Part 8 (1/2)
”Then what happened?” she said.
He swallowed. ”We successfully extracted the intelligence from the prisoners. The Rangers ambushed the Freedom Clan, and the mission was a total success. Everybody was happy until the bureaucrats back in Was.h.i.+ngton started asking probing questions.”
She nodded. ”Somebody had to be the sacrificial goat. Why not pick the doctor who violated his oath? The choice doesn't seem entirely unfair.”
”The Freedom Clan was a bunch of murderers, rapists, and thieves. They had to be stopped. The prisoners deserved what they got.”
”I agree. Everybody in this car has committed heinous acts in the line of duty. We understand war is an ugly business.”
Smythe looked at Aaron, who was driving. His calm expression didn't indicate whether he agreed or disagreed with Ethel's statement, but he didn't dispute it. Smythe could see Marina's face in the side mirror, and she appeared lost in her own memories.
Aaron pulled off the road and parked in a gra.s.sy clearing. A thick forest surrounded the clearing and provided complete privacy for whatever happened next. Smythe saw no city lights in any direction.
Ethel removed the cuffs from his feet, but his wrists were still bound. ”Get out,” she ordered.
He was escorted to the center of the clearing. Ethel stood in front of him and Marina stood behind him. Aaron stayed by the car and took a shovel out of the trunk. Smythe didn't want to speculate about its purpose. The car's headlights illuminated the scene.
”Dawn comes in an hour,” Ethel said. ”This is my favorite time of night. The darkness is waning and a new day is about to be born. Anything is possible. There is hope.”
Smythe considered trying to run. The forest would provide plenty of good places to hide, if he could get there. Unfortunately, Aaron and Marina looked more than athletic enough to chase him down.
”Hope is a gift from G.o.d,” Ethel said. ”Do you believe in G.o.d?”
”I get it,” Smythe said. ”You're not spies or criminals. You're religious nuts! That explains a lot.”
”I asked you a question.”
”G.o.d? I've seen too many bad things to believe in an omnipotent, benevolent Almighty. If He really is pulling all the strings, then He has a nasty sense of humor.”
”You presume He's in total control. When He granted us free will, He also gave us sin. The choices are entirely ours. Our capacity for evil is the price we pay for true creativity, for breaking the shackles of determinism.”
”Are we going to argue philosophy?” he said. ”Is that why you kidnapped me?”
”No,” she said. ”I already told you that I want to recruit you.”
”Then tell me who you are.”
She glanced up at the sky. ”We are the janitors of G.o.d. Our job is to clean the stains on His world. Sometimes we have to scrub very hard. Sometimes the stains fight back.”
”You sound like a cult.”
Smythe looked back at Marina to see how close she was in case he decided to run. He noticed that she had black fingernails with sharp, glistening tips. Strange, he thought. He remembered the injections in his neck. Venom?
”There is a place for you on our team,” Ethel said.
”As a janitor?” he asked.
”We use guns to clean the stains.”
”You're vigilantes.”
”We're warriors. We obey the orders of our Supreme Commander, the Lord.”
He rolled his eyes. ”Sure.”
”I'll make you a deal.” Ethel said. ”If you can beat one of us in a fight, I'll let you go. We won't bother you again.”
”Really? What about Woods?”
”Do with him as you see fit. We have the data we need.”
”What's the catch?”
”No catch.” She tossed him the keys to his handcuffs. ”You just have to win the fight.”
He removed the cuffs. ”What if I lose?”
”Then you're mine to do with as I see fit.” She nodded towards Aaron. ”This clearing could be your graveyard if I choose.”
Smythe glanced back. Aaron raised the shovel and smiled.
”Pick your opponent,” Ethel said. ”Any of us will do.”
Smythe didn't understand why she was doing this, but he wasn't about to complain. Any escape was a good escape at this point. He considered his three possible adversaries. Aaron was a big man with the torso of a body builder, and clearly, he was the most dangerous. Marina wasn't as physically threatening, but Smythe suspected she knew every dirty trick in the book. He also didn't like those pointed black fingernails. The choice seemed obvious.
”I pick you,” he told Ethel.
”You want to fight a little old lady?” she said.
Aaron made an odd snorting noise.
”You didn't say I couldn't,” Smythe said.
”True.” She took off her jacket. ”Incidentally, you made the worst choice.”
”Why?”
”I'm tougher than Aaron and Marina put together. Let's begin.”
He stretched his arms. ”I'll try to be a gentleman and not hurt you much.”
Aaron laughed out loud.
Somebody tapped Smythe on the shoulder. Surprised, he spun around and found Marina standing there.
”Do you want some advice?” she said.
”From you?” he asked.