Sell Some Lives

Fusil Modèle 1886 dit Fusil Lebel

There was a heavy pressure at the back of my head keeping me trapped in place, pushing at my skull. We were trapped inside the carriage. I was trying to stay awake, struggling hard, panicking. I had to get out from inside the carriage before Jaquet woke up... though he looked pretty dead.

My hand lashed out of its own accord and slammed against the window above my head. 

*Slammy slam!  Thud!  Boom!* 

Ouch... it hadn't even cracked a little. I looked around through the blood in my eyes and saw Jaquet's feet near me where his corduroy pants were still tangled around his ankles. There was a weapon in his pocket – a Lebel 1886 rifle. I pulled it out carefully and pointed it towards the window. I'd never used a gun before. It shouldn't be too hard right? 

I gripped the rifle hard, until my knuckles turned white. I squeezed the trigger slowly hoping one bullet would be enough to break the window. 

I waited for the gun to fire, shutting my eyes tight even though I knew I shouldn't. A sudden bright muzzle flash made me jump and open my eyes. The body-jolting boom, horrible ear-splitting bang that jarred my spine and my arms. I felt sick from the intense acrid smell of burnt gunpowder. Bits of glass shot out all around me. I quickly shut my eyes but felt stinging on my face and shoulders anyway. And warmth.

Twenty minutes later I finally opened my eyes. The window was broken, but it was too small for me to get out from so that was pointless. Unless I scraped my body trying to get out or managed to pull off all the sharp glasses in the corners, therefore still hurting myself.

"You can't get out from the window. We'll have to open the door." Jaquet was awake.

I wanted to cry. He was the one I'd been trying to get away from. 

I shut my eyes and then nodded.

"Can you... get to your door? My other hand is broken, I think." Maybe I could shoot him when his back was turnt.

Jaquet nodded and shimmied side to side to the door. I heard him fumbling with the doorknob while I tried to pull off the glass bits as careful as possible. Suddenly I heard the carriage door open and Jaquet whooped happily.

He tried to high five me but I told him my hand hurt. So we decided to roll out one by one and that he should go first. 

When it was my turn I found I couldn't move properly.

"Hurry up, Tali, I have to check on the chauffeur and my horse. Medley is my best horse." He said impatiently. Then he saw I was struggling. 

"What's wrong?" He asked worriedly. 

"I can't... move. At all." I couldn't move my legs properly or my right arm.

They were numb.