Part 34 (1/2)
”Fortunately,” Annja said. ”But I almost missed it. And if I had, that would be me down there at the foot of those stairs instead of her.”
”She was terrifying and incredible,” Tuk said. ”I know it seems silly, but I almost respected her for her ability.”
”It's not silly,” Annja said. ”She should be respected. G.o.d knows I sure as h.e.l.l do. I've faced a lot of foes and I remember only a few of the highly skilled ones. Hsu Xiao goes to the top of the list as far as I'm concerned.”
Tsing cleared his throat. ”I hate to break up this precious bonding moment and all, but according to your friend Mike, we only have two minutes to make our escape.”
Annja looked up at Mike. ”Is that true?”
Mike nodded gravely. ”I'm afraid it is.”
Annja glanced at Tuk. ”Help me to my feet, would you?”
”Sure.” Tuk got behind Annja and helped her up.
Annja wobbled once but then took a breath and got her heart beating steadily. ”All right, let's go.”
Tsing stood. ”What about me?”
Annja looked at him. ”What about you?”
”You're not going to kill me?”
”Tsing, I don't give a d.a.m.n about you right now. All I care about is getting the h.e.l.l out of here. You can come with us or you can stay. But no one's going to help you. You live or die by your own hand. Not mine or anyone else's.”
Mike led the way toward the corridor and Tuk and Annja followed. From deep below them, there came a rumbling sound. All of them paused and then Mike waved them on.
”It's starting! We have to run!”
Tsing shoved Tuk out of the way. ”Let me through, you pathetic people!” He dashed for the corridor ahead of them and disappeared from view.
Mike leveled the gun on him but Annja called out, ”No!”
Mike stopped. ”Why?”
”Let him go. If he gets himself out of this, we'll worry about him on the other side.”
”You're being merciful,” Tuk said.
Annja shook her head. ”No, it's just I don't care about him anymore.”
Another rumble caused the stone floor to shake and start to break apart. It was like being in the middle of an earthquake. From above, rocks and stones tumbled loose and cascaded down.
”Get inside the temple!” Mike shouted. ”It's all going to come down around us!”
Tuk helped get Annja into the corridor. Behind them, the pavilion started to cave in and the floor buckled. As they ran past the statues, the closest one toppled over and then there was a terrific explosion.
Annja felt herself knocked clear off her feet and she crumbled to the floor as bits of stone came showering down around them.
”Annja!”
She felt Tuk's hand clutch at her own. He pulled her free of the debris, masonry dust caking his face. He coughed and brought her to her feet.
Annja tried to breathe but coughed on the dusty air, too.
”We've got to keep moving!” Mike said.
Annja could barely see Mike in front of them. He was struggling to stay upright and Annja realized that the floor was slanting. Like being on a listing s.h.i.+p, the entire surface was heaving as the facility beneath them started to explode and crumble in upon itself.
Another tremor rocked the temple and more rocks and stone came flying at them. Tuk steered Annja around some of the larger boulders.
From someplace ahead of them they heard a scream.
They hurried on and found Mike standing over Tsing. A large section of stone lay atop Tsing's body, but he was still conscious.
”Hurry! You've got to get this off of me!” he pleaded.
Mike looked at Annja and shook his head. ”There's no way we can lift it. It must weight a ton or more.”
Tsing's face showed terror. ”No! You cannot leave me here to die. You've got to help me!”
”We're out of time, Annja,” Mike said.
Annja looked down at Tsing. ”I told you that you were free to help yourself. But by your own hand. Not by ours.”
”But surely you don't mean that! Help me, Annja Creed! Help me!”
Annja looked at Tuk. ”Let's get the h.e.l.l out of here.”
Tuk nodded and they pressed on. Behind them they could still hear Tsing crying for help. ”Don't leave me!”
Another rumble sounded and the room behind them crumpled and caved in, drowning out any more of Tsing's pleas for mercy or help.
Dust clouds followed them as they pressed toward the prison cell that had held Tuk. And then the doorway to freedom stood before them at long last.
Mike reached it first and waved them through. ”Come on! We're almost there!”
Annja pushed Tuk ahead of her. ”I'll make it. Just get yourself out.”
Tuk looked at her once and then rushed ahead. Annja smiled and knew he'd survive. She urged her feet to keep moving.
Another tremor rocked the room she stood in and then she heard an incredible sound of something being torn wide-open. The floor behind her started to yawn and a gaping hole erupted beneath her feet.
”Annja!”
She turned back and saw Mike waving her on. Tuk screamed for her to jump.