don’t have much experience, but it doesn’t seem like something you people would do,” he said over his shoulder as he nudged the door open with the toe of his dusty boot.
“You people?” she wondered, but he was already gone.
***
The new day brought a new series of challenges. Sheriff Thaddeus Fry now had a deputy and no office. He also had no way of contacting his deputy. He didn’t know anything about Darklanding besides there were three fewer people than when he arrived.
So much to learn, Thaddeus, he told himself. But I think there are some good people here. Tall and skinny, short and wide, we’re all the same. Just trying to do a little better today than yesterday, maybe even retire some day and start enjoying life.
The End of Episode 1.
Stay tuned, a Darklanding Episode will be published every 18 days. Look for Episode 2, Ike Shot the Sheriff on January 5, 2018. Join our newsletter lists to be the first to know when each new episode drops.
Thank you for reading this story. If you liked it, please leave a review.
Social Media for Scott Moon
Amazon – www.amazon.com/Scott-Moon/e/B0082VIWL8
Facebook – www.facebook.com/scottmoonwriter
My web page – www.scottmoonwriter.com/
Scott’s Email – scott.moon@scottmoonbooks.com
Social Media for Craig Martelle
Amazon – www.amazon.com/author/craigmartelle
Facebook – www.facebook.com/authorcraigmartelle
My web page – www.craigmartelle.com
Craig’s Email – mailto:craig@craigmartelle.com?subject=Darklanding
Other Books by Scott Moon
Darklanding with Craig Martelle
Episode 1: Assignment Darklanding
Episode 2: Ike Shot the Sheriff
Episode 3: Outlaws
Episode 4: Death of an Unglok
Episode 5: TBD
Episode 6: TBD
Episode 7: TBD
Episode 8: TBD
Episode 9: TBD
Episode 10: TBD
Episode 11 TBD
Episode 12: TBD
The Chronicles of Kin Roland
Book 1 – Enemy of Man (also available on audiobook) Book 2 – Son of Orlan (also available on audiobook)
Book 3 – Weapons of Earth (also available on audiobook)
SMC Marauders
Book 1 – Bayonet Dawn
Book 2 – Burning Sun
Grendel Uprising
Episode 1: Proof of Death
Episode 2: Blood Royal
Episode 3: Heavy Weapons
Son of a Dragonslayer
Book 1 – Dragon Badge (also available on audiobook)
Book 2 – Dragon Attack (also available on audiobook)
Book 3 – Dragon Land
Other Books by Craig Martelle
The Terry Henry Walton Chronicles, a Kurtherian Gambit Series, co-written with Michael Anderle
World’s Worst Day Ever (a short prequel of sorts)
Book 1 – Nomad
Found (also available on audiobook)
Book 2 – Nomad Redeemed (also available on audiobook)
Book 3 - Nomad Unleashed (also available on audiobook)
Book 4 - Nomad Supreme (also available on audiobook)
Book 5 – Nomad’s Fury (also available on audiobook)
Book 6 – Nomad’s Justice (also available on audiobook)
Book 7 – Nomad Avenged (also available on audiobook)
Book 8 – Nomad Mortis (also available on audiobook)
Book 9 – Nomad’s Force (also available on audiobook)
Book 10 – Nomad’s Galaxy (also available on audiobook)
Nomad’s Journal – A Terry Henry Walton Short Story Collection
The Bad Company (with Michael Anderle)
Book 0 – Gateway to the Universe (with Justin Sloan)
Book 1 – The Bad Company
Book 2 – Blockade
Book 3 – The Price of Freedom (Coming in 2018)
Books 4-8 - TBD
Free Trader Series
Book 1 – The Free Trader of Warren Deep
Book 2 – The Free Trader of Planet Vii
Book 3 – Adventures on RV Traveler
Book 4 – Battle for the Amazon
Book 5 – Free the North!
Book 6 – Free Trader on the High Seas
Book 7 – Southern Discontent (2017)
Book 8 – The Great ‘Cat Rebellion (2017)
Book 9 – Return to the Traveler (2017)
Outpost of the Ancients – a Free Trader short story published in the Apocalyptic Space Collection, Volume 1
Cygnus Space Opera – set in the Free Trader Universe
Book 1 – Cygnus Rising
Book 2 – Cygnus Expanding
Book 3 – Cygnus Arrives
Cygnus Omnibus – Books 1 to 3 under one cover and also as an audiobook
Darklanding with Scott Moon
See above
End Times Alaska Series, a Winlock Press publication
Book 1: Endure (also available on audiobook)
Book 2: Run (also available on audiobook)
Book 3: Return (also available on audiobook)
Book 4: Fury (also available on audiobook)
Rick Banik Thrillers
People Raged and the Sky Was on Fire (also available on audiobook)
The Heart Raged (2017)
Paranoid in Paradise – a short story within the Close to Bones Anthology
Short Stories (and where you can find them)
Just One More Fight (published as a novella standalone)
Wisdom’s Journey (published as a novella standalone)
Fear Peace (published as a short story standalone)
The Trenches of Centauri Prime (in Galactic Frontiers, edited by Charles Ekeke)
The Outcast (Through the Never Anthology, nominated for consideration for a Nebula Award)
Defense of the Deep Space Denali (in The Expanding Universe Vol 2)
A Language Barrier (in The Expanding Universe Vol 3)
The Misadventures of Jacob Wild McKilljoy (with Michael-Scott Earle) (Always FREE)
Box Sets & Anthologies
Trader, Cygnus, & People Raged – Martelle Starter Library
Close to the Bones, a Thriller Anthology (edited by Martha Carr)
The Expanding Universe, Volume 1 (edited by Craig Martelle)
The Expanding Universe, Volume 2 (edited by Craig Martelle)
The Expanding Universe, Volume 3 (edited by Craig Martelle) (Dec 2017)
Earth Prime Anthology, Volume 1 (Stephen Lee & James M. Ward)
Apocalyptic Space Short Story Collection (Stephen Lee & James M. Ward)
Lunar Resorts Anthology, Volume 2 (Stephen Lee & James M. Ward)
Metamorphosis Alpha – Chronicles from the Warden Vol 1 (with James M. Ward, edited by Craig Martelle)
Metamorphosis Alpha – Chronicles from the Warden Vol 2 (with James M. Ward, edited by Craig Martelle) (Dec 2017)
Author Notes: Scott Moon
I love a good story well told. Growing up in Kansas, Nebraska, and Colorado means every family trip is a long one. When I wasn’t fighting with my sister in the family car, I listened to mom and dad tell stories…or listen to Jimmy Buffett cassette tapes. When I was twelve, my mother suggested we write a book together for kids my age. That was thirty-six years ago. I’ve been writing ever since. As a lifelong creative, I play guitar, sketch, and do anything that seems like it could be an adventure—from martial arts to skydiving (when time and money allows!)
Darklanding is based on a concept by Diane Velasquez, Dorene Johnson, and Kat Lind who also provide developmental editing for the series.
When Craig brought me onto the project, he described it as Firefly meets Bonanza. As a fan of both shows, I knew this was a story I'd been longing to write. I grew up on Bonanza and Firefly has it's following for a good reason. He went on to explain that some of his other trusted collaborators who developed the idea—Diane, Dorene, and Kat, were excited about the idea as well.
So we moved forward.
Craig wrote the first episode, Assignment Darklanding, and asked me if I could write in this story-verse. I read Assignment Darklanding several times and listened to it on my phone app while driving several more. In short, I love the story, and we started working together in earnest.
Darklanding is about a cast of main characters that includes Sheriff Thaddeus Fry, Shaunte Plastes, Dixie, Pierre, P. C. Dickles and more. Each and every one of them has a unique story to tell on this frontier world. As the drama unfolded, there were new arrivals, including a mysterious runaway named Ruby Miranda and a brute of a SagCon special investigator named Michael “Sledge” Hammer. I've never been the type of writer to “caste” characters by comparing them to famous movie personalities. That being said, Sledge may look a little bit like “Hoss” (Dan Blocker) from Bonanza.
Character driven fiction has always been my favorite. Plot is merely the things they do to get the things they want but can’t have. As things got more complicated, I developed some of "beats" or "micro themes" that I use to keep track of the character’s shenanigans: Sheriff Thaddeus Fry / Who killed the previous Sheriff? / rich runaway and why she's dangerous / flipping tires / exotic A19 / Shaunte’s Triumph / outlaws / Mast Jotham and his Spirit quest / Justice / hard work / culture shock.
Do the trials and tribulations of the Ungloks resemble that of Native Americans and other populations that have suffered during empire building regimes? Perhaps. Science fiction has always been a way to talk about our worlds and our condition. Are we trying to make a statement? I don’t think so. The characters must speak from themselves. And yet…we can all relate, right?
I hope you enjoy Darklanding. Please share your thoughts with Craig and I as we continue this epic adventure on the edge of the nowhere.
Author Notes: Craig Martelle
Written on 11/12/17
Look at you (if you’re reading this, I’m looking at you) and I’m thanking you for still reading!
If you’ve read any of my stuff, you know that this isn’t about me, but you. I want to make sure that you’ve had a great experience reading this first installment of the Darklanding serials.
This wasn’t my idea. It was the brainchild of Diane, Dorene, and Kat. They talked about it and wanted me to write it, having confidence that I would do their storyline justice. The characters, the interactions, the social issues. I loved the storyline, but knew that I would be time-challenged. Then I met Scott Moon – a brother from another mother. I liked his style and he fit in well with the concept. So I wrote this book, but Scott studied it and will carry the torch for future volumes in this series. I’m having a lot of fun. I love these characters and could see them on a TV series someday.
Watch – it’ll happen and then they’ll cancel it prematurely, just like they did to Firefly! Those bastards!
We have a foot of snow on the ground and temps are about ten degrees above zero Fahrenheit. It’s beau
ty outside, just cold and snowy, but that’s the way it is in the Sub-Arctic. We live 150 miles from the Arctic Circle. It’s nice this far out. There’s low population density so we get to live in peace. We have one utility – electricity. Everything else is trucked in, including our water, fuel, propane, pellets for the stove. We have a septic and have to haul our trash to the dump ourselves. But I bought a truck for that purpose and it is way cool. I’ve never owned a truck before, but it was time. Living ten miles outside Fairbanks, Alaska has its challenges. Needing to borrow a truck shouldn’t be one of them.
So here we are, looking at the first in a long series. When this book gets published, we will already have the next four installments ready and will parcel them out exactly 18 days apart, which is because of Amazon’s algorithms in order to get the most from what Amazon will give us in regards to exposure. We’re not gaming the system, but we’re delivering content (i.e. great stories) using an optimized frequency. It took a lot of work to get where we are, so there’s no gaming of anything. It was work, and Scott and I have high hopes that Amazon helps us deliver Darklanding into that many more hands. If you like it, please share the link, drop a few words in a positive review, and help us keep moving forward because we don’t want to canceled like Firefly!
Nooooooooo!
No matter what, we still have our families, without whom we wouldn’t be who we are.
I'm a lifelong daydreamer and student of human interaction. I have some degrees, but those don't matter when it comes to telling the story. Engaging characters within a believable narrative—that's what it’s all about. I live in the interior of Alaska, far away from an awful lot, but I love it here. It is natural beauty at its finest.
Copyright © 2017 Craig Martelle
All rights reserved.
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