Editing Queen of Spades: 'Hawk's Eye'

"See this, kid? Yeah, yeah, pick your jaw up off the floor. This is one of the Guns. Not like that pellet-spitter you've got. This one's called Hawk's Eye, the Queen of Spades. Might not be the most powerful, or the fastest draw, but she's damn-near perfect when it comes to distance and accuracy. Seems like half the time I barely even have to see the target to hit it."

The wizened old Gunslinger glanced up into the cloudless sky. I followed, wondering what he was watching. Suddenly, he grabbed Hawk's Eye, pointed it almost straight up, and pulled the trigger. To my surprised, even with ears uncovered, the sound of the shot was far from as loud as I expected.

"Might wanna stand back a little, kiddo. That's a hat on your head, not a helmet."

Puzzled, I took a few steps to one side. Seconds later, there was a dull thump, as a buzzard hit the earth where I'd just stood, a perfect vertical bullet-hole bored straight through its skull from beneath.

I hadn't even seen the carrion-feeder overhead, and he had struck it as easily as I would shoot empty bottles off a fencepost.

Truly, the Guns were weapons worth the awe and respect given them.

-Rogue Kitty