The New Adventures of…Joan of Arc
The girl couldn’t have been out of her teens, but Ronny was willing to give her the benefit of a doubt. And she clearly knew her weapons, the way she cracked open that sig to look down the barrel. But goddamn, there was no way this girl was buying all this ordinance. Like she was out to start a war.
“Listen, Miss—” Ronny started, but the girl cut him off.
“My name is Jeanne,” she said. Her words soft, musical. She did not look up.
“Right. Joan. Listen, are you gonna pay for allla this?” Jeanne looked up at Ronnie, her eyes the cold steel of the weapon in her small hands. “What I mean is, how are you are gonna pay for this? Credit?”
“I have notes,” she said, digging out crumpled bills from the pocket of her hoodie. “God has given me money to pay.”
Ronnie looked at the bills. 20s, mainly. But there were 50s and 100s in there too, all treated with the same lack of interest. He looked back at the girl. She was already absorbed in a Browning A-Bolt.
“God gave you this, eh? To buy guns with?”
“Of course,” said Jeanne, cocking the rifle. “I am His immortal warrior…”
Share and Enjoy!
One Response to News From Poughkeepsie – Day 113
Subscribe!
ISBW Endorsed Programs
New from the Murverse- ISBW Special #46 – Stonecoast Writer’s Residency January 31, 2012
- ISBW #230 – Feedback January 30, 2012
- Short Story Alert- Gimme Shelter January 27, 2012
The New Adventures of … John Slidell
Slidell smoothed the new map out on the expansive desk. Numerous small towns and missionaries were marked on it, as well as three large red X’s. The new Texas/Mexican border was clearly marked on the fresh bit of cartography.
He looked up at the other two men in the room and smiled tightly.
“As you can see, gentlemen”, he began, “Our spies in Mexico have been very active in gathering information for us. Besides information on the arrangement of the supply lines of the Mexican army, that I’m sure will interest General Taylor”, he nodded to the man in the military uniform,” They have also narrowed down the likely placement of the Martian relic to these three locations.”
President Polk leaned over the map and stroked his chin in thought. “Good work John. Taylor, why don’t you take some troops down to this spot for a look around.” he said, pointing to the one X closest to the new Texas border. “The rest of the territory there is far to vast to hope for a covert search of the area.” He stepped back from the table and began to pace the office.
Slidell smiled and said, “I’ve had an idea Mr. President.” Polk stopped in his restless pacing and looked to the diplomat. “War isn’t necessarily something that we want to launch into with Mexico, but perhaps we can avoid it by just offering to purchase the territory outright from them? We can suggest to Congress that we need access to the San Francisco Bay for trade to get them to approve the money.”
Polk smiled crookedly and nodded, “Not a bad idea John. not bad at all. Let’s go ahead and see what we can do there. And maybe on the trip out there you can arrange a stop by this Salt Lake location and look around.”
John Slidell straightened and said, “It would be an honor, sir.”