Day 3 -- 9893, Total 40,062

Just short of 10,000. I thought it was 8,000 something earlier tonight and if I had known I was this close to 10,000 I might have pushed a little harder. (Grin) Still, I'm about 10,000 words ahead of where I had been this time last year or the year before.

The story picked up today. I think it might be my attitiude as much as the novel itself. And it's about to pick up big time as someone nearly kills one of the two main characters.

And here's today's snippet:

The fog began to lift the farther they went from the ocean. People watched them as they passed on the streets while they trudged along toward their own jobs. Cars drew stares. They made Nic and him unusual, and that might not be good sometimes, given their work. But the car helped more than hindered when it came to actually getting places they needed to be.

He wanted his own car back, and sighed knowing he wasn't going to see it again.

And at the next corner a huge old truck pulled straight out in front of them and stopped. Eli hit the breaks, cursing, and started to back up --

But another car raced up and blocked them off as well.

"Hell!" Nic said. "Donner and Blitzen."

Eli turned back around to see the two getting out of the truck. Not a good sign, especially the way they stalked toward the car, hands on their guns. Eli did a quick check, but there was no way he could get the car out of here and avoid this confrontation.

"We have witnesses, at least," Nic said. He glared at the two who walked over to Eli's window, since he was driving. Belton pounded on the window. "Let's find out what he wants. I can't pick up shit right now, except that they're really angry."

Eli shrugged and hit the window button. It slid down and Belton started to push his face in -- and then apparently changed his mind when he saw Nic pull the permaglass knife and put it in his lap.

"You two crossed the line," Belton said. His breath smelled of eggs and onions, not pleasant at all. "I don't know what the fuck you think you were pulling --"

"You two are the ones who took the car," Nic said. He nodded to Eli, confirming that he had picked it up. "When you do something that stupid, be prepared for the consequences."

"You want to talk about consequences, you stupid little punks --" Belton said, angrier again. He started to reach in. Nic lifted the knife.

Belton's hand went for his gun. Donner stopped him, nodding toward the people on the street. That didn't seem likely to be a deterrent to Belton. Eli heard him say something about no one walking away.

"Wish they'd go," Nic said. And he didn't mean Donner and Belton. "I don't want to see anyone else pulled down into our trouble."

"And he got his gun out of the glove compartment and handed Eli his as well. Belton took note of that. He even stepped away from the car.

Eli decided that he didn't have anything to lose right now by being bold.

"Unless you want us to file a harassment charge, you better get that piece of crap truck out of the way and let us out of here," Eli said. His voice stayed steady, even though he had the feeling Donner and Blitzen wouldn't take much encouragement to kill them. "We're damned tired of these games, Donner and Blitzen."

Belton's face went red. Donner caught his arm, said something to him.

Nic pulled out his link. Donner saw it and shook his head, coming to the window this time. Calmer, at least on the surface. He looked at Nic and shook his head.

"You really don't want to do that St. Jude. I get the feeling you don't want to die over this, now do you?"

"What the hell do you want?" Nic straight out asked.

"We don't want anything from you. We're here to just give you a warning. Don't ever turn the Feds on us again. You understand, boy?"

Eli hoped the surprise didn't show on his face. Donner didn't wait for an answer. He backed away, caught Belton by the arm and went back to the truck.

"What the hell?" Eli said, looking at his partner.

They were pulling away in the truck. The car that had them trapped behind had started to pull around. Nic had grabbed something out of the glove compartment -- air gun, tag.

"I want to know who was in that second car," he said, hitting the button on the window.

"Good point. Never heard of the two of them working with anyone else."

"Yes. And they knew where to find us."

"Hell. Weasel."

Nic waited until the car was right up beside them, and then shot the tag as it slipped past. He nodded. "Got the bumper. Let's get the hell out of here."