by James Munro
"I could cure you," he said. "At the moment of course, you're raving, as I suppose you realize. The trouble is if I were to straighten you out, you'd be unemployable. Without those doses of adrenalin you discharge so freely, you are nothing, Loomis."
He left then, shutting the door quietly, but firmly. Behind him he left a gurgling sound, wheezing but powerful, that suggested unsuccessful plumbing. Loomis was laughing.
* Chapter 15 *
The fight was to be in Dyton-Blease's gymnasium. The judo mat had been removed, and two chairs were in position, on a raised platform, for Naxos and Selina. A third empty chair waited for the master when the fight was over. Theseus brought Craig and Pia in, and Craig looked round the room, seeking a weapon, an advantage, from somewhere. There was nothing. The door opened, and Naxos and Selina came in, followed by Dyton-Blease. The big man looked clean and scrubbed in white shirt and flannels. He was barefoot. Craig kicked off his own shoes, and tested the smooth, polished wood beneath his feet. He felt dirty and unshaven, angry, ready for a fight. The big man might be too much for
him, he was five stones heavier, five years younger, and at least as fast, but he'd hurt him first. If he was lucky he'd hurt him enough.
Dyton-Blease said: "We'll fight here. Anywhere in the room. Any style. Any methods. Got thatF' Craig nodded. "You know something about Japanese technique I beheve— showing off and so on?"
He went to the platform, leaped up easily and smoothly, and picked up a steel rod. It was two feet long and half an inch in diameter. He stood straddle-legged, and held it at each end, letting the strength flow into his wrists. Suddenly, incredibly, the bar bent into a perfect U shape, then he straightened it over his knee.
"Just want you to know what you're taking on," he said. "Your turn, Craig."
Craig said: "Let the girl sit down." Selina moved slightly as Pia went to crouch at her feet.
"I don't do any parlor tricks," said Craig. "I'd just like to ask you a question. Last time I came here there were three men and two powerboats. Where are they now?"
Dyton-Blease leaped for him at once, a great flailing dive that took him from the platform, straight at Craig. Craig swerved, and the big man sailed past him, landing like a cat on fingers and toes, ranning forward to take himself out of the way of Craig's first chopping blow, spinning round as he crouched to explode upward in front of Craig, aiming a fist karate-clenched into Craig's face. Craig's hand chopped down on his wrist, brushing the blow aside, then he rushed forward to grab the other arm as the hand came down in a judo chop. He hauled back, tilted his body, levered and pulled, holding on to the big man's arm, ready to pull him up and throw again, but Dyton-Blease just lay there, laughing at him, using his weight and strength to stay where he was. Craig spotted the kick he aimed at him just in time, leaped away from it, dived, grabbed the foot, and again the big man exerted his strength. Despite the enormous leverage, Craig couldn't move him. Suddenly, his other foot flicked, catching Craig in the thigh, an apparently glancing blow that spun him round like a top and sent him crashing into the corner of the room. He swerved round too late, the big man was crowding him, before he could turn, so that all he could see was Pia's mouth, opening to scream, and it was all happening again, the pain boiled in his neck, and he refused to accept it—he refused to accept it. No. But it wouldn't
go away. The blackness came.
* · *
Elias said: "I can take you out there under sail. It will be dark enough."
Grierson said: "How soon?"
Elias shrugged. "Ten o'clock, probably."
"Not before?"
"He has new boats, new guards. If they spot us, we're finished." Elias hesitated. "You're sure Craig is there?"
"No," said Grierson. "I can't be sure, but if he is I have to try."
"Of course," said Elias. "We also. But if we take too many risks we have no chance at all."
He looked from the ca£6 to his caique, his only pride, riding gently by the quayside. Grierson saw where he looked, and understood.
"Look," he said. "You believe I am a friend of Craig's?"
"Of course," Elias said. "The priest tells me your words are true." He looked across at the fat, white-bearded papa, who had read Grierson's letter of introduction from Loomis and who now drank coffee two tables away. No one sat any nearer. Andraki knew that the Englishman's business was secret.
"You may lose your boat," said Grierson. "If you do, I promise you you'll get the money to buy a new one."
"That is not important," said Elias, and only his eyes denied it.
"But it is," said Grierson. "I swear you will be paid."
"Well then," said Elias, "there is only my life to worry about, and no one can give money for that."
"Oh yes we can," said Grierson. "You'll have insurance too."
Elias grinned. "You work for people with a lot of money."
"And many secrets," said Grierson.
"Surely. Craig too had many secrets. It wasn't important. He can have what he likes, Mr. Grierson. Craig is one of us."
Pia sat very still, her back against the iron grille of the cell. The electric lights were strong, but she did not feel them. Beside her Craig lay unmoving, his body unaware of the
rough stones of the floor. Pia hoped that if she made no sound, caused no trouble, proved how harmless she was, perhaps at last they would let her go. It was obvious now that Craig could not save her, or even himself. He could fight like a man and he would die like a man, but no one could defeat a giant. She knew that she should be sorry for him. In a time that allowed for such luxuries she supposed that she had loved him, but now her mind could cope with nothing but her need to survive, to exist, to be anything rather than flesh in the big man's battering hands. There was a sound behind her, but she made no move. Theseus's voice said gently. "Come on now. Out. No trouble," and the grille swung open. She crawled out and waited obediently while Theseus picked up the unconscious Craig, soaked a pad in water, bathed his forehead.
"Please," said Pia. "Please, I should like a drink."
He signaled to the bucket he had brought, and she cupped her hands and drank, not touching the dipper in it—that might cause difficulties—content only to quench her thirst, to be able to exist until hunger should force her to speak again. But until then, she would be no trouble. Craig groaned, and came to, and Theseus helped him to sit up, held the dipper to his hps. Craig swallowed, cupped water in his hands, bathed his dirty, unshaven face. At last he croaked: "I thought he intended to kill me. Didn't he say he would kill me?"
"Here," said Theseus. "Drink."
He pulled a bottle of cognac from his pocket, uncorked it, held it to Craig's hps. Craig coughed and swallowed, just like the last time.
"What's he doing?" said Craig. "What's it for?"
"You're a man," Theseus said. "Be a man now. He means to fight you many times, Craig. He will hit you in the same place each time." Craig looked at him. "It amuses him to do this," Theseus said.
"One more blow there and I've had it. He'll turn me into an idiot if he goes on long enough."
"I know," Theseus said. "That is what he intends to
do."
Craig looked at him. Theseus was absolutely in earnest.
"Aristides has been rich for too long," Theseus said. "Soon he will think he is God."
"It's about time he cast out the devil then," said
Craig.
"Yes. I think so." Theseus was still in earnest. "This is your last chance, Craig."
"No chance at all," Craig said. "I'm too old. He's slowed me up too much."
Theseus's massive fist opened under his nose. On it were three white tablets.
"Benzedrine," he said. "To make you quick—and young."
Craig took them, grimacing as he swallowed. "Thanks, anyway," he said.
"Not enough?" said Theseus. "There is one more thing. The big man is afraid of blood—his own blood. If you can make him bleed, you will win." He took a ring from his finger, offered
it to Craig. It was a thick gold band, the bevel a square of gold with four raised points of steel like the tips of needles. Craig scooped dirt from the floor, took off the ring and rubbed it over the brightness of the gold, then put the ring on his finger, bevel inside.
"Why are you doing this?" he asked.
"Aristides is my friend," said Theseus, "and so is his wife. I know you would not hurt them. The big man will. Also I was afraid of you and you did not mock me for it."
'Thanks," Craig said. "I won't forget this."
"We go now," said Theseus. "It is time."
Craig went over to Pia. She hadn't looked at them, hadn't moved. In any case, she spoke no Greek.
"We've got to go, love," he said.
She looked up at him, and there was utter defeat in her eyes.
"Dyton-Blease told me what he's going to do to you," she said. "I can't stand it, John. I just can't stand it."
"Don't watch," said Craig. "I don't want you to watch." She sobbed, and clung to him. "We go now," said Theseus.
Somehow the last of her strength came to her, and she walked out proudly, head up, like a queen, the way Cinecitta had taught her.
· » ·
The caique had switched to sail an hour before, and Grierson could see the tiny pinpoint of light that marked the island.
"Okay," he said. "That's near enough."
Elias whispered to his son, and the anchor splashed softly, sending up an explosion of phosphorescent water that quickly faded. Grierson stripped as the two Greeks listened for the beat of motor engines. There was nothing. Grierson strapped on the waterproof bag he had had prepared, and turned to them.
"Give me until nearly dawn," he said. "If I'm not back before it's light you go without me. I won't be coming."
"Kali tychi," said Elias and his son, then Grierson said it too. It was the only Greek phrase he knew. It means "Good luck." Then he disappeared into the warm, dark sea, and father and son took out handlines and began to fish. » » «
In the room, the others were already waiting, and a fourth one this time, Philippa, her face bone-white under its golden brown, so that the suntan looked like a crude cosmetic. She lolled in her chair, exhausted, yet her eyes were restless. They looked unseeing at Craig, then moved away again, searching, searching for the dream powder.
"I want you to see this," Naxos said. "I want you to see what you've done to her. She's got all the sedation the doctor will allow and she still can't rest. Maybe she won't ever again. You're to blame for that, Craig."
Philippa whimpered, and Naxos turned to her at once. "Now then, honey," he said, and whispered softiy. Dyton-Blease tried to intervene, and Naxos snarled at him. "Get on with the fight, why don't you?"
The big man stepped down, not bothering to dive this time, walking forward slowly, taking his time, as Pia shrank past him to sit at Selina's feet. Craig could feel the benzedrine take hold, forcing strength back into his body. This one would have to be quick; the drug wouldn't last for long. He clenched his hands, and felt the first premonitory nip of the four points of the ring. He moved slowly, wearily, like a man already resigned to defeat.
Dyton-Blease laughed aloud, and lunged for him, and Craig only just got out of the way in time. Even with the benzedrine, he was barely fast enough. Again the big man struck, and again Craig only just avoided him. He was being crowded into a corner again, but he couldn't help it. His hands came together briefly, and he twisted the ring into position. Next time a blow came he would have to take it
and hit back. A third time the enormous fist reached out for him, and this time he turned a fraction too slowly, felt a blow like a hammer crash into his side. He gasped, scrambling to stay upright on legs that seemed made of paper. For a fraction of a second the big man was off balance, and vulnerable.
Craig's fist lashed out in a tearing, searing blow across the big man's forehead, ripping four parallel lines into the skin. Dyton-Blease moaned, hesitated, and Craig struck with his other hand, under the heart. It was like hitting a lump of oak. Dyton-Blease put his hand to his head, and looked at the blood there.
"You cheated me," he screamed. 'You cut me."
Craig worked the ring from his finger, slipped it into his pocket, then waited till the big man crouched down again, the blood dripping slowly from his face. Craig feinted at the face again, and Dyton-Blease immediately raised his arm to protect it. Craig leaped in, grabbed the wrist, and threw the big man, held on to the wrist and pushed it up into a hammerlock. The big man was still pawing at his forehead with his free hand. Craig, very deliberately, struck at the big man's shoulder joint, and Dyton-Blease groaned aloud. Craig held on to the wrist, and pulled. Dyton-Blease spun like a top, crashed into the wall, and bounced back into Craig's fist, his whole body aimed like an arrow into the hard stomach. Dyton-Blease gasped, and deliberately fell on Craig.
Craig lurched back under the enormous weight, and he could feel Dyton-Blease's arms reaching for a hug that might still squeeze the life out of him. He let himself slide down, yielding to the weight, shpping through the clutching arms, grabbing the hands, pulling the big man forward, kicking upwards, feeling the impact of the big man's stomach on his foot before he straightened his leg and watched him soar over.
Dyton-Blease fell with a crash that shook the room, but even then his enormous strength brought him back to his feet again. Craig caught him round the waist, swung him round, pushed him toward the platform. Naxos yelled at Theseus "Shoot him," and Craig leaped in again. His shoulder caught Dyton-Blease in the chest, and spun him round. Craig's fingers interlaced and he struck at the big man's neck, the killer blow that Hakagawa had taught him, and that he had promised never to use unless the enemy were so evil and so strong that nothing else would do. This time, when the big man went down, he didn't try to get up, and Craig knew he wouldn't. He leaped up on to the balcony, and the hard edge of his hand disappeared into the softness of Naxos's belly, his arms came round Fhp. Her eyes still did not see him, but she responded at once to the touch of his fingers.
"Hi, honey," she said.
Craig lifted her to her feet, held her in front of him as Pia swerved away from Selina, took shelter behind him. "It's your move," said Craig.
* Chapter 16 *
Grierson had swum two miles, dressed, climbed a cliff, forced his way into a castle and climbed three flights of stairs. He was tired, frightened, on edge, and there was a door in front of him, a massive, olivewood door with a thin strip of light showing below it. To open it was perhaps his greatest act of courage, yet when the door swung, the first thing he saw was Craig, and Craig was in complete control.
Craig was still in his ball costume, and so was the dark girl who crouched behind him. Another dark girl, also in what appeared to be fancy dress, sat in a chair, watching him. She was smiling at him. In his arms Craig held a blonde who outsoared even Nono's imaginings. Once again Grierson bowed to the master, even as he watched Naxos groaning on the floor, even as he went up behind Theseus, who still held a gun, and tapped him behind the ear with the barrel of his own, and watched him fall.
T wish you hadn't done that," Craig said. "He's by way of being a friend of mine."
"I came to rescue you," said Grierson. "You're supposed to be grateful."
"Okay. Rescue me," Craig said.
The blonde whimpered in his arms, and Craig spoke to her softly, soothingly, hushing her as if she were a child. When she was calm, he looked at Naxos, now on his feet again, swaying as he clung to the table.
"You were going to watch me die, Harry," he said. "You were going to enjoy it. You brought your wife along to enjoy it too."
"All right," said Naxos. "I was wrong. I lost. We all have to lose sometime. But Flip knew nothing, Craig. I swear she knew nothing. Let her go. Please."
"You think I should go down there with you this
time?"
"I don't care what you do," Naxos said. "Just leave Philippa out of it."
"You're the only one who can do that," sai
d Craig.
He let her go, and she went at once to a chair, sat down, and looked around her once again, her eyes still searching, searching.
Craig sank wearily into Dyton-Blease's chair.
"You think I'm going to hurt her?" he asked.
"You've got to get rid of us both," Naxos said. 'Those are your orders, aren't they? Look, Craig, why do it? I'm a rich man. I can buy you anything you want. Anything."
"I want a yacht," said Craig. 'Tour yacht. I want to go to England in it."
"Sure," said Naxos.
"You're coming too!" said Craig. Naxos froze.
"For God's sake," said Craig. "If I were going to kill you, wouldn't I do it now, when there aren't any witnesses? All I want you to do is talk to a couple of people."
He got up from the chair and went down to the big man, felt for his heart. Incredibly, it was still beating. Grierson came up to him.
"What happened?" he asked.
"We had a fight—two fights," said Craig. "He was too good for me. God he was good. I only beat him because I cheated." He took the ring from his pocket. "With this. I hit him with this and he bled. He didn't mind blood if it was someone else's. He couldn't stand his own. So I cheated and won. But fair and square he would have killed me."
"What happens if I say I won't go?" said Naxos.
Then you don't go," said Craig. "What the hell, it's your yacht."
Naxos hesitated.
There's a man in London who can help your wife, remember," Grierson said. "But you'll have to go to him. He won't come here."
Naxos looked at them, trying desperately to decide.
"All right," he said. "I haven't any choice anyway."
"You still don't trust me, do you?" said Craig. "I wouldn't bother trying, Harry. It doesn't suit you."
He went over to Selina, spoke softly in Arabic.
"I cheated," he said.
"He also," said Selina. "To fight so soon after he had hit you from behind—that was cheating. He deserved to die."
