Deadly Weakness (Gray Spear Society) (11 page)

"Yes, ma'am," all the fighters responded.

Ethel looked intently at them with her unnaturally dark eyes. "Violation of the rules will result in immediate disqualification. If I feel the offense was intentional, I will mete out punishment as I see fit. I expect to see discipline, restraint, and honor today. We aren't enemies."

But what are the rules?
Marina wondered.
What is the big surprise?

"Smythe and Odelia will explain the rest," Ethel said. "Most of you don't know these two
legionnaires
. They both have an extraordinarily powerful gift of healing. Your health is in the best possible hands today."

Smythe came forward with a woman Marina had never seen before. Odelia's hair was so white and silky it looked artificial. The strange color of her eyes reminded Marina of dried blood.

"The legate wants to see realistic fights today," Smythe said. "Full speed, full contact, full technique. Don't hold anything back. You're under orders to beat the shit out of each other."

Marina's eyes widened.
Is he serious?
she wondered.
He can't be.

"Odelia and I will patch you up after each fight," he said. "Everybody will be OK for dinner. Trust me. But there are certain kinds of injuries we can't heal. In particular, the brain is off limits. No head trauma. No attacks to the neck or spine. No dismemberment. No suffocation. Venom is permitted, provided the doses are non-lethal." He glanced at Marina. "All other injuries are allowed."

Marina was horrified. Was Ethel hoping for a bloodbath?

"Thank you Dr. Smythe and Odelia," Ethel said. "That seems clear enough. Focus your attacks on the limbs and the abdomen. I'll be watching closely. Remember, the winner of the tournament will get a very nice prize at tonight's banquet. Attendance is mandatory for everybody. There will be no sore losers hiding in their rooms. Marina, as the hostess of this convention, I'll grant you the honor of the first fight. Your opponent will be Aldonza from Mexico City."

Marina walked nervously onto the square. The eyes of the entire North American division were on her.

Her opponent was a tall woman with dark skin. She had very long hair the color of fresh mint. They faced each other at a distance of several paces.

Aldonza's strange hair began to fan out around her head. It moved under its own power.

What the hell?
Marina thought. She rubbed her fingers to force extra venom into her black fingernails. She now wished she had taken the time to sharpen them. If she got through this fight, she would do so before the next one.

"Begin," Ethel said.

The two women approached each other cautiously. Marina was trying to determine Aldonza's combat style from her stance and posture. Meanwhile, Aldonza's hair rippled like waves in water. It was very distracting.

Suddenly, the fight was on. Aldonza attacked with a perfectly executed combination of spinning kicks and punches. Marina tried to sneak underneath the flurry and caught a vicious kick to her shoulder for her trouble. Intense pain made her grunt. It was possible her collar bone was broken. On her second effort, Marina managed to trip up Aldonza and send her falling forward. Marina used her full body weight to land an elbow on Aldonza's kidney.

Something grabbed Marina's forearm. She realized it was Aldonza's hair. Green fibers tightened like thousands of steel wires, and the bones in Marina's arm abruptly snapped.

"Ahh!" she cried out in pain.

Enough,
she thought.
Ethel wants blood. That's what she'll get.

Marina sunk the razor sharp fingernails on her good hand into Aldonza's back. Marina twisted to carve up as much flesh as possible. Blood flowed freely from the deep wound. Now it was Aldonza's turn to scream. Marina gave her a dose of venom for good measure.

Aldonza rolled over until she was on top of Marina. The venom would take effect in only seconds, but Aldonza wasn't done yet. Her hair grabbed Marina's shoulders. Marina felt terrible pain as her arms were twisted out of their sockets. She couldn't stop the supernatural strength of that green hair.

Finally, Aldonza fell unconscious and her hair went limp.

"Chicago wins," Ethel announced. "A slow start but a strong finish."

Smythe and Odelia rushed forward.

Smythe attended to Marina. "Hold still," he said.

He reached into her shoulder. She had seen him do that trick to other people but never to herself. She could actually feel his hand moving under her skin. The experience was frightening but not painful. He seemed to be pushing the broken and dislocated bones back into place.

"How much venom did you give her?" he asked.

"Aldonza?" Marina said. "Not a dangerous amount. She'll sleep for an hour or two."

He nodded.

She looked over at her fallen opponent. Odelia's hands glowed with a bright white light and covered the large wound on Aldonza's back. After a few seconds Odelia lifted her hands. The wound was completely healed.

Wow,
Marina thought.
Powerful healers indeed.

Smythe stood up. "All done."

She moved her arms around and felt no pain. The bones were knitted. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." He helped her up.

She noticed Aaron smiling at her. She wanted a hug from him, but she just moved to the side of the room instead. Aldonza was taken to her cabin to sleep off the venom.

Even though Marina was physically fine, she was badly shaken. Aaron had warned this tournament would have a memorable format. He hadn't lied.

"Sampson, from Houston," Ethel called out. "Torngasoak, from Edmonton."

Two men moved into the square. The first was a huge man with gorgeous blond hair. He grinned eagerly and almost ran into position. His chest was so big he looked like a parody of himself.

The second fighter was shorter and much less muscular. He had skin the color of cinnamon, and his black hair was cut very short. He seemed a little pudgy to Marina. She guessed he weighed about a hundred and eighty pounds. He was giving up at least a hundred pounds of mass and several inches of reach in this fight.

"Sampson," Ethel said.

The bigger man turned. "Yes, ma'am?"

"Caution is warranted."

Marina raised her eyebrows in surprise.
What does that mean?

"Begin," Ethel said.

Torngasoak stuck out his tongue at Sampson in a childish taunting gesture. Torngasoak put his thumbs in his ears and wiggled his fingers. Finally, he turned up his nose with exaggerated disdain.

Sampson cocked his head in obvious confusion. He shrugged and charged forward.

He put his entire body behind a jumping side kick. His technique was fine, and it seemed Torngasoak would get smashed like a bug. Torngasoak grabbed Sampson's leg in mid-air, flipped him, and sent him crashing into the floor. Sampson struck so hard Marina felt the impact with her feet. His entire body crumpled.

Somehow, Sampson managed to push Torngasoak off and stagger to his feet. Sampson stood there, gasping and wobbly. He touched his ribs and winced.

Torngasoak performed a little victory dance. It was irritating to watch.

Caution was indeed warranted,
Marina thought.

Sampson edged his way towards his opponent much more carefully than last time. Torngasoak raised his middle finger and waved it dramatically in the air. Sampson seemed unsure of what to do. Finally, he got frustrated and threw a punch.

Torngasoak grabbed Sampson's arm and flipped him completely over. Sampson landed very hard on his back. The sound of the bone crunching impact made Marina wince. Torngasoak tried to follow up with a stomping attack, but Sampson rolled out of the way barely in time.

Sampson stood up. His right arm hung loosely, obviously dislocated. He coughed up a little blood and his eyes watered.

Torngasoak went back to his immature taunting.

Sampson stuck his right palm straight out and landed on it. Marina heard the joint pop back into place. He let out a long groan.

He has a strong fighting spirit,
she thought.

He narrowed his eyes. He moved slowly towards Torngasoak without making any sudden motions. The smaller man had a concerned expression for the first time. He grabbed his crotch and shook it vigorously.

Marina realized what was happening. Torngasoak utilized his opponent's energy for his own attack. Sampson wasn't going to provide any energy this time.

Torngasoak backed away and his taunting became desperate. Sampson pursued him around the square at the pace of a gentle walk. It was the slowest chase Marina had ever seen. Sampson wheezed and coughed up more blood.

Finally, Torngasoak went on offense. He came in with a low sweeping kick aimed at Sampson's knees. Sampson stomped on Torngasoak's leg so hard it broke, and a jagged piece of fibula tore through the skin. Then Sampson dropped down and punched Torngasoak in the chest, making him fly backwards.

"Houston wins!" Ethel declared.

Sampson collapsed to his knees. His face was a sickly pale.

Smythe and Odelia ran to attend to the fallen. They both focused their attention on Torngasoak first. Sampson would have to wait his turn.

Marina edged around for a closer look at what the doctors were doing. Smythe had both his hands inside of Torngasoak's abdomen. He was muttering about broken ribs and a collapsed lung. Odelia was holding onto Torngasoak's chest, and her arms were glowing like fluorescent light bulbs.

Smythe looked over at Ethel and said, "Ma'am, this could take a little while. This man is badly injured, and Sampson took a severe beating too."

She nodded. "We'll have a twenty minute recess while the healers work their magic. Everybody is dismissed."

Marina quickly walked over to Aaron. He wrapped his big arms around her and gave her a gentle squeeze. It was exactly what she needed.

"I don't like this tournament," she said softly.

"That could be the wisest thing I've ever heard you say," he replied.

* * *

Xavier hurried out of the room. He had a phone call to make and exactly twenty minutes to do it.

He grabbed his coat from a hook in the hall and ran outside. Shocking cold hit him in the face. Without slowing down, he pulled on the coat.

He ran about a hundred yards before finding a secluded spot behind a cabin. He stopped to listen carefully. He didn't hear anything and concluded he was alone.

He took his slim black phone out of his pocket and called Hanley. Xavier didn't have time to mess with the hands-free headset.

"What is my color?" he said quickly.

"Gray."

"What is my weapon?"

"A spear," Hanley said. "Enough! I've waited all morning, Xavier. Your plan better be worth it."

"It's the best I can come up with," Xavier said. "There is a banquet tonight in the large central building. Do you see it on your satellite photos?"

"Yes."

"The entire convention will be there. Nobody will be in their cabin. The perfect time to attack is exactly 7:15. That's when everybody will be seated for dinner."

"OK," Hanley said. "Sounds good."

"I'm not done. Sending in ground forces alone won't work. They'll get annihilated. You have to trust me on that."

"Then what do you suggest?"

"An airstrike," Xavier said.

"A what!"

"A precision bomb, dropped from a plane. Destroy the entire building with no warning at all. Then send in your troops to mop up the survivors, if there are any. I'll be hiding in the woods."

"You must be joking," Hanley said. "You want me to call for an airstrike on Wisconsin?"

"It's the only way."

"It's insane. We're the FBI, not the Air Force."

"Your Unit has a military component," Xavier said. "That's one big reason I hooked up with you. I'm sure one of your buddies can make the arrangements. I'm only asking for a single bomb."

"Xavier..."

"Listen. I've always given you good intelligence. Even when you ignored my advice, I turned out to be right every time. There is only one way to stop the Society: my way."

Hanley sighed. "I can't just whip up an airstrike on short notice. It's not nearly that simple, and last I checked, we're not at war with Wisconsin."

"Do you want your men to die?" Xavier said.

"No."

"Then figure out how to make this happen. Show me you're more than just a paper pushing FBI flunky with a bum knee. I'm expecting to see fireworks at 7:15 sharp."

Hanley hesitated. "I'll try."

"Before I go," Xavier said, "I'll confirm the location of the attack. We can't afford a mistake."

He took out his regular Spears phone and opened the navigation page. He read off his current longitude and latitude to Hanley.