"Gearteeth" Excerpt

8/10/2019 "Gearteeth" Excerpt

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1 Gearteeth Timothy Black

Timothy Black

(Book 1 of the Gearteeth Series)

Blysster Press


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Email the author at: [email protected]: .timothy-black.com!acebook: .facebook.com"timothyblack.author

Titter: .titter.com"Sraelki#

$Gearteeth$ Pri#ti#% &istoryBlysster Press 'a'erback eitio# Se'tember *1+

This is a ork of ,ctio#. ames characters 'laces a#i#cie#ts either are the 'rouct of the author/s ima%i#atio# orare use ,ctitiously. 0#y resembla#ce to actual 'erso#s lii#%or ea ee#ts busi#ess establishme#ts or locales is e#tirelycoi#cie#tal.

0ll ri%hts resere2o'yri%ht 3 Timothy Black2oer 0rt a# 4esi%# by Emma 5ichaels2oer 6ma%e 3 Timothy Black *1+

o 'art of this book may be re'rouce or tra#smitte

i# a#y form or by a#y mea#s electro#ic mecha#ical orotherise i#clui#% but #ot limite to 'hotoco'yi#%recori#% or by a#y i#formatio# stora%e a# retrieal systemithout 'ermissio# i# riti#% from the 'ublisher. !ori#formatio# co#tact Blysster Press at [email protected]

6SB 789-1-7+*+8-1-9

Pri#te i# the ;#ite States of 0merica.blysster.com
mailto:[email protected]://www.timothy-black.com/http://www.facebook.com/timothyblack.authorhttp://www.twitter.com/Sraelkinmailto:[email protected]://www.blysster.com/http://www.timothy-black.com/http://www.facebook.com/timothyblack.authorhttp://www.twitter.com/Sraelkinmailto:[email protected]://www.blysster.com/mailto:[email protected]


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< Gearteeth Timothy Black

If you purchased this book without a cover,

you should be aware that this book is stolenproperty. It was reported as "unsold anddestroyed" to the publisher, and neither theauthor nor the publisher has received anypayment for this "stripped book."


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Dedicated To:

5.=.5.&o you ke't from stra#%li#% me 6/ll #eer k#o.

>our self-restrai#t is le%e#ary.

Special Thanks:

Gi#a a# ?ae# Black for su''orti#% a# loi#% ama# ho coul rie a sai#t to hiskey 2harityBecker for %ii#% me ho'e back Tom =si#ski forhel'i#% me ra% the book out of the mu Emma

5ichaels for bei#% my k#i%ht i# shi#i#% coerPatrick >ates a# Sam Wa%es for their reaer#otes a# my ,rst a# most fere#t fa# AillyPeterso# for sta#i#% i# li#e to %et a# e-book

si%#e lo#% before it as %oo e#ou%h to arra#tthe loe.

The 2alifor#ia State ?ailroa 5useum for theiro#erful railroa museum library a# the

history they 'resere.

Author's Other Works:

2ry'tico# Seattle/s e-2om'ositio#s *1+Cu%me#t of Bloo (comi#% !all *1D)


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Chapter 1

$6t is as ambrosia the taste of ma#/s eshbe like #othi#% you ca# ima%i#e but you/llk#o it for truth soo# e#ou%h. Cu%e me #obut yea your o# Fu%me#t cometh thismoo#$ 6 rea.

6 i''e the o%-eare 'a'erback/s coer

oer: Street and Smith, c. 1890, ew !ork.$Poor bastars$ 6 si%he. $Te#ty years

%o#e . . . i you e# u' i# the bellies of theereoles he# the orl e#t to hell oreari#% the fur yourseles$

6 %la#ce u' from the battere book the

moo# sat full a# %loati#% i# the after#oo# sky.0 sue# u'raft threate#e to se# metumbli#% from my 'erch causi#% me to shutthe ol ime-store #oel ti%ht before its 'a%esere tor# aay. 5y le%s ho#e by years ofclamberi#% all oer theeaven#s $racehileshe thu#ere throu%h the air locke o#har a# clutche the collectio# a#e as theerra#t i# buHete me. The eItra ei%htfrom my metal-li#e ork clothes hel'e tokee' me steay o# the sayi#% colum#.

8


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2losi#% my eyes 6 reache out ith se#ses

shar'e#e by years of orki#% the stormsfeeli#% for a#y hi#t that the curse of clearskies oul be broke# soo# a#y tickle ofhumiity o# my ski# or face. But the i# asry harsh a# u#accou#tably hot for 0'ril.The hu#res of a#es a# li%ht#i#% ros

Futti#% u' from roofs across the city ere like

the skeletal cobeb-stre# bra#ches of ayi#% forest be%%i#% for the rai#s to come a#%ie them life o#ce more.

0s the 'arche i# ie o# 6 hearmy #ame calle out. $EliJ What are you oi#%u' there$

6 cra#e my #eck a# looke back oermy shouler. Te#ty feet belo &e#ry theother brakema# that share my berth o# the

eaven#s $race i#che his ay u' the back ofthe toeri#% a#e/s mai# colum# toar me.6/ bee# so i#te#t o# reai#% about the beaststhat 6 ha#/t hear him climbi#% u'. Whereas6/ barely ee# bothere to secure myselfhe# 6 asce#e &e#ry as usi#% eery #ooka# cra##y that he coul to a#chor his tether.4es'ite the fact that our Fobs calle for us tocli#% to the sie of a steel behemoth barreli#%throu%h the air a mile u' my frie# ha a#

i#creible fear of hei%hts.$=h Fust e#Foyi#% the su#li%ht a# a %oo

book.$Truthfully u' here as also a %oo 'lace

to ie if you ere#/t careful. 0lthou%h thereere belayi#% loo's s'ace alo#% the le#%th of


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the three hu#re-foot shaft it as#/t eIactly

sa#e to climb the hu%e a#es. We ereactually safer orki#% o# the i#se't siesof our Thu#er Trai# hat ith hercom'licate safety system of cables a#'ulleys.

=# the moisture a#es you ha to freeclimb betee# the arious a#chori#% 'oi#ts.

The imsy almost i#isible sails of leachi#%silk stretche betee# the crossbeams oul#eer sae a ma# falli#% throu%h them it/ belike tryi#% to catch a horse ith a s'ier/seb. ot that the a#es themseles eremuch better. While the steel shafts of the city/s

air ells ere fairly thick they ere hollo toallo the co#e#se ater to o o# i#tothe reseroir ithi# Ware#clyHe. Eachfootste' set the a#es to aeri#% a# it asa ealy %ame Fust 'reicti#% he# the i#oul 'ick u' a# a to the fu#.

$6 oul#/t use that o#e$ 6 sai as&e#ry/s foot fumble for a rust-coere'rotrusio#.

Ware#clyHe as the ,rst of the salatio#cities esi%#e a# built by Tesla before hee#t missi#% uri#% the Bloo Pa#ic. The,ftee# years si#ce it ha lifte oH the %rou#

ha#/t bee# ki# to it. ?ust ha a# u#holy loefor the city/s su'erstructure s'reai#% fastertha# ,re throu%h ry %rass a# out'aci#% theco#sta#t eHorts to re'air the ama%e. 6t as ao#er the ol %irl as still aloft at all. o#eof the cities ha bee# mea#t to stay u' this


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1* Gearteeth Timothy Black

lo#% but that i#/t matter much to the

resie#ts he# alloi#% it to crash mea#tmore tha# Fust braci#% for im'act. The samecritters that ha se#t us hi%h-taili#% it for theclous still stalke the Earth belo a# #o#eof us ere too a#Iious to meet them #ose tomuKKle.

!or a mome#t it looke like &e#ry as

%oi#% to i%#ore my climbi#% aice ithmulish stubbor##ess. &is boot ti' scra'ea%ai#st the erra#t e%e se#i#% a shoer of%rime a# corroe metal akes o#. 6t ase#ou%h to make him reco#sier 'utti#% hisei%ht o# it.

$Where shall 6 'ut my foot oh asce#eo#e$

$Try that beam yo#er.$&e#ry s#orte i# isbelief at here 6

'oi#te. $That/s a four foot Fum' oer thi# airJ$Shru%%i#% 6 lea#e back maki#% a sho

of hoisti#% the yelloi#% 'a'erback u' torea usi#% it as a istractio# so that 6 coul 6click the hook at the e# of my tether i#to abelayi#% loo' behi# me. 6t felt o to bea#chore he# 6 as use to bei#% so free u'here but 6 as alreay %oi#% to take a cha#ceith both our lies. $Suit yourself. 6/ll Fust %o

back to e#Foyi#% my after#oo# reai#% hile 6still %ot some li%ht left.$

The bloo rai#e from &e#ry/s facehe# he reco%#iKe the book. $Where i you%et that$

$This ol thi#%$ 6 aske holi#% out the


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'a'erback so 6 as sure he coul rea the title

o# its ri#kle s'i#e: %he %rue &onfessions ofthe 'east. $6 fou# it lyi#% o# my bu#k. 6/mFust lucky 6 ai#/t cou#ti#% o# %etti#% i# %ooith the Telluria#s. They o seem to take aim ie o# this ki# of reai#% materialo#/t they$

$Gie it back$ &e#ry ema#e the color

retur#i#% to his cheeks he# he realiKe 6 asteasi#% him.

We both k#e that the book as his if heas cau%ht ith it he/ e#a#%er hisu'comi#% a''re#ticeshi' ith the secretiescie#ti,c orer. 0lthou%h orks like it ere#/t

eIactly ille%al most ece#t folks looke o#their #oses at such thi#%s. 6# 'articular thestorm 'ro'hets seeme to hae a# aersio# tothe luri true-horror stories as if they thou%hti%#ori#% the ereoles lurki#% i# the forestsbelo oul make them isa''ear.

$Sure thi#%$ 6 sai ith a#other shru%. 6close the book a# a#%le it aboe him likebait o# a hook. $0ll you %ot to o is come a#%et it.$

&e#ry cusse me out for a %oo mi#utea# 6 smile throu%h the hole tirae. We/bee# frie#s for almost elee# yearsLeer

si#ce 5aue ha la#e the eaven#s $raceo# the %rou#i#% trestle of a ery startleWare#clyHeLa# i# all that time 6/ triea%ai# a# a%ai# to break his craKy fear ofhei%hts. 5aue sai it as the Aor/s o#'ra#k that the maFority of 'eo'le lii#% o# a


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city that rifte throu%h the sky ha a k#ee-

Muaki#% fear of bei#% remi#e ho#est irtas a cou'le of miles o#.$6 ca#/t make that Fum'$ &e#ry %role

throu%h his %ritte teeth.The terror of hat 6 as aski#% him to o

as etche across his face yet 6 as am#eif 6 as %oi#% to let that fear roost i# his heart

foreer. 6 mi%ht lose him to the Telluria#ssoo# but 6 as etermi#e to %ie him a%oi#%-aay 'rese#t ee# if it as o#e hei#/t 'articularly a#t. 6f 6 coul break &e#ryout of the terror/s %ri' 6 as sure his lifeoul be better for it 6 ,%ure #o ma# shoul

%o throu%h life skittish like that. !ear robbeyour backbo#e of its stiH#ess a# ha a habitof cree'i#% i#to eery 'art of your life o#ce

you let it i# the fro#t oor.$Sure you ca#. 6f 6 ca# make it eari#%

forty 'ou#s of this am#e hot-suit the#you/ll be ,#e. &o o you thi#k 6 %ot u' herei# the ,rst 'lace$

$5y ,rst %uess oul be the 4eil %aeyou a boost out of 'rofessio#al courtesy$&e#ry %rumble as he u#hooke himself.Te#si#% his le%s he %au%e the ista#ce to thele%e his 0am/s a''le bobbi#% as he ry

salloe a fe times. With a stra#%le cryhe lea't.

Before his feet ha ee# left their 'erch 6sa the hesitatio# the u#co#scious betrayal ofhis muscles to fear. &e#ry hel back lea'i#%ith less stre#%th tha# #eee %uara#teei#%


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1< Gearteeth Timothy Black

he/ come u' short a# 'lummet to his eath.

6 coul see o# his face as soo# as he as i# theair that he k#e he/ misFu%e his Fum'.6/ ,%ure fear mi%ht tur# his le%s to Felly

a# ha lau#che myself o#ar at thesame time he Fum'e. &e#ry came u' a fullfoot short of the le%e as 6 'lummete toarhim %rabbi#% for his aili#% arms. 6 cau%ht

the coarse li#e# of his shirt as the tetherya#ke 'ai#fully at the har#ess 6 ore u#ermy Facket bri#%i#% us both to a sue#a%o#iKi#% sto' as %raity took oer. While he

Ferke arou# i# sheer terror 6 scrabble to%et a more secure hol o# him his ei%ht

#early teari#% my arms out of their sockets.But he realiKe Muickly e#ou%h hat as%oi#% o# a# his ,#%ers latche o#to myforearms like iro# ises.

$4am# your eyes you stu'i bastarJ$ heshoute i#to my u'sie o# face as esu#% back a# forth from the leftoermome#tum of his Fum' my boote feetra''i#% arou# the li#e aboe a# kee'i#%our arc u#er co#trol.

&e#ry use eery curse or i# the booka# create a cou'le of #e o#es as 6 use myfeet to si#% us toar a#other crossbeam

belo. Still u'sie o# 6 hooke his a#%li#%tether/s hook i#to a belayi#% loo'. &e clutchethe crossbeam his eyes close a%ai#st histerror. &e#ry as Muietly ee'i#% tryi#% tokee' me from heari#%. With a leae# feeli#% i#my %ut 6 realiKe 6/ %o#e too far a# o#ly


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them s#atchi#% the books u' for themseles. 0

'hrase that 5aue ha o#ce s'it out at thecho table to the other e#%i#eers about thestorm 'ro'hets echoe ith omi#ousoerto#es i# my hea: /the ma# ho a#ts youstu'i is the ma# ho a#ts to be yourmaster./

The Telluria#s ha use their mo#o'oly

o# the i##er orki#%s of Ware#clyHe to'retty much omi#ate eerythi#% ti%hte#i#%their %ri' as more of the machi#es that ke'tthe city aloft malfu#ctio#e a# feer stormsere hareste. =biously the 'oer core ofthe city still orke caressi#% the %ia#t sMuall

tubes u#er#eath ith co#sta#t bursts ofli%ht#i#% or e/ all be o# the %rou# a#easy meat for the furbacks.

But 'arts of Ware#clyHe ha clearruste oH i# the last fe years falli#% aayfrom the a%i#% su'erstructure a# creati#% acou'le of %a's i# the city that ha to becoro#e oH. 5aue ,%ure the storm'ro'hets let the 'ieces ro' to i#timiatefolks a# am#e if it ha#/t orke. Thelame# steere clear of Telluria#s a# theyere 'retty much u#touchable.

2hurch bells i#terru'te my rumi#atio#s

a# startle both of us #early causi#% &e#ryto let %o of the a#e. There ere #o serices tobe calle eer si#ce the Brimsto#e ?iotsbrou%ht o# half the salatio# cities i# 1977reli%io# ha ke't to itself for the most 'art'riate a# out of si%ht. There as o#ly o#e


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reaso# for the bells to ri#% these ays:

com'a#y ha come calli#%.$Where is it$ &e#ry aske as e bothsca##e the clouless sky i# all irectio#s.

6 'ulle my ti#te i%ht %o%%les o# toblock the %lare of the yi#% su# reecti#% oHthe city cursi#% the fact 6/ left my bli#ersback o# the eaven#s $race. Without the

treate e#%i#eer le#ses that let me see thetell-tale 'ulse of telluric echoes it took a femi#utes to ,#ally etect the %li#t of steel a#li%ht#i#% far i# the ista#ce that herale thearrial of a Thu#er Trai#.

$There it/s comi#% i# from oer thereJ$ 6

hollere.6t ha bee# a year si#ce e/ lost

tele'ulse co#tact ith 2ar#e%ie 2ity a#lo#%er still si#ce e/ hear from a#y of theother s'utteri#% beaco#s of huma#ity. Thereere u%ly icious rumors that festere rou#the saloo#s that claime the rest of the citiesha crashe. 6t as a chilli#% thou%ht that emi%ht ery ell be the last 'eo'le left i# theorl.

6# aitio# to breaki#% our isolatio# thearrial of a 4ouble T brou%ht ith it theesse#ce of life itself: storms. Tem'ests traile

the yi#% trai#s like hu#%ry hou#s ra# i#by the electroma%#etic akes to the cities thatleache them ry for 'oer. We/ 'asse oerthe Sierra eaas uri#% i#ter a# thatas the last e/ see# of a#y storms leai#%us hi%h a# ry as e rifte listlessly across


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the Sacrame#to alley.

6f someo#e else ha fou# us it mea#tthey/ o# throu%h li%ht#i#%-re#che skiesto stay airbor#e hich mea#t our am#erou%ht as %oi#% to e# soo# as the clouscau%ht u' ith them.

$Wait a mi#ute somethi#%/s ro#%. Sheai#/t su''ose to be listi#% like that . . .$

&e#ry as ri%ht the i#comi#% Thu#erTrai#/s i%ht 'ath looke a bit sMuirrelly.6#stea of the %raceful arcs back a# forth asit roe the echoes of the telluric curre#tsbelo the #ecomer as shueri#% thee#%i#e car shaki#% isibly ee# at this

ista#ce. 0s she Fackk#ife to the sie 6 sathe trai# as missi#% most of her loa sae forthe fuel te#er a# o#e car%o car shor#ra%%ely i# half. 6 coul#/t hear the torturescreams of her steel frame as it tiste backa# forth throu%h the air but it as obiousthe ol %irl as out of co#trol a# teari#%herself a'art comi#% i# ay too fast.

The trai# bulle her ay throu%h the skytoar us %roi#% isturbi#%ly lar%er eeryseco#. 0lthou%h she tiste u#er a lack ofco#trol it as clear that some iiot ha stokethe fur#ace. The 'isto#s chur#e maly

s'i##i#% the heels that 'oere the a#cillary%e#erators. She as still crackli#% ith thee#er%y of a rece#t 'ass throu%h the clous.

$They/re i#sa#e$ &e#ry sai shaki#% hishea.

o 4ouble T as mea#t to ru# ithout


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li%ht#i#%/s caress for lo#%. The boiler system

as a backu' for clear skies a useful relic ofback he# the trai#s ha actually ru# o# railsi#stea of thi# air. =#ly a blaste fool ouluse both the fur#ace a# the storms at o#ce.Ee# thou%h to%ether they ere ca'ableshooti#% a 4ouble T ahea like %reaseli%ht#i#% it/ blo out the sMuall tubes that

ke't the hu#re to#s of steel aloft a#barreli#% ahea. The tubes %oi#% criticaloul e# ith a s'ectacular eI'losio# thatcoul tear a #e hole i# the 4eil/s ass.

$&oly shit she/s heai#% ri%ht for usJ$&e#ry yelle eyes ie ith terror as e

brace for the ealy im'act.The air %roa#e ith rea ei%ht a#

rea as the 4ouble T %re to ,ll our si%ht.She 'asse so close to us that 6 coul rea theletteri#% o# her e#%i#e/s sie: Shriekin( Sally.6 almost reache out to touch the hu#reto#s of steel ashi#% by before the shock aefrom the iole#t 'assa%e hit me #early

ya#ki#% me oH the collectio# a#e a# se#i#%me s'i##i#% i# her ake. &e#ry aile i#terror as the te#er a# rui#e car%o car'asse by i# the bli#k of a# eye missi#% us bysca#t i#ches.

The Shriekin( Sallylie u' to her #ame'loi#% i#to seeral of the croe brickbuili#%s belo ith a# aful sou#. The4ouble T slamme throu%h them at a forty-,ee%ree a#%le shatteri#% brick a# oo like a%ia#t/s ,st throu%h %lass a# throi#% u' a


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* Gearteeth Timothy Black

all of ebris i# her ake. The trai# came to a

sue# a# iole#t sto' he# she hit the steelsu'erstructure of the city/s skeleto# be#eaththe buili#%s. &er boiler buckle u#er the'ressure of the im'act a# eI'loe se#i#%hot shra'#el far a# ie as the Thu#erTrai# tore herself a'art.

Tha#kfully the sMuall tubes ha#/t

reache critical oerchar%e yet or it oulhae bee# much much orse. Scali#% steamshattere brick a# hot metal 'e''ere thebase of the collectio# a#e e ere cli#%i#%to hich as alreay %roa#i#% from the #ear-miss. Someho the sayi#% colum# i#/t

%ie out a# se# us 'lu#%i#% to our eaths.=ther folks ere#/t as lucky.S'ace as at a 'remium o# Ware#clyHe

'eo'le built u' more tha# out ith o#ly thee%es of the city hai#% a#y ki# of free s'ace.The buili#%s that the Shriekin( Sally ha'loe i#to ere bou# to be ,lle ith'eo'le. 0lthou%h 6 coul#/t hear theirscreami#% this hi%h u' my belly tur#e at thethou%ht of ho ma#y ha Fust ie. The im'actalo#e oul hae bee# eastati#% but theboiler eI'losio# mae it much orse. &o farha she 'e#etrate throu%h the city/s base

Ware#clyHe as o#ly a cou'le of hu#refeet of metal a# oo i# some s'ots a# ifthe ama%e as ba e#ou%h e mi%htactually be faci#% a structural s'lit that coulo# the hole salatio# city i# o#e %o.

$2ome o# &e#ry. We %ot us a Fob to o.$


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Ee# if e ha to use s'it a# baili#%

ire someho e ha to kee' Ware#clyHeto%ether. There/ be emer%e#cy cres o# theay but e ere ri%ht there alreay. 6 asam#e if 6/ sit ily by hile the city a# her'eo'le ie.

?ather tha# ar%ue ith me my frie##oe i# a%reeme#t.

=ur esce#t as a#%erous a# 6 refuseto cole &e#ry. We set u' a series of si#%-o#s here each of us acte as a# a#chor'oi#t for the other tethere to%ether ith o#ema# ha#%i#% o# to a crossbeam as the othersu#% out a# o# to a loer s'ot i# the

structure before oi#% the same oer the #eloer a#chor ma#. 6t as a brutal im'acthe# e hit the colum# a# more tha# o#ce 6#early lost a fe teeth from it. &e#ryim'resse me by #ot him'eri#% o#ce he Fustset his Fa a# e#t to it. 6 sore the# a#there to #eer make fu# of his fear a%ai#.Whe# the chi's ere o# he ha thecoura%e #eee. >ou coul#/t ask more of ama# tha# that.

The moa#s of the ou#e %reete us ase coere the last hu#re feet to the close-set ooe# 'la#ks a# croe buili#%s that

sere as Ware#clyHe/s %rou# leel. Thereere boies lyi#% motio#less eeryherearou# the hoels the 4ouble T ha crashei#to u#% all oer by the boiler/s eto#atio# itas col comfort that the trai# ha#/t hit the&ei%hts #earer the ce#ter of Ware#clyHe


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Gearteeth Timothy Black

ith its buili#%s 'ile o# to' of each other

hu#res of feet i# the air. This far out toarthe city/s e%e there ere less 'laces built u'so #ot as ma#y ea a# yi#%.

6t as still a sce#e strai%ht out of hell.5y brai# refuse to sho it to me all at

o#ce as 6 i#sti#ctiely recoile my tether.0rou# the 'erimeter of the im'act area there

ere a fe folks that stirre althou%h they/bee# horribly bur#e a# tor# u' by scali#%steam a# shra'#el from the eI'losio#. Wera%%e the i#Fure clear of the ta#%lebur#i#% recka%e of buili#%s a# trai# asbest e coul orki#% ithout ors.

5otio#less boies lay eeryhereout#umberi#% the lii#% te# to o#e. While 'artof me screame to check the city/s structurali#te%rity #o ece#t ma# coul alk by a#other'erso# rithi#% o# the %rou# i# a%o#y a#

Fust look aay. !ra#tically ri#%i#% bells i# theista#ce tol us the ,re bri%ae a# lame#ere o# their ay but they/ be clo%%e u' i#the #arro streets ith co#fuse folks ho/rushe out i# 'a#ic at the city-shueri#%crash. 0rou# us locals emer%e from theirco#cussio#-rocke homes %lassy-eye a#stari#% arou# ith shocke eI'ressio#s.

$That/s the last$ &e#ry %as'e letti#% %oof a# u#co#scious ma#/s arms he/ haulefree. 6# ,e mi#utes of furious actiity e/'ulle #early a oKe# ou#e 'eo'le out ofthe tiste mess of brick oo a# steel. Butthere as #othi#% else e coul o for them.


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< Gearteeth Timothy Black

They ble a# titche a# some ee# oke

u' lo#% e#ou%h to scream a bit before falli#%back i#to blesse ark#ess. 6 ha #o clue hoto hel' a%uely 6 remembere somethi#%about ba#a%es a# hot ater but 6/ #eerbee# much i#tereste i# octori#%. 5yi%#ora#t mi#istratio#s oul hae bee# as baas the eI'losio# itself.

$&as to be. 2a#/t be a#ymore. 2a#/tima%i#e a#yo#e closer lie throu%h that$ 6heeKe eIhauste.

0 crashi#% sou# ee' i# the ta#%lerecka%e calle me a liar. With a %roa# 6eIcha#%e a k#oi#% look ith &e#ry.

4es'ite our eari#ess e be%a# to 'ickour ay throu%h the labyri#th of colla'sebuili#%s a# ebris arou# the im'act crater.

$Watch itJ$ &e#ry ar#e %rabbi#% myarm a# ya#ki#% me to the sie as a %irer%ae out u#er#eath my feet.

6 histle i# %rim a''reciatio# as theruste beam crashe o# te#ty feet beloi#to a #asty-looki#% k#ot of iro# a# steel.

0fter scrambli#% oer a colla'se brick alle fou# a# o'e# area arou# the actualim'act 'oi#t of the Shriekin( Sally a fairlyo'e# area cleare by the boiler/s eI'losio#.

The 4ouble T/s recke car%o car loome oerus as e a''roache be#t at a# o a#%le a#

Famme strai%ht throu%h i#to the te#er carlike locomotie loemaki#% %o#e hieouslyro#%. The oly-mate cars ha bee# blo#clea# oH from the e#%i#e he# the boiler ble.


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+ Gearteeth Timothy Black

We rou#e their mess to ,# the

rem#a#ts of the e#%i#e itself ee'ly embeei# a colla'se sectio# mostly hie# fromsi%ht a# surrou#e by a %roi#% ,re hoseheat mae us seat like the 4eil i# church.Broke# sMuall tubes leake out their iscousblack ui i#to scattere 'ules. 0rou# uscor'ses lay tiste a# broke# their ma#%le

half-cooke boies s'laye a# roasti#% i# the%roi#% ,res.

$0#yboy there$ &e#ry calle o# tohere the e#%i#e/s recka%e lay hile etrie to ork our ay throu%h the boies a#ebris. 6t seeme im'ossible that a#yo#e coul

hae surie this close to the blast. 6 tri''eoer a boy half-burie i# the rubble that orea rei#force Facket a# britches like mi#e.&e/ bee# a fello brakema# o#e of theoome cre of the Shriekin( Sally.

$AaKy bastar$ 6 muttere abse#t-mi#ely thi#ki#% of the salt-cruste sMualltubes 6/ see# stui#% the oome e#%i#e. 6fhis e#%i#eer as half as orthless as he itas #o o#er they/ ramme the city ith a#out-of-co#trol 4ouble T.

4es'ite the %roi#% heat 6 felt mystomach %ro col i# terror he# 6 realiKe

the cor'se/s ou#s ere#/t from the crash.$Aet %o of my arm Eli$ &e#ry mumble

irritably as 6 trie to 'ull him o# a# sto'him from calli#% out a%ai#.

$Shut u'J$ 6 his'ere. ot that thereas a#y 'oi#t. The am#e thi#% ha to k#o


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D Gearteeth Timothy Black

e ere here. 6 'oi#te o# to the cor'se 6/

falle# oer. &e#ry e#t sile#t his eyes ie.The ma#/s esh ha bee# ash-frie#he# the boiler ha eI'loe but somethi#%else ha se#t him o# to his maker before that.

Ca%%e ri's i# his hot-suit e#t throu%h ski#a# o# i#to muscle to the bo#e i# a ay #oeI'losio# coul hae 'rouce. &is shouler

ha the meat %#ae aay a# his misectio#ha bee# eIcaate like some %risly mi#er ha%o#e to ork at it.

0 sou# of teari#% metal this o#e louertha# the ,rst came from the #earby craterfolloe by the racket of somethi#% tryi#% to

re#ch its ay free of the recka%e. Thefai#% li%ht of the setti#% su# as bolstere bythe full moo# oerhea a# the %roi#% ,resarou# us but #o#e of them 'e#etrate i#tothe heart of the ark 'it here the #oisesere comi#% from. Both of us broke out i# colseats he# a throaty hol echoe out to%reet the yi#% of the ay. We croucheroote i# 'lace our breathi#% ra%%ek#oi#% ithout a oubt that e ere eame#. =#e of the beasts that ha rie#huma#ity from the surface of the Earth hafou# its ay u' here.

There as a ereolf loose o#Ware#clyHe.


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Chapter 2

$What o e o Eli$$=h because 6/m %oi#% to k#o >ou/re

the o#e s#eaki#% arou# ith books here thei#fecte aI 'oetic about themseles.$

The u'e#e te#er a# shattere car%ocar ere behi# us #o ith the crater of the

4ouble T/s e#%i#e i# fro#t. Broke# 'isto#s a#scra' ere scattere eeryhere #o#e ofhich ere mae of siler re#eri#% themuseless a%ai#st a ereolf. The oles eretou%h as hell a# they coul i%#ore or healam# #ear a#y ou# short of eca'itatio#

u#less it as i#icte ith siler. &itti#% o#eith a makeshift club oul be like 'oki#% ata# a#%ry bear ith a short stick to try a# killit. =#ly #ot as smart a# a bit less eHectie.

$Aet/s see . . . they %et stro#%er a#mea#er the fuller the moo#$ &e#ry sai.

We looke u' aboe here Au#a hu#% i#the sky bloate as a 'ale tick.

$>eah. That/s all ki#s of useful.$$4am# it Eli 6/m tryi#% hereJ$$We ca# alays ru#.$

8


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$6t/ll chase us.$

$0# hat/ll it o if e stay still Gie us'osies a# ask us to the a#ce$$;m . . . %oo 'oi#t.$The ooe# 'la#ks u#er our feet

shuere as e starte backi#% aay. 0terrible screech ,lle the air a# the trai#cars shifte behi# us metal 'rotesti#% as

%raity claime its ue o# the a#%le reck.The e#ti#e mess crashe o# i#to theeake#e boars e/ Fust crosse s#a''i#%them like rotte# ti%s a# smashi#% its ayee'er i#to the su'erstructure as therecka%e/s ei%ht settle. 0 burst of ame

shot from the 'it as the te#er broke o'e# o#im'act se#i#% u' a %eyser of bur#i#% coala# timber that 'attere o#. What hastarte as a fe ickeri#% 'atches of amesur%e ith the fresh fuel a# a# i#fer#oare u' arou# us.

$4i 6 'iss o# a 'reacher/s hea thismor#i#%$ 6 sai shaki#% my hea i# isbelief.

There as a te#ty-foot %a' of bur#i#%ebris that cut oH the esca'e route behi# usa# a# im'act crater co#tai#i#% a ereolf i#fro#t of us. We ha to ste' forar as the'la#ki#% u#er our feet %ae a ar#i#% crack.

$0ll ri%ht so that ai#/t %oi#% to ork soell a#ymore$ 6 cou%he throu%h the acrismoke that as clo%%i#% the air. 6/ left mysuit/s heay hoo a# res'irator back o# the

eaven#s $race as there as#/t much call forit he# 6 as#/t o# chi''i#% uty.


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The blaKe as s'reai#% Muickly catchi#%

o# the 'itch use to ater'roof the ooe#boars. 6 hear the ,re bri%ae outsomehere beyo# the smoke battli#% theblaKe 6 ho'e they %ot here fast #ot Fust forus but for the city itself. The ereolf as#/tthe %reatest a#%er to Ware#clyHe #o. 0#u#co#trolle ,re coul see' throu%h the city

eake#i#% its alreay battere structurali#te%rity. We/ be #othi#% more tha# a#arti,cial su# i# the #i%ht sky before the citybroke a'art a# 'lummete to its ,ery oom.

0 stra#%le hol halfay betee# as#arl a# somethi#% more 'itiful mae us

Fum' like scare kis. !ire 'ushi#% at ourbacks e cre't closer to i#esti%ate. 6f eere %oi#% to ie e mi%ht as ell face thebeast as me# rather tha# ru##i#% i#to theames like fri%hte#e a#imals. &e#ry haalays a#te to see o#e of these thi#%s u'close a# 6 ,%ure eery ma# esere a lastish before eath.

The li' of the im'act crater as actuallysteaier a# safer tha# the 'la#ks behi# us.4ue to the force of the boiler/s eI'losio# thecoal i# its ru'ture fur#ace ha bee# u#%aay i# a# arc behi# it. The remai#i#%

embers i# the 'it ha bee# eIti#%uishe by thesteam blast ashi#% oer it leai#% therecka%e relatiely ,re-free. While that mea#tshelter from the i#fer#o %roi#% arou# usthe saa%e thi#% e sa at the bottom of the'it erase all thou%hts of safety a# mae


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Chapter 3

0 bolt of sheer a%o#y shot u' my ri%ht le%a# #early mae me 'ass out. The ereolf/steeth bit i#to my u''er thi%h at a thi##ersectio# of chai# mail.

0t ,rst 6 thou%ht the beast ha tor# theesh free. 6 realiKe thou%h that it ha latche

o# i# a eath-%ri' i#te#i#% to take my e#tirele% oH. Aooki#% o# 6 fou# its maleole#tre %aKe bori#% i#to me the fully-heale eyeslocki#% o#to mi#e ith a rea 'romise i#them that mesmeriKe me for a seco#. Thebeast as craKe ith 'ai# at bei#% tra''e

a%ai# its arms co#ulsi#% uselessly herethey ha bee# 'i#io#e but its teeth ereee' i# the meat of my thi%h. 6t shook me likea ra% oll ri''i#% throu%h both chai# mail a#ski#.

$Aet %o you furry bastarJ$ 6 yelle a#brou%ht my left boot u' hi%h to crash o# o#its hea a%ai# a# a%ai#.

&e#ry lea#e oer ith a broke# 'i'e a#beat o# the creature as ell both of us rai#i#%o# blo after heay blo strai%ht i#to the


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+* Gearteeth Timothy Black

shoulers a# shaki#% him. $?u# am# it 6/m

%oo as ea alreayJ$$oJ$ &e#ry shoute back i# my face.With a burst of es'erate stre#%th he ra%%eme oer the li' of the slo'e a# i#to the rui#ebuili#% hose fou#atio#s the Shriekin(Sally ha come to rest i#. The mortallyou#e structure %roa#e arou# us

'romisi#% that soo# the hole thi#% oulcolla'se i# o# the im'act crater. !or a seco# 6hel ho'e it oul tra''i#% the olf o#there.

But this Fust as#/t my lucky ay. Belo 6hear the sicke#i#% sou#s of the ereolf

re#chi#% itself clear of its im'ali#% 'riso#.The beast %ae a lo#% ra#-out hol of

ictory a throaty roar of freeom ra%e . . . a#hu#%er.

$Get u' EliJ 2ome o# e/e %ot to %etaay from hereJ$ &e#ry as il ith a#Iietya# e#ial.

$Aeae me be$ 6 s#arle 'ushi#% himaay a# %rabbi#% a broke# boar that lay#earby. &issi#% ith 'ai# 6 use the oo asa crutch to 'ro' myself u'.

Putti#% my ei%ht o# the boar 6 hobbleforar a ste'. The bleei#% from the bite ha

alreay sto''e a# the bloo as clotte u'a# sticky. That as#/t %oo at all. 6/ bee#%ushi#% like a fou#tai# o#ly seco#s before. 6tas#/t #atural. 5y belly %role i# ar#i#%letti#% me k#o that there as a 'rice forsuch u#holy heali#%.


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+1 Gearteeth Timothy Black

Somethi#% as oH. 6# all the stories 6/

#eer hear about the isease s'reai#% soMuickly heali#% a ictim so ra'ily. 6t tookays eeks before bites oul be o# theme# sometimes folks ere lai u' the e#tiremo#th after. What as iHere#t for me Was itbecause the moo# as hi%h forci#% thei#fectio# to bur# throu%h me faster o it

coul#/t be it as#/t like those ,rst folksbitte# by holers ere#/t yi#% u#er a fullmoo#. 6 shook my hea to clear it tryi#% toco#ce#trate o# the here a# #o. 6t reallyi#/t matter the im'orta#t thi#% as thatthere as #o e#yi#% the situatio#.

6 as i#fecte.$Aeae me$ 6 sai. $Go o# %et. 6/m o#e

for a# you am# ell k#o it.$The stubbor# bastar refuse 'la#ti#%

his feet a# crossi#% his arms. 6 hear thebeast scrabbli#% u' the rubble behi# us o#lyto fall back a%ai# the u#steay slo'e 'roi#%iHicult for its missha'e# limbs a# ei%ht.The ebris oul#/t slo it o# for lo#%thou%h a# soo# e#ou%h it/ %et out.

$Please &e#ry. 6/m be%%i#% you. !or theloe of your o# fool ski#: ru#J$

6# a#ser he shoe his shouler u'

u#er my ri%ht arm forci#% me to hol o#tohim a# taki#% the ei%ht oH my i#Fure le%.$ot %oi#% ithout you #o'e. Sorry Eli. Thistime 6/m #ot letti#% you 'ush me arou#.$

6 felt like k#ocki#% him oer the hea buti#stea 6 Fust settle for a heay si%h. $>ou


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k#o 6/m Fust ea ei%ht. 6 o#/t a#t you

tor# u' o# accou#t of me.$The bleei#% ha sto''e from theou# but it still bur#e like ol Scratch as

Fabbi#% at me ith his 'itchfork. &e#ry half-ra%%e me toar a oor ha#%i#% by a si#%lehi#%e a #arro street isible beyo# itss'li#tere frame.

0s he kicke it o'e# e hear theereolf reach the li' of the emba#kme#tbehi# us. The thick haKe from the i#fer#o habla#kete eerythi#% ith choki#% smoke a#e coul#/t see ho close the thi#% as. =uro#ly ho'e as that the smoke oul foul the

olf/s se#sitie #ose as much as our isio#.$Time to %o faster$ 6 sai 'utti#% my

ei%ht o# the makeshift crutch ith a %ru#t.5y brai# am# #ear Fum'e out of my skull i#rebellio# but the 'ai# subsie Muickly.

Too Muickly.6 let the boar fall a# took a#other ste'

forar. 4es'ite the fact 6 shoul#/t hae bee#able to sta# at all my le% hel if o#ly Fust.

5y eyebros rose i# a# /6 tol you so/eI'ressio# that &e#ry i%#ore.

We moe as fast as e coul o# thestreet ith him hel'i#% me as 6 lim'e

forar. But it as#/t Muick e#ou%h. Theereolf crashe throu%h the oor behi# ushalf-hie# i# the smoke. Scarlet eyes %li#teith eil i#te#t as its %aKe settle o# us. 0thicker clou rolle u' from the bur#i#% 'it toobscure the beast.


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++ Gearteeth Timothy Black

missi#% 6/ hae bee# frie alie. Worse yet if

6/ %o#e s'rali#% a# ke't %oi#% forar'ast the tracks. . . ell %etti#% electrocuteas#/t so ba really i# com'ariso#.

Bri%ht moo#li%ht cut throu%h the smokea# &e#ry shrieke i# terror scooti#% backfarther. 6# fro#t of us ere the raise rails ofthe %rou#i#% trestle crackli#% ith the

store electricity of the city/s %ia#t batteries.But that as#/t hat se#t &e#ry scuttli#%back. ot three feet beyo# the char%etrestle as em'ty air a to-mile ro' to theEarth belo a# a messy e#.

We/ reache the e%e of the yi#% city.

There as #ohere else to %o other tha#strai%ht o#.

Behi# us a lo %rol rumble. Thesilhouette of the ereolf aa#ce its ti#re eyes bur#i#% ith eil li%ht. !or a mome#t6 as fasci#ate a# somethi#% ee' ithi#me stirre. The skeletal beast ha %ro# backmuch of its aubur# fur coat a# e#ou%h eshfor us to clearly ie#tify it as female.

6# her o# 'rimal ay the critter ha aterrible beauty althou%h the beast/s saa%es'le#or as imi#ishe by her stari#% form.She ha falle# to all fours tail strai%ht out a#

bristli#% the muscles i# her arms a# le%ste#si#%. &er clas u% i#to the oo fortractio# teari#% u' the 'la#ks as she %otreay to rush us.

6 sca##e the %rou# looki#% forsomethi#% a#ythi#%. There as a be#t 'i'e


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+D Gearteeth Timothy Black

sticki#% u' from the oori#% boars #earby a

cou'le of i#ches i# iameter a# at most a footi# isible le#%th. 0s a ea'o# it as the most'athetic thi#% 6/ eer see# but it as all 6ha. 6t/ hae to o.

With a burst of fra#tic stre#%th 6re#che the 'i'e aay from its moori#%bri#%i#% u' a sectio# of ol oo ith it. 6

be%a# ba#%i#% it o# the eck ith a craKelook i# my eyes backi#% u' the sli%ht i#cli#eof the trestle u#til 6 felt ti#y s'arks Fum'i#%out from the #earest rail for my boot heels.

$2ome o# the# you ma#%y bitchJ 2ome%et meJ !i#ish hat you starteJ$

Behi# me 6 felt a chilly u'raft blo o#my seaty #eck the ealy fall oHWare#clyHe o#ly a fe feet 'ast the tracks. 6as cou#ti#% o# a fre#Kie rush a saa%ehu#%er-,lle char%e that i%#ore a#y 'ossiblea#%er.

But the beast as smarter tha# that.The olf k#e somethi#% as ro#%.

Somehere ee' i# the back of her brai#huma# i#telli%e#ce still lurke a# it asscreami#% that this as too easy. Prey i#/ttau#t the 'reator. The furback stalke backa# forth a fe feet aay s#arli#% her lea#

muscle shoulers a# back te#se i#sus'icio# as she %#ashe her teeth. The ,re-bor# haKe ha be%u# to clear as the i#fer#oarou# the crash site as brou%ht u#erco#trol by the bri%ae. &ot salia ri''efrom the ereolf/s Fas teeth %#ashi#% i#


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a#tici'atio#.

Silhouette by the moo# a# ,res sheas a ma%#i,ce#tly reaful si%ht a creaturebirthe from the e'ths of a #i%htmare sleeka# ealy. &e#ry stoo #earby hy'#otiKe bythe creature/s u#earthly maFesty as ell. Butshe o#ly ha eyes for me. Cust o#ce she ickea %aKe his ay before 6 ba#%e the 'i'e a%ai#

to ra her atte#tio# back to me tau#ti#% a#holleri#% like a am# fool to make sure shestaye focuse o# me.

&e#ry/s eyes arte to my har#esssus'ecti#% 6/ hooke myself i#. But the tetherha bee# left behi# i# the ma ash aay

from the crash site. There ere#/t a#y tricksthis time #o ays to sae myself. 6 i#/t care.6/ bee# bitte# there as o#ly o#e ay thatoul e# a# the fact that 6 coul #o sta#u'ri%ht co#,rme it. 6 as a alki#% eama#. That free me from thi#ki#% about myo# hie a#ymore. 6f the beast lea't for me 6coul roll her o#to the electri,e tracksmaybe ee# 'ush her oer the e%e of the city.There as #o cha#ce 6/ be able to esca'e theolf/s %ri' #o matter hat ha''e#e. 6/ befrie o# the tracks ithout a com'lete hot-suitor 6/ fall to my eath ith the beast ri''i#%

my %uts out. But 5aue &e#ry all the folks i#Ware#clyHe eeryo#e 6 k#e a# careabout oul be safe.

6t as a fair 'rice to 'ay.$What are you oi#% Eli$$Shut u'$ 6 sai kee'i#% the ereolf/s


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crimso# %aKe locke o# mi#e. 6 coul see her

muscles te#si#% a# she 'ause i# her'aci#% teeth bare. The furback ha Fustabout ha e#ou%h of my tau#ts.

$Tell 5aue 6/m sorry for maki#% herorry so much tell the ol biy 6 loe her.Tell her . . . the hell ith it she k#os. Takecare of her for me ill you

$Goobye &e#ry.$Time sloe as the furback lea't Fas

ie o'e# a# seeki#% my throat. 6 raise my'athetic ea'o# a# 're'are to roll ith herlu#%e but a stra#%le cry cau%ht me oH-%uar. 0s the ereolf ha char%e me so

too ha &e#ry. &e hit me har 'ushi#% me tothe sie a# out of the 'ath of the beastsacri,ci#% his o# boy for mi#e.

The olf/s Fas clam'e o# har o# hisu'raise left arm ith a sicke#i#% sou# ofcrushi#% bo#e. 6 screame i# e#ial as 6 sathe critter i% her feet i# har breaki#%oorboars as she sto''e the healo#% rushi#to the trestle/s rails. She re#che backri''i#% &e#ry/s arm aay at the elbo i# as'ray of %ore. 0 sur'rise look s'rea oer hisface &e#ry barely ha time to feel the ou#before the beast/s clas su#k i#to his boy

a# ra%%e him i#to eath/s aiti#% Fas.6 hit the %rou# rolli#% a# as u' i# a#

i#sta#t. Before 6 coul ee# start forarthou%h the hu#%ry 'reator ha tor# seeralmore chu#ks out of my frie#/s sie a# bellysalloi#% them hole i# a fre#Ky of %or%i#%.


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Bloo as eeryhere as the ereolf u%

i#to her %ruesome meal.&e#ry starte screami#%. 6 hollere ithhim as 6 brou%ht the 'i'e o# ith all thestre#%th 6 coul muster i#to the critter/s back.But #othi#% coul sto' her hu#%er #o thatfresh screami#% meat as i# her Fas.

With a# irritate si'e the olf slice

o'e# my Facket a# se#t me tumbli#% back.0ba#o#i#% the 'i'e 6 Fum'e o#to thebeast/s back scratchi#% for her eyes a#tryi#% to restle the im'ossibly stro#% heaa# muKKle aay from &e#ry/s %hastlyou#s.

0%o#y la#ce throu%h my boy asli%ht#i#% struck the three of us.

5y hot-suit shu#te aay most of theelectricity but my hea as smoki#% for theseco# time that #i%ht as the olta%e se#t metumbli#% aKe a# cross-eye ith 'ai#. 6as %oi#% to %lue that %oam# hoo to myhea if 6 surie this.

The olf a# &e#ry ha #o such'rotectio# a# the i#iscrimi#ate li%ht#i#%course throu%h them ith a %ut-re#chi#%siKKle. Both ictim a# killer fell i#to a hea'to%ether shrieki#% i# a ail that 'ierce the

heae#s. 0#other li%ht#i#% bolt streakehoriKo#tally i#to their boies a brillia#t asha%ai#st the ark #i%ht that brou%ht ith ita#other ear-s'litti#% crack of thu#er. &e#rya# the holer thrashe u#co#trollably theirhieous aili#% cutti#% o# i#to my ery


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bo#es as their ski# smoke.

4es'ite her i#Furies the ereolf rose u'to her hi# le%s toeri#% oer my yi#%frie# a# tur#e to face their attacker. 6/#eer see# such a# eI'ressio# of 'ure hatreo# a#ythi#%/s face before.

0 bal Telluria# ste''e forar from thesmoke behi# us lit by the e#er%ies 'layi#%

across his black leather-cla ha#s his ,#%ersorki#% the bli#i#% arcs cracki#% betee#the thick %loes much as a baker oul k#eaou%h. 2o#ce#tric steel ri#%s of i#lai co''erli#e the sleees of his lo#% hite ouble-breaste lab coat culmi#ati#% i# a 'air of

heay steel bracers that coere each of hisforearms. They crackle ith e#er%y from themultitues of ires ru##i#% u' a# oer hisarms a# i#to the bulky battery he ore o# hisback hich i# tur# fe i#to ti# co''er a#steel 'aulro#s that co#trolle the e#er%yo. !our small Tesla coils rose u' from eacharmore shouler a# ti#y %ears s'ace alo#%the co#tra'tio# clicke i# a series ithmi#iaturiKe 'isto#s belo se#i#% hitish-blue s'arks i#to the atmos'here a# arci#%o# to the Telluria#/s bracers a# %loes i# acom'lete circuit that as ae-i#s'iri#%.

Emotio#less %o%%les far more i#tricate tha#my i%ht 'air coere the ma#/s eyes.2ombi#e ith the res'irator coeri#% hismouth the storm 'ro'het/s estme#ts %aehim a# e#tirely i#huma# a''eara#ce.

0s the ereolf crouche to lu#%e the


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D* Gearteeth Timothy Black

Telluria# stretche out his ,#%ers. Ai%ht#i#%

ashe across the %a' betee# them to strikeboth the olf a# &e#ry. Each %ae a#otheru#earthly shriek but hile &e#ry curle u'i#to a fetal ball smoki#% a# ee'i#% thebeast s#arle ,%hti#% ith terrible i#te#sitya%ai#st the 'ai# as she as rie# to the%rou#. The li%ht#i#% arcs struck a%ai# a#

a%ai# i# a bli#i#% cascae yet the furbackrefuse to stay o# stru%%li#% u' i# e,a#tra%e each time. &e#ry shrieke i# u#brile'ai# as the bolts of e#er%y arce from thecritter i#to his u#'rotecte boy.

$Sto' it you/re killi#% himJ$ 6 yelle

ru##i#% toar the storm 'ro'het myshouler loere to ram the so# of a bitch tothe %rou#. Without 'ause the Telluria#tur#e his li%ht#i#% o# me. 4es'ite the hot-suit/s 'rotectio# 6 e#t tumbli#% o# as the

icious curre#t oe i#to me locki#% mymuscles u' i# torme#t.

6#isti#ct sha'es moe behi# theTelluria#. 0 oKe# lame# a''eare i# the%lo of the 'ro'het/s li%ht#i#% le by 5arshal&ar'er. They hel ries a# %rim eI'ressio#sthat bla#che he# they sa the ereolfstru%%li#% to her feet a%ai#. 0 loose %u# li#e

forme as they took aim ith their ries at theu#steay holer.

$!ireJ$ came the comma# a# 6ma#a%e to i' o# my sie a# see the critterrie# back by their bullets each hit ri''i#%o'e# %a'i#% ou#s i# the beast. The ou#s


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D1 Gearteeth Timothy Black

heale almost as fast as they ere mae

thou%h bleei#% holes seali#% themselesoer ri%ht before our eyes.$2ha#%e ammu#itio#J$ barke the

marshal. $Siler loaJ$4es'ite her bestial #ature the ereolf/s

ears 'ricke u' somehere i#sie her heathe huma# i#tellect reare u' e#ou%h to tell

her to ee. The furback s#arle a# ho''ebackar oer the %rou#i#% trestle carefulto aoi the rails. 6 coul#/t beliee hat 6 asseei#%. The am# thi#% k#e that the char%erails coul hurt herJ

0s the lame# chambere their siler

bullets the ereolf loere her hea a#locke eyes ith me li's curle back a#bari#% her teeth. There as somethi#% theresomethi#% beyo# the hu#%er a# ra%e a#my %uts re#che as somethi#% ee' i# meres'o#e. &er muKKle stru%%le to form asi#%le or a%ai#st all os.

$5i#e . . . $ she s#arle a clae ha#'oi#ti#% at me.

The e'uties shoulere their riesa%ai#. Whe# they re a bea o# it thefurback %ae o#e last icious roar of 'romisethat mae my stomach tist. The beast lea't

backar oer the e%e of the city i#to thi#air.

6 hear the hols of ra%e fai#% as she'lummete o# to the %rou#. 4es'ite bei#%oer a mile u' i# the air 6 ,%ure the critteras#/t ea. Wereoles ere #otoriously


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har to kill a# this o#e ha surie a boiler

eI'losio# a# ma#a%e to ru# us o# forsu''er o#ly mi#utes later.The Telluria# 'ai #o atte#tio# to the

oKe# arme me# arou# him as he brou%hthis ha#s to%ether i# a 'rayer %esture thearci#% li%ht#i#% %roi#% ,ercer u#til he hahis 'alms 'resse a%ai#st each other. With a#

auible hi#e the machi#ery stue acrosshis lab coat cycle o# the coursi#%electricity becomi#% a# occasio#al ill o/ is'that s'arke across his i#sulate estme#ts.

$>ou all ri%ht EliFah$ 5arshal &ar'eraske be#i#% o# a# tur#i#% my face

rou%hly to the ri%ht a# left. &e histle loat the ri's i# my blooie hot-suit a# stareat the chai# mail that a#%le free. $Aooks likeit took a beati#%. This your bloo boy 0#sermeJ$

6 ma#a%e to shake my hea looki#% oerat &e#ry/s crum'le boy. 5ost of the blooall oer me as his so tech#ically 6 as#/tlyi#% but ee# 6 k#e that as a mi%hty ,#ehair to s'lit. &e#ry/s ra%%e breathi#% maeme ha#% my hea i# %uilt it amaKe me thathe as still alie at all. The marshal si%he ashe folloe my %aKe. &e ouble-checke his

rie/s ammu#itio# as he rose.$>ou/re lucky boy$ he muttere o# to

me. $6/ hate to hae to shoot you too.$$2all me /boy/ a%ai# &ar'er a# 6/ll

shoe a 4ouble T so far u' your ass you/ll bes'itti#% sMuall tubes for a eek$ 6 %role


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D< Gearteeth Timothy Black

throu%h a throat ra from all the yelli#%.

0fter a startle mome#t &ar'er calleback to his me# $>eah this o#e/s ,#ealthou%h he/s %ot a mi%hty ,#e tem'er o#him.$

6 as careful to #ot let the ri' i# mybritches sho. &e#ry ha o#e his best to saeme a# it/ be 'oor ma##ers to olu#teer to

eat a siler bullet after hat he/ Fust bee#throu%h for me. The eak Fusti,catio# i#/tmake me feel a#y less coarly thou%h for #ot%rabbi#% the lama#/s rie a# ,#ishi#%myself oH the# a# there.

&e#ry/s him'eri#% Ferke me u'ri%ht

a# 6 sa the storm 'ro'het sta#i#% aboehim atchi#% him rithe from the olf-i#icte ou#s. ;#like me my frie# shoe#o si%#s of ra'ily heali#% his i#Furies.Without Muick a# #ear-miraculous meicalatte#tio# 6 oubte he/ last a#other mi#ute.

With the %o%%les a# res'irator i# 'lacethere as #o ay to tell the Telluria#/seI'ressio# as he %aKe o# at my frie#. But6 as #ot so restrai#e.

$>ou %oam# so# of a bitchJ$ 6 yellethrou%h the aches forci#% myself to my feet.$Get aay from himJ$

The marshal/s stro#% ha# clam'e o#o# my shoulers i# a ise-like %ri'. $2arefulho you talk to the 'ro'hets EliFah.$

6t as a frie#ly ar#i#% but there asa# u#erto#e of 'rotectie threat to it. TheTelluria#s ere ital to kee'i#% us oH the


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D+ Gearteeth Timothy Black

%rou# a# aay from the ereoles so

most folks treate them aki# to royalty. 6 o#the other ha# as #othi#% but a half-breebrakema#. &ar'er/s efere#ce to the ma#ho/ Fust electrocute my frie# mae mefurious.

6 trie to 'ull aay from the bi% lama#but 6 as eak as a kitte# after my boy/s

u##atural bout of re%e#eratio# a#subseMue#t ,%ht ith the furback. Themarshal easily hel me i# 'lace as his me#croe u' arou# the Telluria# a# &e#ryries at the reay. 6 sa that they ha#/tu#chambere the si#%le siler rou# each

carrie ith the olf %o#e that coul o#lymea# o#e thi#%.

$4o#/t you shoot him o#/t you are youcoarly 'ieces of shitJ$ 6 screame ,%hti#%to %et free of the marshal ith #e-fou#stre#%th. &ar'er shook his hea a# clam'eo# harer ,#%ers i%%i#% i#to my collarbo#e as 6 stru%%le. &is me# barely s'are mea %la#ce. They ere aiti#% o# the Telluria#/s

Fu%me#t.$6 reco%#iKe this chil he 'asse the tests

rece#tly. &e is o#e of ours$ came the muNeoice from behi# the res'irator. The Telluria#

stare arou# him ith those bla#k %o%%lesari#% a#y to challe#%e his authority. $We illlay him to rest i# accora#ce ith ourtraitio#s. 0s he has ear#e.$

$EliJ$ &e#ry shoute out 'ai# laci#% hiseery or. $4o#/t let them take meJ 6 Fust


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DD Gearteeth Timothy Black

a#t to %o homeJ Eli 'lease hel' meJ$

5arshal &ar'er as#/t eI'ecti#% me tosi#% o# him a# my %loe/s metal li#i#%%ae the 'u#ch some ei%ht he# 6 hit thesie of his hea #early breaki#% my o# ha#i# the 'rocess. 6 stru%%le free of the aKelama# a# rushe toar &e#ry a# hiseIecutio#er fully i#te#i#% to se# the

Telluria# saili#% throu%h the air after theereolf before he coul kill my frie#.

$Subue him$ the storm 'ro'het orere.The lame# tackle me as the Telluria#

be#t oer &e#ry. 0t ,rst they trie Fustholi#% me back. Whe# 6 refuse to sit still

thou%h their ,sts starte i# o# me. 6 stru%%leto kee' si%ht of &e#ry.

The hi#e of the Telluria#/s a''aratuscycli#% back u' mae my scal' ti#%le hes'rea his ,#%ers aboe &e#ry/s boy hilearcs of electricity be%a# to ash across thecoils o# his shoulers. Electricity 'o''e a#s'uttere as the storm 'ro'het let it buil. TheTelluria# stoo motio#less ha#s oer &e#rya# a mome#t later arcs of e#er%y s#a''eo# a# i#to my frie#/s boy i# bri%ht

Fa%%e ashes.&e#ry screame as the 'ulses sur%e i#to

him.The Telluria# co#ti#ue to torture &e#ry

Folti#% him ith small arcs a# stuyi#% thetitchi#% boy of my frie# ith a coli#terest. 6 hea-butte o#e of the e'utiesholi#% me a# kicke a#other lashi#% out


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here 6 coul stru%%li#% to %et free a# sto'

the slo eath of my frie#.$EliJ =h Go make him sto'J &el' meJ$e't &e#ry.The last thi#% 6 hear as him screami#% i#'ai# a# fear. The# the marshal/s rie buttslamme i#to the back of my hea a# se#t mes'irali#% i#to ark#ess.

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