Jason's Production Diary

This is another short passage from my book, "Off the Rails and Other Tales", now available as an ebook at http://www.hocfocprod.com/off_the_rails .  It will soon be available in paperback as well.

This passage has been altered just a bit from the actual book because in its original form it did contain some spoilers.  It takes place a bit later in the story and I don't want to give too much away, but you will get to "meet" three of the story's stranger characters.

Enjoy.


     Jackson swung around to face the ramp. The light from the lantern shone down upon three approaching figures. To his left he saw the woman from earlier; her shirt still stained with the blood and brains of her friend. To his right the fat man that had attacked Fox was dragging himself up the wooden ramp, pulling himself forward with his arms because his one good leg wasn’t strong enough to support his massive weight for very long. The figure in the middle is the one that made Jackson shudder. He was covered in course black hair and his arms hung long at his sides. Jackson decided that it must be the “ape-man” Sandra and Chuck had said stabbed Mrs. Phillysworth in the face.

     It took only a split second for Jackson to take in the whole scene. On the other hand the three would-be attackers were still reeling from the blinding sudden brightness of the lantern light when Jackson fired his first shot. He fired without really taking aim. He was still swinging the rifle around to face his enemies and let the first bullet fly when he was sure that none of his new friends were among the group on the ramp. The muzzle flash from the rifle blinded even the sergeant. The bullet burst forth, followed by a cloud of burning black powder. It tore through the thigh of the cannibalistic woman. The burning powder singed the shirt of the ape-man. The fat man let out of cry of fear and the woman fell off the side of the ramp.

Illustration from "Off the Rails"

      Jackson cocked the lever under the stock of the rifle to load another round. This time          he  raised the stock to his shoulder, intending to take careful aim at the ape-man and finish him off. Sgt. Jackson had made a fatal error, however, and underestimated the speed of the creeping fat man. Even wounded the huge man was powerful enough to grab Jackson’s ankle and swing the man to the floor of the train car.

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By the way, the ebook does include all of the interior illustrations that the regular paperback version will and you're welcome to request JPEGs of the front and back covers if you order the ebook.