# The Master Assassin 4

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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

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NICK CARTER

watched. amazed. The same climb had almost killed


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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

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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

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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

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NICK CARTER

jumped in eagerly, settled himself, and again Carter

explained that he should not do

anything until he


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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

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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.

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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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NICK CARTER

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

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NICK CARTER

the colonel's holster. To his pleasant surprise, he

found it was Wilhelmina. Anderson must have kept it

as a souvenir.


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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

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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.

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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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NICK CARTER

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.

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Carter returned the salute, pushed the gear shift


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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

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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

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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.