Read Online Dominion by Scott McElhaney - Free Book Online Page A

stairs and found himself in another corridor that had sustained some damage.  This time however, there were two large beams blocking off any progress toward the aft end of the ship.  Bright shafts of light near those splintered beams suggested that yet another explosion had torn open the side of the ship last night.
    “Hello?” Hawke called out, “Is everyone okay?”
    He got no response.  He started down the corridor in the only direction available.  The door at the end of the hall was open, leading to the main deck outside.  He cautiously stepped out into the open, wondering if any enemy ships still lurked nearby.  
    The first thing he noticed was that the deck was littered in broken beams and crumpled white tarps.  He wasn’t sure what the tarps were until he caught sight of two men working high up in the foremast.  They appeared to be tying a new sail into place.  This was evidenced by the fact that the sail on the other side of the boom had a grungy yellowish tint while the one they were installing was bright white.
    He stepped further out into the open and noticed that the taller mast just behind him was also being repaired by several skilled sailors.  Whatever damages the ship had sustained, it apparently wasn’t enough to worry the crew of this ship.  They just went about their business as though it were an ordinary day at sea. 
    His wandering eyes stumbled upon a weary looking lady who was resting against a Gatling gun.  She had been watching him and only when his eyes met hers did she offer him a tiny smile.  He waved to her, then located the stairs that led to the deck she waited on.
    He climbed the stairs and noticed immediately that this outer deck only served as a gunner’s post where two Gatling guns were mounted.  A man was sleeping at the base of the other automatic weapon, snoring loudly.  He turned to the woman and wondered for a moment if she was the operator of the weapon.
    “You see a woman with a loaded gun and it doesn’t scare you away?” she asked, “Give it time, boy.”
    “You operate this thing?” he asked, holding onto the railing as he approached her.
    In spite of some missing teeth and what appeared to be a weeks worth of dirt covering every inch, she could have very well been pretty in another life.  She had long braided black hair and a tan that women would have envied back on Earth, but the long scar on the side of her face spoke of a rough life.
    “Gunner’s Mate Wind Racer,” she said, offering him her hand.
    He shook it, “Meriwether Hawke, ma’am.  It’s nice to meet a beautiful woman who is tough enough to fight off an armada.”
    “Somebody has to look out for the treasure,” she replied with a wide grin that did her no favors in the beauty department.
    “Treasure?” he asked, wondering for a moment how long it had been since this woman had bathed.
    “On this particular trip, that treasure is you, spaceman,” she said, “How does it feel knowing that you’re being protected by a woman?”
    He laughed, noticing in her expression that she was taunting him in the hopes that he’d take the challenge and succumb to an embarrassing beating from a woman.  He couldn’t tell if she disliked him or if she was just being curious. 
    “It’s a turn on for me, actually.  There’s nothing better than being with a strong woman,” he said, turning back to the stairs, “Is this ship still seaworthy?”
    Her smile softened.  She nodded to the door behind him.
    “The man you need to ask is in there, but I imagine it will all be okay.  That’s the Captain’s quarters,” she said.
    “Oh, I don’t want to bother him.  I was just curious,” he said.
    “Well, if your curiosity brings you back up here in an hour and if your tiny little lover can spare you for the day, I’ll show you what strong women are all about,” she said, reaching out and trailing a finger through his hair, “I’m off duty in an hour.”
    He wondered for a moment where all