Robert Ferrigno - Sins of the Assassin

“Hey! I thought we were supposed to stay out here,” said Leo.

Rakkim listened to the rats scurrying over debris. Mushrooms sprouted in the corners where the rain got in.

“I don’t like being here by myself,” called Leo.

“Then come inside.”

“I don’t like it in there either.”

Rakkim’s laughter echoed among the melted bottles of suntan oil and shattered bisque lawn jockeys. He heard Leo cursing as he darted inside, tripped.

“Where are you?” asked Leo.

“Right here,” said Rakkim.

“Right here,” said Malcolm Crews at the same time.

Rakkim turned slightly as Crews detached himself from a darkened corner of the structure, dressed all in black, a shadow among the shadows, his own darkness deeper than any natural phenomenon.

“Surprised?” said Crews.

“Very,” said Rakkim.

“Rikki?” said Leo, hands outstretched as he stumbled forward. “Who’s there with you?”

“Malcolm Crews.” Crews clicked his heels.

Rakkim looked around, half expected a dozen skeleton men to emerge from the gloom.

“It’s just me,” said Crews. “My flock can’t keep quiet to save their necks, and truth be told, they weary me.”

“How long have you been waiting?” said Rakkim.

“Since yesterday.” Crews stretched, his arms extending until they almost touched the ceiling. “Just kind of hibernating until you arrived.”

Leo held a butane lighter up, the tiny flame flickering as he found his way beside Rakkim. “Why…why don’t we talk outside?”

“Your Ident buddy’s afraid of the dark,” said Crews.

“I think he’s more afraid of you,” said Rakkim.

“Ah, well…who can blame him?” Crews settled back into the shadows, his back against the wall. “Sit down, I prefer talking in here.”

Rakkim picked his way over the debris to Crews, his knife back where it belonged, resting against the inside of his right forearm.

Crews reached out, pretended to pluck something from Rakkim’s ear. Showed him the shekel of Tyre. “Has the Colonel found the rest of these yet?”

“No, but we know where they’re hidden,” said Rakkim. “They’re at the bottom of an-”

“Underground lake.” Crews enjoyed Rakkim’s surprise. “Word’s leaked out that he’s searching for something, but we’re the only ones who know what it is.” He shoved his hands in his pockets, strolled around under that sliver of moon. “It’s peaceful here.”

Leo tripped over something, the lighter sliding across the floor. He fumbled around on his hands and knees looking for it.

“There’ll be a new moon in four days,” said Rakkim. “The Colonel will have brought up the shekels by then. You and your men should attack from the south-it’s a tough climb, but the Colonel’s defenses are thin in that area. You don’t have to launch a full-on assault, he’s too dug in for that-forty or fifty men should do it. Just a raid…something to distract them long enough for me to grab the pieces of silver. I’ll slip through the lines during the firefight and meet you back here.”

“My own little homing pigeon,” said Crews.

“Where else am I going to go?” said Rakkim.

“Indeed…” Crews stared at the brand on his hand. “Does your mark burn?” He looked up at Rakkim. “Mine does. Sometimes it hurts so bad it wakes me up at night.”

“No…it itches a little, that’s all.”

Crews smiled in the darkness. “Give it time.”

Rakkim rubbed his hand, stopped himself. “Can you have your men in position in four days?”

“They’ll do whatever I ask.” Crews stepped back, seemed to settle deeper into the darkness. “What about you, Rikki? Will you do what I ask?”

“I want what’s in that underground lake just as much as you do.”

“That’s not what I asked.” Crews leaned his head back, faced the sky. Lost in the immensity. “I was a full professor once upon a time. Chairman of the department. Hard to believe, isn’t it, considering the company I keep these days. Don’t think for a moment I’m not aware of that.” His head bobbed. “American literature, that was my specialty. Huck Finn. Moby-Dick. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay. Ah, the stories I could tell you, the depth of my insights…Do you read much, Rikki?”

“Not lately.”

“You should make time. I’ve…I’ve neglected my own studies too, for this…higher purpose.” Crews’s mouth twitched as though circled by worms. “Many are called but few are chosen…but they don’t tell you what you’re chosen for,” he snarled, his right hand sweeping aside a display of souvenir key chains. “Look at us. Called to the Church of the Mists, but left on the doorway…Locked out. Unfit. Unworthy.” He leaned forward. “Says who? We’ll show him, Rikki. You and I. Who dares stand against us?”

Rakkim belched.

Crews shook his head. “I like you.” He detached himself from the corner, eased closer, and Rakkim let him come. “This tale of the thirty pieces of silver, the ultimate blood money…lost and now found.” He cocked his head. “Is it really true? Or are you Judas himself, come to betray me? Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss. Is that who you are?”

“Don’t get your hopes up,” said Rakkim. “Four days, Malcolm. Don’t be late.”

“‘On a moonless night, I shall lead the army of darkness into battle,’” said Crews, taking a deep, theatrical bow, arms spread wide. “That’s Christopher Marlowe.”

Rakkim shrugged. “Don’t know this Marlowe guy, but it’s the title of an old horror movie too. Army of Darkness. Woman I know is a real fan of that stuff.”

“You’ll have to introduce me,” said Crews.

“Not a fucking chance.”

Crews glared at Rakkim.

There was only the sound of crickets rising and falling, the same sad note over and over coming through the broken windows.

“We…we should go,” said Leo.

“Yes, you should,” said Crews, not taking his eyes off Rakkim.

Rakkim led Leo out through the overturned display cases and soggy cardboard boxes, Leo lumbering along, keeping close, until the two of them were outside in the fresh air, the crickets even louder now, filling the night.

“I hate that guy,” whispered Leo.

“I’ve met worse.”

“Where?” Leo didn’t expect an answer, wouldn’t have believed Rakkim anyway. He looked toward the car. “Do I meet the Colonel tonight?”

“Tomorrow.”

“Did Mr. Moseby really find the canister?”

“It’s still at the bottom of the lake, but he’s seen it. He’ll bring it up when the time is right.”

Leo tore cobwebs off his hair, swatted at bugs that may or may not have been there. “The sooner the better.”

“It’ll be chaotic when Crews attacks the base camp-we’ll have plenty of opportunity to slip away with the weapon, once you tell me if it’s worth taking. I’ve picked at least eight potential escape routes-” The crickets stopped chirping and Rakkim grabbed Leo, hustled him into the car. Drove off at full acceleration, throwing up gravel from the tires as they shot down the road, lights off. Rakkim steered by starlight, as relieved as Leo to be away from the place, away from Crews.

Leo waited in vain for the headlights to come on. “Can you really see in the dark?”

“It’s not dark.”

“That must be useful.” Leo cleared his throat. “FYI, we won’t need to take the weapon when we escape, I can already tell you that.”

“I thought that was the whole idea. Take the weapon from the Colonel so he doesn’t destabilize the Belt or use it against the republic…maybe even turn it into a tool for reunification, show people in both countries that we can cooperate…What?”