The Shotgun

A military-issue, pump-action 12-gauge shotgun is recognizable by its aluminum trigger guard, shorter, heavier barrel, ghost ring sights, and ventilated steel hand guards that protect the operator from being burned during repetitive rapid fire. An internal tube magazine permits the weapon to fire 7+1 shells loaded with 9 hardened 00 buckshot: 8.4 mm pellets individually capable of deep penetration on soft targets.

A combat shotgun loses effectiveness at ranges over fifty meters.

But from five feet away -- like the one pointed at my head -- it will end you.

I'm not sure how long I've been standing here like this. Maybe two seconds. Long enough to look into this man's eyes and know without a doubt that he is going to pull the trigger.

REBEL has been trying to kill me all day. And now he has.

• Maybe a week before...