by Allan Cole
The child fell back on his pillow. Pale and silent as death.
Davyd turned away, looking for an avenue of escape.
And he thought, Screw ’em! Screw Father Zorza! Screw all the rest!
No way am I gonna kill this kid.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
“He’s coming, Master!” the gremlin squeaked. “Hurry!”
Davyd didn’t waste his breath cursing the gremlin, telling him to shut up! That he knew damned well the guy was coming.
As for hurrying, he was going as fast as he could, but the vent cover was resisting him.
The bolts holding the grill in place were old, some of the heads nearly stripped, slipping the grip of his little pneumowrench. The wrench made no sound, other than a faint purr, like a cat.
Behind him, Billy moaned in his drugged sleep, whispering “Lupe, Lupe,” with so much pain in his voice that Davyd knew the child was in the grip of a nightmare.
Poor kid, he thought. Wish I could tell you it’ll get better, but it won’t.
And then another bolt fell into his palm and he was almost there! Two more to go. Then through the vent and away to the storage room where his gear was stored.
He’d be off the Borodino and on his way to the rendezvous point in no time flat.
Too bad he didn’t have everything he needed. The report would be pretty damned slim. But it was a good start. Nothing to bitch about. Father Zorza wouldn’t be ecstatic, but he wouldn’t be disappointed either.
Davyd pressed the pencil-shaped wrench against the next bolt. He triggered it and the tool jumped in his hand, biting into the bolthead. The bolt came half-free, then jammed.
Davyd gave the wrench more power, muttering, “come on, baby, come on …” The bolt snapped, but no matter, he could bend the vent back. But then:
“He’s here, master!”
And Davyd sighed, dropping the wrench and coming to his feet to face his enemy.
He turned toward the door, drawing his weapon, already thinking how the guy might come, worried because Billy was on the bed and would be between them.
But if Davyd angled to the right, getting the kid out of the line of fire, he’d be in a lousy position— field of fire drastically reduced.
And from his sleep Billy cried, “Lupe!”
Davyd moved to the right.
* * *
Vlad came down the dark corridor like a wolf on the stalk, feet gliding silently, muscles working smoothly like powerful machines bathed in warm oil.
He was in a crouch, the corridor wall on his left, ahead dim yellow light from Billy’s room spilling through the open doorway to puddle on the floor.
Vlad could feel the presence of his Odysseus Corps enemy in the hot marrow of his bones. His heart ached for this kill— and kill it would be.
He had been fairly certain who his enemy was well before he entered the hospital. Any niggling doubts were swept away by the scent of cold darkness.
Pheromones of death— of kind knowing kind— drifting on the air.
Obviously, the proper course would be to capture the man and question him. Torture him until he confessed all he knew about the filthy Amer plot to humiliate Mother Russia.
Vlad’s methods in such things had never failed to get the desired answers.
If the enemy had been an ordinary man, that’s what Vlad would’ve done. Backed by a squad of the Borodino’s best, he’d have rushed the room, easily disarmed the guy, then bundled him up for a leisurely session of pain threshold testing.
But this was no ordinary man waiting for him in that room. And yes, he was waiting … Vlad had no doubt about that.
His enemy had thought about escaping, but he’d caught Vlad’s spoor as well and now he was getting into position to fight.
Vlad had to do this alone and not just because of The Rule. Against someone from Odysseus Corps, added men— no matter how good— would be in Vlad’s way.
His enemy would use them as a shield, dodging at super speed, trying for a lucky shot at Vlad as he killed everyone else.
Capture would not be a possibility.
The enemy would escape or die. It was the only choice open to him. Just as it would be Vlad’s only choice if he were in the same situation.
He was nearing the doorway now, and he slowed.
Creeping softly, softly, so softly. And thinking, “Come to me, enemy mine, come to me …”
* * *
Davyd was in full battle-mode, nerve endings on fire, a strange joy singing in his veins as he waited for his enemy.
It’d been a long time since he’d faced an equal. Only twice in a thousand years had he pitted his skills against the Russian assassins of the Church Of The Sword.
That he’d come away victorious, albeit wounded, in both incidents made a large part of the Davyd Kells legend in the Odysseus Corps’ Hall Of Heroes.
Now I’ll make it three, lucky three, Davyd thought, senses so finely tuned that he caught the soft fall of a shoe whiskering across a plas floor.
His enemy was only a few feet away, coming in from his blind side, but Davyd could feel his presence through the wall that divided Billy’s room from the hospital corridor.
Davyd lifted his weapon and considered putting a burst through the wall.
* * *
Vlad hesitated, thinking the best thing to do would be to simply toss a pin grenade into the room and blow the man into charred hunks of flesh.
But that would also kill the boy. Like Davyd, Vlad had no desire to kill children, especially that poor, soul-wounded little thing who had already suffered so much.
If there was no other choice, well, he’d have to accept that sin and the boy would die.
Even so— even if there were no child— Vlad wouldn’t have used a grenade.
Oh, no. This must be one on one. Mano-a-mano, as they said. The greatest thrill would be to kill him with his own hands, although that was unlikely to happen.
It would be over quickly.
One shot.
At the most, two.
Vlad paused inches away from the doorway.
He crouched lower, getting to ready to move.
* * *
Davyd dismissed the wall shot. If the guy was only wounded the return fire might hit the kid.
Okay, fine, you Rooskie son-of-a-bitch, show yourself!
And then we can play.
Come on … Come on …
Without warning a dark shape flew across the doorway.
Davyd fired.
* * *
Vlad launched himself into the air. He was on his side, presenting only a fast-moving, horizontal target.
As his head passed the doorway he saw Billy on the bed, then a man crouched in the corner, weapon at the ready.
There was a harsh cough as the man fired, but Vlad managed to get off a shot at the same moment.
A heavy blow struck his heel, then he was past the doorway and tuck-rolling to his feet.
Whirling around for the counter, feeling no pain in his foot … just a little clumsiness … smiling to himself as he realized only his bootheel had been shot off.
And his enemy had missed!
But so had he.
Vlad prayed he’d have better luck with his next shot.
* * *
Davyd felt the round pluck at his sleeve and laughed in hot glee at his enemy’s misfortune.
True, Davyd had missed as well— although for a second there he’d thought he’d blasted the guy’s foot off.
But from the sound of his enemy’s acrobatic recovery, he was unhurt. Still, now he was no longer on Davyd’s blind side. No wall to hide his attack until the last possible moment.
From Davyd’s position he could see a short distance down the corridor to where the light from Billy’s room faded into darkness.
Best of all, Billy was well out of the line of fire.
Just then he felt another presence!
It was moving down the corridor from his blind side.
S
hit! Were there two of them?
* * *
Vlad sensed the second presence as well.
Surprised, he turned his weapon slightly to cover the darkness where he thought the figure would emerge.
Probably some damned security officer who hadn’t received the order to stay clear of this area. It might very well prove to be a fatal mistake for both of them.
Then he caught the scent of familiar perfume.
Tanya Lawson!
Vlad hissed silent curses. He could only draw one conclusion: Lawson, as he suspected, was working with the Odysseus Corps.
There could be no other explanation for her presence.
He felt a wrench of deep regret when he realized he’d have to kill her.
The emotion surprised him.
* * *
“It’s Major Lawson, master,” the gremlin whisper-squeaked.
And Davyd thought, Damn, damn, double-damn! What the hell is she doing here?
Then it suddenly occurred to him that she might be working for the Russians.
A turncoat?
Tanya Lawson?
Davyd was suddenly very sad.
And then he heard her voice:
“This is Major Tanya Lawson of the United Worlds Police. I order you both to cease your hostilities at once!”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Tanya had never felt more stupid. As soon as she’d blurted the command she regretted it, but she couldn’t think of anything else to say.
It was plain that she’d just walked into the middle of a duel. She also had no doubt the duel had everything to do with her current investigation. She had to stop it, or valuable information might be lost.
But there was more to it than that. Her magical side— curse it— was buzzing with conflicting signals and sensory information.
Even as shadow figures, the two men were unlike any others she’d ever encountered.
Who were they?
She had to know, she just had to!
Realizing she could die in the next instant, Tanya stepped into plain view, saying: “I’m unarmed, so I’m no threat to either of you.”
Then, going by gut instinct, she added, “Be warned. If any harm comes to me, I promise you, neither of your governments will be pleased.”
She saw Vlad first. He was coiled on the far side of the doorway, weapon pointed directly at her. His eyes were glittering, frightening. For a moment she thought he was going to shoot.
But Tanya kept walking forward, dipping deep into her hated magical side, fumbling for a spell. She imagined a serene glade in a quiet forest with a smooth-surfaced pool in the center of that glade. All was calm. All was peace.
Tanya formed the image and cast the spell.
At the same time she was saying, “You, in the room! I’m going to walk to the center of the doorway where you can see me. Again, I warn you— don’t shoot!”
As she came forward she saw the surprise on Vlad’s face. The fires in his eyes were burning less intensely now.
Tanya held up empty hands, turning them this way and that. “You see, I’m unarmed. Just as I said.”
She came to the center of the doorway and stopped.
“Now I’m between you both,” she said. “If either of you catch me in a lie, I’ll be an easy target.”
Vlad started to speak, then shook his head. One word would give his position away.
Tanya strengthened the spell of peace. Vlad relaxed ever so slightly.
She turned her head slowly so she could see into the room. The sight of the sleeping boy gave her a jolt. For a few minutes she’d forgotten about him.
Christ, the stakes just went up! If she was unsuccessful the child might very well be killed.
Then she saw Davyd. Black Irish handsome, with curly hair and amused eyes.
He was crouched in a corner grinning a crazy grin, weapon aimed a few inches past her— covering the gap against an attack from Vlad.
“Hello, Tanya,” he said huskily.
An electrical thrill ran in the air between them. A small, bemused part of Tanya noted that the spark of mutual interest was identical to the one she’d experienced when she’d seen Vlad.
At the same time she caught Vlad’s twitch of surprise at the sound of Davyd’s voice. The Russian took one pace forward, pale blue eyes narrowed and gleaming like a Siamese cat on the stalk.
“Hey, you out there,” Davyd called out, freezing Vlad in place. “I don’t mind talking first, because you already know where I am.”
He barked laughter. “Hell, there’s not many places I could be in a room this size.”
Vlad didn’t reply. Despite Tanya’s spell, the sound of his enemy’s voice roused the serpent of hate in his breast.
Tanya bore down, drawing on her reserves to make the spell more powerful.
“He probably knows where you are as well,” she said to Vlad. “Why don’t you answer? What’s the harm?”
Vlad hesitated a moment, then nodded. He could see her logic.
“What do you want?” he called out to Davyd.
“A short truce,” Davyd said. “That’s all.”
Vlad grinned. “I don’t see where you’re in any position to ask for anything, my friend,” he said, voice heavy with irony.
“Depends on your point of view,” Davyd said. “Personally, I think I have a pretty good shot at tweeping you within the next few minutes. Problem is, we’ve got a kid in the way, plus Major Lawson. No sense taking them both with us.”
“He’s got a good point,” Tanya said to Vlad. “The boy is a complete innocent. And I’ve already warned you about harming me.”
She saw Vlad’s eyes cloud and she sensed he was looking within himself. When his eyes cleared they widened in amazement.
“I have no wish to … harm you, Tanya,” he said, voice thick with emotion.
Tanya felt an odd tug at her heart as somehow a bond was formed between them.
Before she could speak, Davyd called out, “So we get the truce then, right?”
“What makes you think I’ve agreed?” Vlad asked.
Davyd shrugged. “Simple. Right now both of us are violating orders. Just by not killing her. She’s seen us … spoken to us … and can guess who— and what— we are.
“Unless you guys at the Church Of The Sword have changed the rules, that means she’s a required kill. No exceptions. Am I right?”
Vlad nodded. “Of course,” he said. “Our rules are the same as the Odysseus Corps.”
Tanya was bewildered. “Church Of The Sword?” she said. “Odysseus Corps? Who the hell are you guys?”
“It would be best if you didn’t press for any further details, Tanya,” Vlad said. “To hear the names is reason enough for a death warrant.”
“Even though you’re a UWP cop,” Davyd added. “Our bosses don’t give a damn one way or the other.”
“So, why am I still alive?” Tanya demanded.
Davyd started to answer, then his jaw snapped shut. He shook his head. “For very unprofessional reasons,” he replied.
He looked at her with unshielded eyes, his troubled soul naked, his deep attraction to her plain.
Tanya sighed. “I understand,” she said.
She meant it. She could feel the attraction just as strongly.
And Vlad said, “Apparently you have two admirers, Tanya. I’d be jealous of my enemy, except it seems his feelings for you have kept you alive.”
Tanya was rocked by these twin declarations. Everything had suddenly become unreal. It was as if she’d stepped into another world where only three people existed: these two men and … Tanya.
She gave herself a mental shake, coming back to reality. Thinking, it must have something to do with my spell. Maybe I’m caught up in it myself.
Although she suspected her logic was wrong, she didn’t want to delve any deeper into the matter at the moment. There was an opportunity here. She should grab for it no matter what the reasons.
Billions of lives were at
stake.
“I have a proposal for you both,” she said. “Starting with— why don’t we extend this truce we’ve managed to work out? I’m sure your missions are essentially the same as mine. Which is to find out what happened to the HolidayOne.
“We should talk together. Combine our information. And get to the truth.”
“It is not within the power of either of us to grant what you ask,” Vlad said.
He waved his weapon at the doorway. “My Odysseus Corps friend in there knows this as well as I.”
“He’s right,” Davyd said. “In a few minutes, one of us has to die. That’s the way things are. And don’t think that I regret it for a minute. In fact, I’m going to take great pleasure in snuffing out his lights.”
Vlad smiled sadly. “You see how it is?” he said to Tanya. “We are sworn enemies. Have no doubts about that fact.”
Tanya snorted in disgust. “That’s ridiculous!” she snapped. “What’s more important, your missions or killing each other?”
The question surprised both men into silence.
“Here’s how I see it,” Tanya said. “We have a unique opportunity here to solve this incident. And I have to say this is the strangest case in my career. Things aren’t what they seem.
“Nothing so simple as the Russians did this, or the Americans did that. There’s more to it. Much more. And unless you two are dim-witted fools you’re already coming to the same conclusion.
“Am I right?”
No answer from either of the men.
Tanya stamped her foot. “Am I right!?” she demanded.
Slowly Vlad nodded. “Yes,” he said. “You are.”
And Davyd said, “Keep going, Tanya. Makes sense to me so far.”
“Good!” Tanya said. “I was hoping you guys wouldn’t disappoint me and reveal yourselves as complete numskulls.”
Davyd laughed. “Does that mean you’re thinking of liking me?”
Vlad also chuckled. “Dare I dream the same, Tanya?”
Tanya definitely didn’t want to get into that subject with either man.
“Never mind,” she replied to both. “Let’s stick to the subject. Which is my suggestion for an extended truce. The three of us can meet in some neutral place. Like aboard the ship that brought me here. The Stardove. That’s official UWP territory, under UWP jurisdiction. No one can bother us there.”