David Robbins - Capital Run

“Funny boy, ain’t you?” Terza said. “Okay. I tried to be nice about this.

But if you won’t tell me where you come from, then I’ll have to persuade you to talk.”

“I will not answer your questions,” Rikki assured her.

“We’ll see about that, lover boy.” Terza turned and nodded at two of the women. They crossed to Lex, and one of them unlocked her shackles while the second kept her covered with a revolver.

Lexine rubbed her sore wrists, then removed the gag from her mouth.

“You bitch!” she snapped at Terza.

Terza motioned toward the center of the chamber. “Set her up.”

The two women grabbed Lex by the arms and hauled her from the room.

“What are you going to do to her?” Rikki asked.

“You’ll see,” Terza replied.

Blade surveyed the chamber, lit by a dozen lanterns positioned at regular intervals along the balcony, affixed to metal brackets. Where did the Knights obtain the fuel for the lanterns? From the Technics? The ceiling was vaulted, constructed of polished wood. Evidently this chamber had been under construction at the outset of World War III and never finished.

Lex and the pair of Knights appeared on the balcony on the far side of the room. One of the women was carrying a coiled rope.

“You sure you don’t wanna tell me everything I want to know?” Terza asked Rikki.

Rikki remained silent.

Terza shrugged. “Suit yourself. But I think you’re about to change your mind.”

One of the Knights on the balcony tied the rope to the balcony railing, then turned and said something to Lexine.

Rikki saw Lex shake her head.

The second Knight shoved her revolver into Lexine’s stomach.

Lex walked to the edge of the balcony. She held her arms straight out.

The Knight with the rope used it to bind Lex’s wrists.

“Last chance,” Terza said, mocking Rikki.

Rikki resembled a granite statue.

“Do it!” Terza shouted to the two women on the balcony.

The Knights seized Lex and forced her to the edge of the balcony. Lex fought them, striving to wrest her arms free, but she was unable to avert their intended design; she was rudely jerked off her feet and pushed over the balcony railing. She dropped like the proverbial rock, her descent brutally terminated when she reached the end of the rope, her feet dangling five feet above the earthen floor. She gasped in torment as her arms were wrenched upwards, her head snapping back, whiplashed, and her teeth jarring together.

“The fun’s just getting started,” Terza said to Rikki. “You can put a stop to it by telling me where you come from. What do you say?”

Rikki looked Terza in the eyes. “If it’s the last act I live to perform on this planet,” he said calmly, “I am going to eliminate you.”

“Tough talk!” Terza said, chuckling. She slowly drew the Llama Super Comanche V’s belted around her slim waist. “You know what to do!” she yelled to the Knights on the balcony.

The pair of Knights leaned over the railing, gripped the rope, and started moving the rope in wide arcs, back and forth, causing Lex to swing like a human pendulum.

Terza aimed her left Comanche and fired.

The brick wall beyond Lex sprayed chipped mortar and brick onto the floor.

“Damn!” Terza said, laughing. “I missed.” She stared at Rikki. “One more time. Where do you come from?”

Rikki frowned and lowered his gaze.

Terza pointed the Comanches in the direction of Lex. “I thought you had the hots for Lex, lover boy,” she said. The Comanches boomed, the twin shots narrowly missing Lex’s swaying form. “I guess I was wrong.”

Rikki stared at the dirt floor, struggling to restrain his seething emotions. Maintaining his self-control was of paramount importance: self-control was the essence of a Warrior’s character, and exhibiting self-control during a crisis was the critical test of anyone dedicated to the martial arts. He quivered from the intensity of his fury, but his inner discipline was superlative.

“Sooner or later,” Terza said, baiting him, “one of my shots is bound to hit her. Won’t it bother you knowing you’re responsible for her death?”

Rikki’s fists were clenched so tightly his nails were digging into his palms.

Terza’s right Comanche thundered, but again Lex was spared any injury.

“Let me try,” Cardew interjected eagerly.

“What do you say, lover boy?” Terza asked Rikki. “Should I let Cardew have a go at it? He’s not as good a shot as I am. He’ll probably put a bullet right between her eyes.”

Rikki glared at Cardew.

“Still the tough guy?” Terza said to Rikki. “Well, don’t say I didn’t warn you.” She looked at Cardew. “Have some fun.”

“Thanks!” Cardew drew his Browning.

“Enough of this!” declared a deep voice.

All eyes focused on the muscular giant.

“Did you say something?” Terza asked.

“Enough of this,” Blade reiterated. “I’ll answer your questions.”

Terza studied him quizzically. “You will, huh?”

“I will answer whatever I can,” Blade said.

“Just like that?” Terza remarked skeptically.

Blade nodded toward Lex. “Release her first.”

Terza snickered. “Don’t tell me that you’ve got the hots for Lex too? What’s she got that I ain’t got?”

Blade straightened. “I do not have the… hots… for her. I already have selected my mate for eternity.”

“Eternity?” Terza laughed. “Who said anything about eternity? I figure you want to jump her buns for a one-nighter.”

Blade’s mouth curled downward disdainfully. “I also have no desire to jump her… buns. I have pledged loyalty to my wife, and I will not violate my vow.”

“Yeah. Sure.” Terza tittered. “Big words, mister. But they don’t mean crap! Are you tryin’ to tell me you would say no if a fox wanted some fun in the sack with you?”

Blade nodded. “The only fox I want to have fun with is my wife. We are loyal to one another because we love each other.”

“Loyalty?” Terza said angrily. “Who the hell cares about loyalty?”

“Loyal couples are growing couples,” Blade stated. “Without loyalty, love withers and dies.”

“What the hell are you? Some kind of poet?” Terza shook her head in wonder.

“Sounds like a real wimp to me,” Cardew commented.

“What’s it going to be?” Blade demanded. “Will you release Lex?”

Terza holstered her Comanches. “Sure. But remember one thing. I can have her strung up again if you give me any grief.”

“I have given my word,” Blade reminded her.

“Your word don’t mean diddly to me,” Terza said. She raised her face to the two Knights on the balcony. “Cut her down! Then chain her on the wall next to lover boy!” She grinned at Blade. “Satisfied?”

“Ask your questions,” Blade said.

“Not here,” Terza said. She glanced at Cardew. “I want you to bring him to my room after Lex is chained. I’ll be waiting.” She wheeled and stalked from the chamber.

Cardew walked up to Blade and winked conspiratorially. “Ain’t you the lucky one!”

“What do you mean?” Blade inquired.

“Don’t play innocent with me!” Cardew nudged the Warrior in the ribs.

“I think Terza wants you for herself. You should be flattered.”

“Wants me?” Blade repeated, puzzled. “But I just told her I already have a mate.”

“Terza could care less about your mate,” Cardew disclosed. “If she decides she wants a man, she ups and takes him.”

“And the man doesn’t have any say in the matter?” Blade queried.

“A man can’t refuse a woman,” Cardew said. “That’s the law.”

“Not where I come from,” Blade informed him.