The Howling Terror of Cadillac-9
Three dozen boys shifted nervously at the starting line as the Howling Terror snorted and stamped behind its gate.
All the boys except Usias had trained their lives to outrun the Terror. Those who succeeded would earn citizenship on Cadillac-9. Those who failed, died.
Usias stood facing the door that held the monster back. Another boy asked, “What are you doing? Get ready to run!”
Usias smiled and pulled a knife out from under his shirt as the Terror’s gate began to roll back.
“No, thank you,” Usais said. “While you were training to run, I was training to fight.”
Copyright 2018 Jeff Suwak
