SITTING DUCK

Prophet turned to stare northwest over the rubble heaps. He’d heard what sounded like a blackfly sort of buzzing and whistling. The buzzing and whistling grew louder.

Mean and Ugly jerked his head up. At the same time, Prophet felt a sudden, searing pain in his upper right arm.

Before he knew what was happening, thunder clapped sharply in the northeast, and Mean and Ugly bucked suddenly with an indignant whinny.

Prophet cried as, losing his reins as well as his rifle, his entire right arm on fire, he twisted around and flew straight back off the pitching dun’s right hip . . .