Andy McDermott - The Tomb Of Hercules

Collision course-

The driver of the speedboat swerved first, throwing off the aim of the other men. Just as Chase had hoped.

He hurled the hook at the speedboat. It hit its bow with a bang as the two vessels passed. The rope whipped out behind it.

The hook shot back across the bow-

And caught on the handrail, snapping taut.

The gunmen were just recovering their aim when the nose of their craft suddenly flew up into the air, the speedboat flipping upside down as the airboat yanked it backwards.

All three men were flung from the boat, splashing into the muddy water. A moment later, the inverted speedboat landed on top of them and slammed them into oblivion.

The airboat lurched as it dragged the speedboat behind it. Chase pointed at the metal ring where the mooring rope was tied to the hull. Nina clambered over to it and, after some fumbling, unfastened the knot. The rope shot free and disappeared behind them, the airboat surging forward as the weight of the capsized speedboat was released.

Chase looked up to get a bearing on the sun, then turned northwards. There was still one more boat chasing them, its engine revving.

There was another noise too, a distant rumble somewhere off to the northeast.

Rapids .

But Chase didn’t have time to think about it. More small islands lay ahead, knots of earth and rock and trees with narrow waterways winding between them. A pair of gazelles looked around in fright at the noise of the boat, then fled, leaping from one island to the next.

Envying them their speed, he turned left, hoping to get back onto the river leading to Nagembe-

“Eddie!” Nina yelled, pointing back. Chase saw Fang’s boat only twenty yards to port, angling after them.

Fang stood in the passenger seat, holding the top of the windshield. He had something in one hand, sunlight flashing from it-

“Jesus!” Nina gasped. “That crazy bastard’s still got his sword!”

Chase could imagine only one reason why Fang would have that particular weapon at the ready. “He’s going to jump aboard!”

“Oh my God! What does he think this is, Pirates of the frickin’ Caribbean?”

“Get up here!” Chase yelled. “You drive the boat-I’ll take care of him!”

“Are you serious?”

Chase flashed her a crooked grin as he awkwardly got out of the seat to let Nina climb up. “Stand by to repel boarders!” He jumped down to the deck as Nina took the controls.

The speedboat was level with them now, closing fast. “Go between the islands!” Chase told Nina as he picked up the oar, indicating the twisting channel ahead.

“It’s too narrow! This thing steers worse than an SUV!”

“Just pretend you’re trying to swerve through the potholes on Fifth Avenue!” Chase gripped the metal frame supporting the chair with one hand just as the speedboat slammed into the side of his vessel, kicking up a wall of water and almost throwing Nina from her perch. Chase staggered, only his hold on the seat keeping him from being knocked flat on his back.

With a yell, Fang leaped from the speedboat.

He landed in the empty bow of the airboat and immediately dropped into a fighting stance with his sword held out before him, legs spread wide for balance as Nina clumsily guided the vessel into the channel between the islands. It was too narrow for both boats to enter side by side; the speedboat slowed abruptly and swerved in behind her, the tip of its bow only a few feet from the airboat’s stern.

Chase quickly assessed his opponent. The sword-cane wasn’t just an affectation-Fang clearly knew how to wield the blade in anger.

And all he had as a weapon was an oar…

Fang sprang forward, the sword slashing at Chase’s head. Chase whipped up the oar to deflect it.

Crack!

The oar broke in two as the sword sliced cleanly through it. Dismayed, Chase ducked, then dropped the clumsy paddle end as Fang drew back and attacked again, this time stabbing at his chest. He swung the other piece of the oar like a club, trying to hit Fang’s sword arm as he twisted away from the thrust.

Fang saw the move coming-and changed targets.

The sword sliced through the sleeve of Chase’s leather jacket and into his right bicep. Chase roared in pain, dropping the oar and grabbing the wound with his left hand as his adversary drew the bloodied sword back for another strike-

The airboat shook violently, the edge of its hull scraping along the steep bank of the channel as Nina’s turn went wide. Fang lurched, throwing his arms out for balance.

Chase dived at him.

He rammed the top of his head into Fang’s rib cage like a charging bull, following with a punch from his left hand into his stomach. Air whooshed from Fang’s mouth and he fell back onto one of the bench seats.

Chase straightened and grabbed Fang’s sword arm with his left hand, fiercely gouging his thumb into the tendons in his wrist. If he could make him drop the sword-

Pain exploded in his wounded arm. Fang was doing the same to him -but his thumb was digging into the bloody cut in his bicep!

Chase screamed, the pain almost overwhelming him. He released Fang’s wrist and wrenched himself free of the other man’s grip, in the process stumbling over a seat and falling on his back.

Fang stood and raised his sword, about to plunge it down like a steel stake into Chase’s heart-

Nina slammed the airboat against the other bank of the channel, this time on purpose. Dust and stones showered its occupants. She hauled at the controls, the craft rocking drunkenly across the confined waterway.

Staggering from the impact, Fang fell, the blade still pointing down at Chase-

Chase saw the flash of silver descending and snapped up both his legs, catching Fang’s torso on the soles of his boots and flinging him over his head to crash down in front of the driver’s seat.

Another bank loomed ahead. Nina pulled on the control levers, the airboat slewing sideways around the curve and just barely avoiding impaling itself on the rocky shore before sweeping out of the channel and back onto another river, now heading downstream. The speedboat followed, gaining speed and moving alongside.

Its driver took out a gun.

Chase rolled and jumped to his feet, wincing at another searing stab of pain from his arm. Fang seemed dazed, but he was still holding the sword.

If Chase could kick it out of his hand…

He leaped over the bench seat-

Nina saw the gun pointing at her. “Shit!” She swerved the airboat-not away from the other vessel, but towards it.

The deck shifted beneath Chase as he landed, his boot just missing Fang’s hand. He wobbled, unbalanced.

The other boat swung away, its driver sawing frantically at the wheel to avoid a collision, his gun momentarily forgotten.

Fang’s arm sliced up.

The blade chopped through Chase’s jeans and bit into his calf in a spurt of blood.

The agony was so great that Chase almost passed out. He collapsed onto one of the seats. Fang got to his feet, ponytail whipping in the wind. Chase could see Nina in the driver’s seat behind him, a look of helpless horror on her face.

He pressed his left hand over the wound, a new wave of pain rolling through his leg. Fang sneered down at him, lifting the sword again. The bloodied tip danced like an insect in front of Chase’s eyes, about to make a killing thrust-

Fang’s head suddenly snapped forward as Nina smashed her boot heel into the back of his skull.

He staggered-

And came within reach of Chase’s uninjured leg.

Chase drove his foot hard against Fang’s kneecap. It crunched horribly, Fang’s face contorting in pain as he hobbled backwards. Nina swung her arm and delivered a backhand punch into his face as he drew level with her, knocking him back still farther-