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SIXTEEN
The eastern sky was beginning to pale as Carter
braked the gas truck to a halt on the road overlook-
ing Anderson's compound. This was the same cliff he
had attempted to climb down earlier when he'd inad-
vertently fallen and stumbled on Anderson's military
secret.
Carter checked his watch. "We still have more
than an hour until daylight," he said. "Come on. I'll
show you what I want you to do."
He shut off the motor and climbed out the doorless
passenger side, with 'Ngai and one of the Indian
boys.
The Indian boy was the same one who had directed
Carter to Lod and then had spoken up about wanting
to fight the whites. He spoke Spanish better than the
others and Carter had made him his lieutenant. The
boy's name was an unpronounceable mishmash of
syllables. Carter dubbed him Roberto.
The other boys, about ten of them, were riding on
the back, standing on the bumper, hanging on wher-
ever they could. When the truck stopped, they too
got down and came around to the front.
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"I fell in," Carter said, pointing down the cliff.
don't recommend it, though. It's hard on your
heart. "
"I think I can get in, senor."
Carter eyed him closely. "Really? I was going to
go myself."
"I can do it, senor, and be very quiet."
' •Are you sure, son? It means killing a man."
"l know that, sehor."
' 'All right. There were three guards when 'Ngai
and I were here. There are beds for four, though, so
figure on four. More than likely only one will answer
a disturbance at the gate. That's where you come
in," Carter said, singling out the smallest boy.
"Think you can act hurt? "
The boy waited for Roberto to translate, then
smiled and nodded.
"Don't be afraid to ham it up. You were mauled
' by a leopard or something. And when the guard
comes out, Roberto, you put the knife in him,
The boy grinned and nodded, and Carter, trying to
gauge the boy's capabilities, thought he glimpsed
something sharklike in that smile.
The smaller boy started to run off down the road
that led to the compound's entrance gate. He would
approach the guardhouse from the road; Roberto
would already have come in from the other side,
down the cliff. "Wait for my signal!" Carter whis-
pered after him. Then he turned to Roberto. "We
don't have any rope," he said. ' 'But I found a piece
of log chain in the truck's tool kit. "
"Not necessary, senor," the boy said, flashing his
man-eating grin once again.
He walked to the edge of the cliff, slipped over the
side, and began to climb down, hesitating only now
I and then to find a foothold or a handhold. Carter
174
NICK CARTER
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of log chain in the truck's tool kit. "
"Not necessary, senor," the boy said, flashing his
man-eating grin once again.
He walked to the edge of the cliff, slipped over the
side, and began to climb down, hesitating only now
I and then to find a foothold or a handhold. Carter
174
NICK CARTER
watched. amazed. The same climb had almost killed
him a few days before.
"Wait until the guard opens the gate," Carter
called after him. "And don't give him a chance to cry
out. "
Roberto made it to the ground and, clever kid that
he was, used the undergrowth around the gravel
apron to conceal himself as he approached the
guard's quarters. Carter waited until he was in posi-
tion, then he signaled the other boy, who was now far
below.
The second boy took his role very seriously. He
hobbled down the road toward the gate sobbing with
pain. A first-rate acting job, Carter thought.
The door to the guardhouse opened, and as Carter
had predicted, only one figure came running out.
It was too far away to hear what was going on, but
Carter sensed the boy was putting on a pretty con-
vincing show. By his actions, the guard was swallow.
ing it hook, line, and sinker. He holstered his gun,
unlocked the gate, and began to throw it open.
A figure dashed from the shadows. It was Ro-
berto. He ran• up to the guard and stuck something
silver in his back. The guard reared, but Roberto
managed to keep his hand over his mouth.
In a minute it was all over. The man went limp and
collapsed on the ground. Roberto threw the gate wide
open, then started to drag the dead soldier into the
bushes.
"Come on," Carter said.
They all climbed into the truck and Carter gunned
the engine. He drove down the narrow road with it
many hairpin turns and when he got close to the gate.
he stopped and let two more boys off. They ra
through and quickly concealed themselves in th
foliage by the guardhouse.




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e stopp an et two more boys off. They ra
through and quickly concealed themselves in th
foliage by the guardhouse.
THE MASTER ASSASSIN
175
Carter drove the big truck onto the gravel in front
of the guardhouse door and quickly got out.
Having heard the first disturbance and the gate
opening, the remaining guards would be suspicious.
The Killmaster figured it was only a matter of sec-
onds before they came out to investigate.
He was right. No sooner had he set foot on the
gravel, than the guardhouse door opened and a
young soldier ran out carrying a rifle. When he saw
Carter, he stopped and brought the gun up to take
aim.
Out from behind the guardhouse ran Roberto and
another boy. They grabbed the soldier from behind
and the shot went high, four feet or more over
Carter's head. Then Roberto jumped on him and put
a knife to his throat.
"Don't kill him!" shouted Carter. He ran up and
took away the soldier's gun, then ran with it into the
guardhouse.
The place was deserted. There had been only two
guards. Quickly, Carter ran back out again. The lack
of security made him nervous. Had Anderson pulled
the stuff out of there already?
He clicked a bullet into the breech of the gun, and
while the Indian boys held the soldier down, Carter
put the gun to his head.
"Where are they?" he demanded.
"W-w-who, senor?"
The man was terrified. Carter pressed the gun
muzzle until a white circle appeared on the man's
temple.
"The other guards, dammit! Where are they?"
"There are no other guards, senor. Just me and
Tomås. "
"Tomås is dead," said Carter. "That leaves just
you and me, amigo. Is the stuff still here?"




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"What stuff, senor?"
"The tanks, the rocket launcher, all that stuff. Is it
still here?"
"Si, si, senor. It is still here. It is hidden in the
trees."
"When is Anderson coming for it?"
"Today, senor. They leave at dawn to march to
San Pedro. He will pick up the equipment on the
way. "
"Perfect!" said Carter. "Tie this man up, Ro-
berto. Then gather the boys together and follow
me."
Then he went back to the truck, to the passenger
side, and looked up at 'Ngai. "Come with me," hew
said.
When they were ail crowded around, Carter led
them across the gravel into the trees where three
nights earlier he had found a tank hidden.
It was still there, buried in the leaves, an armored
fist on treads. When they'd all assembled, Carter ex-
plained while Roberto translated.
"This is an Israeli tank," Carter said. "It's really
very simple. There are two levers, one for each of
these big treads. Press both and the tank moves for-
ward. Pull them back and the tank backs up. Press
the one on the left and the tank turns right and vice
versa. Now, who thinks they'd like to drive a tank?"
Several boys spoke up, including the little actor
who had fooled the guard before. Carter's eyes fell
on him. "You'll do," he said. He hoisted him up on
the huge fender, then climbed up after him. Carter
helped him open the hatch and watched as he got
seated in the driver's seat inside. There were hun-
dreds of dials and switches, but Carter motioned for
him to ignore these and to concentrate on the two
levers on either side of the seat.
First he pushed them one way, then the other.
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Then he let the boy experiment. When he thought the
boy felt reasonably at home, he pressed the button
that lowered the perioscope. The boy was startled at
first, then awed. He insisted on pressing the button
himself. The periscope journeyed up and down sev-
eral times before Carter motioned for him to stop.
Then Carter had the boy look into the periscope.
This, too, was a revelation, especially when Carter
pressed the buttons that brought up the infrared and
stereo-optical television. Finally he brought up the
"plain" optical screen and told him to leave it there.
Then he showed him how to start the big engines
and the joy stick for swiveling the turret and the
mechanism for firing the cannon.
"Not yet, though," he cautioned, holding his hand
over these last controls to signify they weren't to be
touched until he gave the word.
The boy smiled and began working buttons and
sticks like crazy. He looked like a kid with the biggest
Christmas present anyone had ever seen.
Carter climbed out of the tank. Had the boy really
learned enough to operate the thing? He shook his
head. He wouldn't know until the last minute.
"Come on," Carter said to the others as he
jumped to the ground. "There's something here for
everybody. "
The next in line was the rocket launcher. This was
a bit more complicated in that it required use of a
clutch. With Roberto's help he explained how a
clutch worked, then he demonstrated in the rocket
launcher's cab. When he thought he'd covered it
pretty well, he asked for volunteers. Everybody
rushed forward. It seemed the rocket launcher with
its three arrowlike missiles was an impressive piece of
equipment.
Carter selected the largest boy whose feet. he felt,
had a better chance of reaching the pedals. The boy
178
NICK CARTER
jumped in eagerly, settled himself, and again Carter
explained that he should not do
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rushed forward. It seemed the rocket launcher with
its three arrowlike missiles was an impressive piece of
equipment.
Carter selected the largest boy whose feet. he felt,
had a better chance of reaching the pedals. The boy
178
NICK CARTER
jumped in eagerly, settled himself, and again Carter
explained that he should not do anything until he
signaled.
Next was an armored personnel carrier. Here he in-
stalled a driver and a boy to operate the machine gun.
Time was getting short. The sun was already over
the horizon. Anderson would have begun his march
half an hour ago and would be within forty-five
minutes of the compound.
Carter distributed the rest of his meager force in-
side the other pieces of equipment, each time explain-
ing they were not to do anything until they saw his
signal.
He had just finished, when 'Ngai, whom he had
situated on the roof of the guardhouse, cried out and
came running down excitedly. She yelled something
in her own language and Roberto quickly translated.
"She's seen a dust cloud on the road from camp,
senor. They are coming."
"Good," said Carter. "Close the gate. Out of
sight, everyone!"
Carter told Roberto to move the gas truck back up
to the top of the cliff. The boy ran to the truck. Car-
ter came to the window and gave him some other spe-
Cial instructions, then got out of the way. Roberto
had followed closely Carter's instructions on using
a clutch, and now it was time to see how well he'd
learned.
He started the engine and got it successfully into
gear.
"Gently, now," said Carter.
Roberto let the pedal out. The truck stalled.
"Try it again."
Again he started the engine. He rammed it into
gear and ground the transmission a bit.
"That's all right," Carter said. "Now remember
what I told you."




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gear an ground the transmission a bit.
"That's all right," Carter said. "Now remember
what I told you."
THE MASTER ASSASSIN
Slowly, the pedal came out.
"More gas!" shouted Carter.
179
The big truck began to pounce across the gravel. It
bounded on its big tires, but it didn't die.
"Good!" shouted Carter. "Keep going! Take it
back up the hill! "
Carter watched as the huge vehicle bounced out the
gate and down the road. He hoped the dust it was
raising didn't alert Anderson.
He ran back into the guardhouse. One of the boys
was still watching the soldier, whom they'd tied up
and stood in a corner.
"Keep the gun on him," Carter told the boy in sign
language. He quickly began untying the man. Carter
had not yet decided what to do with this soldier.
Someone had to open the gate for Anderson. But
could he trust the soldier to do it, or should he
change clothes with the man and do it himself?
No, he thought, he'd have to do it himself.
"Take off your clothes, " he told the man.
"What for. senor?"
"I want them. I'll give you mine."
"But I don't want your clothes. "
"Take them off! "
'Ngai ran in and pulled Carter to the window.
Anderson's column was visible now in the valley be-
low the compound, about four hundred men all jog-
ging down the road in the direction of the gate. Not a
large force, but given the armament they intended to
use, it was enough to occupy a capital city.
"Hurry!" Carter yelled at the soldier.
When Carter was completely dressed, he ran out-
side. Everything was ready. The camouflage was still
intact on all the pieces of equipment. No one would
know that drivers had been installed behind the con-
trols of each one, albeit inexperienced ones. Roberto
had parked the gas truck in exactly the position he'd




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been told to. He understood his instructions and was
waiting. All that remained was for Carter to open the
gate and let the mouse into the trap.
Carter had thrown it together pretty quickly; now
he'd see if it worked.
Anderson's jeep appeared over the rise. He looked
every inch the dictator. His uniform was perfectly
clean and pressed, complete with a white neck ker-
chief. He wore a pair of aviator-style sunglasses, and
in his left hand was a riding crop.
Behind Anderson were another jeep, a canvas-
backed truck carrying a platoon of men, and two
lines almost a quarter of a mile long of men on foot.
Anderson's jeep drove to the gate and stopped. The
call went back for the column to halt and the men
stopped running.
Carter dashed out wearing the soldier's uniform
and opened the gate. It was crucial that Anderson not
recognize him. His face was still blackened by the
fire, and although his hair was badly singed, he'd
pulled the soldier's cap iow over his eyes.
Anderson rolled in. Carter kept his head low and
stood saluting, his back to the gate. Anderson passed
without so much as a glance.
He motioned for his driver to take him down to the
far end of the gravel. The entire column followed, all
of them crowding in the gate. When everyone was in,
Carter pushed the big chain link gate shut.
This was contrary to orders, Carter realized, and
after he'd done it, he heard Anderson's voice boom-
ing out from the front of the line.
"You, there! What are you doing?"
Carter turned and signaled to Roberto on the cliff.
The Indian boy started the truck and drove it to the
edge, then at the last minute jumped free. The huge
truck, with its ten big tires, rolled to the brink, hesi•
tated a brief second, then plummeted.
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It started nose first, than hit its front bumper on
the second stratum of rock. It turned halfway over,
so that when it came down, it landed on its top,
crushing the tank on the back and spraying gasoline
over the gravel.
A fraction of a second later, the truck's own gas
tank exploded. The rest Of the gas soon caught, and
in what seemed like no time at all, the gravel apron
was engulfed in flame.
For Anderson this must have happened in what ap-
peared to be slow motion. He hadn't seen the truck
until it hit the rocks and flipped over. Then he turned
and stared dumbly as it crashed and sent out a wave
of burning gasoline in his direction.
Then he began to move and Carter lost track of
him.
Anderson's men were in a state of panic. They
hadn't had time to realize they were in no real dan-
ger. The gas truck had held only a hundred or so gal-
Ions, and as big as the apron was, it quickly ran dry
before it reached them. But they had been caught by
surprise and their first reaction was to break rank
and run. They crowded toward the gate.
Carter ran through them in the opposite direction,
looking for Anderson. Finally he found him standing
by his jeep, shouting orders, trying to keep order.
The Kilhnaster waved to the boys in the tanks
and the rocket launcher. Their engines started, and
through the billows Of black smoke mechanical mon-
sters appeared, rattling and clanking and looking like
the machinery of hell itself.
Anderson's reaction was total shock. He stood by
his jeep dumbly staring while his men broke into
utter disorder and formed a mob at the gate, some
climbing all the way to the barbed wire, trying to get
away.
Carter ran to Anderson and pulled the pistol from
182
NICK CARTER
the colonel's holster. To his pleasant surprise, he
found it was Wilhelmina. Anderson must have kept it
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his jeep dumbly stanng w 1 e men ro e Into
utter disorder and formed a mob at the gate, some
climbing all the way to the barbed wire, trying to get
away.
Carter ran to Anderson and pulled the pistol from
182
NICK CARTER
the colonel's holster. To his pleasant surprise, he
found it was Wilhelmina. Anderson must have kept it
as a souvenir.
' 'It's all over. Anderson!" Carter shouted at him.
Anderson looked at him uncomprehendingly.
"Surrender your men now, or they'll be slaugh-
tered," yelled Carter.
mumbled •Anderson. "Of
"Yes, surrender,"
course. It's the only thing to do."
Carter waved to 'Ngai and the boy in the guard-
house and they came running. While he waited for
them, he kept the gun on Anderson. Anderson
meekly put up his hands.
When 'Ngai reached him, he handed her the Luger
and told her to watch the colonel, then he and the
boy ran around and collected weapons. Many of
them had been thrown on the ground; still more were
on the backs of men who were struggling to get out
and they gave them up easily.
Carter got several other boys to help and they
stashed all they could find in the guardhouse.
Then Carter ran back to 'Ngai. The boys had
stopped their advance in the machines by this time,
the fire had abated even though clouds of black
smoke still rose into the still air, and the panic among
the men had subsided. Carter took Wilhelmina from
'Ngai, put the gun to Anderson's head, and dragged
him onto the hood of the jeep.
'UMake the announcement," hissed Carter.
"l can't "
"Make it!"
"What do you want me to say?"
"Tell them to surrender their arms to the Indian
boys."
"Surrender your arms!" Anderson shouted over
the din.



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the din.
THE MASTER ASSASSIN
183
i' Tell them to stand over by the gate where we can
keep an eye on them."
"I can't g"
"Do it! Tell them!"
Weakly, his spirit broken, Anderson relayed the
message.
The Indian boys had all emerged from their vehi-
cles and were now busy collecting Uzis, pistols, gre-
nades, and bayonets.
' 'Put them in the guardhouse," Carter told them,
pointing to the building.
Roberto came running up. He had just climbed
down the cliff again and apparently had had a good
view of the action. The excitement in his eyes was
unmistakable.
"Come with me," Carter told him. He took the
boy into the guardhouse and had him wait while he
used the shortwave. When the radio operator at the
military base in Asunciön came on, Carter told him
about the captured rebel force sixty miles downriver
from San Pedro. He didn't identify himself. "Will
- hold until reinforcements come," he added. Then he
gave the microphone to Roberto.
The boy and the radio operator talked back and
forth for a few minutes until the man got a more
precise location. Then Carter signed off for him and
hung up the mike, but he left the channel open and
quickly showed the boy how to use it in case he
needed help.
On the way outside he ran into several boys coming
in the opposite direction, their arms full of weapons.
I Anderson had climbed down from the hood of his
jeep and now stood next to it, his arms still in the air
while 'Ngai held the gun with both hands, aiming it
directly at his face.
"Carter," he growled. "Get this Indian bitch away
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from me before that thing goes off."
"You'd better watch what you say, Colonel. This
smart lady understands more Spanish every day. But
that's all right. Maybe you can talk her into letting
you make a run for it."
Carter turned to Roberto, who had come up
behind him. "Tell 'Ngai that she's to take credit for
the capture of these rebels. There should be a medal
and a monetary reward. That should compensate her
somewhat for all she's had to suffer. As for the rest
of you, start now and hide as many of these big
pieces as you can, the tanks especially. No one knows
they're here and no one's going to miss them. Keep
them in case someone starts pushing Indians around
again."
"Where are you going, sehor?"
' 'I have to leave before those reinforcements
come." He looked at 'Ngai. "Good-bye," he said.
Her eyes were full, but she blinked to keep the
tears from falling and kept her determided gaze on
Anderson.
He kissed her cheek and she looked at him sud-
denly, then turned her head back to Anderson.
Carter pulled Anderson's driver out of the front
seat, then climbed in behind the wheel.
"Carter!" screamed Anderson. "You've ruined
"Colonel,"
said Carter as he started the engine
and threw it into gear, "l can't think of anyone who
deserved it more. "
Carter turned the jeep around and headed for th
gate. One of the Indian boys was manning it. H
looked every inch the guerrilla, with an Uzi in hi
hands and another strapped to his back with two bi
ammo belts crisscrossed over his chest. He threw th
gate back with a loud clank, then stood back, salut
ing.
THE MASTER ASSASSIN
185
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Carter returned the salute, pushed the gear shift
into second, and started through. Anderson's men
stood back, staring at him sullenly, but he ignored
them.
Suddenly he heard a yell from somewhere behind
him. He turned in time to see Anderson, who had
broken away from 'Ngai, dashing after him.
The man moved with incredible speed and agility.
One bound and he was on the back of the jeep,
another and he'd flown into Carter and knocked him
from behind the wheel.
They fell out onto the gravel, Anderson on top,
driving punches into Carter's body like a madman.
Carter scooped up a handful of dust from the
ground by his head and threw it at Anderson's face.
Anderson's hands went to his eyes and Carter was
able to push him off.
"Anderson!" yelled Carter, getting to his feet.
"It's over, goddammit! Give up!"
"Like hell!" screamed Anderson, scrambling up
and giving Carter a well-placed karate kick to the
solar plexis.
Carter doubled over, pain radiating through his
body. Anderson gave him another kick, this one to
the face, and Carter straightened up fast. then fell
hard onto the gravel.
What the hell was going on here? Carter won-
dered, testing the damage to his jaw.
Anderson's men crowded around, anticipating a
good fight. Some of them began to shout encourage-
ment. Several of the Indian boys tried to get them to
back up against the fence again, but they refused and
pushed them away.
The situation was starting to unravel. The Kill.
master had only a handful of Indian kids facing a
force of four hundred trained troops. Even with the
kind of motivation these Indians had, Carter
186
NICK CARTER
doubted any of them could gun down unarmed men.
Not if they all came at them at once. They were sit-
ting on a powder keg here. Suddenly the fistfight
ose it and




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The situation was starting to unravel. The Kill.
master had only a handful of Indian kids facing a
force of four hundred trained troops. Even with the
kind of motivation these Indians had, Carter
186
NICK CARTER
doubted any of them could gun down unarmed men.
Not if they all came at them at once. They were sit-
ting on a powder keg here. Suddenly the fistfight
with Anderson ballooned in importance. Lose it and
it just might be the spark to set off the charge.
Carter pulled himself to his feet. Anderson hov-
ered by the jeep, anxiously dancing back and forth
on the balls of his feet. Did he realize the situation?
Carter doubted it. From the look in his eye simple re-
venge was all he wanted, although this wasn't going
to make him any easier to beat.
Anderson charged, his eyes reckless but his move-
ments controlled. He spun like a wheel, fists on top,
feet on the bottom. Carter ducked, and drove the
side of his left foot into Anderson's stomach as a
calling card.
Anderson went to his knees.
Now they were even, Carter thought grimly.
The reaction of the crowd was mixed. They hooted
and hollered. It was impossible to decide who they
were for or against.
Anderson jumped back to his feet. The blow in the
stomach hadn't slowed him. If anything, he was in-
censed by it. He was a strong fighter and his martial
arts training had been first-rate. Carter was going to
have to be careful.
The two of them circled each other warily, looking
for openings. Carter deliberately turned his head,
hoping to bait a trap. Anderson fell for it, charged,
and found himself in a hailstorm of punches and
kicks. He weathered it, however, and swept Carter's
feet from under him with a circular kick. Carter was
flung to the ground, momentarily stunned.
"Bastard! " Anderson breathed, his face red.
The soldiers were growing more animated by the
secönd, shouting and jeering. Someone threw a jack




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ou Ing an Jeering.
meone t rew a Jac
THE MASTER ASSASSIN
187
handle over the crowd and Anderson caught it. More
shouts. The men thought it was a grand idea. They
clamored for Carter's blood.
"Now you'll see what happens when I'm interfered
with," Anderson said. He raised the Jack handle over
his head, his face a mask of anger and revenge.
Well, Anderson. thought Carter, you Ove just
blown a nice, clean, unarmed contest. When the Kill-
master had switched clothes with the soldier in the
guardhouse, he'd felt a small pocketknife in the
pants pocket. And with a flick of the wrist almost too
fast for the crowd to register, he pulled it out and
sent it hurtling directly for Anderson's throat just be-
low the jawbone.
Anderson's face went blank, his mouth opening
soundlessly. He stood there frozen, the jack handle
still poised above his head, then slowly he began to
crumple, falling backward onto the hard ground.
The little knife's hilt glinted in the morning sunlight,
shuddering slightly as it protruded from the dead
man's neck.
Carter rose to his feet. 'Ngai pushed her way
through the now silent crowd until she got to him.
She'd been terrified that Carter would be killed, and
she buried her face against his neck and cried with
relief.
"It's all over, 'Ngai, all over," he told her, strok-
ing her hair gently.
Meanwhile, Roberto and his boys managed to get
Anderson's men lined up against the fence again.
Now it really is over, Carter thought. 'Ngai walked
with him to the jeep. s 'l wish you could come with
me," he said after he'd gotten in. "But if I can't take
you with me, at least I'm leaving you a better place in
which to live."
Her eyes were still wet with tears. She seemed to
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understand the meaning of his words. She bent down
and kissed him, then pressed her head gently against
his cheek.
"Say good-bye to Lod. "
She heard the old man's name, and smiled and
nodded.
Carter ended up smiling and nodding too. He put
the jeep into gear and drove through the gate. The
cheers of the Indian boys followed him a long way
down the road.