Anaheim Run

Chapter Ten

“The jackass fell for it!” Leftwich said, laughing.

“What a bloody twit!” Charley concurred with a snicker.

Kraken gazed at the pair disdainfully. “We were lucky,” he declared somberly.

“Why so grim, guv?” Charley asked. “Your plan worked, didn’t it?”

“Yeah,” Leftwich added. “I’ve got to hand it to you! When you said we could force him to swim to the island, I figured you were nuts.”

Kraken stared at Leftwich until the latter averted his eyes. “I do not make precipitous judgments,” he stated testily. “The Warrior had three options. Stand and fight. Try to circle around us. Or keep going until he found a place to hide. By staying on his trail, but not pressing him too closely, and by making enough noise to rouse the dead, we provoked him into doing exactly what I wanted.”

“But how did you know he wouldn’t stand and fight or try to sneak around us?” Leftwich queried.

“Elementary,” Kraken answered condescendingly. “If he’d wanted to stand and fight, he would have done so when he took us by surprise at the meeting, when he had the advantage. And he wouldn’t risk trying to return to the hotel until he’s certain we’re no longer after him.” He paused, deliberating. “I suspect he wants to warn the Federation delegates about us.”

“And you’re positive this bloke is a Warrior?” Charley questioned.

“I recognized him from the file our employer supplied,” Kraken said.

“He’s one of the top Warriors, the one who shot Neborak. He probably followed that imbecile here!”

“You mean Hickok?” Leftwich asked in amazement.

“None other,” Kraken confirmed. “And you would have recognized him too, if you’d done your homework.”

“It all happened so fast,” Leftwich remarked.

“A lame excuse, if ever I’ve heard one,” Kraken commented.

“Why didn’t we just snuff this Hickok ourselves?” Charley inquired.

“Why give him to them?”

“I can’t afford to lose anyone else,” Kraken said. “There are only six of us left to complete the mission.” Kraken frowned. “I must have a talk with Farino, and for his sake I hope he has an adequate explanation for his failure to observe Hickok’s approach.”

“Have a heart, mate,” Charley said. “Farino can’t be watchin’ in every direction at once. He must have been keepin’ his eyes on the island, like you ordered. After all, we don’t want another run-in with those chaps, do we?”

Kraken studied the island. “No,” he agreed. “We must keep them confined to the island until we’re done here.”

“Should we use the radio and call for assistance?” Leftwich queried.

“No,” Kraken replied. “We only use the radio in a dire emergency. I doubt the Free State security forces possess sophisticated monitoring equipment, but we won’t take the chance.”

“Should I go relieve Farino?” Charley asked.

“Let him stay on the roof for another hour,” Kraken said.

The fourth Gild member on the dock, the mutant Nightshade, the silent one, stepped up to Kraken and tapped the Gild leader on the right elbow.

“What is it, brother?” Kraken inquired.

Nightshade pointed at the island, then worked his hands in a series of swift gestures.

“What did he say?” Leftwich probed.

“Nightshade wants to know if we should leave someone near the dock,” Kraken said, translating the sign language. “In case the Warrior swims back.”

“That’s a good idea,” Charley said. “Should we?”

“I don’t have the manpower to spare,” Kraken stated. “But after you relieve Farino on the roof, make damn certain you watch the island closely.” Kraken noticed Charley was staring at Nightshade with a peculiar expression. “Is something wrong, Charley?”

“No, guv,” Charley responded. “I was just wonderin’ what it was like, you know?”

Nightshade’s yellow orbs narrowed.

“Nightshade doesn’t like to be reminded of his misfortune,” Kraken mentioned.

Charley grinned at the mutant. “No offense meant, mate. I was thinkin’ about how terrible it would be to have my tongue cut out.”

“Nightshade lost his tongue because he was careless,” Kraken stated callously. “He barely escaped from the Dragons with his life.”

“The Dragons!” Leftwich exclaimed. “They cut out his tongue?”

Kraken nodded. “Nightshade botched an assignment. He was sent to terminate the head of the Dragons, but he was caught.”

“Who are these Dragons?”

Leftwich grimaced. “The freakiest bunch of bloodthirsty mutants you’d ever want to meet! I hate them!” He involuntarily shuddered.

Nightshade’s right hand unexpectedly flicked out and closed on the front of Leftwich’s fatigue shirt. He hardly seemed to strain as he hoisted his fellow assassin into the air.

“Hey! Let go of me!” Leftwich cried, dropping his Darter. “I didn’t mean you!”

Kraken placed his right hand on Nightshade’s left shoulder. “Release him, brother. He was not referring to you. Leftwich hates the Dragons, not mutants in general.”

Nightshade unceremoniously dumped Leftwich on the dock.

Leftwich sprawled onto his buttocks, glaring up at the mutant. “You had no call to do that, dammit!”

“Nightshade is understandably touchy on the subject of mutants,” Kraken commented.

“I don’t give a shit!” Leftwich snapped bitterly, rising. “We’re brothers in the Gild, aren’t we? He shouldn’t have done it!”

Nightshade’s hands performed more sign language.

“He apologizes for his temper,” Kraken told Leftwich.

“That’s better!” Leftwich said indignantly.

“Now don’t you have an errand to run?” Kraken queried.

“An errand?” Leftwich repeated, puzzled.

“Emery,” Kraken reminded him.

“Oh!” Leftwich retrieved his Darter. “On my way. I’ll tell him to lay low until he hears from you.” He ran off.

“So what’s our next move?” Charley asked Kraken.

“Governor Melnick is hosting a formal affair tomorrow evening for the Freedom Federation delegates,” Kraken said. “He’s expected to announce the Free State of California has decided to join the Federation. All of the leaders will be in one place at one time. We’ll hit them then.”

“It won’t be easy,” Charley observed. “Security will be exceptionally tight. Why not hit them before tomorrow night? Don’t they have some meetings scheduled before then?”

“They do,” Kraken disclosed. “But the conference meetings are being held in a smaller room where they’re easier to protect. By waiting until tomorrow night, we kill two birds with one stone. First, the formal dinner is being held in a large chamber, increasing our odds of success.”

“And secondly?” Charley questioned.

Kraken smiled. “If we don’t make any hits until tomorrow night, they might relax their guard a bit. They’ll become complacent, wondering why there haven’t been any more attempts. Our job will be that much easier.”

“How is it, guv, you know so much about their itinerary?” Charley idly inquired.

“I have my source,” Kraken said.

“Our employer?” Charley asked.

Kraken nodded. “Our employer has an undercover agent at the summit.”

“It sounds to me like you have every angle covered,” Charley said, complimenting the chief assassin.

“I always do,” Kraken said. He looked at the island. “Let’s head on back.

We won’t need to concern ourselves over the Warrior after tonight.”

“Why not?” Charley queried.

Kraken smiled. “Because by tomorrow morning the famous Hickok will be dead.”