Part 54 (1/2)
Prime looked at John. There was coldness in Prime's eyes that frightened John. ”I've seen this type before. They'll do anything to get what they want. We have to attack them or die!”
John put a hand on Prime's shoulder.
”I know how you feel, John,” he said. ”I want to kill them all too. They've shot my Casey. Consider that. But we need stealth and speed. Violence and anger will get us killed.”
Something changed in Prime's face, and he nodded.
”Yeah, you're right. Sorry,” Prime said. ”We aren't really the same anymore, are we?”
”Not that far apart,” John said. ”But it's been two years.”
Prime cuffed the guard with his own handcuffs, then dragged him behind the desk. He turned and headed back toward the double doors. Prime waited with his palm against the cold metal until John caught up. Prime listened at the door for a moment, then pulled it open. Beyond was a set of gla.s.s doors leading outside.
”The lab buildings,” John said.
”Halt!”
Prime turned at the sound. Someone was running down the hallway toward them.
John pulled Prime inside the atrium and slammed the door shut. Prime paused for a second, then kicked it open again, and fired into the hallway three times.
”Stealth wasn't working,” Prime said, with a grim grin.
John rolled away with his arms around his ears. Prime was going to get them killed!
Prime kicked the door again. John glanced up when no bullets came flying and saw the body of the guard, dead, lying in the hallway. Prime ran forward and rifled through his pockets, finding a set of keys.
”Come on. They know we're here now.”
Prime led the way outside, following a sidewalk that joined the buildings. A metal door leading into the Laboratory One building opened, and Visgrath stepped out.
”Hold it,” Prime said, his gun trained on the man. He stopped and raised his arms. Instead of fear, the man's face showed a smirk.
”Visgrath,” John said. ”Where are my friends?”
”The brave John Wilson. Two of you. How interesting.”
”Where are they?” John repeated. His anger was boiling up inside him. He reached into his pocket for the pistol.
”Not here.”
Prime pointed his handgun at Visgrath's elbow. ”This is going to hurt, and I have no qualms doing it.”
Visgrath blanched. ”How can there be two of you? Your device is broken. Unless you've been successful in-”
Prime touched the gun to Visgrath's elbow. ”Where are his friends?”
Visgrath stared at Prime closely, perhaps deciding if he had the guts. He clearly valued his life more than the guard did, because he finally said, ”They're in Lab One. Right here.”
”Let's go get them,” John said. ”Keep your hands behind your head.”
John took a quick look around him. He hated being in the open. The shots Prime had fired should have drawn a lot of attention.
”Hurry.”
”How can I open the door if my hands are behind my back?”
”Open the d.a.m.n door.”
”You'll never get out of here. There's fifty armed guards. Certainly more guards than you have bullets.”
They stood in an atrium similar to the one in Building One. ”Which way?” There were two pairs of doors.
”Through there.” Visgrath nodded his head.
”Go.”
Visgrath hesitated.
”Go.”
John Prime saw Visgrath hest.i.tate and knew he was planning something. Prime opened his mouth to order Visgrath away from the doors.
Visgrath glanced back once at Prime, then yelled and dove out of Prime's arc of fire.
Prime pulled the trigger and splattered the door with three shots. His face stung and his ears rang. He pushed at the door, and got a glimpse of the lab within.
Three technicians in white coats turned at the sound. And there was a woman, naked and strapped to a table. Blood dripped from the red lines drawn across her arms and torso.
Farm Boy cried out in rage, and Prime was shocked to see him aim his gun and fire on the technicians. The closest man crumpled with a spray of red. Prime fired three more shots, then paused to reload.
He had no idea where Visgrath was, but he wasn't focused on that. The two remaining technicians turned to run. Prime ran into the room, leaping over a tray of scalpels and surgical instruments. He caught the second man in the back with a shot. The third slipped behind a row of cabinets, and Prime's shot missed his head by centimeters, thunking into the concrete wall with a spray of powder.
Prime scanned the room, caught the closing door as Visgrath skittered through. He was the leader of this group of renegades, and he might bring reinforcements. Prime dashed across the room and opened the door slowly.
Beyond the door was an empty hallway. Visgrath had disappeared. He walked slowly past doors, checking the k.n.o.bs. They were locked, and the labs beyond were dark. What were these b.a.s.t.a.r.ds doing? Probably just what he'd done. They were trying to make their marooned lives better while trying to get their lives back. But these people were nothing like him. They tortured and killed. ...
He killed too. He had killed Oscar and maybe Thomas. They had been the first, a hundred universes away. He had killed Corrundrum and Ted Carson. And he had done despicable acts to get his life back. What anyone would have done. Even Farm Boy had tried it, though he'd failed at the last minute.
Prime paused in the hallway to pull the rifle from his shoulder. Ahead of him, the hallway bent to the right, and he heard running feet approaching. He pushed himself into a doorway on the right side.
Two men, carrying nasty machine guns, rounded the corner.
Without hesitation, he fired his rifle into their chests, once each. They crumpled, each face marked by an O O of surprise. of surprise.