by rebel4477
“I’d rather not look at it again,” the Tiller said. “Let Thomas show you.” He hollered, and presently a much younger man came out of the wheat. “Take Blade and these others.”
“It’s horrible,” Tom said. “You might throw up when you see it. I did.”
“Don’t fret over us, junior,” Hickok said grimly. “We’ve seen things that would curl your toes.”
A row of crushed wheat brought them to the spot. The body was female, or had been before her arms were ripped from their sockets and her throat ravaged. She was naked, and her stomach had been eaten. Her severed head was jammed onto a stake.
“It’s Alice,” Teucer said in shock. “A Weaver. She was about the sweetest person alive.”
“That miserable bastard,” Hickok said. “I bet he picked her on purpose.”
“To rub our noses in it,” Geronimo said.
Blade sank to a knee. He gently placed a thumb and finger on her open eyelids and closed them.
Yama came up to the body and studied it. “There will be more like her. This creature is sadistic. It enjoys playing with its prey.”
Blade carefully slid the head off the stake and placed it in the cavity where Alice’s insides had been.
“That it plays with its prey suggests it has an ego,” Yama continued. “That is its weakness. We exploit its ego and we kill it.”
“That last part won’t be easy,” Blade said as he sadly stood.
Yama wasn’t done. “I still say we should use me as bait. You said that Lynx told you it’s expressed some sort of interest in me.” He motioned at the body. “I don’t presume to be in your position. You have the welfare of everyone to consider. I’m focused solely on the death of this thing. But to me it seems the wisest course to take.”
Rikki-Tikki-Tavi had come up unnoticed. “I agree. The six of us will face it together. If we can’t kill it, then no one can.”
Hickok placed his hands on his Pythons. “We’ll kill that sucker as dead as dead ever was.”
Blade looked at Geronimo and Geronimo nodded. He looked at Teucer and the archer rested a hand on his hip quiver.
“I’m game if you guys are.”
“All right ,” Blade said. “I’ll call a meeting of the entire Family. It will be up to you, Yama. If the thing suspects, it won’t fall for it.”
“It will suspect anyway,” Yama said, “but its ego will compel it to accept the challenge.”
“Listen to you,” Hickok said. “When did you become so smart?”
“A warrior must not only assess a foe’s physical abilities but their psychological weaknesses, as well. Exploit them and they make mistakes. And mistakes invariably prove fatal.” Yama paused. “Your weakness is that you rely too much on your speed.”
“Quick is as quick does,” Hickok said. “And don’t forget your own weakness, while you’re at it.”
“I have a weakness?”
“The biggest of any of us.”
A rare smile curled Yama’s lips. “Enlighten me, gunfighter.”
“Sure, death dude,” Hickok shot back. “Your weakness is that you’re obsessed with death. To you, killin’ is more than your job. It’s part of your nature .”
“That’s quite astute of you.”
“Hickok? Astute?” Geronimo said. “Now I’ve heard everything.”
Blade had listened to enough. “Let’s go.” He led the Warriors from the wheat field.
“Tend to the remains,” Blade directed the half-dozen waiting Tillers. “Make it quick. Everyone is to gather at the Commons in an hour.”
The two Triads walked on. Every Family member Blade saw, he instructed them to spread the word.
The Warriors were nearing the Blocks when Blade stopped and faced Yama. “I want one thing understood. You’re not to go up against this thing alone. We work together.”
“I always follow orders implicitly,” Yama rebutted. “Name once I haven’t.”
“Now’s not the time to start. But Hickok is right. You might see this as some sort of challenge. As a way to test yourself. I know how you think.”
“Do you?” Yama said.
“Since we were boys, you’ve applied yourself to death in all its forms.”
“Even so,” Yama said. “I am a Warrior.”
“So are we. But we don’t carry it to the extreme you do. So I repeat. It will be all six of us, plus more.”
“You aim to have all the Warriors in on it?” Hickok asked. “Where would they hide? In one of the Blocks?”
“Not all,” Blade said. “There will have to be a Triad on the walls as there always is to give the impression everything is normal.”
“None of the other Triads are at full strength,” Geronimo said. “With Bertha a wreck, Gamma Triad only has Spartacus and Shane. Omega doesn’t exist anymore unless Ares recovers. Zulu has lost Achilles so there’s only Samson and Sherry. Bravo has Gremlin since Lynx is still in the Infirmary, and we have no idea where Gremlin got to.”
“Samson will join Gamma for the time being,” Blade said. “We’re going to have all the women and children taken to A Block and I’m putting Sherry in charge of guarding them.”
“My missus isn’t going to like being left out of the action,” Hickok predicted.
“She’s a good Warrior,” Blade said. “She’ll do as she’s told.” He paused. “Once we have new Warriors trained, I’ll restructure the Triads.”
“Hold on,” Rikki said. “If Gamma and Samson will be on the walls and Sherry is protecting the women, who’s left? What was that about it not being just the six of us?”
Blade pointed at the SEAL.
“Ah,” Rikki said, and smiled. “Why didn’t I think of that?”
Hickok chuckled. “Leave it to you, big guy.”
“Like Yama said,” Blade replied, “I have to think of everyone and everything.”
“You usually do,” Geronimo complimented him.
“Not always,” Blade said, and frowned.
“Let’s hope you have this time,” Teucer said, “or a month from now there won’t be any Warriors left.”
CHAPTER 28
The Gualaon stood under the trees on the south side of the verdant compound in its new human guise. It was considering who to kill next when it sensed someone behind it. The Gualaon slowly turned and put a smile on its human face. “Where have you been? Everyone has been wondering where you got to?”
“Hunting you, yes,” Gremlin said. He was in a crouch and his hands were splayed. “You thought I wouldn’t?”
“Whatever do you mean?”
“You killed my friend, yes. You almost killed my other friend.”
The shapeshifter laughed in human fashion. “Surely you’re not suggesting that I’m—.”
“No,” Gremlin said, and slashed the air with a hand. “Not take me for stupid, no? It ends here, yes. I will kill you for Ferret and Lynx.”
The Gualaon saw that further subterfuge would be pointless. “What did they do to your brain that you talk in that ridiculous manner, you pathetic creature?”
“No talk, yes? Just fight.”
“Are you that eager to die?” The Gualaon reached out with its senses and assured itself that they were alone. It began to change to its true form. “Only humans would be so vile as to conduct genetic experiments on their own kind. You were human once. Now look at you.”
“The Doktor did this,” Gremlin said.
“That suggests you were a guinea pig in his Genetic Research Division.”
“You know about that, yes?”
“My masters lent the good Doktor aid from time to time.”
“Why?”
“It suited their purpose. He craved power and wanted to control what was once the United States of America. If he’d succeeded, my masters would then have seized control from him.”
“They let him do their work for them, yes?”
“You’re not as stupid
as you sound,” the shapeshifter said. By now it was half itself.
“The Doktor took part of my brain, yes? And did other things.”
“Enhanced strength? Augmented reflexes? What else?”
“You will soon find out.”
“You’re a fool to confront me alone, Gremlin. Not even you are a match for my kind.”
“Have it to do,” Gremlin said, “before the other Warriors kill you.”
“They stand no more chance than you do.”
“Big talk,” Gremlin said. “But Rikki is back. And more important, Yama is back.”
“There’s that name again,” the Gualaon said. “What makes him so special?”
“You haven’t talked to him, no? If you had, you would know, yes?
“He’s an ape like all the rest. Perhaps he has some small skill as a fighter but that’s all.”
“No, not all, yes? Yama thinks only of death. Of how to kill. By now he has thought of how to kill you.”
“Oh really?” the Gualaon scoffed. Its transformation was complete. “A pity you won’t be around to see how wrong you are. You’ll be dead like your little friend, Ferret.”
“One of us will be, yes?”
Gremlin sprang.
The Gualaon lashed out, raking with its claws, but Gremlin ducked and drove a bony fist into the shapeshifter’s midsection. Before the Gualaon could retaliate, Gremlin skipped out of reach.
The Gualaon staggered. It looked down at itself, its reptilian countenance reflecting amazement. “I’ll admit I’m impressed. That actually hurt. The Doktor did a good job on you. You’re stronger and faster than I expected.”
“Gremlin full of surprises, yes,” Gremlin said.
“What you are,” the shapeshifter said, “is a simpleton. I have claws and teeth. You have fists. And no matter how fast you are, sooner or later I’ll rip your head from your body.”
“Try your best, yes?” Gremlin said, and attacked.
The creature that had once been a man and the creature that wasn’t even remotely human fought with unrestrained ferocity. Gremlin was smaller but Gremlin was quicksilver and his fists could shatter bone. The Gualaon hissed and snarled and grew madder as it failed to connect with its darting, dodging, elusive opponent.
Their fight might have gone on interminably but in their whirling and spinning and twisting and turning, Gremlin failed to see an exposed tree root. His foot caught, and he tripped. He tried to right himself but a blow to the temple felled him. He got his hands under him and tried to push up but a blow to the back of his head rendered him insensate.
Wincing from its pain, the Gualaon straightened. “You were far more of a challenge than I would have thought. But now it ends.” Bending, the shapeshifter reached out to take hold of Gremlin’s neck.
Voices drifted through the trees.
The Gualaon looked up. Several Family members were coming in its direction. It quickly struck Gremlin several more times on the head, seeking to shatter his skull, but the abomination’s was much thicker than a human’s.
One of the Family members gave a shout and another pointed and screamed.
Melting into the vegetation, the Gualaon got out of there before other Warriors came. It would transform once it was safe. And make it a point to keep tabs on Gremlin. If he revived, he would tell them who it had become. It couldn’t have that. It wanted to continue its current illusion for a while longer.
Long enough to kill more Warriors.
CHAPTER 29
Blade stood in the quiet coolness of C Block and stared at the beds, and the figures on them. Ares was sedated and unconscious. Lynx was awake, and restless. Gremlin had a tube in his arm and half his head was swathed in bandages.
Lynx was looking at Gremlin, too. “Another thing I owe that sucker for. Let me out of here, damn it.”
Blade’s wife Jenny came down the aisle. A Healer, she was dressed all in white. “You’re not well enough to be released, Lynx.”
“I say I’m fine.”
“The answer is still no.” Jenny pecked Blade on the cheek, and smiled. “Talk about grumpy patients.”
“You want to keep me in this bed so I won’t go after it,” Lynx said. “That’s the real reason.”
“You’ll do as the Healers tell you,” Blade said.
“It killed the best friend I ever had, and hurt my other friend. If it had been Hickok the thing killed and if it was Geronimo lying there with a tube in him, you’d want to get up and go after it, too.”
“You’re not the only person who has lost people they cared for,” Blade reminded him.
Lynx tilted his head. “I thank you for that. I keep forgetting how you are.”
“How am I?” Blade said.
“You called me a ‘person’. Not a hybrid. Not a freak. You’re one of the few in this compound who looks at me and doesn’t see the fur and the claws.”
“And the ears,” said someone who entered at just that moment. “Don’t forget the cutesy little ears.”
“One of these days I’m going to take one of those pearl-handled Pythons of yours,” Lynx growled, “and shove it so far up your—-.”
“Now, now,” Hickok said. “There’s a lady present.”
“Thank you, Jenny said. “You’re always such a gentleman.”
“I know ,” Hickok said. “Maybe one day some of it will rub off on that big galoot you married.” He turned to Blade. “It’s time, pard. Everyone is at the Commons except for you two and your patients. Spartacus, Shane and Samson are on the walls.” He paused. “And Rikki did that other thing you wanted done.”
Blade nodded. “Be right there.” He waited until the gunfighter had left, then folded Jenny in his arms and said softly in her ear, “No matter what happens, I’ve loved you with all that I am.”
Jenny gave a mild start. “This thing is that deadly?”
“One of the deadliest we’ve faced.”
“Well then,” Jenny said, and kissed him, “you just be deadlier.”
“I think I’m going to puke,” Lynx said.
Blade touched Jenny’s chin, then wheeled and strode outside into the glare of partial sunlight. Hickok and Geronimo and Beta Triad fell into step as he walked to the open area between the concrete Blocks.
All talk ceased. Word had spread that he was to make an important announcement.
Plato was waiting for them, leaning on his staff. “You have us all curious about why you’ve called us together.”
“You can sit if you’d like,” Blade said.
“No, thank you. It hurts more to get up and down than to just stand.”
The other Warriors formed a ring facing the Family. Hickok winked at Sherry, his wife. She was seated with other wives, among them Bertha, who sat slumped in grief.
“I thank all of you for coming,” Blade began. “As you are aware, our Home is under siege. Not by an army this time but by a single foe, a creature out of our worst nightmares. A being that can assume any guise it wants.”
No one interrupted. They hung on his every word.
“It’s taken a severe toll on the Warriors. It’s killed women and a child. It will kill again and again unless it’s stopped.”
A ripple of unease passed through them.
“Our problem, of course, is that it could be any of us and we have no way of telling. It’s probably sitting among us at this very this moment, listening to me, and congratulating itself on how clever it’s been.”
Furtive worried glances were cast by everyone at everyone else.
“It counts on the paranoia it creates to confuse and weaken us. We don’t know who we can trust. Not when it can be our mother or our father or our sister or our brother or our best friend.”
There were more nervous looks.
“You must refuse to give in. Don’t let this creature have the satisfaction of turning us against one another. We must be united. We must be strong.” Blade stopped . Spark
s of determination showed here and there, but not enough. “It goes without saying that the Warriors have resolved to end this threat. In that regard, one of us has asked permission to address the creature directly. I’ve agreed, only because we might end this ordeal that much sooner.”
Blade moved aside and Yama took his place.
The Warrior with the skull on his back looked at his wife , Melissa, and the small boy in her lap, Dharma, and squared his broad shoulders. “I’m here to address the creature , not the Family. I’ve been told that you have asked about me. I have no idea why , nor do I care. All that matters to me is the suffering you have brought to my Family and our Home.”
If a pin had dropped, it would have sounded like an explosion.
“Many of the people here now live in fear,” Yama continued . “They’re afraid of you. They live in dread of your next attack. They see you as a terrifying monster.” Yama paused. “I see you as a coward. Instead of facing an enemy in open combat, you take your victims by surprise. You assume the shape of someone they know. Someone they trust. This is craven. It’s unworthy of a true fighter. Of a true Warrior.”
“That’s telling the thing,” someone called out.
“You can prove me wrong, creature,” Yama said. “All you have to do is pit yourself against me.” He gazed about him at the anxious faces. “I challenge you to single combat. Just the two of us. Blade has given me his word that none of the other Warriors will interfere.”
Audible gasps broke out.
“I’ll be waiting over there,” Yama said, and pointed at a spot close to the drawbridge. “I’ll wait all night if need be. If you have a shred of honor, if you have a sliver of courage, you’ll show yourself. But I doubt you will . You’ll hide in a human guise until you can jump me when my back is turned. You’re a cur. A lap dog, I hear, who serves far away masters. I regard you with contempt.”
Yama turned to Blade and said so only he could hear, “Do you think that was insult enough?”
“We’ll soon find out,” Blade said.
CHAPTER 30
It was almost three in the morning.
Blade shifted his leg to relieve a cramp. From his position on top of A Block he could see Yama standing motionless in a circle of light cast by a lantern. Yama was about fifty feet to the south of the drawbridge.