CHAPTER 27
When Amy saw Howler walking back out into the arena, the panic really began to set in. She had almost lost it when she saw the archers at the base of the stands. They all had little cauldrons that they used to light their arrow heads. Amy had thought that was it but, when they notched the arrows they just waited. Now she knew what they were waiting for and, as Howler began to address the crowd, she realized the end of his speech would also be her end as well.
“Really bad idea,” Amy let slip between her grinding teeth. “Why don't my plans ever work!” When Howler stopped speaking, Amy slammed her eyes shut and wondered how bad this going to hurt. Nothing happened and, after a second, she peeked and saw that Howler had not stopped speaking because he was finished. He had stopped because he had been interrupted. Amy began pushing against the chains for all she worth and yelled out, “Jake! I have a little problem here!”
Howler kept his eyes right on Jake as the two men squared off at double arms length. He noted that Jake also had a sword hanging by his side. Howler asked, “I suppose you're an expert with that?”
Jake shrugged, “well, I was playing with this wall hanger when I was five, broke my mother's lamp. She drug me down to this thrift store in the middle of the night and made me buy her another one with my allowance money. Still got my ass spanked cause that one was broke too.”
Obviously unimpressed, Howler said in his dispassionate way, “you can't stop this, no matter what happens.”
“Howler right?” Jake then noted as he took a couple of steps to his right so he was more at an angle to the man, “what's your real name, by the way?”
“Thomas,” the man replied, “Thomas Howler.”
“No shit?” Jake chuckled, “well I guess some people got all the luck. Not you though, obviously, cause you see Thomas. I didn't come in here to stop this. I came in here to kill you. No matter what else happens, that will.”
Now Amy really began fighting against the chains because she was hoping that Jake was not serious, “would you stop screwing around and get up here and untie me!”
Amy was ignored as Howler pointed out to Jake, “we have archers all around the Colosseum. More than the ones you see. If you shoot me with a gun...”
“Oh no Tom,” Jake replied, “I'm not going to do you any favors. You earned that. I'm going to cut your fucking head off and I'm going to make it as slow and painful as I can. As for your bully boys, why is it, I get the feeling you can't afford to use them in a fair fight. I mean, what is this all for if not for show? Huh? So what do you say? I put down my gun and you put down your crossbows and we settle this like men?”
Howler broke his ice exterior and actually thought about that before he accused Jake of, “that was from an old movie!”
“Paraphrased,” Jake admitted, “but it was a good one. You people sure look like you've seen too many so, hey, don't you have some by laws about knightly combat for the hand of the fair maiden and all that jazz?” Jake looked up to the VIP stand and yelled, “what do you say Brother Jim? Are we good for a joust?”
Dove stood up from his throne and he obviously looked as happy as a clam. He raised his goblet and with all the finesse of a sleazy used car dealer, something that Jake suspected he would be doing if he were not here, and the guy let it be known to the crowd, “I say, let the games begin!”
Jake locked his eyes with Howler and said, “now let me paraphrase another old classic, your move ass hole.”
“You made a mistake Ranger,” Howler said as he drew his sword, “I am very sure that you can't beat me with a sword.”
Jake only got his blade out in time to deflect the first full blow. After that first lick, Howler backed up a few steps and his strategy seemed to quickly change. Where his first strike came at Jake like he was swinging an ax he then, seemingly, started using a more precision type of attack, relying primarily on the tip. Jake quickly found out exactly how quick this guy was and, even worse, that his aim was far better. Jake took several slices from Howlers tip, in quick succession, and never landed a single blow on the guy. He deflected Jake's moves like they were less than an annoyance and was quickly turning those moves to his advantage.
That made Jake back up in a defensive stance and state, “I take it you practice every day.”
The guy shrugged his free shoulder to that, “it's old hat Ranger. Olympic fencing team, bronze medalist.”
“Really? I'll remember that on trivia night.” Jake charged and hacked away as he did. He took a couple of good cuts in the process but, instead of backing up, as Howler obviously expected, Jake closed the range and locked blades. He laughed and said, “I have a confession, I'm not left handed.”
Howler was confused and then looked down at their hands. He wasn't using his left hand! When he looked back up all he saw was Jake's elbow that quickly made contact with his nose. Howler stumbled backwards as Jake moved forward saying, “made you look.” When Howler tried to recover his balance, Jake took the target, and his sword hand with it. When Howler fell this time he did not get back up. Jake stood over the guy and put the tip of his sword on Howler's chest saying, “self defense class, Fort Bragg, still alive medalist. Now I think this is the part where I say, do you yield, maybe? I could also say Yippie Kie Yay but, lets go with you just telling your circus clowns to get my agent off that pole.”
Howler's eyes locked with Jake's and he said in an angered grunt, “do it.” When Jake did nothing he yelled it out and, only then, Jake realized the guy was not talking to him. In a flash, it was clear in the eyes of the man, that Jake was standing over, that Howler not only knew what was coming but, he approved. For that reason alone, Jake knew he had to do it. Right now, Jake's only regret was that he had just waited too late. Jake thrust the blade in the man's chest, and gave it a couple of twists for good measure.
The arrows flew and, because of their burning tips, Amy could see every one of them arcing right at the pile of wood she was on. Howler had said it would be quick. Maybe he really had thought he was doing her a favor but, right now, Amy knew exactly what it came down too. Even if Jake could get here in time, which he could not, he would never get her out of these chains before they were engulfed. Amy held her breath, closed her eyes tight, and waited for the pain. “Please be fast.”
The popping noise was not fire. The chains slackened and Amy snapped to life as she began pushing the steel rings from around her waist and arms. The world went bright and she felt searing heat engulf her as she jumped from the platform. She landed in the dirt of the arena floor and began rolling before a barking command told her to, “hold still already, you're on fire!”
The dress they put on her had caught at the bottom and was burning upwards. Amy began beating at it until she realized, “Danni?” She looked up just in time to catch a glimpse of her friend. Then the world turned white. Amy started gasping for air and then realized this was not smoke. As she wiped at her eyes the world became a little clearer and only then did she realize what Danni was holding, “a fire extingusher? Where...?”
Danni almost looked embarrassed, “it was in the armory with the swords.” Danni tossed it aside and then picked the shotgun back up. She helped Amy to her feet. The red head began ripping the rest of the dress off of her. Danni actually snickered, “too bad, you actually looked good in that.”
Amy snarled, “it made me look fat!”
While Catching his breath, Jake stumbled up to the girls and he told Danni, “good shot kid.”
“Shot?” Danni said as she ran to him and began playing nurse maid with the cuts. At that point, Jake noticed it was a shotgun in her hands and not the battle-rifle. That weapon was still slung across Danni's back. Jake decided to not worry about it right now. He figured it didn't matter anyway.
Finally, now completely out of the sacrificial spring catalog, Amy snarled at Jake, “oh and I'm fine by the way, Jake. Thanks for asking.”
“Just didn't figure it was going to matter,” Jake replied as he dropped to a knee and tried to shoo Danni away, “I think they're going to kill us all now anyway.” Jake then looked up to the VIP platform where Jim Dove was standing, arm outstretched, and had his thumb up. The crowd was cheering. Jake groaned, “don't these ass holes know that's Roman not Ren?”
Danni blurted out in a squeak, “I don't think I care.”
“Good call Agent Nguyen,” Jake said as he stood up, “let's go home before they have a change of attitude.”
Days as a Schizophrenic (Poem)
Decant
It's Hurting Again
