by N. Mashiro
In any case, you don't just run. You run and look for weapons. You look for tactical advantages. You look for any way to seize control of the situation and turn it around.
How to Win a Footrace
So here you are again, looking for your car in the company parking lot. It is late at night. Shadows are deep. The parking lot seems deserted until Mongo steps out from between two parked cars and waves a big knife in your face.
"Gimme your wallet, motherfucker, or I'll cut your gizzard out." He looks like he means it, too.
Well, it's only a knife. Maybe you can outrun him. Maybe not. He looks in pretty good shape. You hesitate.
How do you win a footrace with somebody who is more athletic than you are? Simple. You break his leg and then run.
Take one long step to the side away from the knife. Usually this means you step forward and to your right. You raise up your left knee and stomp down viciously on Mongo's left knee. It doesn't matter exactly how much damage you do. A kick in the leg hurts, and the pain saps strength and coordination from the leg.
Now run. Don't just stand there and admire your handiwork.
Places to Visit While Being Stalked
One frequently hears stories about the lone woman who is walking down the street at night when she suddenly realizes that shadowy figures are following her. She walks a little faster. So do they. They are gaining on her. She sees an inviting dark alley and tries to run down it and escape.
This is a mistake. You already knew that.
The first thing on your mind should be, "How am I going to get to a phone and call for help?"
While you are working on that one, you should also be thinking, "How can I arm myself?"
At this point all kinds of ideas should present themselves to you. What is normally in your pockets, purse, briefcase, or backpack that could be used as a weapon? You should be an expert at this by now.
In your pockets, right now! What do you have? Take a look!
So far, so good. I want to suggest a further possibility for those situations where you think you are being followed. If you have the opportunity, you should stop for a minute and explore the friendly neighborhood arsenal on the cornerthe convenience store.
One of the best photos in Black Medicine, Volume II: Weapons at Hand shows a flamethrower made by squirting WD40 spray lubricant through the flame of a Bic lighter. The flames shoot out 4 or 5 feet. You can buy aerosol spray cans and lighters at a convenience store.
Liquor stores stay open all night, too. You can buy ice in liquor stores. You can buy ice picks, too. Carry the ice pick out of the store in a brown paper bag. Wrap the bag around the handle and let the point hang down inside the bag. Try to give the impression that you have a bottle of liquor in the bag. Then if you have to fight, ignore the bag and stab right through it. The same trick works with knives and screwdrivers.
Many supermarkets are open all night. There are knives in the housewares aisle. There are flashlights. Sometimes there is a tool section with hammers and screwdrivers. There is spray oven cleaner. There may be cans of spray paint. There is pepper by the pound. There is change for the phone.
To someone who understands expedient weaponry, a supermarket is a weapon-rich environment. So is a hardware store, automobile parts store, or even a corner gas station. Don't hesitate to pay a visit if the situation calls for it.