‘Raven got hurt?’ The look on Tech’s face told Kai the answer. ‘How bad?’
‘She wouldn’t let me tend to her. Before Spartacus went out to post their fight he gave Sarema the full first-aid kit from the storeroom. She and Bird Girl are with her now.’
Kai was gone before Tech finished speaking.
Raven was lying on her bed with Sarema and Bird Girl kneeling beside her. There were bruises rising below her eyes and her face was marked with scratches and tears.
‘The fight was very unpleasant,’ Sarema said as Kai entered. ‘Boudicca was in a bad temper.’
Raven sat up. ‘I don’t want you fussing over me,’ she told him. ‘In fact, all of you can beat it. I’m going to sleep for a few hours.’
‘Perhaps I should put on more antiseptic ointment and—’ Sarema began.
‘Shut the door on your way out,’ snapped Raven.
Kai, understanding that Raven’s self-respect was connected to her not breaking down, quickly ushered Sarema and Bird Girl ahead of him and closed the door of Raven’s den, leaving her alone.
‘What happened?’ he asked the other two girls.
‘Spartacus discussed relaxing the rules,’ Sarema told him. ‘He said it would make the fight more interesting. Boudicca was keen but Raven refused. Boudicca was furious and lashed out from the beginning.’
‘Raven kept cool and gained most points in the first two rounds,’ said Bird Girl. ‘Then, in round three, Boudicca pulled Raven’s face visor up. Claimed afterwards that it was an accident, but—’
‘You think Boudicca did it deliberately? I know she’s hot-headed, but why would she do that?’
‘Kai.’ Sarema gave her head a shake. ‘Sometimes you do not see what is happening close to you. Boudicca likes Leo. Leo pays Raven the attention Boudicca wants. I don’t think Boudicca cared about losing the fight, as long as she hurt Raven.’
‘Things are turning sour,’ said Kai. ‘I’ll be glad to get into the Cage tomorrow and get this tournament over.’
Sarema laid her hand on Kai’s arm. ‘Be careful,’ she said. ‘Be very careful.’
CHAPTER
TWENTY-EIGHT
The following morning the Cage Fighters were in a mood of high excitement.
Everyone had been told to report to the café at 10 a.m. on the final fight day. To a welcoming noise of whoops and shouts of laughter, Spartacus came there waving a bank statement and a bundle of banknotes in the air.
‘My great announcement is that we’ve made much more than I anticipated!’
‘How much?’ Leo called out. And his question was taken up by the others until it became a chant:
‘How much? How much? How much?’
‘Tech will calculate the percentages but at least a thousand more each.’
‘Hallelujah!’ Magog put his hands around Medusa’s waist and lifted her off her feet.
The rest of the Cage Fighters clapped and began hugging each other.
Spartacus held up his hand for silence. ‘Here’s the plan for the day. This morning you pack your gear for leaving. At noon we stage the final fight – the one between Leo and Kai. For this I want total commitment. Everyone is to be there to cheer them on. This will be mega as regards future pay-offs. More atmosphere means more interest, which builds up the Internet chatter leading to more viewers. So, even more money for you guys and donations to help all those homeless kids sleeping rough. So clap, boo, hooray and hoot your heads off. To big up the noise, Tech’s going to play audience sound effects from professional games during this match.
‘Also Tech’s going to do an instant edit on this, our very last film, so that I can get it on our website ASAP. Afternoon will be spent clearing up. We may want to use this place again so let’s make it tidy. Finish packing your rucksacks and try to get some rest. I’ll be back in the evening when I’ve withdrawn the rest of the money for your initial payments – but don’t worry; the bulk of it is already sitting happily in the safe in the storeroom! I just want to collect the latest deposits, because these will be larger amounts. This evening is when I’ll portion it out. As agreed, each person gets the same basic rate for every fight fought. The runners-up earn more and, of course, the winners get top bonus.’
Leo pointed to his own chest as if to say: ‘That’s me!’
‘In your dreams!’ said Kai. He smacked one fist into his opposite palm. ‘I’ll grind your bones to dust!’
‘You’re dog meat!’ Leo answered.
Kai snorted and looked around for Bird Girl. She was standing in a corner with Sarema and Gita. Her hair was matted and her eyes heavy as if she hadn’t had much sleep.
Kai made his way to her and the twins. ‘Any news?’
‘Mole dropped in to say he’ll be sending Albert back and forth with cable now,’ said Bird Girl. ‘Tech might have it working before he has to film the fight. He said he’d come and tell me when it went live.’
‘That’s good,’ said Kai. ‘Isn’t it?’ he added as the girls didn’t respond.
‘Spartacus ordered that everyone must be in the Arena to watch your fight,’ said Sarema. ‘We are concerned at the change of routine. There will be no one looking at the monitors.’
‘That was explained in the handout,’ said Kai. ‘Normally Tech adds sound effects but Spartacus thinks it would be better to have the noise of a live audience too for the last fight. Also he wants Tech to do mini interviews with the other Cage Fighters during the breaks between rounds. It’ll help build the viewing hits, which means more money.’
‘How long will you stay after the fight is over?’ asked Bird Girl.
‘Most of us have our rucksacks packed already but as Spartacus just said, we wait until the share-out. I reckon we’ll be going out about midnight tonight.’
‘What about me?’
‘I’ll take you as well as the twins,’ said Kai. ‘Mole is bound to have made contact with your sister by then. If he can’t dig through there by tonight so that she can come topside with us, you can go straight to the police and tell them where Dove is hiding.’
‘I don’t want to tell the police where Dove is hiding,’ said Bird Girl. ‘If my sister says that she’ll run away again and hide in a deeper tunnel if she’s forced to leave the birds, then that’s exactly what she’ll do.’
Kai’s mouth fell open. ‘Are you thinking of staying here until the chicks can fly?’
Bird Girl set her chin. ‘Yes, if that’s what it takes to make her safe.’
‘I don’t think Spartacus will be happy with that,’ said Kai. ‘I’m not sure whether he intends to wait on or return to take the furniture topside, but I don’t think he’ll say yes to you staying on.’
‘I’m not going to tell him,’ said Bird Girl. ‘I’ll speak to Mole.’
Kai glanced towards Spartacus, who was surrounded by excited Cage Fighters. ‘Wait until the fight is over and I can be with you when you ask him. Mole and I get along quite well.’
*
Kai’s mind was on Bird Girl as he went to his den to put his belongings in his rucksack. He wasn’t happy that she’d be alone in the tunnels with only Mole for company. It wasn’t that Mole was dangerous; he was bizarre – no doubt about that – but he was harmless. It was more the thought of Bird Girl being here on her own.
And…Spartacus would be bound to find out. How would he react when he discovered Bird Girl still here after everyone else had left? What would he do?
Kai considered taking Sarema and Gita topside and then coming back and staying with Bird Girl until Dove was ready to come out of her den. It was only when he’d finished packing that Kai realized with a jolt that, in all the options he was considering, he hadn’t once thought about Raven.
Spartacus watched them with amusement as they took their seats in the Arena for the final fight to begin. They were exchanging phone numbers and telling each other what they were going to do with their money.
Idiots! Did they really think he’d invest his savings in some sill
y project for kids who couldn’t face up to life? Did they think that they were entitled to have part of the profits when it was he who had paid for their costumes, equipment and food? He’d waved the banknotes about in order to keep them motivated – but there would be no cash share-out for any of them. The attitude of young people angered him beyond belief. He thought back to the hardship of his own youth. Although the army had been beneficial because of the boxing training, he was always on report for some transgression or other. It riled him when younger recruits were promoted above him and he had to obey their instructions. One day, on active service, he’d ignored orders. Two fellow soldiers had been killed and he was badly injured. They’d offered him a way out, avoiding an investigation. Bile rose from his stomach as he recalled his humiliation. But that was in the past. With the money he’d make on this he was on the way up.
No doubt alarms would ring when he set off his explosives, but he’d also call the emergency services and give them the location of the underground HQ. He’d say there were tunnel cave-ins and they’d need equipment to get the teenagers out. He’d send a message too, about the girl holed up at the old Langsdaine Station. He wouldn’t deliberately leave anyone to die…but being really imprisoned for a while might teach them a lesson.
And these gullible youths wouldn’t be left with nothing. They’d likely make some cash from newspaper interviews, or get on a TV reality show. Kai lacked raw ruthlessness, but Boudicca, Leo, Beowulf, and maybe even Raven could earn a living from official cage fighting.
Spartacus beckoned to Kai and Leo.
‘I need a word with you guys,’ he said. He drew them to one side. ‘This is a private talk – not to be discussed with anyone else at any point, now or in the future. Got that?’
‘Fine,’ Leo agreed.
After a moment Kai nodded.
‘There’s a way that the two of you could make even more money, like a lot more money from this last bout. We’d need to spin it out, add four more rounds to maximize the drama. It’s a big ask, but I’m talking about big amounts. A sure-fire six grand each. Probably more.’
‘What do we have to do?’ asked Leo.
‘Make the fight last as long as possible,’ said Spartacus. ‘We’ll announce it as a seven-round match fight instead of three. Both of you must agree to let each other win alternate rounds until you reach round five. Kai, you win rounds one and three, then Leo, you win rounds two and four. After that, it’s no holds barred. There’s no points to be scored. It’s the last man standing who wins.’
‘For six grand I’m in!’ said Leo.
‘Kai?’
‘I guess so,’ Kai said slowly.
‘Terrific!’ Spartacus pretended not to notice Kai’s hesitation. ‘Now, the bank told me this morning that I can’t wait until this evening to make such a large withdrawal – I have to go in there personally this afternoon. So I need to go topside ASAP to get the rest of the money. Tech will act as your judge. I’ll do the intros but won’t be around until after the fight. Then we’ll all be together for the share-out!’
‘We’d have no referee?’ Kai asked.
‘Exactly!’ Spartacus nodded enthusiastically.
‘No restrictions on what we do?’ There was an expression on Leo’s face – the same look Kai had sometimes seen on Evil Eddy’s.
‘That’s it!’ Again Spartacus brimmed with enthusiasm. ‘No holds barred. No rules.’
‘Not even the basics?’ asked Kai. ‘You mean we can go ahead with biting and eye-gouging?’
‘I’m relying on your own decency,’ said Spartacus. He checked his watch. ‘We’d better get started. Tech will film it as usual and I’ll put Raven on the bell.’
‘Is Raven fit enough?’ asked Kai.
‘She’s looking forward to it.’
Kai looked around. ‘Where is she?’
‘Helping Tech,’ Spartacus replied.
‘I thought she’d be here to wish me luck for the fight,’ said Leo.
‘To wish me luck for the fight,’ said Kai.
‘She’s totally bored with you, Brainbox Boy. It’s pathetic the way you hang around her at every opportunity.’
‘You’re the one’s that pathetic. Raven only tolerates you ’cos she feels sorry for you!’
Spartacus was glad to hear that Kai and Leo’s rivalry over the girl still fuelled their mutual dislike. He’d fretted that the arrival of Bird Girl would have diverted or diluted their aggro. ‘Didn’t I see her with you earlier?’ he asked Leo. It wasn’t true, but he knew Leo wouldn’t say that. And putting the thought in Kai’s head would needle him. He’d orchestrated their dislike of each other from the moment they met. Interrupting their first handshake to set them at loggerheads. Of the group they were the two best fighters. The only ones with sparkle. If he wanted to make money then he needed to make them dislike each other on a personal basis so that they’d be wilder in the Cage. And he’d worked so hard on it – seeding bad-tempered reactions in both of them with remarks and comments, while pretending to favour each one individually. Giving them fighting tips, especially Leo, who needed an edge to keep up with Kai. For this last fight he wanted to bring their anger to the boil so they’d be too hot-headed to question his suggestions.
‘I’m sure Raven will be along to wish both of you good luck.’ Sarema had appeared at Spartacus’s elbow. ‘She is feeling so much better.’
Spartacus tutted at her for defusing the situation. ‘Just remember, each and every person who is underground has to be in the Arena within five minutes.’
‘There’s Raven now,’ said Leo.
Before Kai could move Leo had gone to greet Raven, who was coming into the Arena with Tech.
‘Has Mole returned? Is the camera set up?’ Bird Girl joined them.
Tech shook his head. ‘Mole reported back to say that what he has to do will take longer. At least an hour or more.’
As Bird Girl’s shoulders slumped in disappointment Spartacus’s spirits soared. This was perfect. An hour plus was enough time for him to empty the safe in the storeroom, set the explosives and get topside to clean out the bank accounts.
He looked at Kai and Leo.
‘All set?’ he asked them.
‘All set,’ they replied.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-NINE
Tech turned off the main lights.
A single spot lit the Cage from above.
Spartacus bellowed through his megaphone: ‘And now! The final you’ve all been waiting for! The last match in our extraordinary Cage Fighters for Freedom tournament!
‘First in the Cage is the King of the Jungle. The mighty Leo!’
To the sound of African music and roaring lions Leo strutted into the Cage. He dropped down on all fours and prowled about, pawing at the bars. The watching Cage Fighters clapped and stamped. Tech switched on his backup tape and the volume of noise magnified.
With a roar Leo leaped to his feet and clawed at the air. His painted nails caught the spotlight and flashed wild-orange. There was the crack of a whip. Once. Twice. Tossing his head from side to side and still roaring, Leo backed into his corner.
‘And now!’ Spartacus spoke again and the Arena quietened. ‘The unquenchable flame! We present Kai! The Fire within a Firestorm!’
The low crackling noise of a burning bonfire rapidly rose to become the monstrous rushing rage of a forest fire. Kai imagined how he’d appear on film – the pulsating flames of his helmet, the carmine red of his fight vest. He stepped up and into the Cage.
‘I’ll tear you to pieces with my talons!’ Leo curled his fingers and clawed the air.
Kai turned his back on him. He punched his fists in the air three times, crossed his arms over his chest and spun right round to face Leo.
‘I’ll trap you in a circle of fire!’ he cried.
‘Prepare to bleed!’ yelled Leo.
‘Prepare to burn!’ yelled Kai.
Suddenly the whole Cage juddered, bucking them both to their knees. The floor ro
cked and then steadied.
Kai was first on his feet. ‘What happened?’
‘Jeez-oh!’ Leo got up. ‘Was that an earthquake?’
‘The earthquake is here!’ Spartacus’s voice brayed from the darkness. ‘For this last fight the Cage has been raised from the floor! Hanging free! With no referee! Suspended from a steel cable. An extra challenge for our championship challengers. A surprise for you! And – as you can see – a surprise for our Cage Fighters too! But no surprise for anyone when I say this is the best fight of the tournament! The final play-off! Can the King of the Jungle quench the Flame of Flames? Or will the Firestorm incinerate the Leader of the Pride?
‘Leo or Kai?
‘Kai or Leo?
‘Let’s hear it for Leo!
‘Let’s hear it for Kai!’
As the howling response faded Spartacus went on, ‘And, to add to the excitement, we’ve made this fight special in another way.
‘Will it be three rounds?
‘No!
‘Five rounds?
‘No!
‘For tonight only! In this last match in the Cage Fighters for Freedom tournament, Leo and Kai will fight for seven – I’ll say that again – for seven rounds.
‘A seven-round “no holds barred” match!
‘Yes, folks! This match between Leo and Kai tonight is a “Kill Fight”.
‘Good luck, Cage Fighters!
‘Let the games begin!’
Spartacus banged his megaphone on the bars, causing the Cage to swing from side to side.
The bell rang.
Leo had put on his gloves and he launched himself at Kai, raining punches on his chest.
Kai seized him in a neck lock. ‘Listen, thicko. I’m supposed to win the first round! Remember?’
‘Had to do that,’ said Leo. ‘To show that you’re not as fast as you think you are.’
Kai whacked him on the head with the side of his fist. Leo went down. Kai danced around as Leo faked getting up, collapsed back onto the floor, and repeated the whole procedure until the bell rang for the end of the round.
Kai went to his corner. Somebody shoved a stool, a towel and bucket of water through the bars. The spot gave enough light for Kai to see Tech interviewing Raven for her opinion on the fight. Then he moved to Boudicca and Magog. The Cage Fighters were dressed in their costumes, hair covered and faces masked by their helmets and visors. Kai couldn’t locate Sarema or Gita or Bird Girl. They must be sitting at the back. And, of course, Spartacus himself was gone.
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