It’s Snippet Saturday again, and this week’s theme is Fight Scene (physical). My excerpt is from one of my earlier Ellora’s Cave books, a contemporary sci-fi called Talking Dogs, Aliens and Purple People Eaters. Don’t forget to check out this week’s other snippets by following the links below.
TALKING DOGS, ALIENS & PURPLE PEOPLE EATERS by Shelley Munro
Janaya froze, her right hand on the Earthman’s upper thigh. His hands curled around her shoulders and lifted her off him. His eyes crinkled at the corners in silent laughter. She felt answering warmth in her cheeks. The heat intensified when she heard her aunt’s cackle.
The dog growled suddenly, a low deep rumble that raised the hairs at the back of Luke’s neck. Luke leapt to his feet as two figures in lilac one-piece suits sprang from beneath the drooping leafy strands of a rimu tree. They charged Hinekiri, shiny weapons the size of a handgun extended in front of them.
Janaya thrust Hinekiri behind her and faced the alien mercenaries.
Luke gaped up at them. It was hard not to. The lilac duo stood at around six foot, with long white blond hair and equally pale skin. Their faces seemed to bleed into their hair making it look as though they had no face. Their pale white eyes reinforced the nothingness. Luke had no idea what sex they were. But he knew one thing. The sneers on their colorless lips were mean and he agreed with Janaya. They didn’t intend to leave survivors.
“Give us the charts and the journals and we’ll let you go,” Luke heard a guttural voice order.
“Bite my arse,” Janaya snapped. Balanced lightly on her feet, she held her hands in a defensive position. Luke stepped up beside her, thinking he’d love to bite her ass along with a few other parts.
“Take Hinekiri and lock yourselves inside the ship,” she said without taking her eyes off the aliens.
“I’m not leaving—”
The lilac duo rushed them. Luke pulled out his gun but Janaya moved even faster. She spun about and let rip with a kick at one of the weapons. It glinted silver as it flew through the air. The other alien fired. The violet flash from the weapon was blinding, close enough to sear his eyeballs. But it missed.
Janaya closed the distance between them in one bounding step and smashed her knee into the alien’s face.
“Go, Janaya!” Hinekiri cheered from behind him.
“Get her in the ship,” Janaya snarled over her shoulder.
Luke gestured at Hinekiri with a jerk of his head. “Do as she says. Let Janaya concentrate on what she needs to do.”
“We may as well,” the dog complained. “They don’t have food.”
Once he was sure Hinekiri was inside the ship, he turned back to Janaya. She feinted a move to the right then lashed out with another lethal blow with her right foot. She landed a kick. Luke heard the crack of bones as one of the aliens crashed to the ground. Janaya pointed her weapon at the still form and calmly pulled the trigger. The alien disintegrated before his eyes, leaving nothing but a pile of smoking embers.
Luke stared, shock holding him immobile. Janaya stalked the other alien.
It backed up then fumbled for its weapon. Luke noticed the weapon shook despite the alien’s scowling bravado.
“Police,” Luke shouted. “Put the weapon down.” Healthy fear slithered through his veins as the alien’s cold gaze sliced through him, rampant with the promise of retaliation.
“Stay out of this,” the alien snarled, brandishing his weapon at Luke.
Luke froze, glancing at the pile of dust that was all that remained of the dead alien. He didn’t want to end up like that.
Behind him, the dog barked. Luke watched it dart into the low scrub to the right of the spaceship. Seconds later, the dog shot out behind the alien and sank sharp teeth into the back of his calf.
“Get the devil creature off,” the alien shouted and shook his leg vigorously, kicking out and swinging the dog through the air.
With the alien distracted, Janaya jumped him, hitting out with her fist. Off-balance, the alien wobbled then toppled to the ground with the dog still attached to his leg.
Janaya didn’t hit like a girl, Luke thought pursing his lips in a silent whistle of admiration.
Note: This is book one in my Talking Dog series. It is also available in a print anthology featuring the first two Talking Dog books, Talking Dogs, Aliens and Purple People Eaters and Never Send a Dog to do a Woman’s Job.
Follow the links to read other snippets:
Anya Bast
Cynthia Eden
SJ Day
Vivi Anna
Jaci Burton
Mandy Roth
Michelle Pillow
Juliana Stone
Moira Rogers
Sacha White
TJ Michaels
Maura Anderson
Beth Kery
Jody Wallace
Eliza Gayle
Kelly Maher
Elisabeth Naughton
Taige Crenshaw
Beth Williamson
