Hammer's War 1: Forging the Hammer Read Online Free Page B

well-defined legs. 
    A sand storm was blowing into town making it hard to see and painful as the tiny particles battered his face.  “Visor,” he said , and a visor promptly dropped down from his hat to cover his eyes.  Once the sand was no longer assaulting his eyes, he reached into his coat and pulled out a breathing apparatus, which conveniently snapped into place under the visor.  He pushed against the wind making his way toward the bar.  Once he got there, he could see why it was called Bob’s Fuel Tank Bar and Cantina.  The building was a converted old fuel tank from some ancient mining or cargo ship.  It looked as if Bob had simply cut holes for a door and some windows.  Why Bob added the windows at all he couldn’t understand since they were so dirty no one could see out of them anyway. 
    The sagging front porch had clearly been an afterthought, but the stairs seemed in good repair and showed signs of patchwork mending here and there.  Marcus climbed the stairs and pulled on the door, expecting it to protest loudly.  He was mildly amused and delighted when despite its rusty appearance, the door swung open with ease on well-oiled hinges.
    They say that one should not judge a book by its cover , he thought as he stepped inside.  The interior was in stark contrast to the outside.  Where the outside was dirty, rusting, and generally rundown, the inside was spotless and looked well maintained. The owner had made it to look like an old time western saloon bar, complete with mirror, a plump Rubenesque nude painting, and every form of alcoholic beverage known to mankind, and not a few aliens besides. 
    Marcus recognized a characteristic stainless steel bottle of Thaagh120 proof Eli white lightning.  Here also was a dark green flask of Zapp 96, the highly concentrated skull cracker from Fabia , guaranteed to make you an alcoholic with one drink.  A squat ceramic jug glazed a sickly yellow and covered with nasty looking sharp pointed deep red Ralnai characters could only be Death Thorne Wine.  The tall clear bottle of pale blue liquor, mixed with luminous fish eggs, would be Kalfrondo, from the water world of Nekton.  On the top shelf, along with more conventional whiskies, were many rare and bizarre drinks that were completely unknown to him.  However, the centerpiece of it all was a huge magnum bottle of Cunk Mellon Brandy, the favorite and rare guzzle of the Terrelians.  Marcus wondered at this, surely, he thought, even if this is filled with nothing more than colored water it is an extremely rare bottle.  Even with its browning cracked label it would be worth a fortune to a collector .
    The bar itself was hand polished hardwood, likely cherry by the dark color.  It had brightly polished brass fittings, and standing behind the bar was a short, plump older woman, with brown hair streaked with grey.  She had a cloth in her hand and was wiping out a glass as she looked up at the new comer and smiled.  “Welcome to Bob’s.  The name’s Jenna.  What can I get for you, Sir?”
    Marcus shook the dust off himself, detached the breathing apparatus and the visor retracted automatically.  He gave her a warm smile, “Well Jenna, I heard this was the best place in town to get a meal, so...”
    “So you would like to get some grub,” she finished his sentence for him.
    “Yes, that would be great,” he replied rubbing his hands together.
    She smiled again and handed him a handwritten menu , “Anything to drink dear?”
    Shocked to see the establishment had a menu he replied, “Wow, a menu!  I wasn’t expecting that.”  He quickly looked over the drink options on the back.
    “Lemonade, with ice please, ” he said before he took a seat at a table near the back.  Marcus sat with his back to the wall positioning himself so he had a clear view of the exit.
    “Oh you ’re in luck today,” she said as she moved to the table nearest the bar where a few pitchers rested, “we just got in a fresh