Deadly Weakness (Gray Spear Society) (13 page)

Rodrigo rushed in first. He attempted a series of body punches, which John expertly deflected with his forearms. John countered by trying to stomp on Rodrigo's knees and feet. The two men danced momentarily as they fought with their legs.

While Rodrigo was distracted, John landed a hard straight punch in his chest but it didn't seem to do much harm. John then kicked his opponent in the lower ribs. Rodrigo reacted with a pained expression. He reached out his hands to grab, but John hopped away too quickly.

That's the problem with such huge muscles,
Marina thought.
At some point they just slow you down.

Rodrigo rushed forward again with a determined expression. John fell back and tripped Rodrigo. The bigger man landed flat on his face.

John dropped both his knees onto Rodrigo's already injured rib. Rodrigo's eyes bulged and he grunted. He shoved John away violently and got back up.

John went after Rodrigo's legs again, demonstrating amazing agility. He had a counter move for every one of Rodrigo's attacks. Even though John wasn't doing great damage, it seemed he would eventually wear down his opponent and win. Rodrigo clenched his jaw in frustration.

Suddenly, he punched John in the face.

Ethel came flying across the room. When she really wanted to move, her quickness was always startling. There was probably nobody on the planet faster than her.

She struck Rodrigo in the chest with both feet like a diver hitting a springboard. He weighed twice as much as her, and she still knocked him back. She landed with the grace of a cat. He fell to the ground and wheezed like an old man.

"Guadalajara is disqualified," she said. "Atlanta wins."

Smythe and Odelia approached Rodrigo.

Ethel shook her head. "Leave him be. If he's injured, he'll have to heal on his own. He doesn't deserve your kindness. Attend to John instead."

"Yes, ma'am," Smythe said.

* * *

The caravan had stopped at the Lake Forest Tollway Oasis. The FBI Special Missions Unit was about two hundred people in total, and it took fifty vehicles to move all those bodies and their equipment. The caravan had filled every available spot in the parking lot.

The oasis was actually a small indoor mall built directly over the interstate highway. Ramps provided access on both sides. Illinois owned this oasis along with several others scattered around the state. The food inside was fast and cheap, perfect for a traveler who didn't want to waste time finding a real restaurant.

Hanley stood beside his car in the cold winter air. The schedule was tight, and he was impatient to get moving again. However, the next stop for most of his men was Camp Zonta. This was their last chance to eat a quick meal and use a restroom before the battle tonight. He had no choice but to give them a reasonable amount of time.

Many of his men were walking through the parking lot. About half wore combat fatigues and the rest wore FBI suits. Everybody would change into their fighting gear once they were near the camp. There was no point in being uncomfortable during the long drive.

Hanley sighed and looked at Colonel Rosecrans.

"Logistics," the colonel said. "It's the bane of armies everywhere."

He wore a green coat with a fur brim. The coat had odd stains and a few tears in the fabric. If it could talk, it would probably have war stories to tell.

He received a phone call. Hanley was polite and didn't eavesdrop. Rosecrans wrote some lines on a small notepad before ending the call.

"Good news," Rosecrans said. "That was my man back in Washington. He told me where we can find plenty of mortars and an armored vehicle or two."

"Where?"

"The Wisconsin Army National Guard has a depot that is on the way to the target."

"The Guard won't just give us equipment because we ask," Hanley said.

"That's why it's good to have connections who have connections," Rosecrans said. "My man will call ahead. When we get to the depot, they should be cooperative."

Hanley checked his watch. It was already 1440 hours. "They'd better be. We can't afford to fight red tape. The schedule is starting to tighten up."

"We'll give the men ten more minutes to eat."

"But that's all."

* * *

Aaron watched the crowd slowly gather. The tournament would resume in five minutes.

Ethel sat in her chair at the front of the hall. Her expression didn't hint at what she was feeling, but he imagined her mood wasn't positive. Guthrum stood a pace behind her.

Aaron walked over. He nodded politely to the bodyguard before addressing Ethel.

"This is certainly a unique tournament," he said. "Bethany and Leanna are recording the whole thing through the surveillance system. If you want, ma'am, we can distribute copies of the video after the convention. I'm sure everybody in the Society will want to see it."

She furrowed her brow. "I'll think about it."

He nodded.

"I'm uneasy about tonight," she said in a very soft voice. "Are you still convinced the attack will take place during the banquet?"

He leaned towards her and whispered, "I've done everything I can to give the enemy a specific time and place, ma'am. Our apparent vulnerability will be at its peak."

"Then in four and a half hours the traitor will be revealed."

"I hope so."

She sighed deeply.

"There is a lot of speculation about the trophy you're giving out tonight," he said. "Would you mind giving me a hint?"

She winked at him. "Be patient."

"Yes, ma'am."

Smythe and Odelia came over. They were holding hands and Aaron felt bad for them. It was obvious they loved each other, but their brief relationship would have to end on Monday morning.

"Ma'am," Smythe said, "sir, can we have a moment of your time?"

"Of course," Ethel said.

"We're very concerned about this tournament. We think somebody could die."

"I'm not sure why you're worried. Both of you have done a magnificent job so far. When you work closely together, the divine Spirit fills the room. I enjoy watching you heal the fighters as much as I enjoy watching the fights."

Smythe smiled a little. "Thank you, ma'am. It's been a special experience for us, too."

He pulled Odelia close, and she smiled with contentment.

Aaron looked down. This situation was going to end in tears, and he didn't see any alternative.

"But ma'am," Smythe said, "we've had some close calls already. If both fighters are very badly injured, one could die while we're working on the other."

"The tournament is proceeding according to your rules," Ethel said.

"Yes, ma'am. Maybe we need more rules."

"I don't think so. These fighters know what lines can't be crossed. They won't kill each other. I appreciate your concern though. I wouldn't expect any different. Now move back to your positions. We're ready to begin." She shooed the healers away with her hands.

Aaron went back to his place with the other commanders. He looked across the square at Marina. She was putting on a brave face but she couldn't fool him. She was very anxious.

Ethel stood up and announced, "We will now begin the second round. Everybody has seen everybody else fight, so there will be no more surprises. For the first fight of this round, I'll have Sampson, of Houston. His opponent will be Hammer, of Manhattan."

Aaron grimaced. Hammer was one of the favorites to win the entire tournament. Sampson was a fine fighter, but he was thoroughly outclassed this time.

Hammer came forward. He wasn't tall but his body was thick with muscle. Every part of him, from his fingers to his toes, was solid and powerful. With his square jaw and big skull, even his head looked hardened. His hands were his gift though. They looked like they were sheathed in steel, but that was actually his skin. He could use his hands like sledgehammers to shatter bones with a single blow. He could also stop a bullet with them.

Sampson didn't seem concerned as he sprinted to his position. His long blond hair flowed around his head. Aaron had met the man a few times now, and his joyous enthusiasm was infectious. Aaron wished he had a guy like that on his own team. It would help everybody else get through the daily grind of hard training.

"Begin," Ethel said.

Sampson moved quickly around the combat square. He was clearly searching for a way to land a blow without getting hit by Hammer's fearsome hands. One good punch might be enough to end the fight.

Hammer remained in a balanced stance with his hands forward. He turned in place to keep his opponent in front of him. Aaron could already tell he was a master martial artist. Sampson made several feints, but Hammer didn't take the bait.

Aaron couldn't help but wonder what he would do if he were to fight Hammer. The obvious tactic would be to goad Hammer into an unwise attack and get him off balance. He would anticipate that tactic though. It was an interesting puzzle.

Sampson stopped moving. He just stood in a basic stance and waited with a slight smile on his face. Hammer raised his eyebrows.

Not a bad idea,
Aaron thought.
There isn't a time limit. Let Hammer make the first move.

For five minutes the two men just stared at each other. The audience grew restless. Aaron looked over at Ethel and saw her frowning. To her, the world moved at a very different speed, so the five minutes probably seemed like two hours.

Hammer was the first to break the stalemate. He charged forward with a series of powerful, well executed punches and kicks that forced Sampson to back away. Sampson finally responded with a throwing technique that looked like an Aikido move. Against most opponents it would've worked, but Hammer had such strong legs and such perfect balance that he hardly budged.

The two men grappled for a moment. Sampson had the advantage in upper body strength, but Hammer was more skilled. Hammer broke free of Sampson's grip and lashed out with a punch. Sampson was struck in the ribs hard enough to make an audible crunch. He tried to respond by kicking Hammer in the gut. Hammer dropped a fist onto Sampson's leg with such force it snapped his femur.

Sampson fell to the floor.

"Manhattan wins!" Ethel said.

Smythe and Odelia rushed to Sampson's aid. They didn't even bother asking Hammer whether he was hurt.

Sampson had suffered internal injuries that required all of the healers' attention. Smythe had his arms completely inside Sampson's huge chest. Odelia was glowing like a giant light bulb. Sampson's commander, Xavier, came over and looked down with an expression of concern.

The healers performed the expected miracle. Five minutes later, Sampson was walking around, badly shaken but physically healthy. Xavier gave him a paternal pat on the shoulder and muttered a few words. Sampson went to the back of the room with a disappointed expression.

"Marina, of Chicago!" Ethel called. "Jennifer, of Oklahoma City!"

Marina frowned. With little enthusiasm she walked into the square and faced Jennifer.

Aaron judged it was a fairly even match. Both women had similar bodies and combat skills. Marina had venom and razor sharp fingernails, while Jennifer could vomit impressive quantities of black glue. One fact was certain: it was going to be a messy fight.

Marina used her fingernails to slice through her tights around her waist. She cut off a long strip about two inches wide. She tied the strip around her head so it covered her eyes. She could still see through the gauzy material, but it would act like goggles and offer some protection from Jennifer's tar.

Aaron nodded.
Clever,
he thought.

Ethel raised her eyebrows but didn't complain.

"Begin," Ethel said.

Jennifer immediately spewed at Marina's face. Marina dodged and the attack completely missed. Marina came in fast before Jennifer had time to reload.

Marina spun around with her arms straight out. Jennifer tried to block the attack, and her palm was sliced open by Marina's fingernails instead. The cut went very deep. Jennifer jerked her hand away before Marina had a chance to inject venom.

Marina transferred the momentum of her spin into her legs and attempted to kick Jennifer in the gut. Jennifer twisted out of the way and landed an elbow in Marina's ribs. Marina bunched her fingers to form a kind of dagger. She thrust her natural weapon at Jennifer's kidney and drew blood before Jennifer could jump back.

Black liquid gushed out of her mouth. It coated Marina's face and upper body completely. She gasped, groped at her own face, and stumbled back.

She tore off the fabric that covered her eyes. Jennifer was already in the air, and Marina had no time to block. Jennifer landed a kick on the center of Marina's chest. Marina fell back, but she managed to slice Jennifer's leg on the way down. The skin parted, and Aaron could see the muscle underneath.

Jennifer limped backwards. Her rippling stomach muscles looked like a family of snakes was under her skin.