David Robbins - Seattle Run

“No,” Blade admitted.

“That’s a balance beam,” Tiger disclosed. “The exact kind they used before the war. You or your friend will be on the balance beam with me.

The object is to walk from one end to the other without falling off. One of us will, and one of us won’t.”

Blade stared at the spikes under the beam and encircling it. Some of those spikes were a foot in length, others slightly shorter.

Tiger gazed in the same direction. “Those spikes were extremely difficult for our metalworkers to construct. Imbedding them in the floor was nearly as hard.”

Blade looked at the Shark leader. “Don’t go through with this,” he warned.

“Why not?”

“You might die,” Blade said.

Tiger threw back his head and laughed. “I might die? Your fear is showing, Blade!”

Rikki glanced at the beam, then at Blade. “Permit me.”

“No,” Blade said.

“I am smaller,” Rikki stated.

“So?”

“My feet are much smaller than yours,” Rikki noted. “To me, walking on the beam will be like walking on a fallen tree. To you, it will be like walking on a toothpick. I am more likely to retain my footing.”

“I’ll do it,” Blade insisted.

Tiger leaned toward them. “Gentlemen! Please! This argument is unnecessary. Each of you will have the opportunity to show your prowess on the beam. One of you will try with me tonight, the other at a later date.”

“I will do it,” Blade declared.

Tiger shrugged. “Suit yourself. Personally, I was hoping you would be the one.” He rubbed his hands together in anticipation.

Blade extended his arms. “Am I supposed to do this with my wrists tied?”

“Not at all,” Tiger said. “I said I would be fair.” He stared at the burly head of the escort. “Untie him.”

Rikki held his wrists up. “What about me?”

“What about you?” Tiger retorted. “Your wrists stay tied.”

Fabiana frowned.

Blade studied the balance beam as the burly Shark untied him. When his wrists were free he rubbed them to fully restore his circulation.

“Any questions?” Tiger asked the Warrior.

“What are the rules?” Blade queried.

“Rules?” Tiger repeated, and laughed. “There are no rules. The contest is simple. You climb on one end of the balance beam, I climb on the other.

The first one to reach the opposite end alive wins.”

“There’s not enough room for us to pass each other without falling off,” Blade mentioned.

Tiger smirked. “Acute, aren’t you? You are permitted to do whatever is necessary to get past your opponent.”

“And the one who falls off lands on the spikes,” Blade commented.

“Exactly,” Tiger stated. “Only one of us will win. Only one of us will be alive when it’s all over.”

Blade looked at the Shark leader. “Whose warped idea was this? Yours?”

Tiger did a mock bow. “I claim all the credit. After I became leader, after I had silenced all my opposition. I became bored with the routine.

Without stimulation, without challenges, even a superior man languishes.”

“How many have you murdered on this thing?” Blade asked.

“I don’t murder anyone,” Tiger responded testily. “Everyone has a fair chance.” He paused, chuckling. “Of course, my reflexes and sense of balance are superb. Nature’s gifts, you might say. And I am not to blame if others are not so gifted.”

“You didn’t answer me,” Blade pressed the Shark. “How many have you… killed on this beam of yours?”

Tiger shrugged. “Who keeps count? Two or three dozen, I’d estimate.”

Blade stared into Tiger’s eyes. “Your reign of abuse and murder ends here and now.”

“Ohhhh! I’m trembling in my boots!” Tiger said mockingly.

Blade took a step toward the balance beam. “Let’s get this over with.”

“Hold it,” Tiger said. “Don’t you want your Bowies?”

“I get to use my Bowies?” Blade asked in disbelief.

Tiger nodding, glancing at the burly Shark. “Cover him. Then give him his knives.”

Five Sharks trained their rifles on the Warrior.

The burly Shark walked over to the man who had carried the Bowies from the cell, took them, and returned the knives to the giant.

Blade hefted his prized Bowies, smiling. “You just made a mistake,” he said to Tiger.

“Did I?” Tiger rejoined. His hands disappeared behind his back, and when they reappeared a moment later he held a gleaming dagger in each palm.

“Good,” Blade said. “I want this to be fair too.”

Tiger turned toward the assembled Sharks. “Are you ready?” he yelled.

“Yes!” they thundered.

“Then let the contest commence!” Tiger shouted. He nodded at Blade, then threaded a path between the spikes to the far end of the balance beam.

Blade wondered how the Shark leader would mount the beam. The top of the balance beam was about five feet off the floor.

Tiger paused, deposited his daggers on the beam, and quickly removed his boots and socks. He picked up the gold-handled daggers, took one step backwards from the end of the beam, then gave a little hop and a jump, placing his closed hands on the edge of the beam for support, the dagger blades pointing outward.

Blade was impressed. Tiger’s motions were fluid and graceful, his strength incredible. The Shark leader sailed up over the end of the beam, his body doubling in half, his feet alighting on the narrow beam as he straightened.

Some of the Sharks cheered.

Blade leaned toward Rikki and lowered his voice to a whisper. “I hate to sound like a sore loser, but if this madman should win, would you do me a favor?”

“Anything,” Rikki promised.

“Kill him,” Blade stated.

“Will you two quit arguing over which one is going to do this!” Tiger impatiently called out. “Blade, tell your little friend he can have his chance after I dispose of you, if he wants.”

Rikki smiled at Blade, then looked at Tiger. “Glad to!” he responded.

Blade nodded at Rikki, then faced the balance beam. His stomach muscles tightened as he moved to the beam. There was scarcely room to place his boots between the spikes, and he couldn’t help but notice their razor points.

“Don’t take all day!” Tiger taunted the Warrior.

Blade reached the near end of the balance beam. He rested his Bowies on top, then emulated Tiger’s example by stripping off his boots and black socks.

Tiger folded his arms across his chest.

Blade gripped the Bowies, carefully rested his wrists on the top of the beam, then bent his knees and vaulted upward. He nearly missed. His buttocks came down on the very edge of the beam, and he would have toppled backwards onto the spikes were it not for the pressure of his wrists against the beam. He righted himself with a supreme effort.

Tiger laughed. “Inferior genes at work!”

Blade ignored the barb. He slowly brought his feet onto the beam, then, with his arms held out from his body to increase his balance, he stood.

“Bravo!” Tiger cried, clapping with the daggers in his hands. “Bravo!”

Blade gazed down at the spikes. There seemed to be a sea of them forming a wide circle around and under the beam. He hadn’t realized there were so many! One slip would be fatal!

“Shall we dance?” Tiger said to the Warrior.

“I’m not here to dance!” Blade snapped.

“Pity.” Tiger took a casual step forward and performed a remarkable maneuver. He leaped into the air, a good two feet above the beam, executed a 360-degree turn, and landed lightly on his feet, grinning.

Blade’s astonishment showed.

Tiger strolled toward the center of the beam. “Tell you what I’ll do. I’ll meet you halfway. If you can make it.” He walked to the middle and halted.