“Not me,” he said. “I’m going to sleep from here until whenever we stop again. I’m bushed; I don’t even think another round with the Chinese would wake my ass up once I go down for the count.”
As I slammed down half the energy drink he watched me, suddenly all serious.
“What?” I asked.
“This thing with Mark and John ... and Samara, it sucks, man. I want to try to talk everyone out of it – to find a way to bring everybody. Anyway, I know we can’t and I just want you to know, I respect your decision.”
“I know,” I said. “It does suck and if I could think of another way, I would grab onto it instantly. But Mark and John need real medical care, way beyond anything we can give. Samara though, well, you could see it too, I think she’s just tired of running. Anyway, it was their decision, John and Samara I mean. Mark is the only one we couldn’t really help.”
“What about the safe haven we’re headed to?” Luke asked with a hint of hope in his voice. I found it infectious and almost gave into it myself before cold, harsh reality won out in my mind.
“Even if we get there and find that the safe haven is real, there’s no guarantee that they’ll be able to provide the medical help to save Mark, or John for that matter.” I shook my head. “In this case, I think we just have to accept that the possibility of medical care from the Chinese is better than a gamble that there is actually a safe haven.”
“You think we’re on a wild goose chase?”
“No. I’m hopeful it’s there and that we’ll find it. But I’m pretty sure that at some point in the next few days, we’re going to be on foot again ... it’s going to be a hard slog even for those of us that are fit and healthy.”
“I didn’t think of that,” Luke said.
He bowed his head. I don’t know if he was quite convinced, but he seemed to accept my reasoning.
“Come on, let’s see how close we are to leaving.”
I finished the rest of the energy drink and walked to rear of the truck. The rest of the crew was packing the last of the goods Luke and I had scavenged into the rear of the truck.
I found Indigo in the cab of the truck.
“Riding up front again?” I asked her, hopeful.
“Of course, this is where the action is,” she responded with a playful smile. Her hour or so of rest seemed to have done her a world of good, but then, I thought she looked good even when she was about to collapse from fatigue.
“Can you shoot?” I asked her.
“Yeah, a bit,” she said, with a far-off look. “My dad taught me.”
I took out the revolver I had found in the gas station and handed it to her, along with a handful of extra rounds for it.
“You keep this, I already have one,” I said. “Two of them take up too much space in my pockets.”
“Thanks.” She looked it over and then held it out and lined up the sight. “Where’d you get this one?”
“In the gas station, when Luke and I went and checked it out.”
“Cool, I’ll keep it handy,” she said, sliding it into her coat pocket. “Is everybody else all ready to head out?”
“Pretty much,” I replied.
I turned to look toward the back of the truck and saw Sonny rolling the big garage doors open a little. It was dusk and light was fading, but full darkness wouldn’t hit for another half-hour or so.
Samara was sitting with Mark and John on the mat we left for them, the food and water piled nearby. The injured boys were covered with some of the extra blankets we had brought. The other passengers were standing around talking quietly, waiting for the word to climb back into the truck. I went over to Luke.
“I think we’re ready to go.”
He nodded and Sonny joined us.
“Twenty more minutes should give us full dark. We’ll go then.”
Something was nagging at me and I decided I would talk to Samara one more time before giving up on her.
“Excuse me for a sec.”
I walked over to the corner of the garage. Mark was still out of it, laying on his back, dark circles under his eyes, and John was laying with his head on Samara’s lap. He wasn’t asleep, but looked pretty exhausted.
“You won’t talk me out of staying, Isaac,” she said as if reading my thoughts.
“I’ve tried Isaac. She won’t listen to reason,” John said in a resigned tone.
Perhaps sensing my sadness, Samara put her hand on my knee.
“Please don’t take it personally. It’s got nothing to do with you. I’m glad they made you leader while Sonny was down. You’ve been great and did well to get us this far. I’m just sick of hiding and running and I don’t like the idea of leaving two injured friends behind to fend for themselves, but I understand why it had to be this way. Plus, if I’m here, at least they’ll have someone to tend to them.” Samara paused as if weighing her words carefully. “Besides ... maybe it won’t be so bad with them in charge, you know?”
In another time and place I might have argued with her, but I could see that John was right; Samara had persuaded herself it was the best thing to do. I gave her hand a squeeze.
“Okay, I hope it works out for you – for all of you. Is there anything else I can do before we go?”
“Well, you could watch Mark while I duck out to the little girl’s room.”
“Sure, don’t go too far though.”
Samara pulled herself from under John’s head and left the garage. I put my hand on Mark’s forehead. He was burning up ... badly. I had a terrible feeling he wouldn’t last the night.
“SONNY!”
Allie’s despairing shriek caused me to snatch my hand away. I shot to my feet. She was at the rear corner of the truck pointing to the opening of the shed. The doors were not in my line of sight as I ran towards her, and joined Sonny and Luke as they raced from the cab. They pulled up quickly when they saw what had startled Allie. So did I.
There were three figures, backlit by the last light of dusk. Their faces were in shadow. I didn’t need to see them though – in the middle was the unmistakable figure of the leader of the Tigers, Chen. Next to him stood another of his gang members, and the third figure, held tightly by the thug’s arm, was Samara, a short blade pressed to her throat.
Sonny took a step forward.
“Stand still, all of you, or the girl gets it in the neck,” snapped Chen.
I saw the shape of a pistol in his hand.
There was not a doubt in my mind he was desperate and just crazy enough to carry out his threat.
“What do you want, Chen?” Sonny asked over the top of Allie’s screaming.
“Oh, you’ll find out asshole,” he spat. “First shut that bitch up!”
Sonny put a hand on Allie’s shoulder and pulled her close.
“Hush now. It’ll be okay, go and sit in the truck till I tell you to come out.”
“Doors,” snapped Chen to his sidekick.
Samara gasped as the man dragged her to the doors and pulled them closed without loosening his grip. I took another step forward but stopped when Chen’s eyes locked on me.
“That’s right ... soon enough, laowai. Somebody put a light on,” he said, his eyes fixed on me.
I heard movement in the back of the truck and, somehow still working, the light in the cargo bay came on. Chen turned back to Sonny.
“Well, here we are again, Sonny. I’m not particularly upset you didn’t hook up with us when this invasion shit went down. I probably would have had to kill you anyway. No good having two alphas in the pack, if you know what I mean. Anyway, all that is water under the bridge. I’m even willing to forget that you and your baby Kung Fu gang led us into a trap that got all my men killed. Maybe you did me a favor – a big group like that was bound to get noticed by the Chinese eventually.
“What I’m not willing to forget, or forgive, is the filthy laowai who killed Jack. Just hand him over and the rest of you can go wherever you were headed. Based on what I saw that helicopter do, you
have friends in high places.”
“No, not negotiable,” Sonny said simply.
“Your brother got what he deserved!” Indigo yelled as she jumped fearlessly out of the truck and came around to face Chen. “He was going to rape me!”
“Well, well, well. Jack always did have good taste in bitches,” he said, flicking his tongue over his top lip.
Unafraid and with fire in her eyes, Indigo stepped forward even as I did.
“Come on!” Chen screamed and stepped forward, quickly placing the muzzle of his gun against Indigo’s forehead. Indigo froze and so did I. It was me he addressed next though. “Another move like that and I’ll put a bullet through her head.”
I stood there with adrenalin coursing through my body, frustrated and helpless to protect the people I had been charged with caring for. There seemed to be no way out, but then it came to me. The one and only option I had to get us all out of this situation.
“Please, Chen,” said Sonny in a calm voice. “We’re screwed enough as it is without helping the Chinese by killing ourselves. Please, lower the gun.”
I was shocked when the leader of the Tigers did just that. He lowered the gun and took a step away from Indigo. I saw her shoulders relax and she stepped back against the truck.
“You know what, Sonny? You’re right, and in honor of the fact we were once Tigers together, I’ll let all of you go. All except him.”
He pointed his finger at me like it was a loaded weapon.
“No, I already told you, it’s non-nego-”
“Sonny,” I said loudly, interrupting him. “It’s alright – he’s right. It’s the only way. This won’t end until I’m dead ... or he is. The only thing we need to work out is if he’s going to shoot me like a coward or fight me like a man.”
I saw my words have the desired effect. Chen raised his chin defiantly.
“You want to fight me, laowai?” he asked, incredulous.
“My name is Isaac,” I said, as I walked forward holding his cocky gaze with my own defiant stare. “And yes, I do. I want to fight you. Hand to hand, no weapons.”
Chen laughed hard. My gaze didn’t waver. Finally, he stopped laughing and looked at me, unsmiling as he used the muzzle of the gun to scratch his chin.
“Geez. I don’t know, I-Zack, you speak of cowards, but I seem to remember you shot my brother with a machine gun.”
“He was armed and in the middle of raping a girl ... like a coward.” Chen’s eyes flashed angrily. “He would have shot me too, if he’d had the chance.”
Chen paused to consider the situation.
“Alright, I-Zack,” he said after a few seconds. “Just the satisfaction I get beating you to a bloody pulp before I kill you will make it worthwhile.” He looked at his heavyset partner. “Zhou, if anyone makes a move while this is on, cut the girl’s throat and take out as many of them as you can.”
“Yes Boss.”
“Isaac, you don’t have to do this,” said Sonny, stepping between us and holding his hands up like a traffic cop. “Chen, I’ll fight you.”
Chen looked down at Sonny’s blood-soaked t-shirt, then back into his eyes.
“As much as I’d like to kick your ass for the trouble you’ve given me, it wouldn’t be a fair fight. But, if you really want a piece of me, I’m happy to give you a shot. You’ll just have to wait your turn.”
“It’s alright, Sonny, I know what I’m doing.”
Conflicted, Sonny looked at me for a few seconds then nodded, stepped up to me and lowered his head.
“Any means,” he whispered.
I nodded and Sonny went back over to the truck where the others watched on with apprehension. I looked at Indigo and was strangely pleased by the concern etched on her face.
When I looked back to Chen, he handed his gun to Zhou and pulled his t-shirt over his head. He was impressively muscled, not an overblown bodybuilder type, but the kind of ropey, hard muscle that comes from years of martial arts training and fighting. His abdomen looked like it was carved from stone, its only blemish a small scar that looked like it was the result of a knife wound.
A tiny seed of doubt sprouted in my mind but I quickly stomped it underfoot. My short time working with Sonny had revived my Kung Fu skills and his insistence on the any means principle made sense in this new, savage world. Basically, he had drilled into me the need to use any means fair or foul to disable an opponent. To disregard all sense of fair play. To kill or be killed. I knew this would be my first ... or last test.
I turned my back on Chen and walked away from the truck into the center of the big shed. Chen followed.
The garage was getting colder and our breath plumed in the air as we faced off. I took off my jacket but left my t-shirt on. Chen eyed me cockily, and I hoped his cockiness might work in my favor. That and the fact I might have the element of surprise on my side. He had no idea of my skill level and, in fact, probably assumed I had none at all.
I stood on the balls of my feet with my knees slightly bent and held up my fists. Chen snorted and stalked straight at me. I waited until the last possible second, then tilted backwards, eluding his flying fist, and stepped back lightly out of his reach.
His eyes widened slightly at my skillful evasion, but his face still told me he was overconfident. Stupidly, he tried the same move again, this time I ducked his fist and rabbit punched him in the side before quickly moving away again. He winced and rubbed his side. I hadn’t inflicted any real damage but now he was taking me seriously.
Chen sneered to show me it hadn’t hurt and then raised his fists before coming at me again, this time more carefully. I waited as he slowly closed the gap between us.
I wasn’t quick enough to evade his next punch but it only glanced off my chin. Too late I realized it was a feint and the second punch, the real one, got me in the stomach. Breath whooshed from my mouth and nostrils and I doubled over as he deftly moved out of my reach.
I heard gasps of despair from my group over my heartbeat throbbing in my ear.
His retreat was unnecessary as I was in no condition to counter. Instead of pressing his attack he took the opportunity to gloat, raising his arms and nodding like a victorious prize fighter. The audience was unappreciative but his strutting allowed me time to regain my breath. I didn’t need to, but I remained doubled over in an attempt to stoke his overconfidence.
It worked.
Without warning, he stopped his prancing and took two steps before launching a vicious roundhouse kick at my head. I rolled under the kick, not quite fast enough to evade it completely. His heel grazed my cheek, right on the crusted over wound, but didn’t halt my momentum. My roll continued and I punched him hard in the groin as I rolled under him. He fell to the floor swearing and holding his jewels.
Dazed from the blow to my cheekbone, I climbed to my hands and knees as warm blood flowed down my face. I watched Chen warily as he also struggled to rise. Score, one each, I told myself.
I made it to my feet as he struggled to his knees. I waited.
“Attack him, Isaac!” yelled Sonny.
Even though it felt wrong, I knew Sonny was right. I had to take advantage of him while he was down. Hadn’t he done the same to me? I thought of him putting the gun against Indigo’s forehead and channeled the rage. I rushed forward and aimed a kick at his head.
Perhaps not quite as incapacitated as I thought, he grabbed my foot mid-air and twisted it viciously. I groaned in pain but allowed myself to fall the way he twisted, avoiding injury.
Unfortunately, I fell hard and the side of my head smacked against the cold concrete of the garage floor. I know it sounds cliché, but I saw stars. I struggled again to rise and, to my horror, saw Chen had now made it to his feet. Worse, his eyes screamed murder.
I was in pain, the agony of my cheek cutting through the concussed fog in my brain. He waited again, seeming to enjoy my drunken struggle to get to my feet. He knew he had me now. As soon as I made it upright, he danced around me, just out of my reach
. He bounced on the balls of his feet, and pushed his head forward as though daring me to hit him. I jabbed at him.
My attempted blow was sluggish; I knew the second I launched it that it wouldn’t strike him and the spry, smirking gangster, apparently recovered from the blow to his groin, ducked under it easily and rabbit punched my ribs.
His strike sent fresh ripples of pain through me and I teetered a little. Once again, he had skipped out of my reach without pressing his advantage. I didn’t fall; I knew if I did, it was over.
He came for me again and I knew this was it. The steely look in his eyes made it clear he was ready to finish things now. I just managed to dodge the first punch, and when the follow up to my ribs came, I sidestepped it and trapped his arm under my own. He tried to disengage, but I had him pinned. Chen rained blows on the top of my head with his free hand.
Luckily, I have a hard head and I was able to weather the blows. Sonny’s words echoed in my mind.
Any means.
While he was trapped against me, distracted, trying to bash my brains in, I grabbed his jewels through his jeans and twisted them savagely. I know it was a low blow, but this was a fight for my life, literally. He was not going to stop until I was dead. He’d already proved he wouldn’t show me any mercy; if I was to prevail, I couldn’t show him any.
Chen screamed and while he was preoccupied with the agony of his abused nether regions, I encircled his neck with my arm, pulling him into a classic headlock before deliberately falling backwards, letting my weight pull us down. We hit the floor hard, with me taking the brunt of the impact. Winded again, I held on, squeezing my arm tighter around his neck, holding on for dear life, as they say. My dear life.
He was on top of me, his back against me as he tried to roll us over so he could break away and resume pummeling me. I quickly used my other hand to lock my right arm in place and squeezed harder. He stopped trying to roll and, spluttering for air, began to elbow me in the ribs, frantically trying to make me loosen my grip. He got a few good blows in. I gasped in pain, but I held on, pulling my headlock tighter and tighter, slowly squeezing the fight – and life – out of him.
Fight Like Hell [America Falls Series | Books 1-6] Page 23