Part 31 (1/2)
She went around the room and sprayed the rest of the captives the same way.
Smythe wanted to step outside. There was no good reason for him to watch. When he saw people suffering, he felt compelled to do something about it, which was why he had become a doctor. The Eternals deserved to pay for their crimes, but he didn't need to be part of the punishment process. It was enough for him to know justice was being served.
However, Ethel wouldn't approve if he walked out. He had to endure.
”You're going to die,” Obsidian said.
”We all die, eventually,” Ethel said.
”For you, it will be very soon. My people will find you, all of you.”
”I doubt it.”
”We have money and powerful friends. We even have cops on our payroll.”
She smiled. ”We have more money and more powerful friends.”
”It doesn't matter,” he said. ”The Order of Eternal Night has a destiny. We will be the last survivors on Earth. We will preside over the death of humanity.”
”Sure, and I'm the Queen of England.”
”You don't understand.”
”I guess not. Knife and battery, please.”
Marina handed a small knife and a nine volt battery to Ethel. Ethel crouched down near the head of the nearest captive.
”n.o.body else can see what I'm doing,” she said, ”so I'll explain as I go. I'm slicing away the skin covering his right shoulder. I'm trying not to damage the delicate arteries underneath. Don't move.”
The captive moaned.
Smythe looked down at his feet. This was intolerable.
After a minute she said, ”There. The skin is peeled back and the bleeding isn't bad. The next step is cleaning away the excess tissue around the clavicle. Really, you shouldn't move.”
The moans became louder.
”Perfect,” she said. ”The Brachial Plexus is beautifully exposed and intact. That's the main nerve for his arm. Now, I just have to brush it to produce a strong reaction.”
The captive gasped and sobbed.
”But when I use the battery, the reaction will be truly intense. Every arm muscle will contract at once. Nine volts doesn't sound like much, but it feels like nine million when applied to a bare nerve. Young man, this will be a new kind of pain for you.”
He screeched. Smythe had never heard a grown man make a sound like that before.
”Oh,” Ethel said. ”I think your bicep tore loose. Is there anything you want to tell me, or should I use the battery again?”
”Don't tell her anything!” Obsidian called out.
She walked over to him. ”You talk about destiny. Look into my eyes and see destiny. These are the eyes of G.o.d, and they are judging you.”
Smythe didn't know whether she was just trying to intimidate Obsidian, or if she actually believed what she was saying. Smythe looked around to see everybody's reaction. Aaron's face was tight and pale. Marina stared at Ethel with an expression of wors.h.i.+p.
”Out!” Ethel said abruptly. ”Everybody, get out. I need to work alone.”
Smythe practically ran out of the mausoleum. Aaron and Marina followed, and she closed the heavy, bra.s.s door.
The night was cold, but the fresh air felt good in Smythe's lungs. He looked to the east. There was no sign of a sunrise but it would come soon. It had been a long night.
”That was intense,” he said.
The three of them stood together and surveyed a field of grave markers. The cemetery, which covered several acres, was completely full. A line of tall oak trees marked the perimeter. There was a road in the distance and Smythe could see the headlights of cars driving on it.
He heard a scream of agony coming from inside the mausoleum. He tried to ignore it.
”This is my second torture session with this team,” he said. ”Are all your missions this brutal?”
”Not really,” Marina said. ”There is always... messiness, but it usually happens at the end. This one got ugly at the start. Actually, the true mission doesn't even begin until we have proof the Eternals are an enemy of G.o.d. We're still just gathering evidence. To be honest, we shouldn't be torturing or killing anybody, yet. I'm not sure how we jumped so far ahead. Ethel must have a particular dislike for these a.s.sholes.”
There was another scream, and the anguish it conveyed made Smythe wince.
”Don't take this the wrong way,” he said, ”but Ethel seems a little psychotic to me.”
”She is a pure warrior,” Marina said. ”Duty is all that matters to her. I'm sure you met similar people in the Army.”
”Yes, and I wanted them to seek psychiatric counseling. It's not healthy to be so intense all the time.”
”She knows how to relax. When the mission is over, maybe you'll catch her doing it.”
”It doesn't happen often,” Aaron said. ”Ethel has been channeling G.o.d's wrath for a long time. She lost a chunk of her humanity along the way, but she knows G.o.d's will.”
”Oh?” Smythe looked towards the mausoleum. ”Right now she is committing unspeakable acts. Is that G.o.d's will? What happened to 'thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself?'”
”We're more Old Testament. 'Upon the wicked He shall rain snares, fire, and brimstone.'”
The door opened and Ethel peered out. Blood had splashed across her chest. ”This could take a while,” she said. ”These guys are tough. Aaron and Marina, go back to the carnival and continue the surveillance. I don't need you here.”
”What about me, ma'am?” Smythe said.
”Stay. Your medical expertise may be useful.”
”Oh.” Horror gripped him.
”Is there a problem?” Ethel raised her eyebrows. ”As I recall, you were the one who demanded I do something about the Eternals. You should be delighted.”