cussler.blueandgold-第71节

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　splintered　the　outer　layer　of　protective　wood。
　
　The　brothers　had　exchanged　their　spears　for　maces；　the　weapons　developed　to　smash　their　way　through　armor。　The　bikes　swooped　down　on　her　before　she　had　the　chance　to　stand。　Again　the　spiked　iron　balls　crashed　into　the　shield。　The　wood　protected　her　from　the　main　shock　but　disintegrated　after　the　second　blow　until　all　that　was　left　were　the　leather　straps　and　useless　frame　work。
　
　She　grabbed　for　a　spear　and　held　it　at　an　angle。　The　bikes　held　off　their　attack　and　went　back　and　forth。　Then　one　attacker　came　in。　The　spear　spun　in　his　direction　like　a　pass　needle。　Gamay　held　her　breath。　At　the　last　second　he　turned　away。　The　other　came　in　from　her　left。　She　pivoted　quickly　to　face　him　only　to　be　distracted　by　another　attack　on　the　right。　It　was　a　classic　flanking　tactic。　They　were　not　ready　for　a　full　press　yet；　probably　just　testing　to　see　her　reaction。
　
　One　bike　passed　directly　in　front　of　her；　its　rider　thinking　he　was　safely　beyond　the　reach　of　the　spear。　Instead　of　jabbing；　Gamay　brought　the　spear　back　on　her　shoulder　and　hurled　it　at　the　rider。　He　was　moving　fast。　Her　aim　was　too　low。　The　spear　hit　the　spokes　of　the　front　wheel。　The　force　of　the　wheel　shattered　the　shaft；　but　not　before　the　skinny；　knobbed　tire　turned　at　a　sharp　angle。　The　bike　jackknifed；　and　the　rider　flew　over　the　handlebars。　The　bike　skidded　along　the　floor　leaving　a　trail　of　red　and　white　sparks。　Gamay　saw　him　hit　the　floor　and　lie　still。
　
　The　second　motorcycle　halted　its　attack；　and　the　rider　pointed　his　headlight　at　the　still　form。　He　dismounted；　but　he　knew　even　before　he　crouched　down　beside　the　twisted　body　that　his　brother　was　dead。　He　had　felt　his　brother's　fear　and　pain　as　his　neck　snapped。　Then　came　a　moan　that　rose　to　an　agonizing　scream。　A　chill　went　up　Gamay's　spine　as　the　remaining　Kradzik　brother　began　to　howl　like　a　wolf。　She　edged　toward　the　rear　of　the　boat；　hoping　that　if　she　made　it　to　the　deck　she'd　find　another　weapon。　The　brother　saw　her　move。　He　straddled　his　bike　in　an　instant。　She　held　her　spear　out　straight。　As　he　came　in　from　the　side　she　felt　the　spear　jerk；　then　heard　a　clink　of　metal。　He　had　chopped　the　spear　tip　neatly　off　with　a　short　handled　battle…ax。　He　stopped　and　held　the　ax　high　above　his　head　with　both　hands。　Then　he　came　for　her。
　
　She　ran　for　the　stern　of　the　boat。　He　caught　up　in　an　instant　and　crashed　his　motorcycle　into　the　back　of　her　legs；　knocking　her　down。　Pain　shot　up　from　her　knees　and　elbows　as　they　smashed　against　the　hard　floor；　but　she　had　more　to　worry　about。　A　figure　was　standing　over　her。　〃My　brother　。　。　。　is　dead　。　。　。〃
　
　He　spoke　haltingly；　as　if　he　were　waiting　for　a　cadenced　answer　from　his　twin。
　
　〃You　killed　。　。　。　now　I　will　kill　you。　I　will　start　。　。　。　with　legs。　One　by　one。　Then　your　arms。〃
　
　With　his　black　leather　pants　and　sleeveless　jacket；　he　looked　like　an　executioner。　His　teeth　gleamed　as　he　grinned　in　anticipation。　Gamay　tried　to　roll　out　of　the　way；　but　he　put　his　boot　on　her　ankle　and　she　cried　out。
　
　As　the　ax　came　up　there　was　a　whirring　sound；　and　he　grunted　in　surprise。　His　free　hand　reached　up　to　feel　the　shaft　of　a　crossbow　bolt　protruding　from　the　side　of　his　head；　but　he　was　already　dead　by　then。　The　gleam　disappeared　from　the　red　rimmed　eyes；　and　he　keeled　over。　Gamay　rolled　out　of　the　way　as　the　falling　ax　clanked　onto　the　floor。　She　heard　quick　footsteps；　strong　arms　were　picking　her　up；　and　she　saw　Zavala's　familiar　grin。　Then　Austin　appeared。　He　was　holding　an　old　crossbow　in　his　hands。
　
　〃Are　you　okay？〃　Austin　asked。
　
　〃Nothing　a　good　skin　transplant　won't　cure。〃　She　saw　that　Joe　was　carrying　the　gun　he　had　borrowed　from　the　guard。　〃Not　that　I'm　ungrateful；　but　why　play　William　Tell　when　you　had　that　thing？〃
　
　〃This　throws　quite　a　spray　of　bullets；〃　Zavala　said。　〃It's　great　for　cutting　down　a　full　assault　but　not　very　good　for　a　precision　sniper　shot。　I　would　have　backed　Kurt　up　if　he　missed。〃　He　knelt　beside　the　dead　twin。　〃You　were　supposed　to　hit　the　apple　on　top　of　his　head。〃
　
　〃Next　time　I'll　aim　higher；〃　Austin　said；　tossing　the　crossbow　aside。
　
　She　gave　them　each　a　peck　on　the　cheek。　〃Nice　to　see　you　even　if　I　have　to　endure　your　dumb　wisecracks。〃
　
　Austin　inspected　the　dead　man　near　the　motorcycle。　〃It　looks　like　you　were　doing　pretty　well　on　your　own。〃　
　
　　〃I　was　about　to　go　to　pieces；〃　Gamay　said；　wondering　how　she　could　joke　about　her　near　dismemberment。　〃Where　are　we？〃
　
　〃Lake　Tahoe。〃
　
　〃Tahoe！　How　did　you　find　me？〃
　
　〃We'll　explain　after　we　pick　up　Francesca。　Can　you　walk？〃
　
　〃I'll　crawl　on　my　knees　to　get　out　of　this　dump。　Nice　out　fits；〃　she　said；　eyeing　their　white　caps　and　suits。　〃Is　that　what　got　you　past　the　guards　at　the　door？〃
　
　〃There　weren't　any　guards。〃
　
　〃I　guess　they　didn't　want　to　be　responsible　for　Daryll　and　Daryll。〃
　
　〃Truth　is；　we　blundered　in　here。　We　saw　you　playing　a　losing　game　of　tag　with　your　friend。　I　grabbed　a　crossbow　off　the　wall　and　watched　as　you　set　him　up　beautifully　for　a　shot。〃　Austin　took　a　pistol　from　one　of　the　dead　men。　〃What　say　we　saddle　up　before　the　posse　es？〃
　
　Gamay　nodded　and　started　to　limp　toward　the　doors；　protectively　flanked　by　the　two　men。　The　doors　opened；　and　Brynhild　stepped　in。　She　was　alone；　but　that　didn't　make　her　any　less　imposing　as　she　strode　across　the　hall。　She　barely　glanced　at　the　dead　bodies　as　she　came　over　and　stood　before　them；　muscular　legs　spread　wide　apart　like　tree　trunks；　her　hands　on　her　hips。
　
　〃I　take　it　this　is　your　handiwork；〃　she　said。
　
　Austin　shrugged。　〃Sorry　about　the　mess。〃
　
　〃They　were　fools。　If　you　hadn't　killed　them；　I　would　have。　They　disobeyed　my　orders　and　defiled　this　sacred　place。〃
　
　〃Still；　I　know　how　hard　it　is　to　get　good　help　these　days。〃
　
　〃Not　as　hard　as　you　think。　There's　no　shortage　of　people　who　like　to　kill。　How　did　you　get　in　here？〃
　
　〃We　walked　in　the　front　door。　What　is　this　place？〃
　
　〃It's　the　heart　and　soul　of　my　empire。〃
　
　〃You　must　be　the　elusive　Brynhild　Sigurd；〃　Austin　said。
　
　〃That's　correct；　and　I　know　who　you　are；　Mr。　Austin；　and　your　friend；　Mr。　Zavala。　We've　been　watching　you　since　you　visited　our　facility　in　Mexico。　It　was　thoughtful　of　you　to　honor　us　with　your　visit。〃　
　
　　〃Don't　mention　it。　You　must　let　us　know　who　your　interior　decorator　is。　What　do　you　think；　Joe；　early　Addams　Family　or　late　Transylvanian？〃
　
　〃I　was　thinking　more　like　Munster　modern。　The　boat…shaped　coffee　table　is　a　nice　touch。〃
　
　〃You　will　learn；〃　the　woman　said。　〃That　boat　symbolizes　the　past；　the　present；　and　the　glorious　future。〃
　
　Austin　laughed。　〃An　appropriate　symbol。　That　boat　isn't　going　anywhere；　and　neither　is　your　empire。〃
　
　〃You　NUMA　people　are　being　tiresome。〃
　
　〃I　was　just　telling　Joe　the　same　thing　before　you　arrived。　We　don't　want　to　wear　out　our　wele。　If　you'll　excuse　us；　we'll　be　on　our　way。　Saddle　up；　guys。〃
　
　Zavala；　who　was　in　the　lead；　tried　to　step　around　Brynhild。　Out　of　habit　he　flashed　his　trademark　smile。　Brynhild　was　a　freak；　he　reasoned；　but　she　was　still　a　female。　The　famous　Zavala　charm　was　lost　on　the　giantess。　She　reached　out　and　grabbed　him　by　the　shirt；　shook　him　like　a　terrier　with　a　rat；　then　with　her　great　strength　threw　him　onto　the　floor。　Zavala　quickly　re　gained　his　feet。　Ever　the　gentleman　when　it　came　to　women　of　any　size　or　age；　he　smiled　again。　〃I　know　how　you　feel；　but　this　isn't　a　good　way　to　end　our　relationship。〃
　
　Brynhild　replied　with　a　backhand　slap　across　his　face。　Joe　staggered　back　a　few　steps　and　wiped　the　blood　that　was　trick　ling　from　a　corner　of　his　mouth。　Brynhild　cocked　her　right　fist　for　another　blow。　Austin　moved　in　to　protect　Joe。　He　was　watching　Brynhild's　hands；　so　when　she　lashed　out　to　the　left　leg　in　a　classic　kickboxing　maneuver　he　was　caught　by　surprise。　Her　boot　smashed　into　his　chest。　He　felt　ribs　crack　from　the　tremendous　force　even　before　he　slammed　against　the　floor　with　an　impact　that　rattled　his　teeth。
　
　Seeing　Austin　fall　removed　all　of　Zavala's　inhibitions　against　striking　a　woman。
　
　〃That　makes　two　sucker　punches；〃　he　said　softly。
　
　Joe　had　financed　his　way　through　the　New　York　Maritime　College　by　boxing　professionally　as　a　middleweight。　He　won　most　of　his　fights；　many　by　knockouts。　He　had　gained　weight　since　college　but　still　managed　to　keep　down　to　a　fighting　trim　of　one　hundred　seventy…five　pounds。　He　was　five　foot　ten；　which　gave　Brynhild　a　height　advantage　of　about　a　foot。　She　probably　outweighed　him　by　fifty　pounds；　none　of　it　fat。
　
　Brynhild's　kick　had　put　her　in　a　good　position　to　unload　a　roundhouse　right　aimed　at　removing　Zavala's　head　from　his　shoulders。　Zavala's　old　ring　instincts　were　ing　back。　He　saw　the　punch　ing　and　ducked　as　the　right　fist　grazed　the　top　of　his　head；　and　then　he　drove　a　left　hard　into　Brynhild's　midsection。　The　effort　almost　cost　him　a　broken　wrist；　but　it　threw　off　his　opponent's　timing。　She　threw　a　long；　loose　left　that　caught　air。　Tucking　his　chin　in　and　bringing　his　hands　up；　he　tried　a　three…punch　bo　that　had　decked　more　than　one　opponent　in　his　college　days。　He　followed　up　a　quick　left