{"id":2585,"date":"2013-08-22T08:00:06","date_gmt":"2013-08-22T13:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.revolutionsf.com\/revblogs\/geekcurmudgeon\/?p=2585"},"modified":"2013-08-18T09:27:44","modified_gmt":"2013-08-18T14:27:44","slug":"rayguns-over-texas-preview-neal-barrett-jr","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.revolutionsf.com\/revblogs\/geekcurmudgeon\/2013\/08\/22\/rayguns-over-texas-preview-neal-barrett-jr\/","title":{"rendered":"Rayguns Over Texas preview: Neal Barrett, Jr."},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Cover<\/a>

Cover by Rocky Kelley<\/p><\/div>\n

As we barrel toward the August 29 premiere of\u00a0Rayguns Over Texas<\/a>\u00a0<\/a><\/em>at\u00a0LoneStarCon 3<\/a>\u00a0(aka the 71st Annual World Science Fiction Convention) in San Antonio, I am presenting book excerpts, one contributor per day.<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s selection comes from\u00a0Neal Barrett, Jr.<\/a>‘s “Timeout.”<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Vera receives a strange letter in this\u00a0kooky alien abduction story that only\u00a0Neal Barrett, Jr. could conceive.<\/p>\n

Man\u2019s some shorter than any she\u2019s ever seen \u2019afore. Shaves his face, shaves his head. Suit\u2019s tight, suit\u2019s green. Looks like a frog been\u00a0dead about a week.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou would be the Vera Lea Gates,\u201d he says, doesn\u2019t look at her at\u00a0all. \u201cI am the Jones. If you are ready, I\u2019ve got transportation down the\u00a0draw.\u201d<\/p>\n

Vera\u2019s never heard of a transbors, doesn\u2019t want to see one now.\u00a0\u201cNo, sir,\u201d she tells him. \u201cDon\u2019t want to go nowhere, don\u2019t want to do\u00a0whatever \u2019tis you want me to. Have to get you somebody else.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jones seems to think about that. \u201cYou received our letter?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDid. What I\u2019m sayin\u2019 is \u2014\u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have it with you, Vera Lea Gates?\u201d<\/p>\n

Vera takes the letter from her pocket, hands it to the Jones. Jones\u00a0lets it fall. Reaches in a pocket brings out something shiny, something\u00a0new, something bright. Something Vera Lea\u2019s never seen in all her life.<\/p>\n

\u201cVera Lea Gates,\u201d he says, \u201cin the event of a recipient\u2019s refusal\u00a0to abide by the orders so received, I am authorized to perform\u00a0liquidation.\u201d<\/p>\n

With that, he raises the shiny thing and points it at Vera\u2019s head.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, mister \u2014 \u201c Vera\u2019s heart skips a beat. \u201cWhat you aim to do\u00a0with that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou may turn around if you like, Vera Lea Gates. There will be no\u00a0pain at all…\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Excerpt from\u00a0\u201cTimeout\u201d \u00a9 2013 by Neal Barret, Jr.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As we barrel toward the August 29 premiere of\u00a0Rayguns Over Texas\u00a0at\u00a0LoneStarCon 3\u00a0(aka the 71st Annual World Science Fiction Convention) in San Antonio, I am presenting book excerpts, one contributor per day. Today\u2019s selection comes from\u00a0Neal Barrett, Jr.‘s “Timeout.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2585","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-books","category-rayguns-over-texas"],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n