Steam Age Fighter

By Robert Zwilling

It’s 1837, electricity flickering, steam clouds billowing into the skies. Country store clerk Desmond, helped by Nellie, his girlfriend, and a retired alchemist, enters the fighting world. Aided by electric knuckles and spirit dragons, Desmond fights his way through matches starting with both fighters already knocked out. His invisible spirit arm makes him unbeatable, until he meets Draco, a man with two invisible arms. Follow Desmond's exploits as he sets out to navigate the invisible spirit world through three incredible short stories, Alchemist Potion, Electric Knuckles, and Invisible Dragons.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Robert Zwilling
• Release date: May 2, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463150580

Book preview

Steam Age Fighter

Robert Zwilling

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2018 Robert Zwilling

Thank you for downloading this book. You are welcome to share it with your friends. This book may be reproduced, copied and distributed for non-commercial purposes, provided the book remains in its complete original form. This story is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

A Product Of Dreaming News

Novels

Asteroid Fever

Short Stories

Steam Age Fighter

Table of Contents

Chapter 1….Alchemist’s Potion

Chapter 2….Electric Knuckles

Chapter 3….Invisible Dragons

Chapter 4….200 Years Later: Asteroid Fever

Excerpt from Asteroid Fever

Originally drawn from the personal journals of Desmond, these accounts of his early days in the prize fighting world of 1837 were transformed into a series of commercial dreams by Axel, a relative with no dreams of glory but who ended up as a master dream creator at the Dreaming News Company in 2037. The world has changed considerably since Desmond’s time, but the yearning for dreams that put a person on top of the world will always be in demand.

Chapter 1…. The Alchemist’s Potion

The year was 1837 and with manufacturing no longer tied to river banks billowing steam clouds were emerging everywhere. Mobile steam engines were traveling the land, rivers and oceans. The transference of the ancient gods control of the world was now complete, people wielding technology were masters of their own destinies. For Desmond, life in the hardware and grain supply store had become very predictable. Every Wednesday evening after the store closed for the day there was a local fighting match arranged by local promoter and owner of the store, Jake. He signed up people to exchange blows for a small monetary prizes. The big money was in the wagering which was lively, using everything from sacks of grain to bags of coins of the realm.

The rules were simple, and the softly packed dirt floor was perfect for quick steps in and out of swinging arms’ reach. Jake liked to bet on the fights, but he didn't like betting on people he didn't know. He felt that one of his workers, Desmond, a big hulking man, was a much better investment for his money.

One day he asked Desmond if he would like to fight Wednesday night. Desmond thought it over for a moment, and then asked Jake if he really thought he could do it. Jake told Desmond if he could toss hundred pound sacks of grain or flour around like match sticks, then there was no reason he couldn't do the same thing in the grain room fight matches.

On Wednesday Jake closed up the store as usual. He locked the inside door to the grain pickup room and unlocked the double doors that opened out onto the street. Everyone from the store, Desmond's girlfriend, Nellie, and the usual crowd from the surrounding area pushed their way inside. Local promoters sauntered in to check out the action and a few more fighters arrived. The crowd parted for the first two fighters. Money was collected for the initial wagers, and the bell started the evening off to a boisterous start. Every step of the way someone was wagering about something.

A hard cider barrel was opened at the makeshift bar, a wide oak plank set across two tall pickle barrels. The crowd was enjoying the fights and themselves as the money flowed freely as water never finding a level place to rest.

Then it was Desmond’s turn to go a few rounds or longer if he could make it. Nellie kissed his lips and wished him good luck. The crowd roared in approval. Desmond got out there and started swinging away, something he had never done, and before he knew it, the other fighter had scored a few solid hits to his right shoulder and stomach. The bell finally rang and they backed away from the middle of the room. Desmond hadn't really connected to his opponent’s body, his punches slipping off target, except he thought he might have scored one glancing blow to his opponent’s jaw.

The bell rang and out they came again. He got a few more blows in, but his opponent was landing more blows. Desmond took another hard hit to his head, he slipped but didn't fall. His stumbling footwork was no comparison to his opponent's confident marching around the ring. The bell finally rang again.

Nellie wiped Desmond’s forehead and told him to watch out for the other fighter’s left fist. He told her he was watching out for both fists and a couple of head butts. Jake came over to see how Desmond was doing, and he said he was feeling okay but didn't feel comfortable taking all the shots and delivering few himself.

Don’t worry about it. You’re doing great. It might take a fight or two, but you’ll get the hang of it. I predict you’ll be a champion very soon. Jake said, placing a hand on Desmond’s shoulder.

The bell rang and Desmond sailed back into the middle of the room, wishing he were drinking a mug of hard cider instead. The punches went back and forth, and then he saw a fist coming his way. He looked a little too long before responding, and the next thing he knew he was eating grain off the dirt floor. The crowd counted him out, the bell rang, and the fight was over.

Jake went over to Desmond, dusted him off, said, It will be much better next time. You’re phenomenal. You have all the experience you need. Your opponent, Sledge Hammer Mike, always fights fast and hard and leaves the bodies lying in the ring out cold when he’s done. You’re walking away on your own two feet. That's a real good sign, you just need to win next time.

Desmond asked Jake if he lost any money on the fight, and Jake told him he hadn't bet on the fight.

Desmond lifted three flour barrels off the top of a display pyramid of hundred pound barrels and dusted them off so they could sit on them. Nellie went over to the hard cider barrel bar, filled three mugs, and came back and sat down on a barrel. They all agreed it went pretty well. There were a few