Reaper (#1, Duster and a Gun)

By Gregory Blackman

Duster and a Gun:

In 1447, history was rewritten when the Vatican was swallowed whole by the fiery pits of Hell. Demons, ghouls and other unspeakable horrors descended upon the land, preying on humanity; caught in the middle of a battle they knew nothing about. And so began a perpetual dark age, where one’s worth was valued on how well they handle themselves in a fight. Pursuits such as peace and equal rights were put on hold, for larger firearms and the tightening of dictatorships. It was truly Hell on Earth, and Heaven didn’t seem to care in the least.

By the year 2015, it was a perverse world of science, where the hydrogen bomb and steam-powered locomotive exist in unison, corrupted by the will of the supernatural. The Industrial revolution is in full swing, and the only thing faster than the rise of the USA is the inner turmoil that threatens to bring it all apart from the shadows.

Reaper:

Angels fight for Heaven, demons fight for Hell and no one fights for the humans caught in the middle—except the reapers. The greatest of humanity’s offerings, they’re chosen at a young age and cultivated into instruments of vengeance. This order alone fights to keep the balance in our world, steeped in controversy, rejected by those in Heaven and condemned by the monsters in Hell. This is the story of one such reaper, Horace McKidrict, and his fight to restore what was lost from him. Neither Heaven nor Hell will be able to stop the reaper on his quest to take back what he once had, and may God have mercy on any man that dares to block his path.

In the first installment of Duster and a Gun, our hero tries to piece together the life that was stolen from him. He finds himself in the Copper State, Arizona, where death and decay plague the countryside, and humans live between uncaring angels and evil monsters. Horace’s needs to let go of the past and embrace the future if he wants any hope to cast back the demons and unveil the mystery residing deep within the unsuspecting population.

Warning: This eBook contains graphic imagery and coarse language.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gregory Blackman
• Release date: Jul 16, 2013
• ISBN: 9781927123799

Gregory Blackman

Born in Burlington, Ontario, Gregory Blackman is a business marketing graduate that discovered early on that he wasn’t interested in advertising the works of others and instead sought out to create his own products that spoke on his values, beliefs, and in many cases, his own fears and anxieties. His first novel, Johnathan Rush, released in 2011, was a children’s novel while all proceeding works have been intended for a mature audience. This can be seen in his following Reaper and Kingdoms of Ash series that deal with issues of gender inequality, racial tensions, and mankind’s fear of the unknown. Gregory prides himself on responding to each and every letter sent to him, and incourages all readers to send him their thoughts and questions to [e-mail]

Book preview

Duster and a Gun

Reaper

By Gregory Blackman

Published by Gregory Blackman at Smashwords

Copyright 2012 Gregory Blackman

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted in any form without the prior written permission from the author.

This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales, is entirely coincidental.

Written in Canada.

Gregory Blackman’s Collection

*Released or Coming Soon*

The Reaper Series:

Duster and a Gun:

Reaper

The Ties That Bind

New Beginnings

Revelation

Reaper’s Dogma

The Kingdoms of Ash Series:

The Unseen

Blood Ties

Tip the Scales

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Duster and a Gun:

In 1447, history was rewritten when the Vatican was swallowed whole by the fiery pits of Hell. Demons, ghouls and other unspeakable horrors descended upon the land, preying on humanity; caught in the middle of a battle they knew nothing about. And so began a perpetual dark age, where ones worth was valued on how well they handle themselves in a fight. Pursuits such as peace and equal rights were put on hold, for larger firearms and the tightening of dictatorships. It was truly Hell on Earth, and Heaven didn’t seem to care in the least.

By the year 2015, it was a perverse world of science, where the hydrogen bomb and steam-powered locomotive exist in unison, corrupted by the will of the supernatural. The Industrial revolution is in full swing, and the only thing faster than the rise of the USA is the inner turmoil that threatens to bring it all apart from the shadows.

Reaper:

Angels fight for Heaven, demons fight for Hell and no one fights for the humans caught in the middle—except the reapers. The greatest of humanity’s offerings, they’re chosen at a young age and cultivated into instruments of vengeance. This order alone fights to keep the balance in our world, steeped in controversy, rejected by those in Heaven and condemned by the monsters in Hell. This is the story of one such reaper, Horace McKidrict, and his fight to restore what was lost from him. Neither Heaven nor Hell will be able to stop the reaper on his quest to take back what he once had, and may God have mercy on any man that dares to block his path.

In the first installment of Duster and a Gun, our hero tries to piece together the life that was stolen from him. He finds himself in the Copper State, Arizona, where death and decay plague the countryside, and humans live between uncaring angels and evil monsters. Horace needs to let go of the past and embrace the future if he wants any hope to cast back the demons and unveil the mystery residing deep within the unsuspecting population.

Warning: This eBook contains graphic imagery and coarse language.

Table of Contents

Duster and a Gun: Reaper

Gregory Blackman

01 A Calling

02 Not Like Them

03 One Good Deed

04 Deserves Another

05 Nightmares

06 Setback

07 Strangers All

08 Invitation Not Refused

09 Best Intentions

10 Led Astray

11 Getting Soft

12 Fight Another Day

13 Down And Out

14 Trust No One

15 Careful What You Ask

16 You Might Not Like the Answer

Chapter One

Duster and a Gun: Reaper

Gregory Blackman

A Calling

Reaper. It was more than just a title. It was a part of me. Or at least, it used to be. My life had been taken from me, for reasons still unknown. Not that it mattered, the world had gone to hell and I was just along for the ride. Nothing would dull the pain, although I never seemed to stop trying.

Another! I shouted. The empty glass crashed against the counter next to the Stetson that otherwise rests on my head. My hands ran through my tousled black hair and scratch the whiskers on my chin.

I think you’ve had enough, chief, replied the bartender, a fat and grisly old man. He was busting at the gut and covered in grime, the thought of a shower and new set of clothes seemingly the least of his concerns. Last call was over an hour ago… and the bar has gotta close sometime.

He got no response, not while I contemplated my next move.

Are you deaf or dumb? the bartender asked, leaning towards me. The saloon’s fixin’ to close for the night… it’s time to pay up, pal.

Still, he received no answer. I looked him in his bloodshot eyes, pulled out a smoke, struck a match and felt the soothing release that I so desperately craved. There are still other patrons in the bar. Two, but who’s really counting? So, like I said before, I’ll have another.

Three silver coins clattered on the bar, produced from the deep pockets of my walnut-colored duster. Three sparkles could be seen in the bartender’s eyes, now glittering with greed. To the bartender, I had overpaid. I didn’t share that opinion.

Hey Ernie… and you, too, Chuck… get the Hell outta my goddamn bar! shouted the bartender as he slammed his fist down on the bar. He turned to look at me, the glitter in his eyes now replaced with a foreboding darkness. You’ll get one more drink and then you pack it up for the night.

The bartender pulled a filthy bottle from underneath the bar and filled my glass. It was awful, the thought of another sip made me gag. Still, it was better than feeling—for in my line of work emotions can get a guy killed.

I waited for Chuck and Ernie to make their way out of the saloon. Some things needed to be left unseen from the eyes of the people I once vowed to protect.

I want to show you something, old man, I said, something very dear to my heart.

I reached into my pocket and placed a worn out photo on the bar. It was faded and the bartender looked closely. He turned it over and read the words out loud, words that still stung to this day, It said, ‘Rose and Marley, always and forever’… ‘Eh, so what’s this to me?

The photo was of a beautiful young woman with long blonde hair and a hypnotizing smile. Beside the woman sat a young girl, a pretty southern belle, around the age of ten. She was a spitting image of her mother.

I was hoping that you could tell me, I replied. I took a drag from the cigarette, sucking in deep and blowing it directly into the bartender’s face. I wanted to goad him into making a mistake. I knew his true face, and that only one of us would be walking away from the bar tonight.

I can remember everything about my life, where I was born, my childhood and my first day on the job. What I can’t remember, is the last two years, or who these people are. The girl is clearly much older than two… and yet… nothing. Not one single memory of a child stirs in my head.

Yer breaking my heart, the bartender replied sarcastically. What makes you think that I’d know anything about them? I’m just a man runnin’ a bar.

Exactly, I said. People come to you with their problems. Like the problem you’re in tonight—.

Hey now, don’t get any ideas, slick, said the bartender as he leaned forward, a grin stretched from ear to ear. You wouldn’t like the results.

Too late, I pressed the barrel of my revolver to his chin. I refused to blink as I knew full well the bartender would break me in half if I flinched, even in the slightest.

I know what you are… and you’re no man. Nothing so depraved of soul could ever call themselves one of Adam’s descendants. I’m looking for a feeding den… the closest one to be exact.

The bartender’s laughter echoed through the bar, defiant to the end. I knew his kind well, and the one thing we both respected and feared was power. He didn’t take his eyes off me, as he tried to search into my soul and understand the man I truly was. I’ve never heard of any such place. I think you’re mistaken, pal… painfully mistaken.

Cut the bullshit, I said, I’m not about to dispute their existence with you. Either you tell me what I need to know, or I’ll relieve you of this life.

You’ve got balls, kid, the