cussler.blueandgold-第79部分

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assorted　mercenaries。　It　was　jokingly　said　in　their　barracks　that　a　dishonorable　discharge　was　a　minimum　requirement　to　work　for　Gogstad；　and　jail　time　was　worth　a　bonus。　They　would　shoot　to　kill　on　order；　but　they　considered　themselves　professionals　simply　doing　their　job。　The　Kradziks　were　different。　Everybody　knew　the　stories　of　massacre　and　murder　in　Bosnia；　and　there　were　rumors　of　their　special　assignments　for　Gogstad。　The　men　also　knew　of　their　close　ties　to　Brynhild。　When　they　were　ordered　to　deliver　the　prisoner；　they　did　so　without　argument。
　
　Gamay　was　halfway　to　the　ship　when　she　heard　the　unmistakable　sound　of　motors　starting　up。　The　staccato　snarl　was　made　even　more　intense　as　it　echoed　off　the　hard　stone　walls。　Single　headlights　appeared　to　the　right　and　left　of　the　ship　and　began　to　move　slowly　in　her　direction。
　
　Motorcycles。
　
　She　could　see　the　silhouettes　of　the　riders。　Gamay　felt　like　a　deer　caught　crossing　a　highway。　Then　the　motors　revved　up　to　a　high…pitched　whine；　and　the　motorcycles　came　at　her　like　twin　rockets。
　
　Her　eyes　went　to　the　sharp…pointed　lances　resting　on　the　handlebars。
　
　The　riders　came　at　her　like　grotesque　caricatures　of　jousting　knights。　Just　when　it　seemed　the　spears　would　penetrate　her　midsection；　the　motorcycles　swerved　off。　They　quickly　reversed　course　and　came　in　behind　her。　She　whirled　as　they　flashed　by　in　a　precision　criss…cross。　They　spun　around；　their　motors　idling；　and　once　more　the　headlights　faced　her　on　either　side　like　the　glowing　eyes　of　a　huge　purring　cat。
　
　The　Kradziks　were　riding　the　Yamaha　250　dirt　bikes　that　the　security　guards　used　to　patrol　the　perimeter　of　the　giant　　pound。　The　lances　had　been　borrowed　from　the　weapon　collection　decorating　the　Great　Hall。　The　twins　were　not　imaginative　men；　and　their　activities；　whether　the　victim　was　a　teenage　girl　or　an　elderly　man；　always　followed　the　same　formula：　intimidate；　terrorize；　inflict　pain；　and　kill。
　
　A　voice　came　out　from　the　darkness　on　the　left：　〃If　you　run　
　
　　Then　from　the　right；　〃。　。　。　maybe　we　won't　catch　you。〃
　
　Fat　chance；　Gamay　thought。　She　could　tell　from　the　voices　that　she　was　dealing　with　the　same　metal…mouthed　morons　who　had　broken　into　her　house。　It　was　obvious　to　her　they　simply　wanted　a　little　challenge　in　their　sport。　She　called　out；　〃Let　me　see　you。〃　
　
　　The　only　sound　was　the　popping　idle　of　the　motors。　The　Kradziks　were　accustomed　to　having　victims　cower　and　beg　for　their　lives。　They　didn't　know　how　to　deal　with　questions；　especially　from　a　defenseless　woman。　Curious；　they　edged　their　bikes　closer　and　stopped　a　few　yards　away。
　
　〃Who　are　you？〃　she　said。
　
　〃We　are　death；〃　they　said　as　one。
　
　The　short　reprieve　was　over。　The　motors　revved。　The　motor　bikes　reared　up　on　their　back　wheels。　The　front　wheels　came　down　and；　with　a　double　shriek　of　burning　rubber；　the　bikes　shot　forward；　did　another　criss…cross；　then　began　to　circle。　They　wanted　Gamay　to　spin　until　she　became　dizzy　and　collapsed　into　a　helpless；　blubbering　heap。　She　refused　to　play　their　game。　Instead　she　stood　her　ground　with　her　eyes　straight　ahead；　arms　tight　by　her　side。　The　wind　created　by　their　passes　blew　choking　exhaust　fumes　in　her　face。　It　took　every　measure　of　self…control　not　to　bolt　for　it。　They'd　be　on　her　in　a　second　and　use　their　spears　to　cut　her　legs　out　from　under　her。
　
　When　they　saw　she　had　no　intention　of　running；　they　angled　in。　A　spear　tip　came　so　close　that　it　lacerated　the　front　of　her　shirt。　She　sucked　her　stomach　in。　This　wouldn't　do。　She　began　to　walk。　She　moved　deliberately　with　measured　steps　so　she　wouldn't　throw　their　timing　off。　Delighted　at　the　new　challenge；　the　riders　took　turns　cutting　in　front　of　her；　pulling　their　spears　away　at　the　last　possible　second。　She　kept　on　going；　her　ears　filled　with　the　whine　of　motors。　She　refused　to　break　her　stride。　Gamay　knew　they　could　kill　her　any　time　they　wanted　to。
　
　She　heard　a　bike　ing　in　from　the　right。　Taking　a　big　chance；　she　stopped　suddenly。　The　rider　misjudged　and　went　wide。　The　bike　skidded　around　in　a　tight　turn；　but　the　move　threw　off　the　uncanny　munication　the　riders　seemed　to　have；　and　they　wheeled　around　in　confusion。　She　ran　past　the　upturned　bow　of　the　boat；　intending　to　vault　onto　the　deck；　but　she　encountered　a　barrier　of　overhanging　round　shields　that　protected　the　side　above　the　oar　ports。　She　saw　why　the　Kradziks　had　let　her　get　this　close　to　the　boat。　They　knew　there　was　no　way　she　could　easily　climb　over　the　shields。
　
　The　only　access　to　the　deck　was…　a　ramp　near　the　stern。　They　probably　hoped　she　would　run　for　it。　She　made　a　motion　in　that　direction；　and　they　shot　over　to　cut　her　off。　She　grabbed　one　of　the　shields　off　the　side　of　the　boat；　then　turned　and　held　it　in　front；　her　back　to　the　boat。　The　twins　spun　around　and　came　at　her　with　lances　leveled。　The　heavy　shield；　made　of　thick　wood　braced　with　iron；　was　designed　more　for　a　brawny　Norseman　than　a　slim　woman。　Fortunately　Gamay　was　tall　and　athletic　and　managed　to　get　her　left　arm　through　the　straps　and　hold　the　shield　in　front　of　her。
　
　Just　in　time。
　
　Tunk！
　
　The　spears　hit　the　front　of　the　shield　as　one。　The　force　drove　her　back　against　the　side　of　the　boat　and　knocked　the　wind　from　her　lungs。
　
　The　bikes　peeled　off　to　the　left　and　the　right；　did　quick　turns；　and　headed　back。　Gamay　put　the　shield　down　on　the　floor；　braced　her　foot　against　it；　and　pulled　out　the　spears。　In　contrast　to　the　shield　they　were　surprisingly　light；　with　thin　wooden　shafts　and　slender　bronze　tips。　They　were　probably　de　signed　more　for　throwing　than　for　jousting。
　
　She　held　the　spears　vertically　and　the　shield　at　ready。　With　their　weapons　gone；　she　assumed　the　brothers　were　making　a　feint；　but　there　was　a　blur　of　motion　as　a　spiked　ball　whirled　at　the　end　of　a　chain　slammed　into　the　shield。　Even　with　her　legs　braced　she　was　thrown　back　and　went　down　on　her　right　knee。　She　managed　to　keep　the　shield　high　in　a　move　that　saved　her　life　as　a　punishing　blow　from　the　second　rider　crunched　into　the　shield　and　splintered　the　outer　layer　of　protective　wood。
　
　The　brothers　had　exchanged　their　spears　for　maces；　the　weapons　developed　to　smash　their　way　through　armor。　The　bikes　swooped　down　on　her　before　she　had　the　chance　to　stand。　Again　the　spiked　iron　balls　crashed　into　the　shield。　The　wood　protected　her　from　the　main　shock　but　disintegrated　after　the　second　blow　until　all　that　was　left　were　the　leather　straps　and　useless　frame　work。
　
　She　grabbed　for　a　spear　and　held　it　at　an　angle。　The　bikes　held　off　their　attack　and　went　back　and　forth。　Then　one　attacker　came　in。　The　spear　spun　in　his　direction　like　a　pass　needle。　Gamay　held　her　breath。　At　the　last　second　he　turned　away。　The　other　came　in　from　her　left。　She　pivoted　quickly　to　face　him　only　to　be　distracted　by　another　attack　on　the　right。　It　was　a　classic　flanking　tactic。　They　were　not　ready　for　a　full　press　yet；　probably　just　testing　to　see　her　reaction。
　
　One　bike　passed　directly　in　front　of　her；　its　rider　thinking　he　was　safely　beyond　the　reach　of　the　spear。　Instead　of　jabbing；　Gamay　brought　the　spear　back　on　her　shoulder　and　hurled　it　at　the　rider。　He　was　moving　fast。　Her　aim　was　too　low。　The　spear　hit　the　spokes　of　the　front　wheel。　The　force　of　the　wheel　shattered　the　shaft；　but　not　before　the　skinny；　knobbed　tire　turned　at　a　sharp　angle。　The　bike　jackknifed；　and　the　rider　flew　over　the　handlebars。　The　bike　skidded　along　the　floor　leaving　a　trail　of　red　and　white　sparks。　Gamay　saw　him　hit　the　floor　and　lie　still。
　
　The　second　motorcycle　halted　its　attack；　and　the　rider　pointed　his　headlight　at　the　still　form。　He　dismounted；　but　he　knew　even　before　he　crouched　down　beside　the　twisted　body　that　his　brother　was　dead。　He　had　felt　his　brother's　fear　and　pain　as　his　neck　snapped。　Then　came　a　moan　that　rose　to　an　agonizing　scream。　A　chill　went　up　Gamay's　spine　as　the　remaining　Kradzik　brother　began　to　howl　like　a　wolf。　She　edged　toward　the　rear　of　the　boat；　hoping　that　if　she　made　it　to　the　deck　she'd　find　another　weapon。　The　brother　saw　her　move。　He　straddled　his　bike　in　an　instant。　She　held　her　spear　out　straight。　As　he　came　in　from　the　side　she