The Death: The Complete Trilogy

by John W. Vance

  “Again, it’s your lucky day. I’ve made plans for most contingencies. After spending weeks with cannibals and slavers, I know the lingo and the process. I’ll figure out a way too, don’t you worry. Just be ready to go when I ask you to go.”

  “Do you know each other?” Poppy asked, coming up behind Devin.

  “Ah, no.”

  “You’re acting a bit familiar.”

  “Um, no, not at all.”

  “Then why the private conversation?” Poppy asked, suspicious.

  “He wants to know if I have any teen boys for sale,” Daryl joked.

  If Poppy wasn’t there, Devin would have punched Daryl in the face for such a disgusting and inappropriate comment.

  “I knew it, I just asked you if you were gay.”

  “The thing is he doesn’t have enough money,” Daryl continued his joke.

  “You know how you can earn a large sum?” Poppy asked.

  “How?”

  “Fight the woman tomorrow, there's a lot of men who have put their name in, but I'll make sure yours gets called."

  “You’re suggesting I fight the woman, for real?” Devin asked.

  “It pays well and you get to be up close and personal with that cunt, but the only catch is, you can't killer her."

  “Why's that?” Daryl asked.

  “The fight is more for show. The captain wants to personally kill her. He likes to skin people like her alive."

  “I’m in, I’ll do it,” Devin said.

  “Good, I’ll put your name in,” Poppy replied.

  "What did she do?"

  "She admitted to not only raiding our camp but bragged about killing the captain's son. She's a cold hearted bitch."

  Devin was shocked to hear Poppy call Tess cold hearted. This coming from such a man seemed ironic.

  "Interesting," Daryl said and shifted his eyes.

  "What's the look for?" Poppy asked sensing something in Daryl.

  "I think I heard about this.I come across many people as you know, us slavers interact with a endless number of people, but I think I may know where this girl comes from."

  "What do you know?"

  "I'm not saying I know her, but I heard a woman, oh, a month ago, discussing this with a large group of people out west."

  "Are you sure?"

  Fear struck in Devin, he didn't know where Daryl was going with this.

  "I can only be sure if I can meet her," Daryl said.

  "Not going to happen, the captain has given strict orders for her to be kept in solitary with no contact."

  "I migh be able to help but I'd have to make sure it's her."

  "Just tell me," Poppy insisted.

  "Listen, those people are good trading partners and I'm not about to jeopardize them on a whim or guess. I won't give you their location without two things happeing. One, I know for sure it's the girl and two, a payment."

  Poppy leered at Daryl, but he understood the modern economy. Instinctually, he wanted to just grab Daryl and force him to talk, but harming traders and slavers was not a smart move. As pirates they came upon goods and used the traders to move it for them. If word got out they treated traders poorly they'd lose commerce.

  "All I need to do is see this girl, it's that easy. Maybe talk to her to make sure."

  Poppy pondered the request and gave in. "Fine, come with me."

  "I want to come to, see who I'm fighting tomorrow," Devin blurted.

  "Not going to happen, I'm already doing this, not anymore," Poppy argued.

  "Oh, c'mon, the more the merrier."

  Poppy looked at both me, his nostrils flared as he breathed in deeply. "Let's go, we have to make it quick," Poppy barked and marched off.

  “I can see your mind spinning, so what’s your plan?” Devin asked.

  "I don't know, but the second I know, you'll know."

  "Great," Devin lamented.

  They jogged to reach Poppy who didnn't say a word. He continued his silence as he led them onto the ship and through the empty passageways. One ladder well, after another they went down into the bowels of the ship.

  They stopped at the end of a long passageway. A lone guard stood watch with a rifle slung over his shoulder.

  "Poppy, you know the captain's orders," the guard said.

  "Real quick, these men need to see the prisoner," Poppy replied.

  "I can't do that," the guard answered.

  "These men might be able to locate the real group this woman came from. Their information could be valuable. I don't have time to meet with the captain, now open the fucking door."

  The guard looked nervous and recoiled when Poppy yelled.

  "I said, open the fucking door, hurry!"

  "Yes, sir," the guard replied and with shaking hands pulled out a set of keys.

  A strong musty smell greeted them when Poppy pushed the large rusty hatch open. Inside, a single light dangled from the ceiling barely providing any light. In the small damp room, a huddled mass lay in the corner.

  Devin focused on the corner, he knew who it was.

  "Get up!" Poppy yelled.

  Tess lifted her head and in typical Tess fashion, replied, "Fuck you."

  Devin cringed when he heard her reply. He knew that it would result in a physical punishment.

  He was right, Poppy strode across the cell and kicked her in the side.

  She coughed and spat in his direction.

  Poppy reached down and grabbed Tess by the hair. "You have visitors, get up and say hello." Poppy jerked her head back.

  Devin stepped from the shadows and into her view.

  Her eyes widened upon seeing him. She opened her mouth and was about to speak but was interrupted.

  "So this is who I'm fighting tomorrow?" Devin asked winking at Tess to signal her to be quiet.

  Tess picked up on his cue.

  Daryl came up behind Devin and leaned in.

  Tess stood up and held the smile she was feeling inside.

  "Not her," Daryl blurted out.

  "Are you sure?" Poppy asked, his fingers still looped through her hair.

  "Nope, not her."

  "Argh!" Poppy groaned and tossed her.

  Tess pretended to fall and landed directly into Devin's arms.

  Devin grabbed her and held her steady. Touching her felt good. He missed her so much. Thoughts of trying to escape now crossed his mind but he knew they'd not make it, it would be impossible.

  She rested her head against his chest and whispered, "Get me out of here."

  Poppy barked, "Get your hands off him, bitch!"

  Tess feinted weakness and dropped to her knees.

  Devin held onto to her and guided her collapse so it was gentle. Before letting her go, he whispered back, "Tomorrow, follow my lead."

  She squeezed him acknowledging she heard.

  "Let's go," Poppy hollered. He was frustrated that he had risked condemnation and for nothing. "What a waste of time."

  Poppy bolted out of the cell.

  Daryl was just behind but Devin stopped him.

  "Any ideas?" Devin asked.

  "None."

  "I've got one and it's simple in theory. It does require explosives, a few handguns, some extra magazines and one fast truck.”

  "You'll have all those tomorrow," Daryl said and left the cell with Devin just behind him.

  Day 241

  May 31, 2021

  Charleston, South Carolina

  “Bring out the prisoner!” Renfield ordered.

  Several guards marched Tess down the gangway and into a makeshift ring.

  “You have been found guilty,” Renfield proclaimed but was interrupted.

  “Just shut the hell up and let’s get this going!” Tess snarled.

  “Bring out the challenger,” Renfield ordered.

  Devin looked at Daryl, who nodded and walked away. He then pushed his way through the crowd until he stood opposite Tess in the circle.

  She stood across from him, only a few feet separated th
em.

  For Devin she was so close but also far away. He had a plan¸ but just didn't have the confidence they could pull it off.

  They were surrounded by hundreds of angry men who would die for Renfield and wanted nothing more than to see her butchered.

  Ever ready to scrap, Tess winked and gave Devin a devilish grin.

  Devin couldn't help himself and replied to her with a grin.

  Two guards came into the ring and handed a weapon to him and one to her.

  Tess looked at the rusted and dull knife. In her right hand she firmly grasped the deteriorating wooden grip and laughed outloud. "You're so afraid of a woman that you give me a piece of shit to fight with. Cowards, all of you."

  The men all around jeered and hissed.

  Devin glanced at his weapon, it was in excellent condition and the edge was razor sharp.

  “This is a fight until the death if need be, but Devin, please don’t kill her unless you absolutely have to," Renfield declared.

  "The only one that is dying today will be you!" Tess hollered at Renfield.

  "So much bravado from a split tail. You honestly think you'll kill me?" Renfield asked.

  "How about you fight me, huh? Too much of a pussy to fight a woman?" Tess taunted.

  Renfield's face turned red with anger.

  Devin shook his head at Tess. This was not the plan.

  Renfield left his perch and pushed his way through the crowd. He entered the ring and walked up to Tess. "You want to fight me?"

  Tess leaned into him until their were only inches apart and said, "You're scared. Typical."

  Renfield clenched his jaw and angrily pivoted away from her. He walked up to Devin and said, "Give me the knife."

  "Sir, please, I need the money."

  "Give me the knife or I'll have you skinned too."

  Renfield opened his palm and held it out.

  Devin looked at Renfield then past him to Tess who stood cocky and ready to fight.

  "Here," Devin said placing the seven inch Bowie style knife in Renfield's hand.

  Renfield turned and screamed, "Let's begin!"

  And begin it did. An explosion in the far corner of the yard shook the ground. All eyes turned and looked as a large black cloud of smoke rose. Right on the heels of that, a second explosion rattled them on the other end.

  This was it and Devin did't hesitate. He hit Renfield, knocking him down and raced towards Tess.

  She lunged at several men, cutting them.

  “We’re under attack! Everyone to their battle stations!” Poppy ordered as he sprang from the crowd and grabbed Tess. They tumbled to the ground and began to wrestle.

  Tess dropped her knife but still resisted. She hit Poppy several times.

  He took the blows and responded in kind. His closed fists punches hit her in the face.

  Tess was strong but Poppy's punches were powerful.

  Poppy rolled her onto her back and pulled back to strike again but was stopped.

  “No!” Devin yelled and pulled a small pistol from his pocket and pointed it at him.

  “What the hell are you doing?” Poppy asked.

  Men were running in between them, screaming and yelling.

  A third explosion rocked the yard; this one was placed at the main gate. The force of the explosion destroyed the fortified entrance.

  The yells and screams from the men in the yard were deafening.

  “Give her to me!” Devin ordered as he advanced towards Poppy.

  “It was you two that night, wasn’t it?” Poppy asked.

  “I don’t have time for this.”

  A truck horn blared behind Devin followed by Daryl’s booming voice. “Get her and let’s go!”

  The explosions had done exactly what Devin and Daryl had intended. The chaos and confusion gave Daryl the cover to pull his truck close but the one person preventing them from getting Tess was Poppy.

  Devin advanced towards Poppy and began to squeeze the trigger when from his right side a man lunged at him. He turned to stop him, but his reaction time was too late, and the man struck him in the head with a rifle. The blow was immense. Devin felt his legs give out and saw his body begin to fall to the ground. The sounds around him faded away, but just before he closed he passed out, he saw Tess, her eyes pleading as she reached for him.

  Dulce, New Mexico

  Mueller approached the bed and looked down at Horton.

  “How do you feel, sir?”

  “What did you do? What did you give me?”

  “You don’t look so good.”

  “Did you give me the Lazarus vaccine?”

  Mueller shook his head and smiled. “This isn’t a mistake, Chancellor; I gave you the new virus.” He looked at his watch and continued, “And according to your symptoms, it’s progressing at the proper rate.”

  “What have you done?” Horton yelled, reaching for Mueller.

  Blood had already begun to ooze from his eyes.

  “I gave you and everyone else here the virus.”

  “Give me the vaccine, now!” Horton ordered.

  “There is no vaccine, or I should say there was, but I destroyed it.”

  “Damn you!”

  “Consequences, isn’t that the word you’d use? Consequences.”

  “I’ll fucking kill you!” Horton screamed as he reached for Mueller. Too weak, he fell to the floor.

  Mueller took a few steps back from him, but Horton pressed on, crawling across the floor until he reached Mueller’s feet. He grabbed Mueller’s ankles, but his grip was too weak. Happily, Mueller kicked his hands away.

  “Since the symptoms are moving at the correct pace, I thought I’d tell you the good news, and believe me, this may not seem like good news now, but in say twelve hours when copious amounts of blood are leaving your body, you’ll beg to die and death is what you’ll get. You will bleed out and die, right there on the floor. And when you do, I want you to know that you did this, not me, you did this. What did you say? Your blood is on your hands.”

  “Damn you!”

  Mueller turned and slowly walked away from Horton, who lay floundering on the cold tile floor.

  Mueller cracked his knuckles, picked up the phone and called Wendell at the operations center in Colorado.

  “Hello, Mr. Wendell, yes, this is Dr. Mueller; I’m afraid there’s been an accident here. We’ve had an outbreak of the new virus. The chancellor is dead, but just before he died he gave me one last command. Proceed with the operation. He wants it to go around the clock, coast to coast and around the world until you use every last drop. Do you understand? Good. Thank you.”

  Mueller hung up the phone and began rocking the chair back and forth in a slow rhythm. He thought about what he had just done and knew it was despicable, but he just didn't care. He wasn't a good man, his brief interlude of playing nice with Lisa was a lie. There was no vindication or forgiveness for someone like him. He wasn't any better than Horton nor any worse. They both deserved each other and the law of attraction brought them together.

  All through the years he was working to perfect the virus he had times of instropsection, so much to the point he'd question what he was doing. However, he would remember a time someone hurt him or challenged his expertise, that would be enough to press forward again. There was no changing the man he was. With the final phase under way he felt a feeling of calm. The only thing he longed for was seeing the faces of all whom had hurt him over the years. He wished he could tell them he was the reason they were going to die. And just before they took their last breath they'd know how powerful he truly was.

  Content and fulfilled, he needed only to do one last thing. On the desk sat one of Horton's pistols. Mueller had found it in Horton's office. He picked up the nickel plated Springfield 1911 and cradled it. His thumb caressed the slide and ivory grips. It was a beautiful firearm and must have been a collector's item. He pressed the magazine release, it clicked and dropped a fully loaded magazine into his hand. He examined it, placed
it back in the magazine well and with the butt of his hand slammed it in.

  This was it, his mission was over. He had questioned the decision about what he was considering but came to the conclusion that this was right. He wanted to die feeling the way he felt now. He had won and no one would ever be able to tell him he hadn't.

  Without further hesitation, he racked the slide chambering a round, placed the muzzle over his fast beating heart and pulled the trigger.

  Charleston, South Carolina

  “Stop! There’s nothing you can do! Nothing!” Daryl yelled at Devin after just spending the last minute wrestling him to the ground.

  “Let me go!” Devin screamed.

  “No, it’s too late!”

  “She needs me. Please let me go!”

  “If I let you go, you’ll die, nothing more. You can’t save her!” Daryl pinned Devin to the ground and was now sitting on top of him.

  Blood oozed from Devin’s nose and the scuffle with Daryl had split his lip. “Why, why didn’t you save her instead of me?”

  “Dev, this is life. I went back for her, but there was no way. The bastards were coming out of the woodwork like ants. I barely got you out of there.”

  Tears burst from Devin’s eyes and all the strength he had used to resist Daryl vanished.

  Daryl saw a broken man in front of him. Sensing it was no longer necessary to hold him down, he stood up.

  In the distance the cheers of Renfield’s men could be heard.

  Devin rolled over and got up as far as his hands and knees. Tears fell from his eyes and cheeks onto the dirt. He steadied himself with one hand then stood.

  Daryl kept a close eye on him. If he was going to make a run for it again, he was going to take him down quicker this time.

  The cheers in the distance turned to a rhythmic chant, a sound that Devin knew all too well. His body ached from the battle he had just fought. For the second time he had managed to escape Renfield and for a second time he had left Tess behind. The only difference now was he knew she was alive; he’d seen her being carted off just before being knocked out.

  “We have to do something!” Devin cried out. “I can’t let her die the way they’re going to kill her.”

  “If you’re suggesting going back in, no way, it’s impossible. I barely made it out of there.”