by Marc Olden
Lisa smiled at him, rolling her wheelchair near him. “Bloody thing,” she said. “I’m getting the hang of it, though.” Her voice dropped. “He’ll come for me. Print. I betrayed him, and he’ll never let me live.”
Sand looked down at her face, pale and sad, yet still stunningly beautiful. For a second, Andrea flashed across his mind, and he nodded his head once, as if agreeing with a decision he had just made. Yes, he was right. He would tell The Baron after it was over.
“I’ve enjoyed these few hours of freedom,” she said. “More than I can tell you. I know I’ll die soon … Oh, please don’t frown. It’s Print’s way.”
The Black Samurai stood up, touching her face as he did so. He had promised her she would never again have to fear Print or Talon. “Neither will bother you again,” he had said. If she hadn’t conquered her fear, she had controlled it enough to do quite well a few hours ago.
For minutes back in the castle she had had the power of life or death over him. Yet, she hadn’t betrayed him. She had faced death and had not betrayed him.
He moved toward the door.
“Where are you going?” she asked. “Can’t you spend a little time with me?”
He smiled. “I’m going to keep a promise. I’ll be back in a little while.” Even then, he thought, when I return, there’ll be only a little time.
He stared at her beautiful, gentle face.
He was on his way to kill Print Drewcolt.
There was no sense in telling her. The Baron would know soon enough, if he hadn’t already guessed. The tall, tanned Texan was nobody’s fool. He knew.
The Black Samurai had made a promise. He would keep it before the day was out.
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
copyright © 1974 by Marc Olden
cover design by Connie Gabbert
This 2012 edition distributed by MysteriousPress.com/Head of Zeus
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN 9781784087395
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