Chaos

by Iris Johansen

  “And beggars can’t be choosers, Sasha. The only other people standing in line for this job were Korgan and Alisa.”

  “Alisa.” She was jarred out of her shock and reached out to grab his arm. “How is she? Masenak said she was in some hospital in Switzerland, but that’s all he’d tell me.”

  “She’s alive and well,” he said gently. “She had a rough time for a couple of days but she’s on the mend and not far from here.”

  “She has to stay away. He’s so angry with her, and that will only make the punishment worse if thinks he can use her against me…and Chaos.”

  “Korgan isn’t going to let her get close to you if he can help it. That’s double trouble as far as he’s concerned. That’s why I’m here.”

  “You’ve told me why. Now tell me how you got into this stable. I’ve seen how Davidow treats the stable help and I can’t see him letting you sneak in and out as you did my tent at the camp at Szarnar. When did you get here?”

  “Naleek and I arrived yesterday afternoon. We were put to work immediately and shown how humility and hard labor was going to be our lot in life by Davidow’s foreman. I’m very good at being humble and was duly intimidated and kept my head down but my ears open. Which let me start picking up everything I could from the other workers. I learned that you and Chaos were scheduled to be on the track with three other horses today, and that he isn’t being held in the main stable. But I needed more, so I had to put off approaching you until today.” He grimaced. “However, they worked us so hard from the time we got up that I didn’t get a chance to find out anything about the stable where Chaos is being kept. I had no idea what kind of security I could expect to run into. I had to rely on learning it from you.”

  “How did you get in here?”

  “You said it yourself: It adjoins the main stable. The workers’ quarters are a big room on the other side of that stable. There are fifty—no, closer to sixty—of us curled up in our blankets on the floor. Some of the laborers work in the house, but most of them are in the stable, track, grandstand, or outdoor gardens. Our day ends at sundown. They feed us and then let us go to bed so that we’re up at dawn the next day. Believe me, it’s no problem slipping out of that room at night. Those laborers are exhausted by the end of their day, and the food they’re given is sparse and not particularly healthy. I’d say most of them are fighting malnutrition.

  “It doesn’t surprise me.”

  “Anyway, tonight I waited for an hour after everyone bedded down and then started exploring.”

  “And you ended up in this stall when I brought Chaos back from the track?” She made a face. “It was probably good he was distracted. He’s usually aware of everything around him.”

  He looked back down the aisle at Chaos. “He’s having his dinner? My presence doesn’t seem to bother him.”

  “You’re being ignored. Evidently, he feels you’re not enough of a threat to cause a problem even to a person as weak as he considers me. That’s no compliment. He regards me as very stompable.”

  “Stompable?” He frowned. “I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”

  “I know. You’d have to have been there.” She raised a shaking hand to push back the hair from her forehead. “And I think I’m a little dizzy because you’re here and I wasn’t expecting it. I could only hope, and sometimes hopes don’t come true.”

  “But sometimes they do,” he said quietly. “If it makes a difference, I wanted to come. And I’m sorry I’m not the person you want to be here for you at a time like this, but I’ll do my best to—”

  “Shut up.” She suddenly launched herself into his arms and held him tight for the briefest instant. Then she backed away. “You talk too much and most of the time it doesn’t make sense, but you’re here. You wanted to be here for me. Do you think I don’t know and appreciate what that means? Other than that you’re not very smart? There’s no one I’d want with me more than you right now. You might even turn out to be like that stupid movie hero you call yourself.” She frowned. “But you could also get yourself killed. I can’t let that happen.”

  Gilroy smiled. “You don’t seem to be making a lot of sense yourself right now.”

  “I’ll be better soon. I told you I’m a little…” She took another step back. She was already feeling awkward about that impulsive moment. Touching was reserved for special people…friends. She seldom reached out to anyone but Alisa and Margaret, but that heady gratitude had taken her by surprise. Yet wasn’t Gilroy perhaps also a friend now? “How long do you think it will be safe for you to stay here? Because there are things I should know, and I’m not thinking straight right now.”

  “I told you, no one is going to be looking for me right away.”

  “But you can’t be sure about that. You’ve only spent one night here. I’ve seen how many chances you take.”

  “And you want to make certain that I do the right thing? You’ve got to accept that I know what I’m doing, Sasha.”

  “Maybe,” she said doubtfully.

  He chuckled and shook his head. “You have no choice. Alisa would want me to remain close to keep an eye on you, but it seems that’s going to be limited to between dusk and dawn. Maybe less, depending on what happens here when Reardon and Masenak’s other guests start showing up. If I’m not here for you to order about, you’ll have to trust that I’ll do the right thing for both of us.”

  She drew a deep breath. “Then I suppose I’ll do it.”

  His smile faded and he said crisply, “And everything you do from now on must appear absolutely normal and not arouse any suspicion for both our sakes. A little restraint might be welcome, too. Where were you going when I stopped you from leaving tonight?”

  “Back to my room in the castle to shower and eat something. Then I was going to come back here to be with Chaos.”

  “Masenak allows you to come and go as you please?”

  She shook her head. “He kept me locked up at first. But since he put me in charge of Chaos, he gives me freedom to go between here and my quarters at the castle. But it’s not the way it was at the Szarnar camp. There are guards trailing me wherever I go.” She added bitterly, “And he’s not really worried about me trying to escape since he told me he’d kill every one of my horses except Chaos if I did.”

  “Bastard.”

  She nodded. “He learned how to stop me cold in that first couple of weeks at Szarnar. Any person or animal that will hurt me to lose is a target. That’s why I mustn’t ever have Alisa near me.”

  “That will be difficult, but we’ll make the adjustment. Will you see Masenak while you’re at the castle? Does he dine with you?”

  “No, if he sees me at all it would be unusual. He was upset with me today and he might try to reinforce the orders he gave me, but I doubt it. He’s fairly lost about how to handle Chaos. I’m hoping if I show him occasional minimal improvement, it’ll keep him from exploding while we figure out how to get Chaos away before that race.”

  “What if we can’t do that?”

  She was silent. “It wouldn’t be good. Let’s not consider it.”

  “We’ll try not to do it.” He paused. “What about your relationship with Masenak? Has it changed since you came here?”

  “Do you mean does he rape me?” she asked bluntly. “He threatens sometimes when he’s angry, but I think he’s as confused about how to treat me as he is about Chaos. Yet he’s much more vicious now and nothing is a game to him any longer. He doesn’t even want to be around me unless it has to do with Chaos.” She remembered something else. “I saw the guards taking a woman into his quarters when I was leaving to go back to the stable last night. She was young, pretty, scared. Maybe one of the women Masenak had sent from the village?”

  “And maybe a way to get to Masenak,” he murmured. “Name?”

  She shook her head. “She was just another poor girl who reminded me of those students at the prison camp. Maybe he even wanted me to see her to remind me that I couldn’t
change anything he did.”

  “But we can change what’s happening. I’ll ask Naleek about that woman and see if she’s from Samlir. We’ll just have to work on the rest. Korgan and Alisa know I’m here and talking to you. Korgan was starting to have discussions with Lakewood at the CIA even before I left the village. It was too risky to bring a phone or weapon into the castle, but once I had a description of the setup here, I asked Korgan to drop off phones and weapons where I could retrieve them. He chose the toolshed at the back of the garden area. Tomorrow morning I’ll locate them, and tomorrow night you’ll have a phone and can talk to Alisa.”

  A phone. It was strange and wonderful how those words raised her spirits. She’d be able to actually speak to Alisa for the first time since that chilling night when she’d seen her shot and all hope had turned into a disaster. They’d be able to talk and plan and find a way to fight all this ugliness around them. Suddenly everything seemed brighter and more manageable.

  “That will be great. I’ve been so worried about her.” She was thinking, going over everything he’d said. Much of it she’d already been doing anyway. The only thing different was that she’d have to try to be less argumentative. She’d been telling herself that since that first day at the racetrack, but she hadn’t been doing a very good job of controlling her temper. “I’ll keep on being as normal as I can be. You should probably leave now. I’ll go back to the suite now and take a shower; if I run into Masenak, I’ll try to convince him he’s going to get everything he wants.” She turned to go. “But we should both think about where to hide those phones. If it was too risky for you to bring them here, we have to make sure they’re going to be safe.” She reached for the latch to open the stable door. “Wait here in this stall. Don’t go near Chaos while I’m gone. Believe me, even Indiana Jones wouldn’t have a chance with him.”

  “Don’t worry. I’ve heard of Chaos’s reputation and I’m properly terrified.”

  “That’s good. It will save a lot of trouble.” She stopped abruptly as she was opening the door. “Perhaps more than a little,” she murmured as a thought struck her. “We could put the phones and weapons under the straw in Chaos’s stall. No one would think of going in there if they had a choice. These days I’m the only one who works with him.”

  “Providing he doesn’t smash them underfoot. You mentioned stomping.”

  “There are ways to keep him from doing that.” She was frowning thoughtfully. “But you should really be able to go into his stall yourself to have access to them when we need them.” She shrugged. “I’ll work on it. We won’t get them until tomorrow anyway. I’m certain by that time I’ll figure out a way to make you and Chaos more compatible.” She opened the door and slipped out into the courtyard. “Good night. Be safe.” The door swung shut behind her.

  Gilroy stared after her for an instant; then his gaze shifted to Chaos, who had raised his large head and was now staring balefully at him. He gave a low curse. More compatible?

  Joking, right?

  Chapter

  13

  Next Day

  6:05 P.M.

  Are you hurt?” Masenak was glaring down at Sasha on the ground as she slowly and painfully raised herself on her elbow before sitting up. “You’d better not be hurt. You let that horse toss you into the dirt, bitch. Where’s all that skill I heard about before I raided that damn school?”

  “You said you wanted to see me on Chaos’s back today.” She got to her feet and swayed a moment to get her balance. “I obeyed you. I just didn’t stay on him for very long. I tried to tell you that was the way it was going to be. I’m no magician, I’m just good with horses. That was the second time he bucked me off today. Maybe tomorrow I’ll be able to stay on him a little longer.”

  “There’s no time for that bullshit. Reardon is going to be here in another two days, and I won’t be humiliated by having him watch my jockey dumped in the dirt.” He turned on his heel. “You’re running out of maybes, Sasha. Tomorrow I’m going to Skype Reardon and he’s going to see you on Chaos, and you’re going to look professional, not like a schoolgirl who has no idea what she’s doing. If you please me, I might not start shooting your horses.”

  She watched him walk away before she turned and started to limp toward Chaos.

  “He didn’t really hurt you, did he?” Davidow asked from where he was leaning against the fence. “I didn’t think Masenak had anything to worry about. You know how to fall, and Chaos didn’t try to savage you either time he tossed you today. It surprised me. You did a hell of a lot better than that Berber kid who couldn’t get near him.”

  “I’m okay,” she said curtly as she took Chaos’s reins and started to lead him back toward the stable. “Masenak just doesn’t understand Chaos and what’s possible and not possible with him. You might tell him that Chaos is doing very well…considering.”

  “I don’t tell Masenak anything. I find that’s the safest and most profitable way to get whatever I want from him.” He smiled. “But I’ll tell you that you’re doing exceptionally well…considering.”

  She stiffened. “What do you mean?”

  “I know horses. I know jockeys. In these last days, I’ve watched you with Chaos and I’ve found it interesting. You’re careful, but there’s still something…” He shrugged. “As I said, interesting, and as long as it doesn’t affect me, I’ll ignore it. Masenak isn’t blaming me for anything you do. You’re probably just trying to survive Masenak like the rest of us.” He turned and strolled away.

  Not good. Davidow was sharp and knowledgeable. She might be able to deceive Masenak into believing that Chaos was too much for her, but there were signs to the contrary that only an expert like Davidow would pick up on. Though having her seem a failure might even be to his advantage, evidently, he wasn’t going to act on anything he’d seen as yet.

  Yet.

  But she didn’t want Davidow watching her at all. As long as Masenak thought she had little or no control over Chaos, anything the stallion did that was wild or out of the ordinary might catch him off guard. She might need that slight edge at some point. Though who knew when or where.

  The sun was going down.

  Her pace unconsciously quickened to eagerness as she reached the stable. It had been a rough day but now it was over. She would be able to talk to Gilroy soon if he’d managed not to get himself killed. The idiot took so many chances…Don’t think of that. He’ll be fine.

  And he had promised she would be able to talk to Alisa tonight. That was something to which she could look forward. Gilroy had never broken a promise to her yet…

  * * *

  10:40 P.M.

  “What took you so long?” Sasha jumped to her feet as she saw Gilroy open the door connecting the stables. “I thought that you’d been caught and thrown off the damn mountain.”

  “Please.” He looked pained. “You insult me. I would have thought you’d appreciate my skills more by now.” He shut the door behind him. “Do I have to remind you my time isn’t my own at the moment? I didn’t have an opportunity to retrieve that phone I promised you until this evening because unfortunately my slave labor services were required elsewhere. It seems that Masenak wanted the castle spruced up for his guests’ arrival.” He was coming toward her. “I’ve decided I won’t make slave labor one of my chosen sidelines in the future. I’m sure I did it far better than anyone else, but it doesn’t appeal—” He broke off as he looked down at the hand she’d extended palm up to him. He grinned as he reached into his tunic pocket, pulled out a small phone, and placed it in her palm. “You’re welcome.”

  “I’ll thank you later.” Her hand was trembling as she punched in Alisa’s number. “Though I’m glad they didn’t throw you off the mountain. I didn’t—”

  “Are you all right?” Alisa asked the instant she picked up the phone.

  “That’s just like you,” Sasha said shakily. “You’re the one who got shot, Alisa. That should be my question. But I know you won’t answer me until I
tell you that I’m as fine as I can be with Masenak threatening to kill you, my horses, and anyone else he thinks will give him an edge. Gilroy didn’t lie when he told me you weren’t hovering at death’s door?”

  “I walked twelve miles through these mountains today and I could have gone a hell of a lot longer if Korgan hadn’t been such an ass about it.”

  “I’m beginning to like the sound of him.” Sasha had to stop to clear her throat. That last remark had been pure Alisa, and nothing could have convinced Sasha more that she was on her way back to normalcy. “Maybe you should keep him around.”

  “Only until we get you out of there. He has many more profitable and intriguing projects to keep him amused. But since he has a vested interest in ridding the world of Masenak and Reardon, I believe we’ll be able to maintain his involvement while he works at doing that.” She paused. “Which we’re doing nonstop. We know that we can’t get you out of there while they’re still alive. It’s only a matter of time, because you know that’s going to happen.”

  “Of course I do.” She added lightly, “You sent me Gilroy, didn’t you? I guess you could consider that a beginning.”

  “Ouch,” Gilroy murmured. “I’m never a beginning. Find another description. Perhaps the grand climax.”

  She ignored him. “Masenak and Reardon. What do you need from me?”

  “I need you to stay away from them. Don’t do anything to antagonize them.”

  “What do you need from me,” she repeated.

  Alisa sighed. “Anything you can tell us about them that might be used as a weapon. We know only the bare bones about their relationship.”

  “I don’t know much more than that right now.” She thought about it, trying to remember bits of conversation. “Masenak is jealous of Reardon. He said Reardon had always treated him like an underling. Maybe he feels a little inferior to him? One of the reasons he loves Jubaldar is that he knows Reardon wants to own it. He also wants to win this race and is willing to do anything.” She stopped. “I can’t think of anything else, but I’ll be on the lookout. Masenak is used to me probing and digging at him.”