STAR FIGHTERS BUMPER SPECIAL EDITION: Stealth Force (6 page)

Chapter 6

The first thing the new posse saw when they returned to the square in Buckskinville was what appeared to be several horses tethered at the trough. But on closer inspection, although these animals looked a bit like Earth horses, they had leathery hides instead of glossy coats, and a ridge of sharp spikes running down their necks instead of a mane. Apart from the Westrenian horses’ soft stamps and occasional neighs, it was dead quiet.

‘What are we going to do?’ Dexter asked.

‘I’m going to talk to the townsfolk,’ Peri said. ‘I need to let them know we’re here to help, and that together we can defeat Wild Will’s gang.’

‘Yeah, but the gang’s already back,’ Dexter said, pointing at the horses. ‘Are you sure it’s a good idea?’

‘It’s a risk,’ Selene said. ‘But the only way we’ll beat Wild Will and his men is if the whole town stands up to them!’

‘That’s right,’ Peri said. He walked right into the centre of the square, cleared his throat and shouted in a loud, ringing voice, ‘People of Buckskinville! I’m a stranger to these parts – I come from far away.’
That’s an understatement
,
Peri thought. ‘And me and my friends are here to help and to tell you that you don’t need to fear Wild Will and his gang any more. Wild Will’s men may seem tough, but that’s only because they’ve convinced you to be afraid of them. If we stand up for ourselves, then we can beat them! But we must work together.’

Around the square, a few windows and doors creaked open. Several men, women and children poked their heads out cautiously. Peri looked at their faces in turn, addressing them directly.

‘I can understand why you might not want to take the word of a stranger,’ he said. ‘You don’t know me or my friends. But you
do
know Dexter, Spike and Gunner.’

The three Westrenian boys all nodded, grinning bashfully.

‘If you stand up to these outlaws,’ Peri said, ‘you can drive them right out of your town!’

‘There’s just one tiny problem,’ said a man from an upstairs window. He had glasses over his dark eyes, and his lizard-tongue wiped sweat from his bald, scaly brow. ‘How can we stand up to these outlaws when we don’t have a sheriff and we don’t have weapons?’

‘Remember that they’re just cowardly bullies!’ Peri said. ‘You’ve already got the advantage of numbers on your side – you just need to believe in yourselves and then you’ll be a force to be reckoned with.’

A loud, slow clapping broke out. Peri
turned round to see a large, tall Westrenian
standing in the doorway of the saloon. He was wearing a black cowboy hat. Below the brim, Peri could see that his thin lips were curled into a smirk and a frill of scales fanned out from his neck. At his waist was a belt in which six guns were holstered. A rifle was slung over his shoulder. His sleeves were rolled up and Peri saw that his scaly arms were covered in red tattoos of skulls, severed heads and dripping knives.

All the townsfolk had ducked back behind their doors and windows.

Wild Will
,
Peri thought.

The applause got louder. More outlaws appeared at every side and corner of the square, clapping along with their leader.

‘That was one fine speech, boy!’ Wild Will said, his voice a slithering rasp. ‘You should run for mayor when you grow up – if you get the chance to grow up, that is!’

The bandits laughed.

Peri realised that they were in big trouble. They were surrounded, and the bandits were all armed. The townsfolk were still too afraid to help. Somehow Peri and his posse had to get out of there.

‘So,’ Wild Will said, pointing a finger at Peri, ‘it seems you and your friends are putting together a gang of your own. Remember, young Dexter, I still have your father. Do you want him to suffer more than he already has?’

Peri was barely listening to Wild Will now. His eyes were desperately searching the square, hoping for a flash of inspiration.

Then it came.

He spoke softly to Selene and Diesel. ‘The horses.’

Diesel looked confused, but Selene’s face brightened in understanding. She pulled Diesel to her side. Peri moved closer to Wild Will to draw his attention as Selene and Diesel slowly sidestepped to where the horse-creatures were tethered.

‘You’re the ones who should be worried!’ Peri said loudly, to distract from Selene and Diesel. ‘And as long as you keep harassing the townsfolk, we’ll keep getting in your way!’

Wild Will laughed, and so did his men. ‘Well, you’re going to have your work cut out! We’re not going to stop taking what we want. In fact, we’re going to rob every stagecoach that passes by this town, and we’re going to get rich and then we’re going to use our riches to open up mines on the edge of town.’ He raised his voice. ‘Legend says there’s gold beneath Buckskinville. We intend to find it.’ He paused and spoke even louder. ‘We’ll get rich – and so will everyone else in this town!’

So that’s how Wild Will keeps the townsfolk in line
, Peri thought.
It’s not just fear – it’s the promise of reward as well. But don’t they see? If Wild Will opens up the mines, he’ll turn them all into his slaves!

‘Anyone who tries to stop us will regret it, won’t they, boys?’

‘Yes, boss!’ the bandits chanted. They raised their guns and pointed them at Peri, Dexter, Spike and Gunner.

‘Whoa there!’ Wild Will said. ‘Don’t shoot them – that would be too easy! We should make an example of them – show the good people of Buckskinville what happens when you cross Wild Will!’

The outlaws reholstered their guns and began to close in on the new posse from all sides of the square, their black eyes boring into them.

Selene gave a low whistle. Peri looked round and saw that the horses had been untethered.

‘Run!’ he said, and led Dexter and his two friends in a sprint to the horse trough.

‘Stop them!’ shouted Wild Will.

The bandits rushed towards the horses, but Peri got there first and leapt on to one. Selene and Diesel had already mounted two of them. They slapped the sides of the remaining horses, which started running towards Dexter, Spike and Gunner. The three Westrenian boys jumped on to the saddles with ease as they galloped by.

Wild Will’s gang lunged at the horses. Out of the corner of his eye, Peri saw Selene twisting in her saddle to avoid the lashing tongue of a bandit.

Dexter, Gunner and Spike, all experienced riders, skilfully dodged the bandits. Diesel was bringing up the rear and none of Wild Will’s posse had managed to stop him either.

Peri felt a jolt of pressure at his ankle and struggled to stay in his saddle. He looked down and saw that a thin, pink tongue had coiled itself around his leg. He followed the trail of the tongue to see a big Westrenian bandit tugging at his leg.

Peri felt a surge of fury and he kicked out with all his super strength, feeling the tongue loosen its hold.
Thwack!
It whipped back on itself and hit the alien in the face, sending him tumbling over into the dust.

‘We made it!’ Peri shouted, as the six of them rode out of the square.

‘Use your lassos, boys!’ Wild Will yelled.

Whoooosh!
Peri ducked as a lasso skimmed over his head. It was a close one.

‘Ouch!’

To his left, Peri saw that Diesel had been snared by another lasso. The half-Martian gave a startled cry as he was yanked out of the saddle. ‘
Prrrip’chiq
!
’

‘Diesel!’ shouted Selene.

Peri steered his horse around. Diesel was already being dragged back by Wild Will, who held the other end of the lasso. Peri was faced with a difficult decision and felt as if he was being torn in two. They had to rescue Diesel, but if they turned around now, they’d all be caught and the people of Buckskinville would have no hope of defeating Wild Will.

‘We’ll be back for you, Diesel!’ shouted Peri. ‘I promise!’

But when and how?
he asked himself.

Chapter 7

Peri held Dexter’s telescope up to his eye. He saw some of Wild Will’s men skulking about the alleys or brandishing their pistols threateningly. Others went
round the town square tacking up hastily
drawn posters on tree trunks and walls. He turned the eyepiece of the telescope to bring one into focus. It showed a big-nosed boy with crooked eyes. Peri could just make it out: