SFFSat 7/3/15 Korax Crisis

This is my snippet this week for SFFSat. I couldn't post last week - real life intervened - but this week I'm back. SFFSat is a place where a number of authors post snippets from their written works, and give the opportunity for comments, support and encouragement. Please also explore the other blogs that are part of this set - you can find the information here.

Today's snippet isn't from Sorrel. This is from Korax Crisis, a novel I worked on over ten years ago and which didn't work out. I'm wondering about having another go and seeing what I can do with it. In this snippet, a railway engineer, Beris, is waylaid on her way to work.

    A lace from her left boot endeavoured to trip Beris as she got close to the engineyard’s buckled railings. As usual, inanimate objects had a cruel desire to inflict grievous bodily harm upon her.

    By the time the bootlace had been persuaded to do its job properly, she had company - three soldiers, in smart uniforms.

    “Where are you off to?” demanded the one with the most braid on the dark blue shoulders as she got to her feet slowly..

    “None of your business” she retorted instantly. “What are you doing here?”

    The mouthy one glared at her. “Answer the question, girl.”

    'Girl' - Beris drew herself to her full five foot six, and glared at him. No one called her a girl any more - especially not a jumped-up soldier.

    “I work here, boy. What gives you the right to ponce around in your pretty uniforms stopping honest citizens working?”

    One of the others grabbed her arm. “Don’t get lippy” he snarled.

    He was on the ground before he realised it was her solid fist that had punched his lights out. 

   As always, comments welcomed!