Kumo bowed his head slightly, acknowledging the compliment, but his eyes were still wary.
"However, what you tell me is that they must be convinced with action, not words. It has been always a characteristic of man that he can settle differences, pass his experiences from one generation to the next, and develop new ideas and concepts through the use of words. If you are correct in your appraisal of your students, if they are unable to be swayed by words, if the only way their respect can be earned is by action, then they are not men, they are animals."
Kumo's back stiffened.
"This is not surprising because you have trained them like animals."
There was an angry stirring in the ranks.
"Normally, I would stand aside for men and women of such training, for they could defeat me with ease. But you tell me they are animals. As such, I will accept your challenge, Kumo. I will stand and defeat the man or woman of your choice any time, any place, with any weapon, for I am a man, and a man does not fear an animal."
There were scattered angry cries from the ranks. First singly, then as a group, the force rose and stood at the ready position, wordlessly volunteering to champion the force by facing Tidwell.
The mercenary suppressed an impulse to smile at the sensei's predicament. Kumo had obviously planned to face Tidwell himself. In slanting his retort toward the force, Tidwell had successfully forced Kumo into choosing a member from the ranks. A teacher cannot defend his students without implying a lack of confidence in their prowess. If the abilities of a student are challenged, the student must answer the challenge. Terrific. Would you rather face a tiger or a gorilla?
"Mr. Tidwell, your answer is eloquent, if unwise. You are aware that such a contest would be fought to the death?"
Tidwell nodded. He hadn't been, but he was now. Inwardly, he gritted his teeth. Kumo wasn't leaving him any outs.
"Very well. The time will be now, the place here. For weapons, you may have your choice."
Clever bastard! He's waiting to see weapons choice before he picks my opponent.
"I'll fight as I stand."
"I will also allow you to choose your opponent. I have faith in each of my students."
Damn! He'd reversed it. Now if Tidwell didn't choose Kumo for an opponent, it would appear he was probing for a weaker foe.
Tidwell scanned the force slowly, while he pondered the problem. Finally he made his decision.
He turned to Kumo once more.
"I will face Aki."
There was a quiet murmur of surprise as Aki rose and approached the platform. Obviously Tidwell was not trying to pick a weak opponent.
The powerhouse bounded onto the platform and bowed to Kumo. Kumo addressed him in rapid Japanese, then much to everyone's astonishment, removed his sword and offered it to his student. Aki's glance flickered over Tidwell, then he gave a short bow, shaking his head in refusal. Raising his head in calm pride, he rattled off a quick statement in Japanese, then turned to face Tidwell. Kumo inclined his head, then returned the sword to his sash. He barked a few quick commands, and several men sprang to clear the platform, relocating the dignitaries and their chairs to positions in front of and facing the scene of the upcoming duel.
Tidwell shrugged out of his jacket and Clancy stepped forward to take it.
"Are you out of your bloody mind, Steve?" he murmured under his breath.
"Do you see any options?"
"You could have let me fight him. If Kumo can have a champion, you should be able to have one too."
"Thanks, but I'd rather handle this one myself. Nothing personal."
"Just remember the option next time, if there is a next time."
"C'mon Clancy, what could you do that I can't in a spot like this?"
"For openers, I could blow him away while he's bowing in."
Clancy opened his hand slightly to reveal the derringer he was palming. Tidwell recognized it at once as Clancy's favorite holdout weapon-two shots, loads exploding on impact, accurate to fifty feet in the hands of an expert, and Clancy was an expert.
"Tempting, but it wouldn't impress the troops much."
"But it would keep you alive!"
"Academic. We're committed now."
"Right. Win it!"
Win it. The mercenary's send-off. Tidwell focused his mind on that expression as he took his place facing Aki. At times like this when the chips were down, it meant a lot more than all the good lucks in the world.
Suddenly the solution to the problem occurred to him. Chancy, but worth a try!
"Clancy, give me a pad and pencil."
They appeared magically. No aide is complete without those tools. Tidwell scribbled something quickly on the top sheet, ripped it from the pad, and folded it twice.
"Give this to Mr. Yamada."
Clancy nodded and took the note, stashing the pad and pencil as he went.
Everything was ready now. With relatively few adaptations, a lecture assembly had been converted into an arena. As he was talking to Clancy, Tidwell had been testing the platform surface. It was smooth sanded wood, unvarnished and solid. He considered taking off his boots for better traction, but discarded the idea. He'd rather have the extra weight on his feet for the fight-increased impact and all that.
Kumo sat at the rear center of the platform, overseeing the proceedings as always. Then Clancy vaulted back onto the platform, his errand complete. Deliberately he strode across the platform and took a position beside Kumo on the side closest Tidwell. Kumo glared, but did not challenge the move.
Tidwell suppressed a smile. Score one for Clancy. This was not a class exercise and Kumo was not an impartial instructor. It was a duel, and the seconds were now in position. One thing was sure-if he ever took a contract to take on the devil, he wanted Clancy guarding his flanks.
But now there was work to be done. For the first time, he focused his attention on Aki, meeting his enemy's gaze directly. Aki was standing at the far end of the platform, relaxed and poised, eyes dead. The eyes showed neither fear nor anger. They simply watched, appraised, analyzed, and gave nothing in return. Tidwell realized that he was looking into a mirror, into the eyes of a killer. He realized it, accepted it, and put it out of his mind. He was ready.
He raised an eyebrow in question. Aki saw and gave a fractional nod of his head, more an acknowledgement than a bow, and the duel began.
Tidwell took one slow step forward and stopped, watching. Aki moved with leisurely grace into a wide, straddle-legged stance, and waited, watching.
Check! Aki was going to force Tidwell into making the opening move. He was putting his faith in his defense, in his ability to weather any attack Tidwell could throw at him and survive to finish the bout before his opponent could recover. However the duel went, it would be over quickly. Once Tidwell committed himself to an attack, it would either succeed or he would be dead.
Tidwell broke the tableau, moving diagonally to his right leisurely, almost sauntering. As he approached the edge of the platform he stopped, studied his opponent, then repeated the process, moving diagonally to the left. Aki stood unmoving, watching.
To an unschooled eye, it would appear almost as if Tidwell were an art connoisseur, viewing a statue from various angles. To the people watching, it was Aki's challenge. He was saying, "Pick your attack, pick your angle. I will stop you and kill you."
Finally Tidwell heaved a visible sigh. The decision was made. He moved slowly to the center of the platform, paused, considering Aki, then placed his hands behind his back and began moving toward him head-on. Theatrically he came, step by step, a study in slow motion. The question now was how close? How close would Aki let him come before launching a counterattack? Could he bait Aki into striking first? Committing first?
Ten feet separated them. Step. Seven feet. Step.
Tidwell's right fist flashed out, whipping wide for a back-knuckle strike to Aki's temple, a killing blow. In the same instant, Aki exploded into action, left arm coming up to block the strike,
right fist driving out for a smashing punch to Tidwell's solar plexus. Then in midheartbeat, the pattern changed. Tidwell's left hand flashed out and the sun glinted off the blade of a stiletto lancing for the center of Aki's chest. Aki's counter-punch changed and his right arm snapped down to parry the knife-thrust.
Instead of catching Tidwell's forearm, the block came down on the raised knife point as the weapon was pivoted in midthrust to meet the counter. The point plunged into the forearm, hitting bone, and Tidwell ripped the arm open, drawing the knife back toward him. As his arm came back, Tidwell jerked his knee up, slamming it into the wounded arm, then straightened the leg, snapping the toe of his boot into the wound for a third hit as Aki jerked backward, splintering the bone and sending his opponent off balance. Aki reeled back in agony, then caught his balance and tried to take a good position, even though his right arm would no longer respond to his will. His eyes glinted hard now, a tiger at bay.
Tidwell bounded backward, away from his injured foe and backpedaled to the far end of the platform. As Aki moved to follow, he pegged the knife into the platform at his feet, dropped to one knee, and held his arms out from his body at shoulder height.
"Aki! Stop!"
Aki paused, puzzled.
"Stop and listen!"
Suspiciously, Aki retreated slowly to the far end of the platform, putting distance between himself and Tidwell, but he listened.
"Mr. Yamada! Will you read aloud the note I passed you before the fight began."
Mr. Yamada rose slowly from his seat with the other company officials, unfolded the note, and read:
"I will strike Aki's right forearm two to four times, then try to stop the fight."
He sat down and a murmur rippled through the force.
"The point of the fight was to determine if I was qualified to lead this force in battle. At this point I have shown that not only can I strike your champion repeatedly, but that I can predict his moves in advance. This will be my function as your commander, to guide you against an enemy I know and can predict, giving maximum effectiveness to your skills. Having demonstrated this ability, I wish to end this duel if my opponent agrees. I only hope he embraces the same philosophy I do-that if given a choice, I will not waste lives. I will not kill or sacrifice my men needlessly. That is the way of the martial arts, and the way of the mercenary. Aki! Do you agree with me that the duel is over?"
Their eyes met for a long moment. Then slowly Aki drew himself up and bowed.
Kumo sprang to his feet, his face livid. He barked an order at Aki. Still in the bow, Aki raised his head and looked at Kumo, then at Tidwell, then back at Kumo, and shook his head.
Clancy tensed, his hand going to his waistband. Tidwell caught his eyes and shook his head in a firm negative.
Kumo screamed a phrase in Japanese at Aki, then snatched the sword from his sash and started across the platform at Tidwell.
Tidwell watched coldly as the sensei took three steps toward him, then stood up. As he did, the leg he had been kneeling on flashed forward and kicked the knife like a placekicker going for an extra point. The point snapped off and the knife somersaulted forward, plunging hilt-deep into the chest of the charging swordsman. Kumo stopped, went to one knee, tried to rise, then the sword slipped from his grasp and he fell. For several minutes there was silence. Then Tidwell turned to address his force.
"A great man has died here today. Training is canceled for the rest of the day that we might honor his memory. Assembly will be at 0600 hours tomorrow to receive your new orders. Dismissed."
In silence, the force rose and began to disperse. Tidwell turned to view the body again. Aki was kneeling before his fallen sensei. In silence Tidwell picked up the sword, removed the scabbard from Kumo's sash and resheathed the weapon. He stared at the body for another moment, then turned and handed the sword to Aki. Their eyes met, then Tidwell bowed and turned away.
"Jesus Christ, Steve. Have you ever used that placekick stunt before? In combat?"
"Three times before. This is the second time it worked."
"I saw it but I still don't believe it. If I ever mouth off about your knives again, you can use one of them on me."
"Yeah, right. Say, can you be sure someone takes care of Aki's arm? I just want to go off and get drunk right now."
"Sure thing, Steve. Oh, someone wants to talk to you."
"Later, huh? I'm not up to it right now."
"It's the straw bosses."
Clancy jerked a thumb toward the row of company officials.
"Oh!"
Tidwell turned and started wearily toward the men because they were his employers and he was a mercenary.
11
"Willard?"
"Yeah, last night." Eddie Bush was visibly shaken as he lit a cigarette.
"I just got the call from Personnel. They got him in a movie theater."
"I'll tell the troops. Damn! You think they'll be more careful."
"I know what you mean. He wasn't even on the 'kill list'."
"No, I mean I thought he'd be more careful. On the 'kill list' or not, anyone who wears a kill-suit is fair game. They're asking for trouble, all of them. They shouldn't be surprised when it finds them."
"Hell, Pete. I wear a kill-suit. So does half the corporation staff now. It's a style, a fad, a status symbol."
"Well, I don't think that people are taking it seriously enough." Pete ground out his own cigarette viciously.
"Haven't we lost enough people already without playing games with the assassin teams?"
"Most of those were on the first day. It was kind of sudden, you know."
"The hell it was. There were memos and meetings going around for over a month. Did you ever get an accurate count of how many we lost the first day?"
"Seventeen, with six near misses. I guess nobody really stopped to think it through."
"That's what I mean about people not taking it seriously. Who came up with this crackpot scheme anyway?"
Bush made a face.
"As near as I can tell we did, but damned if I know why."
"There's some solid talk going around that it was an under-the-table agreement between the corporation hierarchies to weed out some of the management deadwood."
"The 'forced retirement' bit? Yeah, I've heard that, but I don't believe it. Corporations pull some pretty sleazy moves when it comes to personnel management, but I can't believe they'd sink that low. Three years on half-pay would really be rough. I'm not sure I could take it. Oh well, I suppose it could be worse. They could be using real bullets."
"That's happened, too," Pete retorted.
"It was in the rules at the start. After four shots with the quartz-beams, the assassin can use live ammo. If the players don't turn on their kill-suits, it's their own fault."
"Is yours turned on now?"
Eddie ran a hand inside his jacket to check the controls.
"It sure is."
"But you had to check to be sure."
"Yeah, I see what you mean."
"Besides, I wasn't talking about those kills. I was talking about the others. Did you hear what happened to Brumbolt?"
"Just a few rumors."
"They shot him down. With live ammo and real blood. You know why? Because he went to the theater the same night as a couple execs from his old department. They swear they didn't even know he was going to be there. In fact, they haven't even talked to him since he was `killed' and went on half-pay, all according to the rules. The assassins who spotted him thought he was trying to pass some notes or something, and cut him down in the parking lot. That's the kind of real-kill I'm talking about."
Eddie pursed his lips in a silent whistle.
"I haven't heard about that. That's weird. It's like...like..."
"Like we were in a war-that's what I've been trying to say. The big question is, what are we going to do about it?"
Eddie stiffened, his features hardening into a mask.
"Are we going to get into that again, Pete?"
"You're damn right we are. I mean, we are still on a team to submit recommendations, aren't we?"
"Only until we can be reassigned. The project is dead, Pete."
"But..."
"But nothing! It's dead! Marcus has already submitted his recommendations and they've been accepted. The corporation has already sunk a hunk of money into the new weapons, and they won't be looking for new ways to raise costs."
"Eddie..."
"So we are going to sit down and shut up because I don't want to make an ass of myself backing a set of recommendations that won't be followed."
"That's the part I don't buy. I think we'll be making bigger fools of ourselves if after spending all this time and money on our team, we don't come up with anything."
"But the cost..."
"Cost, hell. If there's one thing I've learned in my years with this corporation, it's that there's always money to be had for a good idea."
"And if there's one thing you haven't learned, it's when to keep your mouth shut. If you had, then I'd be answering to you instead of you to me. In theory you're right, but we're dealing with reality, and like it or not, that's the way it is. Now I'm telling you to back down!"
The two men glared at each other for several moments; then Pete forced a deep breath.
"Tell you what, Eddie. I'll make you a deal-no, hear me out. I've got something in my car that I think will change your mind. If it doesn't, then I'll shut up and go along."
Eddie considered him for a moment.
"All right, bring it in. But I honestly can't think of anything you can come up with that will change my mind."
"You'll have to come with me. It's too bulky to bring in."
"Okay, anything to get this thing settled."
He rose, and the two men headed out into the executive corridor. Stepping onto the conveyor, they rode along in silence for several minutes. Finally Eddie cleared his throat.
"Sorry about blowing up in there, Pete. I guess I just don't understand why you're fighting this so hard. There'll be other assignments."
The Cold Cash War Page 7