The
uzi was out of ammo so now he was left with a few slugs for the
Remington, and his Bowie knife. It had to be enough for the kill. Picking
up, he dashed down the eroded hillside, heading for a small barn halfway
across the field. He'd almost reached it when a cow in front of him suddenly
blew up -- buckets of flying blood milk, something soft and wet whipped his
face. But he kept running, drenched in cow gore.
It was locked -- Damn!
Raising the Remington he fired as he ran, blowing the rusty lock and half
the door away. Then he was inside in the musty shade.
"Shit, he's got a grenade
launcher," Marvin said as he took cover at the rear. This was a bad
situation. To finish Jimmy he had to get close enough to lay in with the
Remington, which meant running a gauntlet of grenades.
And he didn't even get
time to get out the door. Grenades hit the barn taking out the south wall.
Splinters and burning hay ripped into his left side as he jumped. Once out
he ran for the hillside and Jimmy, zigzagging as grenades blew to his left
and right.
Luck was with him, he got
to a small slate outcropping. It had several large boulders that would allow
him to move under cover. Collapsing in the shadow of a rock he checked his
wounds. The Kevlar had saved his upper body, but the left side of his face
was roasted, shooting with hot needles. Blood poured on his scorched leg,
which was mostly numb, the pain just beginning to come on.
If he died now it would be
unforgivable. He'd taken shit from Jimmy all his life. Jimmy, the boss.
Always kicking him, always mocking him and pushing him. This was his chance,
Marvin's chance to blast the bastard to pieces -- to shut the sucker up.
Jimmy's voice came as a
weird echo in the rocks. "Marvin, pussy boy. It's time to die." Then a
rocket hit nearby.
"Son of a bitch," Marvin
said, rising and firing a blast at the sumac. A moment later he heard a
groan and some shuffling in the rocks. He peaked over a boulder, and as he
did, something whizzed in from the rear.
An arrow glanced off the
boulder, and as he spun a second one ripped through his shoulder -- the
force so great it popped his collar bone, making it a crushed chicken wing.
Tissue smeared stone.
He was able to follow
through and shoot; a white bolt of pain flashing across his eyes as he saw
the Remington blast kick Dan in the midsection. It bent him into a V and
lifted him up into some bushes, pretty much torn in half, and certainly
dead.
Marvin fell to his knees,
pain from the arrow forcing him to grind his teeth. Sumac and blood became
fire in his eyes. "Damn that Dan. I thought Jimmy already had him out."
He didn't have a chance
now. He was down, unable to lift the gun with his wounded arm. He managed to
get the Bowie into his left hand, but it wouldn't be enough to take out
Jimmy.
And he could hear him
coming through the rocks. Then he appeared at the side of the outcropping,
grinning from ear to ear as he noted Marvin's condition.
Still grinning, he walked
up, lowered his launcher and took out his pistol. "Don't feel bad, Marvin,"
he said. "It's all very peaceful in the grave. Hell, you won't know you're a
loser anymore."
He aimed, then Marvin
suddenly flew up -- the Bowie flashing, going straight for Jimmy's skull. It
went in and the gun went off -- which made them both losers. Marvin falling
back with a bullet in his chest, and Jimmy looking like a stunned ape, going
down with a Bowie planted between his eyes.
Some people are
fortunate and go to heaven, but Marvin went to hell. He felt something
being ripped from his head, then he saw his wife's angry face. She threw the
VR gear to the side. "Marvin, how many times have I told you to stay away
from little Tommy's game toys? Grow up; you're an accountant not a kid. The
lawn needs mowing and you didn't get the groceries yet. I want you to . . .
and . . . ."
His head spun, he covered
his eyes with his hands. If he took any more of this it would be
unforgivable. He'd taken shit all his life. Mary, the boss. Always kicking
him, always nagging him and pushing him. This was his chance, his only
chance to shut her up once and for all. Reaching in his pocket he found his
letter opener, then he came up and planted it in her right eye.
Marvin didn't even watch
her fall, but heard the thump as he went back to his son's gear, picked up
and . . . .
Marvin snuffed his
cigar and studied the forest scene below. Odors of toadstools and rot
penetrated his nostrils. He raised the rifle . . . .
---The
End---
