For emphasis, he used up what felt like his remaining strength to increase the tension.

The guard continued to thrash. Lou kept the chain taut, but the task was getting harder. His own muscles were battered and burning, and he doubted he could hold on much longer. The beast had to black out. Turning his head for better leverage, Lou held on.

At that moment, where the floor met the wall, in the darkest corner of the car, he spotted the gun. There was no way the guard could have seen it there yet.

Was the man losing consciousness? Getting foggy? It certainly didn’t feel like it. Could Lou beat him to the gun and get set to shoot it? Close call.

Lou’s arms were on fire now. If anything, the guard’s struggles seemed to be intensifying. His weight, pressing down, was making it hard for Lou to take in a full breath. He felt his strength beginning to go.

This was it.

Somehow, he had to get the beast off him and go for the gun.

At that moment desperation took over, and with absolutely no idea what he was about to do, Lou tilted his chin down, released the chain, and with all his might, bit the man at the base of his neck. At the same moment, he shoved upward as forcefully as he could. The guard, wrestling with the chain, and now in intense pain where his shoulder joined his neck, offered no resistance.

Lou shoved him aside and scrambled for the gun. The guard actually managed to grab him by the ankle, but it was too late. Lou spun around and leveled the pistol at the man’s chest.

“One more move and you’re dead!” Lou snapped.

The guard, the chain loose around his neck and blood flowing freely from the deep bite Lou had inflicted, sank back exhausted and beaten.

Painfully, gasping for air, Lou struggled to his feet. “The key … now!”

The guard unwound the chain and let it fall. “I don’t have the key,” he said, barely able to be heard over his hoarseness. “Mr. Chester has the key. He’s the only one.”

“Stand up and pull your pockets out.”

The man did as he was ordered. Nothing but a wallet. Next Lou warily retrieved his jacket from where it had been laid over a folding chair. Nothing in the pockets but what seemed like a full magazine of ammunition.

Lou flipped open the wallet. “Dolph, that your name?”

“You fucking bit me, you bastard.”

“I’ll look for some soap to wash out my mouth. Okay, Dolph, where’s Chester?.… I said, where in the fuck is Chester? Tell me now or I swear I’m going to shoot you in the knees.”

“He should be at the silo, waiting for you.”