Suddenly rushing like a wounded bear, the soldier spread his arms wide to wrap me up to take me down for the final time. I timed the punch that came from my knees and you could hear the crack echo through the trees as my fist broke his jaw and flipped him onto his back. The battle lust was on me at that point and I grabbed him by his greasy hair. Holding his head I snapped short punches to his face, pulping his lips and swelling his eyes.
When at last his big arms slumped down and my opponent was unconscious, I dropped his head on the ground like a busted pumpkin. My hands were swollen and bruised and my head felt like a river with the rushing in my ears. My arms stung and my wounded side was numb. But I stood over my defeated enemy, wanting him to get up, wishing he would so I could continue to smash and destroy.
When he didn’t I whirled around to see what I could do about his buddy, although I fully expected to be shot for winning the fight. I was not prepared for what I saw on the porch.
Sergeant Milovich was on his knees, with his hands over his head. Janna was standing behind him with her gun to the back of his head. He looked like he was covered in blood and when I looked closer, I saw the handles of a pair of Janna’s scissors sticking out from his shoulder. Apparently, our little orphan was quite capable of taking care of herself.
Janna grinned at me and I tried to smile back, but it actually hurt to do so. I didn’t want to know what my face was going to look like in the morning.
Janna’s face got serious quickly and I heard the rushing of feet behind me. In a flash, I drew my knife and struck blindly behind me.
Luck guided my blade, as it pierced Kazinski’s left eye and buried itself to the hilt in his face. Four inches of steel sheathed themselves in his brain and killed him instantly. His body crumpled to the grass, his face wearing a shocked expression into the afterlife.
Janna’s pistol barked once and I turned to see the sarge fall on his back, a smoking hole in his forehead. In his left hand he held the scissors Janna had stabbed him with. I guess he had pulled them out and tried to gain the upper hand. One more point for her.
As I dragged the bodies out of the way, Janna went into the bait shop. After a few minutes, she re-emerged with a few bottles of water and soda, as well as some packaged crackers. The soda and crackers had expired, but recently, so I gratefully accepted them. Sitting on the porch, I gingerly explored my bruised hands, testing to see if any bones had been broken. That little shit could take a punch.
“It’s not as bad as you think,” Janna offered, trying to be kind.
“Any fight I walk away from is a good one,” I said.
“You do pretty well. That piece of shit is like a lot of guys I’ve known in my life. All muscle and no regard.”
“Well, he’s got one last job for us, then he can rest in piece.”
“What’s that?” Janna asked, curious.
“He and his friend are going to deliver a message to Thorton.”
“Nice.”
I rummaged around the bait shop until I found what I was looking for. Fortunately, the shop had some marine supplies for boaters and it wasn’t long before I had a good length of nylon rope. As I was dragging the bodies to the main road, Janna was guarding the rear, having picked up my rifle. After the way she handled herself today, I had no trouble with her backing me up. She even found my SIG, which had landed only a few feet from my fight with Kazinski. That would have helped.
I dragged the bodies to the main road and situating myself under a street lamp, tossed the rope over. Tying the bodies up was quick and in short order I had them trussed and hanging like deer in the garage.
Admiring my handiwork, I started walking back to the RV. Janna fell in beside me and asked, “What do you think Thorton will do when he sees those bodies?”
I thought a minute. “A sane man would cut his losses and head home. But I don’t think Thorton’s ego will let that happen.”
“So what next?” Janna wondered.
“We do what we’ve set out to do. The road we wanted is here and DC is just a state or two away.”
“What about me?” Janna seemed concerned.
“After the way you handled yourself today, you’re free to do what you want. If you want to go, I won’t stop you. If you want to come along and be part of the crew and help us save our country, I’d say you earned your place today.” I wasn’t just blowing smoke. Janna had done well, stayed cool and got the job done. Couldn’t ask for a better partner.
We walked in silence to the RV and I watched with amusement as Tommy and Duncan covered us with rifles. They must have heard the shots and wondered what had gone on. I’d tell them in a while, but they’d see the message to Thorton soon enough. I hoped he understood it as thoroughly as I meant it.
We were playing for keeps.
