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    Revolution of Air and Rust
    Revolution of Air and Rust
    Revolution of Air and Rust
    Ebook98 pages1 hour

    Revolution of Air and Rust

    By David Lee Summers

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    About this ebook

    1915. Teddy Roosevelt is building an empire. Only Pancho Villa stands in his way.

    The American Expeditionary Force under the command of General "Black Jack" Pershing has invaded Northern Mexico. Pancho Villa leads his revolutionary army in a desperate raid against the American force only to be outflanked. Just as Pershing's airships prepare to deliver the death blow, Pancho Villa is transported to a parallel Earth where he finds an unexpected ally and the technology that might just turn defeat into victory.

    Revolution of Air and Rust is a stand-alone novella set in the Empires of Steam and Rust world created by Robert E. Vardeman and Stephen D. Sullivan. A story filled with military action, espionage and gadgetry that's sure to satisfy fans of steampunk and alternate history.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherDavid Lee Summers
    Release dateNov 13, 2012
    ISBN9781301564385
    Revolution of Air and Rust
    Author

    David Lee Summers

    David Lee Summers is an author, editor and astronomer living somewhere between the western and final frontiers. He is the author of twelve novels including The Solar Sea, Vampires of the Scarlet Order, and Owl Dance. He edited Tales of the Talisman Magazine and the anthologies Space Pirates, Space Horrors and A Kepler's Dozen. His short fiction has appeared in such magazines and anthologies as Cemetery Dance, Realms of Fantasy, and Straight Outta Tombstone. In addition to his work in the written word, David works at Kitt Peak National Observatory. You can find David's books published by WordFire Press at https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/DavidLeeSummers2

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      Book preview

      Revolution of Air and Rust - David Lee Summers

      Revolution of Air and Rust

      An Empires of Steam and Rust Story

      David Lee Summers

      Revolution of Air and Rust

      Published by Hadrosaur Productions

      Smashwords Edition

      © 2012 David Lee Summers

      Cover © 2012 Laura Givens

      Empire of Steam & Rust Logo © 2011 Nathan Long

      Learn more about the author at http://www.davidleesummers.com

      Learn more about the cover artist at http://www.lauragivens-artist.com

      Visit the publisher's website at http://www.hadrosaur.com

      Smashwords Edition, License Notes

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to the vendor of your choice and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      ###

      Other books in the Empires of Steam and Rust Series:

      Gateway to Rust and Ruin by Robert E. Vardeman

      Heart of Steam and Rust by Stephen D. Sullivan

      Unforeseen: Journey Through Rust and Ruin by Sarah Bartsch

      Other books by David Lee Summers:

      Old Star/New Earth Series

      The Solar Sea

      The Pirates of Sufiro

      Children of the Old Stars

      Heirs of the New Earth

      Scarlet Order Vampire Series:

      Vampires of the Scarlet Order

      Dragon's Fall: Rise of the Scarlet Order

      Clockwork Legion Series:

      Owl Dance

      Wolf Posse

      Full-Throttle Space Tales Anthologies:

      Space Pirates

      Space Horrors

      ###

      Chapter One

      It was a quiet morning as the sun rose over Cuauhtémoc in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. Umberto Mondragón ate a thin, corn-masa porridge called atole and sipped a rare, precious cup of coffee as he prepared for work at the corner grocery where he made tortillas. The quiet was broken by a dog barking up the street followed by a loud, authoritative voice. Although Umberto couldn't make out the words, he thought someone must be shouting orders. He became conscious of a low thrumming sound. Umberto set his coffee cup down and went to the door.

      Two children in the street, holding a stick and a ball stared upward as a shadow eclipsed the sun. Umberto followed their gaze and saw an airship. The thrumming sound came from its engines. On its flank was a white star within a blue circle. The American Expeditionary Force had arrived.

      A half dozen men in crisp, khaki uniforms turned the corner onto Umberto's street. They wore tall, wide-brimmed Montana hats. Three of them turned east, away from Umberto's door while the rest marched his direction. One of them pounded on the first door they came to. When no one answered, they moved on to the next door. The two boys with the stick and ball scurried down the street, away from the American soldiers.

      Spying Umberto, one of the soldiers pointed. You there, he shouted in English. Switching to heavily accented Spanish, he said, We want information about Pancho Villa. We will pay. He rubbed his fingers together, as though fondling crisp, American greenbacks.

      Before Umberto could speak, a gunshot thundered through the quiet morning, shattering glass and winging one of the American soldiers. He fell back against an adobe wall, while his comrades turned their attention to the house where the shot had come from.

      There was a cry of Viva la revolución! and another gunshot. One of the soldiers kicked in the door. Umberto scrambled back inside, slamming his own door. He didn't know what scared him more, the American Expeditionary Force that occupied Northern Mexico, Villa's revolutionaries, or President Carranza's Federal soldiers.

      Umberto made the sign of the cross as he heard more shouts and gunshots. Soon afterward, it grew eerily quiet. After a moment, he stepped back over to the table and lifted the coffee cup to his lips with a trembling hand. A pounding at the door startled him and he sloshed the coffee over his shirt.

      Returning to the door, Umberto peered outside. The American soldier who had shouted at him earlier stood there. His hat had fallen back, held around his neck by the chinstrap, revealing disheveled, sandy hair. Pancho Villa—do you know where he is?

      Umberto shook his head. His men were all around town when I came home last night. They were in the cantinas raising a ruckus. I thought they would be sleeping off their hangovers this morning. He shrugged. But, if they knew you were coming, they may have left.

      The soldier grimaced. Who's harboring them? Where are they staying?

      Umberto swirled his gnarled finger through the air. All over. Many sympathize with the revolution.

      Your neighbor? The soldier inclined his head in the direction of the skirmish up the street.

      Umberto wondered what had happened to the man, but nodded. Yes, a few of Villa's men were in that house.

      The soldier grimaced. Well, they're not there now. Where could they have gone?

      If they left during the night, they could be halfway to Madera by now.

      Hiding in rugged terrain. The soldier nodded. He turned to leave, but stopped and retrieved some pesos from his pocket.

      Umberto took them and sighed, the pesos weren't as valuable as greenbacks, but they were safer. He hadn't really betrayed any secrets—he had no secrets to betray—but he had heard many stories of what Pancho Villa did to those who opposed him.

      ***

      Two days later, Pancho Villa took a deep breath of clean mountain air, then stepped through the door of a small cantina in Madera. The people within fell silent and watched him nervously. He took advantage of the stillness and quiet to spot who he was looking for. Rodolfo Fierro sat in the back, looking like he had been sucking limes. Villa smiled and waved to the people gathered. Conversations slowly resumed, starting in hushed whispers and increasing in volume. Villa made his way through the room.

      As he reached Fierro's table, a young woman Villa had not seen before approached. Her eyes were almost black and her skin was smooth and unblemished. Villa appreciated the view her low cut dress afforded and he remained standing.

      May I get you something? she asked.

      Villa nodded. A bottle of tequila and two glasses, I think.

      The waitress flashed a brief, self-conscious smile and batted her eyelashes—or was it a nervous flutter? Villa couldn't tell for sure. He sat as she turned and left.

      Fierro cleared his throat. We're running out of time … and options.

      I know. Have you taken stock of what's available to us here in Madera?

      Fierro reached into his pocket and retrieved a tattered piece of paper. If the Americans cut off shipments to the town, we could survive here a month, maybe two. We could retreat through the mountains and hunt for food, but I don't think that would leave us enough ammo to fight anyone once we arrived in Sonora.

      Unless we found some friends to help us.

      Between Carranza and the Americans, friends are becoming scarce. Fierro shook his head. We thought Obregón was a friend.

      The young woman returned with the bottle and glasses.

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