CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
The Slig Army was definitely not as happy as it had been when it marched out of Mantin City, that was for sure. Fragg could not see one happy gleam in any eye as he led his mechanical-pants-equipped legions across the dirt and mud of No Muds Land, his fists methodically clenching and opening with one purpose.
He hated Abe. In that one thought, he could sum up all he had thought for the whole morning.
Lord Fragg felt a quick flash of hope as he saw the indicator light on his comlink go from red to green – that meant Abe’s signal-jamming had gone offline! Now he could call for help if he ever felt the need!
His hope turned to surprise, when the device in his hand bleeped with the sound of an incoming call. Irritably he flicked it on. “This is Lord Fragg.”
“And this is Urchyn McAvi, the Wolvark bounty hunter you saw back at the canyon a few days ago.”
Fragg remembered the Wolvark with a flash of annoyance. Why had his Sligs not opened fire and mowed down McAvi and Abe at the same time? “I remember you,” he said. “What do you want?”
“I want you to stay away from me.”
Fragg frowned down at his comlink. “What?’
“I’ve done something that you and your idiotic Sligs could never hope to do: I’ve captured Abe.”
Fragg’s eyes grew wide. “What?”
“I know you can hear me, Fragg. And I’m not lying; I’ve got the blue-headed guy right here. He’s holding a Slig-model Barrage 32-A laser carbine…couple scars on his face…”
“I get the point,” the Glukkon snapped. “And why do you think I would just let you walk away with my prize?”
A chuckle floated up out of the comlink. “It’s not your prize any longer, Glukkon. Wait till King Glok finds out you’re so incompetent.”
The message ended with a sharp CLICK.
Fragg swore, loud enough that several of the Sligs chuckled. But those chuckles ceased when the Glukkon shouted, “Come on! Doubletime! We have to get to Mantin City, now!”
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