Jeff Brackett - Half Past Midnight

“Maybe so,” I acknowledged. “But in a couple of minutes, I don’t think that’ll matter anymore. Now, get back to the factory, or you’re going to get caught here when the bullets start flying.”

The mayor lowered his eyes, apparently defeated, and stepped away from Han and Larry. Then, as he drew alongside me, he grabbed my arm and pulled it away from Larry. “This ain’t right!”

The two of us struggled for the pistol for a moment before Jim suddenly snatched the second pistol from my jacket and pointed it at my belly. The other was still held aloft, pointing at the sky, where he held my arm locked with his. Turning me to where he could see Larry over my shoulder, he said, “None of this was supposed to happen. We was comin’ out here ta negotiate with you. I wasn’t gonna let you take Leeland, but I figured I could trade my people for some more of the explosives we used to get your tanks.”

He panted a bit from our struggle and looked at me. “You went and ruined it! Damn it, Leeland, none of this had to happen! You’ve committed us to a war we can’t win!”

I looked around. Guns from all sides were trained on the bridge, but everyone hesitated to fire the shot that would no doubt begin a raging battle. “So now what?”

“You two.” He jerked his chin at Larry and Han. “Get back to your people and pull back. We’ll talk this out later.”

“You think they’re going to just walk away and let you alone?” I demanded.

“Go!” he yelled, and I heard their footsteps rapidly retreating.

The two of us remained locked together for a moment. I saw Jim’s eyes following their progress over my shoulder.

He nodded. “Far enough.”

I took a deep breath, then screamed at the top of my lungs, “No, you can’t let them go!” I yanked my pistol down from Jim’s grip and whirled around, aiming at Larry’s back. “Come back here, you son of a bitch!”

Larry turned to see me aiming right at him. Then Jim fired twice. I heard the report and felt the stinging in my back that told me I’d been hit. I turned, “Wha…?”

“I can’t let you do that, Lee.” He fired twice more at my chest, just as I fired back at him. Screams of disbelief erupted from the townspeople as Jim and I both fell to our knees.

There are so many holes in this plan that it isn’t funny…

I dropped my pistol and clutched at the stinging in my chest.

…and if anything goes wrong, I’m dead.

Pulling my hand away, I saw it stained shiny and red. I held it out toward Jim, and there were more screams as people saw the crimson coating. Jim struggled back to his feet just before I fell to my face.

…so many holes..

I heard the sounds of boots approaching and resisted the urge to move. They stopped beside me, and I felt someone reach down to check my pulse. “You all right?” Ken whispered.

I answered without moving. “Just a little bruised. Forgot how much paintballs hurt at close range.”

Ken grunted. “Okay, boys, pick him up and get him back to the factory. Make sure everyone gets a good look at all the red on him when you take him back. Leeland, you’re dead. Don’t move a muscle.” Four sets of hands grabbed my arms and legs, lifting me to shoulder height. I concentrated on being dead as they bore me back toward the factory.

“The whole thing is iffy, at best,” I’d protested. “Too many things have to go just right. I mean, what if they get a good look at the pistols? What if they realize that they don’t quite sound the same as regular firearms? What if they don’t buy my acting, or Jim’s? There are so many holes in this plan that it isn’t funny, and if anything goes wrong, I’m dead. We’re all dead!”

Ken looked at me, his frustration obvious. “So you got a better idea? Nobody’s forcing you into this. Jim and I are fully prepared to do it without you. You can still bow out.”

“Bullshit! As bad a plan as it is, it would be even worse without me in it.”

“Yes, it is. But it’s like Debra said, you’ve already done more than enough for this town, especially in the last couple of days. Nobody would think any less of you if you passed on this one.”

“Except me.” I dropped my head and sighed. I looked back up at Ken. “Okay. The trick is going to be trying to keep Larry off balance. He’s too smart to fall for it if he has time to think about what’s going on.”

He nodded, relieved to see I was finally rolling with it. “Suggestions?”

“Piss him off … scare him. Do whatever we can to keep him reacting instead of thinking. Once the ball is rolling, he can’t get a second to gather his wits, or we’re all dead.”

“And how do we do that?”

“I’m going to remind him of our first meeting. I scared the hell out of him then, and it’s got to be eating away at that monster ego of his. I imagine that’s why he’s so insistent about getting his hands on me now.”

Ken nodded. “Makes sense. I take it you have something in mind?”

“Not really. Just gonna do like I did in the tank. I’ll start pushing buttons and see what happens.”

Less than a dozen people knew I wasn’t really dead, and it was all I could do to remain still as they carried me through the stunned crowd to Jim’s office. Once behind closed doors, I opened my eyes and saw smiling faces all around me.

“You didn’t tell me those things would sting so much,” Jim complained. “Still, I guess it’s better than the alternative. You look pretty lively for a dead man.”

I smiled. “You don’t look so bad yourself.”

Debra brought over a couple of wet rags and helped me out of my shirt, tsking over the welts on my chest. “I’ve never understood your fascination with a sport that causes so many bruises.” She pulled my head down and kissed me soundly. “But just now, I’m not complaining.”

As soon as I could stop grinning, I asked, “Where’s Ken?”

“Right behind you.” He closed the door behind himself as he joined us. “I’ve been busy trying to calm everyone down. Had to let one more person in on the act, too.”

I turned and found Amber staring at me as if she couldn’t decide whether to be relieved or furious to find me still alive. Finally, she decided on the former and came forward to hug me. “You scared the hell out of me!”

“Good. Everybody’s reaction had to be natural if we were going to fool Larry.”

Ken nodded. “Well, I’d say it worked. From what I could see out there, everyone is convinced you’re dead and Jim’s dying. Our people are all wondering what hit them.”

Jim grinned. “Now, how about we hit back?”

I felt the explosion more than heard it. The floor and walls shook with a ferocity that threatened to bring the building down around us and, as we ran out of Jim’s trailer, we saw that part of the building had, indeed, come down. The far end of the factory was a pile of rubble and swirling dust. People screamed and ran in all directions.

“Oh God.” Amber rushed toward the wounded.

“Leeland!” I turned and Ken tossed me my rifle.

“This way!”

I followed as he led us through the mob to one of the front bay doors. People hid behind old, rusted-out steel drums, wooden pallets, anything that presented cover while they fired ineffectually at the tank moving out onto the bridge.

Ken immediately signaled them to follow. We made our way to the forefront, and several folks did a double take when they saw two dead men walking. Smiles and muttered comments passed through the crowd as they realized that we had somehow managed to fool Larry.

A second explosion knocked me off my feet, and I saw several people thrown about like paper dolls in a high wind. Most landed without moving. The few able to move thrashed and screamed in anguish. The sounds of gunfire and screaming were once more all around me as Ken lead us to the fore of the skirmish.