"Someone is shooting!"
An excerpt from an experiment serial novel published on the digital spaces, The Promise of Shaconage.
Rector Winfield leaned forward, his eyes barely open, effects of the strong tobacco. He slowly opened his mouth, ready to speak it appeared when the council was interrupted by a loud blast.
It came from the direction of the river.
Everyone in the council house immediately jumped to their feet.
Captain Wills and Attakullakulla were the first to recognize the noise as a blast from a fussee.
“Someone is shooting,” cried Captain Wills as he rushed from the council house into the balmy evening.
Everyone else in the council house followed the British commander, rushing toward the river landing.
Captain Wills was the first to reach it, followed closely by Attakullakulla and Yufala.
“What in the name of blazes are you shooting at?” Captain Wills bellowed to the skinny deckhand standing on the ship’s bridge with a musket in his hands.
“Well, sir...er...ah...a hawk, sir,” Poker somehow managed to come up with an explanation. “‘E was circlin’ over’ed like ‘e wanted one of the slaves. I had to show ‘im ‘ho was boss, I did, sir.”
By this time a crowd had gathered at the river landing.
Captain Wills stood just at the river’s edge, the toe of his boots in the water.
He felt something bump his foot.
He looked down to see a fat, white arm, severed at the shoulder, floating in a pool of blood in the river.
The arm still wore the remnant of a sweat-stained shirt.