the Lonesome Gods (1983) (58 page)

"I am a man now," I said, and I shot above the stabbing flame from his gun.

He took a slow step back, and I shot again. The gun fell from his hand, and he grabbed for it, falling to his knees. He tried to get up then, and fell headlong, his hat rolling free.

"You should have died in the desert," he said.

"I am Johannes Verne," I said, "and I was not afraid."