Part 16 (1/2)

He crashed to the ground. The rider's silhouette blocked out the sun, but he could see the blade raised above his head. It was about to plunge into his chest.

Sarah screamed as she tackled the rider to the ground. Clawing and kicking, she stayed on top of him. Padding prevented her attack from doing much good, but it gave Logan time to get to his feet.

The rider grabbed Sarah by the back of the neck and pulled her face into the top of the helmet.

Sarah fell backwards against the Mustang.

The rider was up, standing in front of her.

But so was Logan. He put himself between the blade and the girl and stood his ground.

The rider persisted with thrusts and slices, but this time each was blocked and answered with a strike.

The helmet forced Logan to work the body. He focused the blows at the rider's sternum, where the jacket hung open. These strikes, combined with the earlier dragging, tired the rider; his attacks slowed.

The rider turned and ran.

Logan turned to Sarah. Blood ran from her nose. He leaned down and kissed her. ”I can't let him get away.”

The warrior turned to give chase. The rider wasn't far, but his head still rang from the kick and blood seeped from the stabs. He started to run.

The rider jerked as a gunshot exploded behind Logan. Several more shots rang out and the rider spun around as the slugs tore into him. The helmet cracked in two as a final shot entered through its side.

Logan stared as the figure fell face first to the ground. There was no movement from the rider. He turned back to the girl. She still lay on the ground with her back to the car. In her right hand, she held a revolver. Smoke rose from the barrel.

He walked back to her. ”What did you do?”

Sarah looked at the gun in her hands. She let it drop to the road, ”It was under the seat.”

”I, we needed to talk to him.”

”He tried to kill us.”

”But we still don't know how far away the truck is.”

Sarah stood and placed her arm around him. ”But they don't know that we have you. You did it. And we're both safe.” She pulled her hand back slowly. It was covered in red.

”Oh, no. You're bleeding.”

”It isn't bad.”

”We've got to get you home.”

”Home?”

”Home.”

She helped him back into the Mustang. She spoke softly to him as they drove back to New Hope.

TWENTY.

”What is it, d.i.c.k?”

On top of the Silver Lining, Jerry held a powerful pair of binoculars to his eyes. He mused that he had never spent so much time on top of the coach as he had in the last few days. Still, it made the perfect perch.

Even with the hum of the tires on the road and the whining of Erica's voice in the cab, they had all heard the work of the wrecking crew miles down the road. The sound had concerned him enough to stop the coach and climb up for a look.

”Yeah, d.i.c.k, what is it?” Austin asked.

”Dude,” his older brother, Trent, slapped him on the arm. ”His name is not d.i.c.k. That's just what she calls him.”

”That seems mean.” Austin was confused.

”It is,” Trent said.

”But, why is she being mean? Isn't he saving her?”

”I don't know why she's being mean.”

”Don't keep us in suspense, oh mighty warrior.” Erica had climbed to the top of the ladder and watched him watch the distance.

Jerry said nothing she could hear.

”Lady, why are you so mean to him?” Austin shouted up from the base of the ladder. ”He's helping us.”

”Shut up, Boo Boo.” She climbed onto the roof.

”What's Boo Boo?” asked the boy in the bear suit.

Trent just shrugged. ”I think it means p.o.o.p.”

”Oh,” Austin's feelings were hurt, but he smiled after a moment's thought. ”At least she didn't call me d.i.c.k.”

Trent nodded and watched Erica disappear over the top of the Silver Lining.

When she reached his side, Jerry was no longer looking through the binoculars, but staring off into the distance, deep in thought.

”What's the hold up?” She followed his gaze. It was hard to make out what was happening.

He handed her the binoculars.

She placed them to her eyes. Her face went white and she began to stammer. ”Oh, my G.o.d. Oh, G.o.d.”

”It's them, isn't it?” he asked.

She sat down, hard, on the roof of the coach. The binoculars fell from her hand. She nodded, her face a twisted expression of hate, anger, and fear. Tears filled her eyes, but they refused to fall.