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Back The Enemy Save as PDF
Chapters (69)
  1. Table of Contents
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. 4
  6. 5
  7. 6
  8. 7
  9. 8
  10. 9
  11. 10
  12. 11
  13. 12
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  69. 68

“All right,” said Achilleus, stepping forward.

Before John knew what was happening, Achilleus let fly at his head. His sledgehammer handle made contact, and John went down heavily.

He didn’t get up again.

Everyone from both sides looked at his still body in amazement.

“What you do that for?” said the pirate.

“I didn’t like him,” said Achilleus. “He was getting on my tits. Now—you—Captain Jack Sparrow, what’s your name?”

“Carl,” said the pirate.

“Well, Carl, you seem a little more reasonable. Are you going to talk to us, or do we trash your camp?”

A laugh went up from some of the palace crew. Carl looked around, unsure of himself. He was soon joined by several more of his friends, all armed and looking for a fight.

“What’s there to talk about?” he said, readying his machete.

“Fair enough,” said Achilleus.

“Stop it,” said Maxie. “We don’t want a fight.”

“You shouldn’t have started one, then, should you?” said Carl. “Cuz now you’re going to have to finish it.”

Pod and his team started up a chant. “Fight—fight— fight ...”

Maxie felt the situation slipping away from her.

There was a bright flash, and a few seconds later a vicious clap of thunder. Maxie hadn’t thought it could rain any harder, but it did. The rain came down as a steady solid force. It made it hard to think.

The chanting continued. More squatters appeared, carrying an odd assortment of weapons. They looked confused, the rain streaming down their faces.

“Back off,” said Carl, seeing he had more support. “Someone’s going to get hurt.”

“Fight—fight—fight—fight—fight—fight—fight— fight ...”

Achilleus stood there, sledgehammer handle at the ready, standing over Just John.

“Bring it on, pirate. . . .”

Carl advanced toward John, hoping to help him up.

“I guess you don’t want to talk,” said Achilleus. “That’s good, cuz neither do I.”

“Stop!” Maxie yelled. “Just stop!”

“Fight—fight—fight—fight—fight—fight—fight— fight ...”

43

Freak was sitting on the steps of the Victoria Memorial, his chin resting on his knees, getting soaked.

He had a bad feeling in his guts.

What if any of them got hurt? What if Maxie got hurt and he wasn’t there to help?

They’d all been through so much together. He should be with his friends. Maxie needed support. With nutcases like Achilleus and Big Mick with them, anything could happen.

And Jester too. What did he have up his patchwork sleeve?

Freak got to his feet.

The sky flashed white with lightning. There was a long rippling crack and a deep boom. It sounded like World War bloody Three.

He started to walk.

He started to run.

“Fight—fight—fight—fight—fight—fight—fight—fight . . .”

It was on.