The Lost Patrol Read Online Free Page B

target an individual from orbit?”
    Instead of answering, Maddox checked the android’s gun. It was a regular gunpowder revolver but of an extraordinary caliber. This one looked to be a .55 Magnum. It was a hand cannon, with three bullets remaining. He hadn’t thought to grab extra ammo from the android. That might have been an oversight on his part.
    “That’s a big gun,” Stokes said, glancing at it.
    “Indeed,” Maddox said, becoming thoughtful. The major was more talkative than normal. Usually, the man was sarcastic toward him. Today, Stokes was positively chatty.
    “How did you signal Victory to smoke the android?” Stokes asked.
    “I used Builder tech,” Maddox said, which wasn’t true. He was just curious as to the major’s reaction.
    Stokes looked at him sharply. Then he laughed. “You just made a joke.”
    “Did I?” Maddox asked.
    “Now, see here, Captain—”
    Maddox aimed the hand cannon at Stokes. “Take us down.”
    “What is this?” Stokes asked. “What are you doing? Put that down this instant.”
    Maddox did not repeat himself as he targeted Stokes’ mid-torso.
    “This is a poor joke,” Stokes said.
    “I will fire unless we begin to head down immediately.”
    “Why, man? What did I do to upset you?”
    Maddox remained silent, watching, waiting. He did not sub-vocalize to Galyan, as the major would hear that. The captain was surprised Galyan hadn’t spoken to him yet. That was the last giveaway that something was wrong. In some manner, Stokes had cut his communications with the starship.
    The air-car headed down. Stokes guided the vehicle as he frowned. “Do you care to give me a hint what this is about?” the major asked.
    “Call it a precaution.”
    Stokes glanced at him again, at the gun, and then lunged at Maddox.
    The captain had been expecting something like this. Under normal conditions, with a regular person, the major might have succeeded. Maddox had faster-than-normal reflexes, though. He pulled the trigger as Stokes grabbed his arms.
    The major had irresistible strength, more than a regular human should possess. The first shot went wild, striking the bubble dome and cracking it. The discharge was deafening, making the captain’s ears ring as he winced with pain.
    Maddox now gritted his teeth as he strove against the obvious android. There had been two Major Stokes androids, this one more like the man than the first one had been. What did the android-controllers want with him anyway?
    “Surrender,” the android said.
    “Do you wish to kill me?” Maddox panted.
    “No. I want to talk.”
    “Yes, I’ll talk.”
    They spoke as the major grappled and Maddox tried to align the hand cannon at the torso.
    “Release the gun,” the android said.
    “I can’t. You’re gripping me too hard for that.”
    “I will not fall for such an obvious tactic, Captain. Until you release the gun, I will continue to pin your arms.”
    “Look,” Maddox said. “We’re going to hit a mountain.”
    The android looked forward. Maddox knew there was nothing. They were still high in the air and there were no nearby mountains. As the android looked, though, Maddox tried a new maneuver, twisting the other way. The android’s split-second inattention allowed Maddox to aim the barrel at the thing’s torso.
    BOOM!
    As Maddox’s ears rang painfully once again, the android slammed backward with a hole in its side. Black gunk poured out. Electrical discharges sparked farther within.
    BOOM!
    Maddox fired his last round into the wound. Once more, the force slammed the android back. Its eyelids fluttered as it pulled its arm back. Then it shot a fist into the control panel, smashing electrical and computer equipment.
    That caused an emergency procedure in the air-car. The dome ejected, tumbling away. Cold air almost ripped Maddox out of his seat. The android’s hand yanked out of the dash, holding sizzling wires.
    “The seats will no longer eject,” it said, staring at Maddox.
    “Why do