Treasure of the Dead

Chapter 42

Avila’s bullet buzzed past Maddock, but he felt the projectile clip his shoulder. It wasn’t enough to stop his forward momentum, though, and he crashed into Avila over the cot. Fabi squealed while Avila bear-hugged Maddock and pulled him to the floor on his side of the cot.

Maddock gripped Avila’s gun hand as the physician fought against his opponent’s grip to bring his weapon to bear. Maddock unleashed a flurry of jabs to Avila’s face with his left hand, but Avila was still managing to level the pistol at Maddock’s head. He fired once as Maddock dodged to the left, feeling his hair move as the round passed through it into the ceiling, exploding a light fixture that rained glass down upon them.

Maddock caught motion out of his peripheral vision but couldn’t stop grappling with Avila long enough to see what it was. Then suddenly Bones popped up behind and to the right of Avila, his own firearm jammed up against the doctor’s temple.

“It's time to die, Dr. Moreau.”

Avila’s eyes widened in fear as he froze. Maddock extricated himself from Avila, relieving him of his handgun in the process. Once at arm’s length from his foe, Maddock rose to his feet, dusting off his pants.

“Bones, I had no idea you had any literary inclinations whatsoever. In the service the only thing I ever saw you reading was Playboy, and something tells me it wasn’t for the articles.”

Bones shrugged without taking the barrel off of Avila. “I have read a couple of books, you know. Now and then.”

“Will you two shut up!” Avila barked.

“Don’t worry, mad scientist, you won’t have to listen to us for much longer.” Bones centered his barrel on Avila’s temple.

“Have some sense!” Avila pleaded. “Spare my life in the name of humanity! Scientific advancement!”

Maddock waved an arm at the destroyed lab, a dead zombie body crumpled on the floor in a corner, Cassandra’s limp body in the cot next to Fabi’s. “This is what you call advancement? Experimenting with people without their consent in order to turn them into some kind of slaves?”

“Not slaves. Productive workers. To better their own lives as well as those they work for.”

“What a crock,” Bones growled. “You know, the Nazis experimented with Jewish prisoners during the war and they were later held accountable for their actions.”

“I’m well aware of the Nuremberg Trials.” Avila’s voice had lowered to a near whisper.

Bones nodded. “Well, consider this your trial. And we’ve found you guilty. Goodbye, Dr. Scumbag.”

“Don’t do it, Bones!” Fabi’s shrill plea rent the air.

Bones narrowed his eyes without averting his gaze from Avila’s head. “Give me one good reason why not.”

“If you kill him, you'll have to kill me too.”