Part 38 (1/2)
He nodded. ”People said the oyabun oyabun was a woman, but I didn't believe it. My own stupidity, I suppose.” was a woman, but I didn't believe it. My own stupidity, I suppose.”
”Would it have changed anything?” Shuko asked.
”No. The vajra vajra belongs to the Yumegakure-ryu and no one else.” belongs to the Yumegakure-ryu and no one else.”
Shuko frowned. ”Pity. I thought we might make an alliance. I could use someone to train my men in the ways of the ninja.”
Nezuma groaned. ”Kill me now, Shuko. I want to hear no more of this dishonorable talk.”
Shuko shook her head. ”Such hypocrisy. You claim to hold the traditions of j.a.pan sacred. That you wish for the old-world Bus.h.i.+do ways, and yet you would use the vajra vajra to further your own criminal agenda.” She sighed. ”But have it your way.” to further your own criminal agenda.” She sighed. ”But have it your way.”
Her gun barked twice and the rounds caught Nezuma in his chest. He dropped to the floor dead.
Shuko turned her attention back to the monks. ”Go. I have no quarrel with you. You're free to leave.”
The monks filed out of the room, leaving Annja and Ken behind. Ken s.h.i.+fted slightly, palming the vajra vajra.
Shuko looked at her watch.
”Waiting for something?” Annja asked.
Shuko smiled as the sound of gunfire broke out. Sustained bursts of automatic fire caromed around the monastery along with screams and moans of the dying.
Ken frowned. ”You sent them to their deaths.”
Shuko shrugged. ”My men were anxious to kill after the harsh beating you two put on them the other night. To say they're anxious to meet you and avenge their comrades is a bit of an understatement.”
”Just what do you think the vajra vajra will do for you?” Ken asked. ”Do you know anything about it?” will do for you?” Ken asked. ”Do you know anything about it?”
”Do you?”
Ken smiled. ”Not a d.a.m.ned thing. I was looking forward to seeing what it could do.”
Shuko shook her head. ”Well, unfortunately for you, I'll be taking that now.”
The gunfire had stopped elsewhere. Annja felt sick thinking about all the monks who had just been slaughtered. She felt waves of rage wash over her and she closed her eyes.
The sword rested in front of her.
All she had to do was grab it.
”I don't think so,” Shuko said.
She opened her eyes and saw Ken holding the vajra vajra aloft. He looked different somehow. aloft. He looked different somehow.
Shuko brought her gun up to bear, but as she did so, Ken started chanting in some weird monotone that Annja had never heard before.
Shuko froze.
Annja snapped her eyes shut and grabbed the sword. She opened her eyes and threw the sword across the room.
The blade hissed through the air as beams of light shot out of the vajra vajra and into Shuko at the same time the sword slammed into her midsection, shoving her back into the wall. and into Shuko at the same time the sword slammed into her midsection, shoving her back into the wall.
Bright red blood shot out of her mouth, and her eyes went wide and white almost immediately. The beams of light cut into her body like lasers.
Shuko threw her head back and screamed.
Annja brought her hand up to s.h.i.+eld herself from the intense light exploding across the room.
Ken kept chanting.
The light vanished and Ken stopped his mantra.
Shuko stood transfixed at the rear wall. Her gun lay on the floor.
She looked down at Annja's sword jutting out of her chest. She slumped over.
Dead.
Annja breathed out. ”Wow.”
Ken brought his hand down with the vajra vajra in it and turned it over in his hand. ”That was certainly something.” in it and turned it over in his hand. ”That was certainly something.”
”How did you do that?”
He shook his head. ”I have no idea. I just...I don't know...made it happen, I guess.”
”Well, whatever you did, it certainly worked. It distracted her and I was able to reach for the sword.”
”Look,” Ken said.
Annja turned and saw one of the monks standing in the door frame. He bowed low and smiled. ”You are all right?”
Ken nodded. ”It's good to see you and your brothers intact.”
”When she let us go, it seemed fairly obvious what would be waiting for us out there. Her men stood no chance. And staging the ma.s.sacre seemed like a good idea.”
”She certainly fell for it,” Ken said.
”What will you do now?” the monk asked.
Ken smiled. ”Honestly, I'd like to go home. Is there an easier way out of here than how we came in?”
He glanced at Annja. ”Are you ready to get going?”
”Just one second.” She walked over to Shuko and slid her sword out of Shuko's corpse. Holding it in both hands, she closed her eyes and returned the sword to its resting place.