Capital Run

Chapter Twelve

“What kept you?” Terza demanded.

Blade gaped at her, scarcely aware he was responding. “Cardew took a potty break,” he wisecracked. “Must of read War and Peace while he was in the bathroom.”

“I don’t know nothin’ about no War and Peace,” Terza said. “But I do know Cardew can’t read.”

Blade scanned her room, which was located on the top floor of the library. Plush green carpet covered the floor, in excellent condition despite the passing of a century. The walls were covered with mahogany paneling.

An easy chair and a couch were positioned directly in front of the Warrior.

Beyond them, reached by climbing two small steps, was an elevated section incorporating a huge bed as its centerpiece. Terza, attired in a skimpy white-lace garment, reclined in the middle of the bed, her legs spread out, resting her head on her left hand.

“Do you like it?” Terza asked.

“I had no idea libraries in the old days were so extravagant,” Blade commented.

Terza laughed. “Stupid. This was an office once. I had some of the men fix it up for me, scavenging from the abandoned stores. You’d be surprised what you can find.”

“I guess I would,” Blade admitted. He was perplexed by Terza’s behavior. She was exhibiting none of the habitual hostility he’d observed earlier. In fact, she was going out of her way to be nice, to be friendly.

To be attractive.

Blade walked to the steps leading up to the bed. “We must talk,” he told her.

Terza grinned, reached out her right hand, and patted the brown bedspread. “I didn’t have you brought here to talk.”

“We must talk,” Blade stated.

Terza sat up. “What’s the matter with you? Can’t you see I have the hots for you? I don’t get a craving for a man very often. You should be flattered.”

“I don’t seem to be getting through to you,” Blade said. “I already have a wife.”

“So?” Terza giggled and patted the bed again. “I’ll never tell!”

Blade pondered his next move. He saw her eyes raking his body from head to toe. Something was inconsistent here. This wasn’t the tough-as-nails woman he’d met. The way she was staring at him, with her nostrils flared and her eyes dilated…

Her eyes dilated?

Blade moved to the edge of the bed.

“Come on!” Terza urged him. “I ain’t waitin’ all day!”

Blade leaned over and peered into her pale blue eyes. Her pupils were expanded and unfocused, and her entire demeanor verged on inane giddiness. What was she on? Alcohol? He doubted it. Her breath lacked the telltale odor. What then? Drugs? He straightened, frowning. The Family deplored the use of drugs. For the Warriors, any addicting substance was strictly taboo. With their lives on the line daily, only a moronic jerk would distort the senses and inhibit the reflexes. Survival was frequently a matter of split-second decision-making and timing; no one on drugs would last more than a minute if confronted by a mutate, one of the monstrous giants, or any other Terza said, eying left hand between him her deviate.

Drugs were plain stupid.

“Come on, handsome!” lecherously. She slid her thighs. “I want it!”

“You want it?”

“Ohhhh! How I want it!” Terza cooed.

“Are you sure you want it?” Blade asked.

Terza sat up, smiling, weaving slightly. “I’m sure! Give it to me!”

Blade grinned. “If you insist.”

“Do it, damnit!”

Blade hauled off and slugged her on the jaw.

Terza collapsed onto the bed, unconscious, her mouth slack, blood dribbling from her lower gum.

“Sorry about that,” Blade remarked. “But I tried to warn you. Marriage without loyalty is nothing more than disguised prostitution, as our spiritual mentor, Joshua, would say. And I will never violate my oath to my mate.” He shook his head, feeling foolish conducting a conversation with an unconscious woman.

Time to get the hell out of here!

Blade crossed to the door and paused. There should be a pair of guards outside the door to Terza’s room. They had escorted him to the room from the basement cell. He would need to catch them by surprise. Putting a broad smirk on his face, he slowly opened the door.

There they were. Cardew and one other.

Blade glanced over his right shoulder and laughed. “Okay,” he said to Terza’s unresponsive form. “I’ll tell them.” He smiled at Cardew and the other man. “Terza wants to see you.”

Cardew chuckled. “What’s the matter? Can’t you find where it goes without help?” He snickered and motioned for the other man to follow.

Blade, beaming, stepped aside.

Cardew and the other man had taken several steps into the room before Cardew awoke to the danger. He saw the blood on Terza’s chin and grabbed for his Browning. “Damn!”

Blade pounced. He kicked with his right leg, connecting on Cardew’s left knee, and heard a distinct popping sound as Cardew screeched and dropped to the floor.

The second Leather Knight, a tall, lean black, went for the knife he wore in a sheath on his right hip.

Blade drove his right fist around and in, catching the black on the nose, crushing the cartilage and driving fragments into the Knight’s forehead.

He swung his left fist, boxing the Knight on the ear.

The stud started to drop.

Blade rammed his elbow into the man’s jaw, then turned his attention to Cardew.

Still on the floor, wobbling on his right knee, Cardew was drawing his Browning.

Blade lashed out with his right foot, his toes smashing into Cardew’s chin.

Cardew’s head snapped backward. His teeth crunched together, and crimson spurted from his mouth.

“This is for last night!” Blade said, and hammered his left fist down on the right side of Cardew’s face. Once. Twice.

Cardew groaned and sprawled onto the carpet.

Blade took the knife from the black and Cardew’s Browning and hurried to the door.

The hallway was empty.

Blade closed the door behind him as he took a left. Reaching Rikki and Lex quickly was imperative. There was no telling how soon Terza and the others would be found.

Every moment counted.

The hulking Warrior reached a flight of stairs and hastily descended.

Surprisingly, he reached the bottom level undetected. Maybe it wasn’t so surprising, he told himself. Except for Terza, Cardew, and the guards, why would any of the Leather Knights be hanging around the library? From what he’d gathered, very few of them could even read. He cautiously opened the stairwell door and peeked outside.

The hallway leading to the holding chamber passed by the door. No one was in sight.

Blade took a right and ran down the hall. If all went well, he would reach—

A door up ahead opened and two Leather Knights, one man and one woman, emerged.

No!

“You!” the woman bellowed, clutching at the pistol she carried on her left side.

Blade shot her in the chest.

The woman twisted and fell to the floor.

Undaunted, the stud was trying to clear his revolver.

Blade planted a slug in the stud’s head.

There was no use trying to conceal his movements now! Every Leather Knight in the building had heard the gunfire and would come running!

Blade ran faster. He reached the door he’d used last night and flung it open.

Rikki and Lex were hanging from the far wall, still in chains. Both were gagged.

Blade raced across the dirt floor. He tore the gag from Rikki’s mouth.

“Where are the keys to your shackles?” he asked.

“The one called Cardew has them,” Rikki replied.

Damn! Blade glared at the chains. Why hadn’t he thought to search Cardew for the keys? After all, Cardew had unlocked his chains!

“We heard shooting,” Rikki said.

“Hostile natives,” Blade said, examining the antiquated chains.

“Take off,” Rikki advised him. “You can come back and free us later.”

“We’re leaving here together,” Blade stated.

“Without the keys?” Rikki asked.

“Who needs keys?” Blade tucked the Browning under his belt and handed the knife to Rikki. “Hold this.”

“What do you have in mind?” Rikki inquired.

“This.” Blade took hold of the chain attached to Rikki’s right wrist.

Removing the shackle encircling Rikki’s wrist wasn’t feasible; he could do it, but he might hurt Rikki in the bargain. No, his best bet was to concentrate on the link joining the chain to the shackle. He gripped the chain in his right hand and held the shackle with his left. “This might smart,” he warned his companion.

Rikki’s arm tensed. “Go for it.”

Blade strained, exerting his herculean strength to its limit, pulling on the chain, his massive muscles bulging, his arms rippling with raw power.

Rikki had adopted the horse stance, striving to facilitate Blade’s effort by staying as immobile as possible.

Blade was gritting his teeth, his neck pulsing, the veins protruding.

Lexine was watching the operation in wide-eyed astonishment.

Blade could feel the chain biting into his right hand. He ignored the discomfort and heaved, thankful the chain was old and the links on the rusty side. If only they were weak enough! Sweat beaded his brow as he continued to apply pressure. Every muscle on his arms stood out in sharp relief. He closed his eyes, concentrating, channeling every iota of power into his brawny hands.

Rikki was striving to maintain his balance. Despite his horse stance, a normally immovable posture, Blade’s awesome strength threatened to propel him from his feet.

Blade’s sinews were at their utmost, his face a beet red, when the link affixed to the shackle on Rikki’s right wrist snapped, parting with a loud crack.

Rikki relaxed. “You did it!” he said, elated.

Blade wiped his perspiring brow. “One down and three to go.”

“You should rest a bit,” Rikki advised.

“No time for that,” Blade said. He moved sideways and applied himself to the shackle on Rikki’s left wrist. This chain was more stubborn. The perspiration was pouring from his pores, his arms trembling from his exertion, when the connecting link finally broke.

Rikki rubbed his tender wrists, massaging the skin under the metal shackles. “Thank you,” he said to his friend.

Blade nodded and crossed to Lex. He pulled the gag from her mouth.

“I don’t believe it!” Lex declared. “How did you do it?”

“They don’t make chains like they used to,” Blade remarked.

Rikki joined them.

“You’ll need to steady her arms,” Blade directed Rikki. He looked at Lex. “It this hurts, say the word. If I’m not careful, I could tear your arms from their sockets.”

“Don’t worry none about me,” Lex stated. “Just get me out of here!”

“I don’t believe you two have been formally introduced,” Rikki said as Blade took hold of the chain attached to Lexine’s right wrist. “Blade, this is Lexine. Lex, this is Blade.”

“Pleased to meet you,” Lex mentioned.

Blade nodded and began applying himself to the chain.

Rikki gripped Lex’s right wrist, adding support, struggling to keep Lex’s arm steady.

Lex grimaced as Blade started straining against the chain. The edge of the metal shackle bit into her flesh, drawing a thin line of blood. Even with Rikki holding her arm, she felt as if it really would be ripped from its socket any second.

Blade stared at the last link on the chain. He could see the rusted metal giving way and stretching. With a grunt, he wrenched the chain and was rewarded by a sharp, popping noise.

“Only one to do,” Rikki said.

From off in the distance, from upstairs, came the din of upraised voices.

“They’re after us!” Lex cried. “Hurry!”

Blade paused, gathering his energy. The clamor upstairs was growing louder. If the chain fastened to her left shackle was as sturdy as the others, it would require minutes to break.

He didn’t have minutes to spare.

“Hold her left arm tightly,” Blade said to Rikki, then he grinned at Lexine. “Close your eyes and count to three.”

Lex did as he requested.

On the count of three, Blade tightened his arms and huge chest, took a deep breath, and savagely tugged on the chain.

Lex gasped as her left arm was jerked outward. Her left shoulder lanced with agony.

Blade uttered a growling sound and yanked his arms in opposite directions.

Lex groaned.

The link abruptly burst asunder, causing Blade to stumble backwards two feet.

“You’re free!” Rikki said to Lex.

Lex leaned on the brick wall, holding her left arm pressed across her stomach. “Am I in one piece?” she asked, her eyes still shut.

Rikki rubbed her sore shoulder. “How bad is it?”

Lex opened her eyes and chuckled. “I’ll live. We’d best get the hell out of here.”

The approaching racket was much, much closer.

“Where are our weapons?” Blade queried Rikki.

“I don’t know,” Rikki replied.

“Then we’ll have to make do with the Browning and the knife,” Blade said. He glanced at Lex. “Which way?”

Lex scanned the chamber. “I’m not sure. I haven’t been down here very often. One of these doors leads to an alley. But I can’t remember which one.”

“Lead the way,” Blade instructed her.

“What if I pick the wrong door?” Lex responded.

“We’ll have to take that risk,” Blade said. “Let’s go.” He drew the Browning and motioned for them to precede him.

Lex headed for the nearest door, Rikki by her side with the knife held in his right hand.

Blade backed from the room, keeping his eyes on the door to the far hallway.

The Leather Knights were pounding down the hall.

Blade reached the door used by Lex and Rikki, turned, and darted into its dim interior.

Not a moment too soon.

Dozens of Leather Knights surged into the brick chamber. A great shout went up at the sight of the dangling chains.

“They’re gone!” a man yelled above the rest. “But how?”

“We didn’t pass ’em!” a woman bellowed. “They must have used one of the other doors!”

Immediately the Leather Knights divided up, some taking the first recessed door, others the second, and the smallest group the last door. In a minute, the chamber was vacant.

Far along the murky hallway and racing like the wind, Blade detected a swelling in the voices behind him as leather garbed bikers filled the narrow corridor.

Where did this lead?

Blade hoped the hall wasn’t a dead end. He doubted the Leather Knights would bother to take them prisoner a second time, not after what he had done to Terza and Cardew. He locked his gaze on the shadowy forms of Rikki and Lex 30 feet ahead. If they could reach the alley Lex had mentioned, they might be able to hide in a nearby building. He wished he were outdoors instead of deep under the earth. A troubling sensation of claustrophobia enveloped him.

Spirit preserve him!

Blade glanced over his right shoulder, but couldn’t perceive any movement to his rear.

Good.

They were losing the SOBs!

Blade faced front again and pounded after Rikki and Lex—

Rikki and Lex!

They were gone!

Blade stopped and peered into the gloom beyond. Had they outdistanced him? What could have happened?

“Blade!” came a subdued cry from Rikki. “Blade! Where are you?”

Blade twisted. Rikki’s voice was coming from his left and behind him.

“Blade!” Rikki called once more.

“I’m here!” Blade yelled. “Where are you?”

“Did you miss the turn?” Rikki asked.

What turn? Blade realized he’d probably overlooked it when he had turned his head and scanned the tunnel! Now they were separated! “I must have missed it!” Blade confirmed.

“I’ll keep talking,” Rikki shouted. “Follow my voice.”

Blade backtracked, running full speed, searching for a fork in the hallway.

“There’s light ahead!” Rikki was saying. “It might be the alley!”

Blade reached a darkened bend in the hallway and discovered another branch bearing to the left. He was about to enter, but a sudden commotion rearward drew his attention.

Leather Knights were charging toward him from the direction of the brick chamber!

Blade hesitated. If he followed Rikki and Lex, the Leather Knights would chase after them to the alley and beyond. But if he stayed where he was, if he didn’t take the left branch, Rikki and Lex could escape unmolested.

“There’s one of ’em!” screamed a tall woman.

He’d been spotted! Blade turned his back on the left branch and took off, the Browning in his right hand.

With gleeful cries, the Leather Knights ran after the giant Warrior, ignoring the left branch in their eagerness to capture Blade.

As he raced deeper into the winding labyrinth below the library, with many of the tunnels and hallways bearing evidence of recent excavation, Blade wondered if he’d made the right move. Lit lanterns were few and far between. Often he would cover over a hundred yards in nearly complete darkness.

Some of the Leather Knights were carrying torches or lanterns, and the swiftest of them kept their quarry in sight as they doggedly pursued him, his fleeing form always visible, but barely, at the periphery of their flickering light.

Blade was beginning to think he might outdistance them. A grim smile touched his lips at the prospect. After he eluded them, he intended to scour the library for his weapons. Leaving St. Louis without his Bowies was unthinkable; the big knives were as much a part of him as his arms or legs.

The Leather Knights were determinedly sticking to his heels.

A lantern appeared directly ahead, suspended from a hook in the wall.

A junction, Blade thought.

But he was wrong.

Blade slowed, expecting to find a branch or fork in the hallway. Instead, he discovered a solid brick wall.

It was a dead end!

Furious, he whirled, facing the converging Leather Knights. They had him right where they wanted him! Outnumbered, with nowhere to turn!

He raised the Browning and sighted on the nearest figure, now approximately 20 yards away.

Let them come!

They were about to learn why the Warriors were respected and feared far and wide.

Blade sighted and squeezed the trigger.