Nick Carter - The Defector

“They aren’t going to stop,” Nick said. “Come on. It’s now or never.”

He ran ahead of Kathy and Mike. The cars were picking up speed quickly. He put all his strength in his tired legs, and ran alongside the open doorway of a boxcar. With his hand on the floor of the car, he jumped and twisted, landing in a sitting position on the doorway. Kathy was right behind him. He reached down for her but she started falling back. Her breath was giving out, she was slowing. Nick got to his knees. Holding the door-post for support, he leaned out, wrapped his left arm around her tiny waist, and swept her off her feet and into the car behind him. Then he reached down for Mike. But Mike was quick on his feet. He grabbed Nick’s hand and swung himself into the car. The Tommy gun clanged beside him. They lay back, breathing hard, feeling the side-to-side sway of the car, listening to the clackety-clack of the wheels on the tracks. The car smelled of stale straw and old cow dung, but Nick couldn’t keep from smiling. They were on their way at about sixty miles an hour.

The train ride lasted for a little more than half an hour. Kathy and Mike were sleeping. Even Nick was dozing. He had dried all the shells in Wilhelmina and the Tommy gun, and swayed back and forth with the car, his head nodding. The first thing he noticed was a longer space between the clackety-clack of the wheels. When he opened his eyes, he saw the scenery was passing by much more slowly. He quickly got to his feet and moved to the open doorway. The train was entering a village. Ahead of the engine, the tracks were blocked by more than fifteen soldiers. It was dusk; the sun had almost set. Nick counted ten cars between his and the engine. The engine hissed and squeaked as it slowed to a stop.

“Mike,” Nick called.

Mike woke immediately. He sat up rubbing his eyes. “What is it?”

“Soldiers. They’ve stopped the train. Get your mother up. We’re going to have to leave.”

Mike shook Kathy’s shoulder. Her shift was split almost to her waist from running to the train. She sat up without a word, then both she and Mike got to their feet.

Nick said, “I think there’s a highway close by leading to a border town called Shench’ Uan. We’re going to have to steal some kind of vehicle.”

“How far is it to this town?” Kathy asked.

“Probably twenty to thirty miles. We still might make it if we can get a car.”

“Look,” Mike said. “The soldiers are around the engine.”

Nick said, “They’ll start searching the boxcars next. The shadows are on this side. I think we can make it to that shack over there. I’ll go first. I’ll keep an eye on the soldiers, then motion for you to follow one at a time.”

Nick took the Tommy gun. He dropped from the car, then waited in a crouch watching the front of the train. The soldiers were talking with the engineer. Keeping low, he ran a distance of about fifteen feet to an old way-station shack. He rounded the corner, then stopped. Watching the soldiers closely, he motioned for Mike and Kathy. Kathy dropped down first, and as she ran across the clearing, Mike left the car. Kathy reached Nick with Mike right behind her.

They moved behind buildings toward the front of the train. When they were far enough ahead of the soldiers, they crossed the tracks.

It was dark by the time Nick found the highway. He stood on the edge of it with Kathy and Mike behind him.

To his left was the village they had just come from, to his right was the way to Shench’ Uan.

“Do we hitchhike?” Kathy asked.

Nick rubbed his heavily bearded chin. “Too many soldiers move along this highway. We sure as hell don’t want to stop a truckload of them. The border guards probably spend some evenings and leaves in that village. It’s for sure no soldier is going to stop for me.”

“They would for me” Kathy said. “Soldiers are the same everywhere. They like girls. And let’s face it, that’s what I am.”

Nick said, “You don’t have to sell me.” He turned to look at the gully running along the highway, then back at her. “Sure you can handle it?”

She smiled and struck that fetching pose again. “What do you think?”

Nick returned the smile. “All right. Here’s how we’ll work it. Mike, stretch out along the highway here.” He pointed to Kathy. “Your story is your car ran into the gully. Your boy is hurt. You need help. It’s a lame story, but the best I can do on such short notice.”

Kathy was still smiling. “If they’re soldiers, I don’t think they’ll be too interested in any story I tell them.”

Nick pointed a warning finger at her. “You just be careful.”

She hung her head. “Yes, sir.”

“Let’s get in the gully until we see a likely prospect.”

As they jumped down into the gully, a pair of headlights appeared coming from the village.

Nick said, “Too high for a car. Looks like a truck. Stay put.”

It was a troop truck. The soldiers were singing as it passed. It went by and on down the highway. Then a second pair of headlights appeared.

“This is a car,” Nick said. “Get out there, Mike.”

Mike jumped out of the gully and stretched out. Kathy was right behind him. She smoothed her shift and patted her hair. Then she struck that pose again. As the car approached, she began waving her arms, making sure she held that pose. Tires squealed on the pavement as the car shuddered to a halt Still it passed Kathy about seven feet before it completely stopped.

There were three soldiers in it. They were drunk. Two got out immediately and started back to Kathy. The driver got out, staggered to the rear of the car and stopped, watching the other two. They were laughing. Kathy started to tell her story, but she had been right. All they wanted was her. One took her arm and mentioned something about how she looked. The other started patting her breast, making noises of approval. Nick moved quickly along the gully to the front of the car. When he was ahead of it, he climbed out of the gully and started for the driver. Hugo was in his right hand. He moved along the side of the car and came up behind the soldier. His left hand went over the mouth, and with one swift movement he sliced Hugo across the man’s throat. He felt warm blood on his hand as the soldier sank to the ground.

Kathy was pleading with the other two. They had hep shift above her waist, and while one pawed and rubbed her, the other was pulling her toward the car. Nick went for the one pulling her. He came up behind him, grabbed a handful of hair, yanked the soldier’s head back, and sliced Hugo across his throat. The last soldier saw him. He shoved Kathy aside, and pulled out a wicked-looking dagger. Nick had no time for a prolonged knife fight. The soldier’s beady eyes were dull with drink. Nick tock four steps back, switched Hugo to his left hand, pulled Wilhelmina from his waistband and shot the man’s face from his head. Kathy screamed. She doubled over, holding her stomach, and staggered to the car. Mike had jumped to his feet. He stood stiff, staring at the scene. Nick hadn’t wanted either of them to see anything like this, but he knew it had to happen. They were in his world, not theirs, and although Nick did not care for this part of his job, he accepted it. He hoped they would. Without hesitating, Nick rolled the three dead bodies into the gully.

“Get in the car, Mike,” he ordered.

Mike didn’t move. He stared at the ground, his eyes wide.

Nick went to him, slapped him twice across the face, and pushed him to the car. Mike went reluctantly at first, then he seemed to snap out of it and climbed into the back seat. Kathy was still bent over, holding onto the car for support. Nick put his arm around her shoulder and helped her into the front seat. He ran around the front of the car and got behind the wheel. He fired up the engine and started driving down the highway.