Far Horizons: Tales of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror. Issue #12 March 2015 | Page 48

BOOM. The explosion was thirty yards to the left and
only twenty yards in front of the East India men who
shifted ranks nervously.
“There. Base of the tower with the red pendant.”
Binoculars swung to bear, a spreading cloud of gun
smoke marked the position.
Tiny figures of men were seen standing by a cannon.
Its long, thin barrel was very different from the bulky
and primitive muzzle loading smooth bores. The crew
were all standing behind it, loading another shell.
“Ruddy hell, that’s a modern breach loader!” The
shout came from the lieutenant who commanded the
small artillery detachment.
“Captain, withdraw the infantry two hundred yards.
Cannon and land cruiser target that gun.”
Crack.
BOOM. The tower of sand and dust erupted just in
front of the East India line, and men went down.
The order to fall back was given, and the well trained
soldiers began to withdraw, faces to the enemy as they
went. Most of the fallen raised themselves or were
helped to stand and walk, but three were left behind.
Crack.

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BOOM. This shell fell where the soldiers had been
standing no more than seconds ago, and another two
men went down as shrapnel scythed across their legs.
Three more shells were fired before the infantry was
beyond the road and finding cover.
The land cruiser had fired several times. Its heavier
cannon had a shorter barrel and so lacked the range
to hit the fort; its shells fell into the town so the lieutenant had ordered his gunner to cease fire.
The six pounders had the range but the enemy gun
was at the base of a tower, protected by battlements
and what looked to be a wall of gabions, sand-filled
baskets tall enough for the cannon and crew to hide
behind. They could get lucky of course, but the General did not rely on luck and ordered them to fall back
as well.
Orders were given to set up camp, set guards, and prepare defences against attack. All the ease of soldiers
facing an inferior enemy was gone now.
General Summerby remained on the hill, his binoculars tracking across the town and fort till the light
began to fade, looking for some sign of the enemy.
A modern, breach-loading cannon! If they had one of
those, then what other weapons did they have hidden
behind their walls?
This easy campaign to punish some ill-equipped rebels
had suddenly become far more dangerous.