Field Maneuvers

I took the saddle on the plastic skeleton raptor at first light. My submachine gun stayed slung tight across my back. Gripping the taut black rubber reins with both gloved hands, I leaned low over the ribbed vertebrae and propelled the mount across the polished parquet. The molded plastic talons skated cleanly over the smooth wood grain. Approaching the dining perimeter, I hauled hard on the port rein to initiate a lateral pivot. The raptor banked through the narrow gap between two fluted timber chair legs, clearing the pinch point without clipping the finish. We halted firm against the raised edge of the wool rug. Mobile cavalry trial successful.