crimson skies - paladin blake and the secret city by eric nylund

5/23/2018 Crimson Skies - Paladin Blake and the Secret City by Eric Nylund

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Paladin Blake

And the Secret City

-From the files of Blake Aviation Security-

By Eric Nylund

Chapter One: Thicker than Water...

Paladin Blake had never had it so good-and had never felt so lousy about it, either.

ray light diffused through his office !indo!" outside !as the Santa #onica $ier andthe roiling Pacific. %n another hour the sun !ould be u$, and the citi&ens of'olly!ood !ould start their day, take the trolleys to !ork, build $lanes, and $retendthe !orld had a ha$$y ending like every motion $icture churned out by the studios.

'e fli$$ed on the intercom. ()ennyson, you there*(

(Yes,( re$lied a voice !ith a British accent, (working up a bit of a surprise on one ofour Devastators.(

(Sur$rise* %s there a $roblem*(

(Everything is under control, my boy. Business as usual, smooth sailing and all that.(

(ood.( Paladin sna$$ed off the intercom.

Smooth sailing and success !ere dreams easily bought into. Blake Aviation Securityhad been out of the red ink for a solid year. Barely. )here had been a string ofheadline-smashing cases-)he Phantom Prototy$e, the +londike a$er, and theestruction %sland %ncident-but good business was the $roblem.

'e $icked u$ a handful of telegrams from his in-bo. )here !ere urgent re/uestsfrom Em$ire State bureaucrats and iie dignitaries, mission re/uests from Boeingand 'ughes, and three checks !ired as $ayment for his services.

Paladin glanced at the ma$ of North America covering the !est !all of his office.


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Push$ins and lines of string traced the air lanes $rotected by Blake Aviation" theycrossed and crisscrossed from Seattle to Ba0a, uba to the #aritime Provinces. 'isbusiness !as making sure $assengers and airfreight got delivered safely along thoselines...and making sure that every $irate got !hat !as coming to them.

Each line on the ma$ !as there because the state militias looked the other !ay !hen$irates attacked their com$etitors, and because there !ere behind-the-scenes cold!ars raging bet!een the tiny em$ires.

Blake Aviation Security $ros$ered because of it. Paladin !ould have felt a lot better ifthere !as no need for his $rotection-indeed, if there !as no need for Blake Aviation,at all. )he !orld !as falling a$art and he !as $rofiting from it. )hat made him sick tohis stomach.

Paladin fli$$ed to the net telegram-and fro&e as he s$otted the sender1s address2#atthe! Blake, Sky 'aven, Free olorado.

Paladin dro$$ed the telegram like it !as on fire.

#atthe! Blake. Paladin thought of his brother as a dead man, and had for the lasteight years. Paladin kne! #atthe! !as really alive" it !as 0ust easier to $retend he!asn1t.

Paladin o$ened his lo!er desk dra!er and retrieved his bottle of fourteen-year oldbourbon. 'e also $ulled out the yello!ed $hotogra$h of his father sitting on the !ingof his $lane, $istol in one hand, and in the other, a bottle identical to the one onPaladin1s desk.

)he $icture !as sna$$ed on )hanksgiving 3456, !hen there had still been a Blakefamily2 his father" his brother, #atthe!, his sister, Flora" and, of course, Paladin.

)he net day $irates shot his father do!n as the !ily old bootlegger fle! moonshineacross the olorado-)eas state line-$irates that Paladin had s!orn he1d $ay back.Every last one of them.

#atthe! had his revenge on $irates, too. 'e took their money and $lanes, and

!henever he could, their lives. 'e had become a $irate $reying u$on $irates, untileventually, he took anything from anyonethat crossed his $ath. No!, #atthe! !asthe thing he most hated.

Paladin uncorked the bottle of bourbon and $oured a shot. 'e cradled the glass,!arming the li/uor until he smelled its smoky aroma.

'is mouth !atered. %t brought back those days !hen he and ad and #atthe! hadflo!n and fought and drank together. 7ike it !as yesterday. 7ike it !as a millionyears ago...and !hen Paladin had been a very different man.

Paladin $oured the bourbon back into the bottle, re$laced the cork, and then sto!edit back in its dra!er. rying out !as one of the hardest things Paladin had ever done.'e should have $oured the last of this boo&e into the ocean once and for all.

%ronically, his family crest a$$eared not only on the Blake Aviation Securitymasthead, but also on the labels of the most infamous brand of bourbon ins$eakeasies from 'a!ai1i to %celand-#atthe! still carried on the family tradition ofmoonshining and bootlegging. Anger burned in Paladin1s gut every time he sa! theram$ant black knight.

(8kay, #atthe!,( he !his$ered. (7et1s see !hat you !ant.(

Paladin tore the telegram o$en and shook out a sli$ of $a$er. %t read2

DON! "NO# $% YO& '()E $% $ *$+E O) D$E !O-. 'O))E'!$ON !O-. &)E


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YO& -)E%E) E DE(D !O-.

END$N/ !0$ %O) %*O)( !O-. O&) $!E) $ NO !)(N/E) !O

!)O&B*E !O-. B&! !0$ !$E 0E 0( B$!!EN O%% O)E !0(N 0E '(N'0E# !O-.

EE! E (*ONE !O-. D&" (!&)D(Y D&)(N/O %$E*D %)EE 'O*O)(DO

!O-. O) NE+E) EE %*O)( (/($N !O-.(!!

Flora* 9hat did #atthe! mean by (she had bitten off more than she could che!*( 8rthat he1d never see her again* (So hel$ me,( Paladin said through clenched teeth, (ifyou1re using her to get to me-(

-No. Not even #atthe! !ould use Flora. Everyone loved Flora...that !as her biggest$roblem.

Paladin had last heard from her a year ago. She !as in Paris, hob-knobbing !ith thesocial elite and indulging in e/ually elite vices" her lifestyle made ashiell1s !ild$artying seem like a church bake sale in com$arison. She had asked Paladin formoney. 'e had !ired her five hundred dollars along !ith a suggestion that she clean

u$. 9hile he had ho$ed for the best, he kne! the odds !ere long.'e re-eamined the telegram. !oday!as Saturday-!hich figured. 7eave it to#atthe! to cut things close.

Paladin dre! his .:; from its hiding $lace under his deskto$, holstered it, thenstra$$ed it on. 'e flicked on the intercom. ()ennyson, get me a $lane ready. Pronto.(

(Of course,( came the re$ly. ('an $ in1uire...why the rush2(

(%1m coming over to sho! you !hat the rush is.(

Paladin hung a (Be


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Paladin handed him the telegram.

)ennyson stroked his !hite beard as he read and then re-read the message. (%t1s atra$, of course,( he murmured. (#atthe! kno!s you are a man of character. A man!ho !ould not hesitate to charge to Flora1s rescue.(

(=ou1re right,( Paladin said. (But...she1s my sister, )ennyson. 9hat !ould you do*

%gnore it*((9hat !ould % do*( )ennyson $ondered this, fro!ned, and then declared, (9hy %!ould come !ith you, naturally. 8bviously, you1ll re/uire a !ingman.(

Paladin set a hand on his friend1s shoulder. (an1t let you do that. 'alf the $eo$le inolorado !ouldn1t mind seeing me dead. )he other half !ouldn1t mind killing me.(

)ennyson1s hands clenched and then relaed. (8ur friend, ashiell, has started arather morbid $ool !agering !hen your final mission !ill occur. % can see he is nottoo far from the truth.( 'e ehaled. (But if you are determined to meet #atthe!1sdeadline, you must take my evastator. % have fine-tuned her motor to $erfection.She is the fastest $lane here-( he arched a bushy !hite eyebro! (-she has to be, tosurvive the modifications % have made.(

Paladin eyed the $lane curiously. (Sho! me.()ennyson turned on his heels and marched to!ard the sus$ended evastator. 'estood under the aircraft !ith his arms akimbo. ()ell me !hat is different.(

(% don1t have time for a /ui&-( But Paladin sa! it immediately2 all eight of theevastator1s hard$oints !ere loaded. )!o $airs of rockets, ho!ever, $ointedback!ards.

(Ah, you1ve s$otted them,( )ennyson said. ()he outer set are flash rockets. )he innert!o are high e$losives. Both have a customi&ed fuse that detonates a /uarter of asecond after launch.(

Paladin shook his head !ith disbelief. ()hat1ll blo! off the tail.(

(orrect,( )ennyson re$lied. 'e mounted the ladder net to the evastator andgestured inside the cock$it. (9ith one caveat, ho!ever.(

Paladin climbed after )ennyson sa! he $ointed at a hand-$ainted line on the airs$eedgauge.

(%f you1re flying faster than this,( )ennyson e$lained, (there is a very good chanceyou !ill outrun the e$losion-at least, that1s !hat my calculations indicate. )heyshould make for a nasty sur$rise to an o$$onent on your si, don1t you think*(Before Paladin could re$ly, )ennyson continued2 (% !as going to test themodifications tomorro!, !ith a flash rocket loaded !ith a charge of $aint.(

(reat.( Paladin climbed $ast )ennyson and maneuvered into the cock$it. As hestra$$ed himself in, he said, (%1ll let you kno! ho! these contra$tions !ork.(

(9ait,( )ennyson said. 'e climbed do!n and trotted to his locker. 'e returned !ithhis lunch $ail. (=ou need to eat. )here is a thermos of English Breakfast tea as !ell.(

()hanks, old man.(

(>ust come back in one $iece.(

(% al!ays try.( Paladin fired u$ the engine and !aved to )ennyson as he $ulled a!aythe ladder. 'e closed the cano$y then fli$$ed the release-a second of freefall-and theevastator s$lashed into the ocean.

(% try,( Paladin said to himself, (but it 0ust never !orks out that !ay.(


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Paladin eased the throttle to one-half, and rode over gentle !aves until he !as ahundred yards from the $ier, then he o$ened her u$ all the !ay. )he evastatornosed u$ and broke free of the ocean. Paladin $ulled a lever and dro$$ed the$ontoons.

'e shot into the sky, $ointing the evastator to!ard the rising sun.

Flora !asn1t the only reason Paladin !as going to meet #atthe!. Paladin had$romised his dead father that he1d get every last $irate in the sky...no matter !hat ittook.

Even if that meant shooting do!n his o!n brother.

Chapter Two: White Knight / Black Knight

Paladin banked his evastator bet!een red and gold mesas. Belo!, a herd of !ildmustangs scattered, startled by the roar of the $lane1s $o!erful engine. %t !as fouro1clock and he had 0ust cleared the Nava0o border. 'ead!inds, a brief layover, andtrouble !ith the locals had held him u$.

'e had initially sto$$ed to to$ off his tanks. %f #atthe! had a !elcoming committeein the air !aiting for him, the last thing he !anted !as to be flying on fumes. Paladin

also $urchased a gallon of beige $aint to cover the BAS logos on his evastator. Forthe $irates in Free olorado, those markings !ere bulls-eyes.

Back in Nava0o territory, his $ale skin-and the handful of 'olly!ood five-dollar goldcoins he had used to $ay for the fuel-had raised a fe! eyebro!s at Sunning 7i&ardAirfield. )hey1d taken his money !ithout comment, but four dust-colored


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out of the cock$it. 'e checked his .:;s-making sure each $istol had a round in thechamber-and then strode to!ard the orsairs.

#atthe! 0um$ed do!n from the !ing of his orsair. 'e $ulled off his flight ca$ andshook out a mane of gray hair. 'e !as taller than Paladin by a head. #atthe!1s face!as similar to Paladin1s-the same strong 0a! and blue eyes-but his features !ere!eathered by age, crossed !ith fro!n lines, his eyes ringed !ith fatigue.

#atthe!1s !ingmen clambered out of their $lanes and gathered around their leader.)hey looked like a tough bunch, in black flight 0ackets and combat boots. Each ofthem-three men and t!o !omen-$acked a mi of !ea$ons, mostly bulky revolvers.But they looked a little scared of Paladin.

ood, he thought. 7et them be scared.

)he truth !as that Paladin !as a little scared, too...of #atthe!. Anything thatcrossed his brother1s $ath, anyone that got in his !ay, #atthe! made sure theynever caused him trouble again. Pirates. #ercenaries. 7a!men. ivilians. )hey !ereall e/ual in #atthe!1s book2 all e/ually dis$ensable. id that etend to his kin as!ell*

Probably.

Paladin broke the silence2 (=ou said to come alone, #atthe!. % did...but % see youneeded a cro!d to face me.(

#atthe! took a ste$ to!ard Paladin. (% don1t need anyone1s hel$ to handle you, littlebrother.( 'e glanced at the hori&on, then back at Paladin. (% 0ust didn1t kno! ifthere1d be a fe!(-he s$at the name out-(Blake Aviation $lanes bu&&ing around. 8rmaybe a combat &e$.(

(% came !ith everything % needed,( Paladin re$lied, his right hand resting lightly onthe butt of his holstered gun.

(7ook, % didn1t come here to echange shots.( #atthe! fro!ned, and $ulled hisgloves off. 9e1ve got im$ortant things to talk about.( 'e nodded to the leaning A-

frame. (ome on.(#atthe! marched to!ard the (clubhouse.( Paladin follo!ed, and #atthe!1s cre!trailed behind them.

Paladin !asn1t so sure if turning his back on this $ack of !olves !as a good idea.)hen again, #atthe! !as many things-but he !as never subtle. %f this meeting hadbeen a tra$, it !ould have been s$rung the instant #atthe! had seen he had Paladinoutnumbered.

Paladin $ushed through the double doors of the A-frame. )he smell sto$$ed himcold-burning charcoal and the scent of bourbon so thick it made him choke. )here!as a $layer $iano, a Ben Franklin stove !ith a fire crackling inside, and a stainedbar to$ !ith a brass railing. )he thing that caught Paladin1s eye, ho!ever, !as theback !all-shelves 0ammed !ith bottles2 tall slivers of icy-looking @odka, cobalt blue

decanters, magnums of cham$agne, moonshine 0ugs, and ro!s of s/uare bottlesfilled !ith an amber li/uor that he !as all too familiar !ith. For a dive, it !as !ellstocked.

#atthe! dro$$ed a ten-$esado silver $iece onto the counter-!hich !as snatched u$by the barkee$. (rinks are on me tonight, gang. %1ll be out back !ith my brother.('e grabbed a bottle and t!o glasses, and held o$en the back door.

Paladin left, glad to be out in the fresh air. )here !as a small table set u$ on theback $orch. )he vie! of the mountain silhouetted against the $ur$ling sky !as


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magnificent.

(A drink.( #atthe! $o$$ed the cork. (For old time1s sake.(

Paladin sat and said nothing. 'e !atched his brother $our from the bottle labeled!ith the same knight-and-shield insignia that Paladin used for Blake AviationSecurity...only thisknight !as black, not !hite.

(% came to hear about Flora, #atthe!, not to get drunk !ith you.(

#atthe! slammed the bottle on the table. (an1t you ease u$ for a second* % stickmy neck out a mile to meet you, and you don1t even have the decency to say 1hello,1or 1ho!1ve you been for the last si years*1 Nice to see you, too.(

('o! have you been, #atthe!*( Paladin1s right hand eased from his la$ to theholster on his right hi$. 'e /uietly unfastened the sna$.

(%1m lousy, thanks for asking.( #atthe! filled the highball glasses to their brims-do!ned one, then the other. (=ou kno! !hat ha$$ens if !ord of us talking gets out*No decent bootlegger !ill get !ithin s$iting distance of me.(

(Sorry to be a such an...embarrassment to you,( Paladin said and set his hands onthe table. (=ou !ant to tell me about Flora*(

(% guess !e really don1t have anything to talk about buther.( 'e slum$ed into hischair. 'is eyes met Paladin1s for a second" he o$ened his mouth to say something,hesitated, then blinked and looked a!ay.

(Flora*(

(=eah, Flora. =ou kno! she1s al!ays been in trouble-not the kind of trouble you and %get into, but boo&e and men and all that high society stuff.( #atthe! $oured himselfanother shot. (9ell, % guess it1s not so bad !hen you sto$ to think about it.(

(h huh,( Paladin remarked.

#atthe! !as !rong. Flora had not alwaysbeen trouble. 8nce, she had been enrolledat Smith ollege !ith $lans to go on to la! school. )hen their father had died and

nothing mattered to her, ece$t trying to forget. She !ra$$ed herself in vice andetravagance. 7i/uor and men !ere 0ust a start. She often indulged in things muchmore (so$histicated(...and much more unsavory.

But Flora !as al!ays everyone1s darling. She entered the room and instantly becamethe center of attention. Everyone loved her. )hey couldn1t hel$ it, not even Paladin.

()his time,( #atthe! !his$ered, (she1s in realtrouble, little brother...% mean, she1s inwayover her head. She got mied u$ !ith a Ne! 8rleans cro!d.(

(7ast % heard she !as in Paris.(

#atthe! snorted a laugh. (A year ago. She1s s$ent time in 7ondon since then, andSouth Africa. % got a $ostcard from her last !eek to meet her for #ardi ras.(

Paladin !inced. )he only time Flora ever contacted him!as !hen she needed cash.

(And* =ou sa! her*(

(+ind of.( #atthe! ga&ed into his glass. (She said she could only get a!ay for anhour. She looked scared. And not for her...for me.(

#atthe! furro!ed his bro!, struggling to find the right !ords. (% follo!ed her aftershe left and got a glim$se of her ne! friends. % asked the locals a fe! /uestionsabout them. % had to get rough before they coughed u$ !hat they kne!.

()hese friends of hers have money and hired muscle. )heir kind buy and sell things,doesn1t matter from !here or from !ho. uns, boo&e, narcotics-( #atthe! $aused,


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then added, (9ell, you name it and they can get it for a $rice.(

A smuggling outfit* Paladin could see !hy Flora !ould be !ith that cro!d. Eoticdelicacies and fast times !ould, for her, out!eigh the danger involved.

()hey call themselves 1er$sins,1 or 1ies$ines1-something like that,( #atthe! said.()hing is, !hen Flora1s ready to move on, % don1t think these $eo$le !ill let her go.

She kno!s too much.((=ou !ired me because you think % can get her out*(

(=ou1ve got the guns and the men to go in there. 'ell, you did it !hen you !ere inthe Pinkertons-for strangers. =ou should be able to do the same for your o!n fleshand blood.(

(9orking !ith the Pinks !as different,( Paladin said. (% did all the !rong things forthe right reasons. And, it !as a long time ago.(

(9ell, there1s another reason it1s got to be you. %f % get Flora out, then !hat* 'o! do$tell her to clean u$* %1m no angel. She1d laugh in my face and have every right todo it.( #atthe! drank his shot of bourbon. (But you1re s/ueaky clean, abusinessman. 'ell, you1re a heroif you believe the ne!s$a$ers. She1ll listen to you.(

'e !as right-it had to be Paladin. #atthe! !ould use a sledgehammer !hen a lighttouch !as needed. 'e1d go in !ith guns bla&ing and get everyone killed. Paladinkne! the odds that he could convince Flora to change her !ays !ere long, but there!as another !ay to hel$ her. asheill had connections !ith a hos$ital in SantaBarbara that dried out studio starlets. )hat might do the trick.

(%1ll see !hat % can do.( Paladin stood. ()hanks for telling me, #att.(

(% kne! you1d do it.( #atthe! stood, too, and held out his hand.

Paladin stared at it. 'e !anted to reach out and clas$ it. 'e tried to move his arm,but it might as !ell have been made of lead. #atthe! !as his brother, his blood, buthe !as also everything that Paladin had s!orn to fight.

()here1s one last $iece of business bet!een us, #atthe!. =ou1re coming back !ithme. =ou1re !anted in 'olly!ood, )eas, and a do&en other $laces for larceny, theft,murder-take your $ick.(

#atthe! retracted his outstretched hand. 'e looked his bother u$ and do!n, thenlaughed. (=ou think you can take me* 9ith five of my cre! to back me u$* =ou1re ahoot, little brother.(

'o! fast could #atthe! dra! his gun !ith a /uarter bottle of bourbon in him*Probably too /uick for Paladin1s liking.

(% mean it, #atthe!. =ou come !ith me no!, the easy !ay...or later, the hard !ay.(

#atthe!1s smile vanished. (et out of here. et out of here and get Flora-or don1t. %don1t care anymore.(

(Everything okay, boss*( #atthe!1s cre! stood silhouetted in the frame of the backdoor.

(et back inside,( he gro!led at them. ()his is none of your businesses.(

#atthe! then turned back to Paladin and !his$ered, (%f % ever see you again, on theground or in the sky, %1ll kill you. Brother or no brother.(

()hat1s good to kno!,( Paladin said. (%t looks like !e dohave something incommon.(

'e stared at his brother-years of drinking and hard living had made #atthe!1s eyes


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sunken and his skin $allid. %n the shado!s, #atthe!1s head looked more like a skullthan human flesh. Paladin didn1t kno! the man anymore-no, that !asn1t right. 'ekne! him, he 0ust !ished he didn1t.

(oodbye, #atthe!.(

Paladin turned his back on his brother and marched back to the run!ay. 'e climbed

into his evastator and tried to sto$ his hands from shaking. 'e had $romised hisfather he1d get every last $irate in the air. But !hat !ould ad say about this* 9hichof his sons !ould he disa$$rove of more* #atthe! for his murdering and thieving orPaladin for !anting to bring his o!n brother do!n*

)hat didn1t matter. 'is father !as long dead, and Paladin !as his o!n man, !ith hiso!n reasons for fighting.

Paladin fli$$ed the ignition s!itch, cranked the evastator1s engine, and taied ontothe run!ay. 'e $ushed the throttle full o$en and shot into the sky. )he moon rose$ast the edge of the mountains, casting silver and shado!s into the valley. 'eclimbed to three hundred feet then banked and headed back to!ard urango Field.

Sometimes, he thought, you need a light touch to solve your $roblems. )his !asn1tone of those times.

Paladin lined u$ !ith the run!ay and dove. 'e o$ened fire, $e$$ered the orsairs onthe ground !ith .C-caliber bullets, then launched rockets one and four.

'e $ulled back on the stick. 'e risked a /uick glance, and sa! t!o $lanes e$lode asmen and !oman ran onto the airstri$. Paladin circled back for another $ass, but theremaining orsairs !ere already taking off.

Chapter Three: In the Shadow of the Black Knight

Paladin Blake $ushed the stick for!ard and sent his evastator into a dive, rightto!ard the run!ay-and straight at the first t!o orsairs gathering s$eed on the field.>ust as their !heels cleared the ground, he o$ened fire.

'is evastator1s .:C-calibers stitched a hail of gunfire across their tails and cano$ies.

)he orsairs dro$$ed to the earth, bounced, and crashed into the trees at the end ofthe landing stri$.

'ad one of those been #atthe!1s $lane* A sickening heaviness settled in his gut.Paladin $ulled back on the stick and banked for another $ass.

'is radio crackled. (Shooting men on the ground, huh*( %t !as #atthe!1s voice. (Sothe great Paladin Blake isn1t the hero the $a$ers say he is. % kne! you1d sho! yourtrue colors.(

Paladin didn1t bother re$lying" it had been four-against-one !ith him on the shortend of that deal. 'e didn1t gamble !ith odds like that...es$ecially !hen the bet !ashislife.

'e made another $ass over urango Field. 'e s$ied the glint of reflected moonlight

off the !ings of the t!o remaining orsairs-no! aloft and behind him. Paladin hadsurvived t!o-on-one dogfights before...but not flying against #atthe!.

'e $ushed the throttle to full, started to bank right, ho$ing the $irates !ould follo!.Paladin /uickly reversed and $ulled hard to the left.

orsairs !ere notorious for their high engine tor/ue-!hich made starboard turnseasier, but $ort turns more difficult. Paladin had, ho$efully, bought himself a littlemaneuvering room.

'e glanced back. 8ne of the $irates had fallen for the feint" the enemy $ilot broke


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right and !as trying to recover and find Paladin. )he other orsair !as still on histail. )hat hadto be #att.

#att-!ho learned to fly in the reat 9ar-!ould never be elo/uent !ith !ords, orsuccessful !ith the ladies, but he !as a brilliant $ilot. 'e1d shot do!n five ermansin Euro$e-all of them aces-and never had the favor returned. Paladin kne! he !asoutclassed.

(ive it u$, brother,( #att said. (7and and %1ll let you !alk out of here-that1s the bestoffer you1ll get from me.(

)hat !as a lie. No one crossed #atthe! Blake and lived to tell about it.

Paladin dove, !eaving back and forth, skimming over the tree line.

#att !as right on his tall.

A burst of .;C-caliber fire $e$$ered his evastator1s !ing. Paladin $ulled u$.

)he orsair follo!ed-less than a hundred feet behind him and closing.

'e !as toying !ith Paladin. #atthe! couldn1t miss at this range. 8ne machine gunburst or rocket !ould shred his $lane to confetti.


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'e fired rocket number three. A trail of smoke connected the t!o $lanes-follo!ed bya brilliant flash as the rocket im$acted on the orsair1s undercarriage. )he orsair1s$ort !ing-severed at the fuselage-fluttered a!ay in freefall. 9hat !as left of theorsair $lummeted to the ground.

Paladin /uickly shoved the stick for!ard, sending his $lane into a shallo! dive beforeleveling off-another fe! seconds and his unconventional maneuver !ould have beenunrecoverable.

'e ehaled, trying to rela. )he fight !asn1t over. 'e still had to deal !ith #atthe!.

'e nosed his $lane south, and follo!ed the stream of black smoke from his brother1s$lane.

)he remaining orsair attem$ted to evade as best as it could, trying not to letPaladin1s line u$ on his si. #atthe! !asn1t going any!here, though. A smear of oilfanned out from his $lane1s nose and along the !ing.

Paladin cut his throttle back to a /uarter $o!er and easily caught u$.

#att1s voice crackled over the radio. (Nice trick !ith the rocket, little brother,( hechuckled and coughed. (=ou did it. =ou got me.( )here !as a burst of static, then,

(No! you1re going have to finish me, too. =ou1re not taking me in alive.(Paladin clicked off his radio, and then dro$$ed behind the orsair.

'e hadto take him out. %f he didn1t, #atthe! !ould kee$ bootlegging...and !orse,he !ould kee$ killing. 'e !as 0ust another $irate that had to be shot do!n, or everydeath #atthe! caused from no! on !ould be on Paladin1s conscience, too.

Paladin1s s/uinted, lining u$ his shot.

'is finger tightened on the trigger-

-then, reluctantly, relaed.

9hat !as the matter !ith him* 9as it because he had used )ennyson trick rocket totake #atthe! out* No. Fairness in dogfights !as a luury Paladin could rarely afford.

#atthe! !ould have shot Paladin do!n if their $ositions !ere s!itched. Paladincouldn1t bring himself to shoot, though. #aybe that!as the biggest differencebet!een them. And #att, like it or not, !as his brother. 7ike Flora, #atthe! !as a$art of him-no matter !hat kind of man he !as.

Paladin flicked on the radio. (et out of here,( he said. (%1ll get back to you soonenough.( 'e broke off, o$ened the throttle to three /uarters, and banked east,to!ards Ne! 8rleans. (%1ve got better things to do right no!. 7ike save our littlesister.(

Paladin cradled his coffee and stared at his black reflection at the bottom of the cu$.'e had gotten no!here fast. %t had been t!enty-four hours since he landed atPontchartrain Aerodrome. Since landing, he had canvassed the city searching forFlora-and her ne! smuggler friends.

'e had rented a room, cleaned u$ and bought a suit, and then hit the high-class0oints2 Four Aces, Bourbon Beach, and +ing1s


12/49

'is luck changed as he !orked his !ay do!n the lists of re$utable bars and 0a&&clubs to $laces like Furious Fists, )he 8ne-7egged og, and 7e Petit Scandal,establishments !here the bouncers frisked everyone as they entered and handed outrecei$ts for confiscated sidearms.

Paladin got $lenty of leads on im$orters, illegal and other!ise, es$ecially since he!as buying drinks for those talking...until he mentioned the name #att gave him,(ers$ins.( 9hen Paladin dro$$ed the name, the flo! of information vanished like!ater into sand.

9hoever this guy is, Paladin thought, he values his $rivacy.

'e had sto$$ed on his !ay back to the hotel for coffee at a tiny bar called 8fficer1sefferson 'eights. An occasional barge drifted by on the river,almost serene if you ignored the anti-aircraft guns mounted on their $ro!s.

(#ore coffee*( )he bartender refilled Paladin1s cu$ before he could re$ly. 'e !as inhis in mid-sities, had a slight reole accent, and a slick of long black hair streaked

gray. 'e 0erked his head to the back of the bar, (8r !ould monsieur$refer somethingstronger*(

(No, % don1t-( Among the rainbo! colors of a$eritifs, brandy, and bourbon decantersbehind the bar, Paladin s$otted t!o bottles of ark +night !hiskey. )hat thre! himfor a moment, remembering #atthe! and his sister and ho! much trouble they!ere. (No,( he said. ()hanks all the same.(

)he bartender follo!ed Paladin1s ga&e. (=ou have a taste for the best.( 'e retrievedthe s/uare-bottomed bottle. ()his is my $ersonal favorite as !ell, $articularly therather elegant smoky aftertaste. But almost to e$ensive to kee$ in stock, non*(

(% don1t see !hy.( Paladin said and took a si$ of his coffee. ()hat /uart cost thirtycents to make. Even if it got marked u$ for a tidy $rofit you still shouldn1t $ay more

than t!o or three dollars for it.((on DieuD( )he bartender leaned closer. (%f you can get a bottle for that $rice, %!ould very much be interested.(

A ne! angle to the search for Flora da!ned on Paladin. 'e had been looking forthese smuggler friends of hers by asking /uestions, by $laying at being a co$. )hat!asn1t !orking...so maybe he could make them come to him. 8r at least meet himhalf !ay.

And the best !ay to make a smuggler come to you !as !ith a high $rofit margin.

Paladin asked, (9hat do you$ay*(

()!enty-five francs, gold standard, !hen such a bottle can be found. %t is very$o$ular.( )he bartender then leaned even further across the bar to$ and !his$ered

cons$iratorially, (=ou said you could find such a fine !hiskey for three dollars abottle*(

(% should say so.( Paladin smiled. (% make the stuff.(

)he bartender raised one eyebro! and eamined label on the bottle. #atthe!1s name!as there, listed as chief refiner and $resident of the (com$any.(

(onsieurBlake* #atthe! Blake*(

)here !as an element of risk to this. Anyone !ho kne! #att !ould not only see that


13/49

Paladin !as an im$oster, but they might see enough family resemblance to figure out!ho he really!as.

8n the other hand, if Black +night !hiskey !as so rare in Ne! 8rleans, it !asunlikely #atthe! !as bootlegging here. Anyone running boo&e from Free olorado!ould have to circumnavigate )eas and the ac/ues nodded kno!ingly.

9here !ould Paladin scare u$ three hundred cases of !hiskey* And ho! the heck!as he going to get it through )eas* %m$ossible. But he had to. %t might be the only!ay to find Flora.


14/49

Paladin finished his coffee and stood. (% better get busy, friend. %1ll be atPontchartrain Aerodrome !ith the stuff in one !eek. uaranteed.(

Chapter o!r: ire in the "ole

Paladin Blake fired the t!in sity-calibers" the 0arring kickback nearly rattled theteeth out of his head. 'e s!iveled the guns to track the incoming evastator as it

strafed the(egis. )he nimble $lane t!isted and turned and tried to shake him.(Not today,( Paladin said through gritted teeth. 'e tore into the evastator1s black!ings and shredded the bat-!inged >olly


15/49

(Aye Aye, #ister Blake.(

Paladin turned to )ennyson. (% agree the(egisis vulnerable. 9e shouldsend outscouts...but !e1re near the distillery. )he less noise !e make from here on, thebetter.(

)ennyson leaned against the bunk and crossed his arms. ()hat is not !hat % meant.

)he(egiscan take care of herself. %t is you % am !orried about. =ou have a cre! oft!enty-seven. =ou, $ersonally, should not be taking all the risks.(

()his time % have to,( Paladin re$lied (None of you should even be here, let alonesticking your necks out.(

)ennyson leaned for!ard, setting his hand on the desk. (9e trust you. 9e !ant tohel$. =ou !ouldn1t $lace any of us in danger unless there !as good cause.(

Paladin !ondered ho! good thiscause !as.


16/49

through his binoculars. 'e s$otted sa! a thin !is$ of steam rising from the face. 'ecouldn1t see it, but he kne! hidden in the shado!s !as the cavern entrance. 'es/uinted and sa! something ne!2 a !ooden $latform, cobbled onto the rock face,0ust large enough for a single autogyro.

)here !as no autogyro there, but there !as a man sitting on a stool, reading a book,a rifle in his la$.

Paladin thumbed the focus back and forth to get a better look. )he man had leatheryskin, stringy gray hair and a long handlebar mustache. >eremiah rimson. 'e1d beenu$ here !hen Paladin had first come to this $lace !ith his ad, fifteen years ago.

Paladin couldn1t shoot at him. First, he didn1t fire on unsus$ecting old men, thoughhe had fe! illusions that rimson !ould return that favor. Second, at this range he1dlikely miss" the sound !ould certainly bring everyone out of that hole-!hich Paladin!anted to avoid...for the moment, at least.

)here had to be another !ay. Paladin donned his goggles and $icked his !ay do!nthe rough trail that led to the $latform. 'e affected a lim$, then !aved his hands andcalled, ('ey, rimD(

)he old man !as so started he nearly fell off the stool. 'e shielded his eyes to seethrough the glare reflecting off the sno!, and then he raised his rifle.

(ome on,( Paladin said like he !as an old friend. ('el$ a feller out.(

rim started for!ard. 'e sto$$ed a do&en $aces a!ay for Paladin, still s/uinting andlooking unsure. ('old it right there, $artner.(

(% t!isted this knee real good, rim. % could use a hand.(

oncern creased the old timer1s bro!. 'e slung the rifle and ambled over to Paladin.

Paladin stood u$ straight. (


17/49

'e crouched against the !all and eased through the shado!s to the back of thechamber, through a long tunnel, and emerged in a second vaulted chamber. No onehere. )here !ere, ho!ever, a hundred oak barrels stacked ato$ one another. )his is!here the bourbon aged, three years at least-but for s$ecial releases there !erebarrels in the back that hadn1t been ta$$ed since the turn of the century.

Paladin moved on, his .:;s dra!n. )he tunnel t!isted" he $aused and listened, butheard nothing save the dri$$ing of !ater. 'e rounded the corner and sto$$ed short.)he tunnel he remembered had been ecavated since he !as last here. )he tunnelhad, long ago, ta$ered into a rathole" no!, it stretched t!o stories high, and ran ahundred feet to a dead end. Along both !alls, stacked and $acked all the !ay to theceiling, !ere crates stam$ed !ith the Black +night logo....not the three hundredcrates he had ho$ed !ould be here-but closer to three thousand.

#atthe! had been busy. And, Paladin thought !ith a su$$ressed grin, #att had beenstu$id to retain so much stock. %t !as ironic that Paladin had been the one to find asolution to his distribution $roblem...and doubly ironic that #atthe! had been soclose to discovering that his contacts in Ne! 8rleans could have been his ticket tothe big time.

But that !as about to end for good.Paladin glanced at his !atch. )ime !as u$. 'e !alked back to the main room,crouched in the shado!s, and !aited.

)he sound of autogyros started as a distant bu&&, then became a $urr that filed thecavern, echoed and reverberated off the !alls. )he shado!y figures !orking on the($roduction floor( sto$$ed, then ran to!ard the cavern1s entrance.

Paladin !alked through the chamber, making sure everyone had left, then follo!edthem u$ the stairs.

Si men stood at the mouth of the tunnel. ()hat1s not #att1s bird,( one of them said.(9ho are they*(

(Shoot 1em !hen they land and !e1ll sort it out later,( another bootlegger re$lied

(9here1d that old bu&&ard rim get to, any!ay*(

('old itD( Paladin yelled. (8ne move and %1ll dro$ all of you.(

)he $irates, startled by the shout from behind them, !hirled around and leveledtheir guns at him. 9hen they sa! Paladin, alone and armed only !ith $istols, theyrelaed. )he grou$1s leader smiled !ith false cheerfulness. (=ou better go on anddro$ those $istols, son. =ou1re outgunned.(

Paladin $ut t!o fingers to his li$s and !histled loudly. %n res$onse, a do&en ofPaladin1s men, led by )ennyson, rushed into the tunnel1s entrance, shotguns, $istolsand )ommy guns at the ready.

(Not the !ay % count it,( Paladin said.

Paladin took three hundred cases of Black Knight Bourbon and loaded them onto the

Aegis. Not a drop more.

The moonshiners had told him that Matthew was in Aspen, getting a busted leg fixed. f

Matt had been here, Paladin was sure onl! one of the Blake brothers would ha"e walked


18/49

awa! ali"e.

#e ordered his crew back to theAegis. $nl! Tenn!son remained in %Bumblebee,% hiscustomi&ed #oplite, perched on the landing platform.

Paladin opened the autog!ro's door, and Tenn!son handed him the fire axe he had

re(uested.

% would ask if !ou are sure about this,% Tenn!son said, %but !ou are alwa!s sure, aren't

!ou)%

Paladin took the axe and hefted it.

%A man cannot escape his past,% Tenn!son told him.

%Ma!be not...but a man can make a few good dents in it.% Paladin ga"e his friend a wr!smile. %*et the 'Bee running. +e'll need to take off prett! (uick.%

Tenn!son nodded and started the #oplite's engine.

Paladin descended the stairs, past the boiler room, through the barrel chamber, and halted

in the tunnel lined with cases of Black Knight Bourbon.#e swung the axe, cracked a case and let the li(uor and broken glass spill on to the floor.#e swung again, busted open another, then another, and he didn't stop until his shoulders

were stiff, the walls of crates la! in ruin, and he stood ankle deep in li(uor. The smell was

o"erpowering. Paladin was drenched in sweat and alcohol. #e tasted bourbon and salt onhis lips.

Paladin sloshed into the barrel chamber, toppled them all and sent wa"es of bourbon

splashing onto the floor.

Paladin took a long look at the place. #e remembered when healong with his father and

his brotherhad ground corn here, simmered the stuff, and gotten drunk. But the boo&e

had killed his father. t had turned Matthew into a monster. And ma!be it had turnedPaladin into what he was, too.

#e backed into the boiler room and retrie"ed a lantern from the wall. #e threw thelantern against the far wall- it shattered and burning oil seeped o"er the rock...toward the

lake of bourbon in the tunnel.

Paladin ran. #e took the stairs four at a time, bounded onto the platform and into thecockpit with Tenn!son.

%*o% he shouted.

Bumblebee lifted, turned once, and rose into the air.

/lames mushroomed from the mouth of the ca"ern. Paladin felt the dull thumping

explosions within the mountain. 0ribbles appeared from the cracks and faults in the cliffface- the li(uor ignited and sent plumes of smoke sk!ward. Bourbon gushed from the

rock, as thirt! !ears of stock drained from the ca"ernscascading down the mountainside

in waterfalls of fire.

The! watched it burn for se"eral minutes, then Tenn!son asked, %+hat now)%

%New $rleans,% Paladin said. %+e'"e got our calling card. +e meet this die Spinne

gang...and then we get /lora.%


19/49

Chapter i#e: $idnight%& "eart

Paladin Blake set do!n the case of li/uor !ith a slosh. )he noise echoed throughoutthe hangar. )here !asn1t a soul here at five in the evening-and the only $lanes$resent !ere their Ford 'o$lites and an ancient dust-covered Fokker bi$lane. %n fact,this end of the Pontchartrain Aerodrome !as deserted. )he lack of activity in theAerodrome !as good for !hat they needed to do...but it still gave Paladin the cree$s.

'alf an hour ago, the(egisdrifted overhead at si thousand feet-hidden inside acumulonimbus-and launched t!o 'o$lites. Paladin and )ennyson $iloted them do!nto five hundred feet, cut their engines and drifted through the tidal fog as noiselesslyas a $air of falling leaves. )hey landed near 'angar Si, !here he had agreed tomeet >ac/ues A$ollonaire, the mysterious Ne! 8rleans barkee$ that !as Paladin1sonly link to the Die pinnesmuggling syndicate.

)ennyson leaned against the stacked crates and mo$$ed s!eat from his bushy !hitebro!s !ith a $ristine handkerchief. (9e couldn1t have the cre! do this*( he asked!ith a tired sigh.

()hink of it as our ne! em$loyee fitness $rogram,( Paladin ans!ered !ith a sly grin.(Besides, !e can1t have any of our clean-cut cre! here. %t1s 0ust you and me-small-

time bootleggers !ith as$irations.(

(#ore like $ers$iration,( )ennyson muttered. 'e carefully refolded his handkerchiefand tucked it back into his !hite coveralls. 'e then fetched the last crate from hiscustomi&ed 'o$lite, (Bumblebee.(

Paladin absentmindedly scratched the stubble on his chin. 'e hadn1t had a shave orsho!er for a !eek. 'e hardly looked like himself anymore-but more like his brotherthan he cared to admit.

%n fact, his rugged a$$earance-necessary for the undercover 0ob he !as about toundertake-had been a $roblem in )eas. 'e had flo!n ahead of the(egisto secureher safe $assage across the 8klahoma territory, and had landed at the


20/49

that belonged to )ennyson. 'e sniffed. (Smells like a bootlegger to me.( )hey bothchuckled.

)ennyson stood and smoothed out his coveralls. 'e held u$ his hands, almost lookingrelieved to see them. (No trouble here, officers. %1m al!ays ha$$y to hel$ the localla! enforcement. =ou see %1m really not a-(

Paladin /uickly and /uietly ste$$ed behind the co$ !ith the ga$$ed teeth. 'ebrought do!n the butt of his .:; on the ha$less officer1s skull. )he co$ dro$$ed ontothe cement floor.

(%f you t!itch,( Paladin said to the $oliceman1s $artner, (it1ll be the last move youmake. =our gun2 $ut it on the ground. No!.(

)he officer hesitated...then slo!ly knelt and de$osited his gun.

(Put your hands u$.(

)ennyson looked horrified. Paladin motioned him out !ith a !ave of his gun.

(%t1s a set u$,( Paladin muttered to )ennyson.

(No,( the bald co$ said. (%t1s no set u$, #r. Blake. 9e1re su$$osed to check the $lace

out and make it safe for you guys.(Paladin grimaced. )he co$ had called him (#r. Blake(-but did they kno! he !as-aladinBlake* 8r did they still think he !as #atthe!*

Before Paladin could /uestion the co$ further, he s$ied a ne! figure silhouetted inthe door. 'e !heeled and $ointed his gun.

>ac/ues A$ollonaire ste$$ed for!ard. 'e !ore a black tuedo and bo! tie and hadhis hair slicked back. (9elcome back to Ne! 8rleans.(

(A bit overdressed for the occasion, aren1t !e*( Paladin asked. 'e $rodded the baldco$ in the back !ith the mu&&le of his gun. (et over there, buddy.(

)he co$ stumbled to!ard >ac/ues.

(% have an a$$ointment to kee$ after this business,( >ac/ues said. 'e brushed thela$els of his tuedo. )he suit is a$$ro$riate attire, % assure you. As for the $olice, youhave my a$ologies. )hey are in our em$loy.( 'e shot a contem$tuous glance at thebald officer and his com$anion on the floor. ()hey kee$ a!ay government officials!ith their ludicrous t!o hundred $ercent ecise ta. )hey !ere also here to $revent-('e crinkled his eyebro!s. (9hat is the e$ression* )he 1double cross*1(

(=ou1ve read too many novels,( Paladin told him.

(% !ish someone !ould e$lain !hat all this is about,( )ennyson !his$ered. (% don1tsee !hy, Pal-(

Paladin silenced )ennyson !ith a slight shake of his head. )hat1s all he needed !as tobe called by his real name" )ennyson !as even less accustomed to undercover !orkthan Paladin !as.

()enny, this the >ac/ues. >ac/ues, this is )en...)ennessee ordon, the finest bre!erand distiller of bourbon on either side of A$$alachia.(

>ac/ues clicked his heels and gave )ennyson a curt nod.

(harmed,( )ennyson said, in a decidedly un-charmed tone.

>ac/ues cla$$ed his hands and told the $olice officer, ()ake your $artner outside androuse him. 9ait for me.(

(=es, sir,( the bald co$ said. 'e cast a glance at his gun on the floor, then looked at


21/49

Paladin. 'e grabbed his unconscious $artner and dragged him outside.

>ac/ues had changed in the fe! days since Paladin had last seen the mild-manneredbartender. 'e !as acting like a big shot...and maybe he !as. At the very least, heseemed to have the local $olice in his $ocket. 8r !ere they on loan from the Diepinnegrou$*

()hese $olice are not smart,( >ac/ues !his$ered, (but they are obedient.( 'escrutini&ed the stacked crates, and !ordlessly moved his mouth as he counted. (8nehundred t!enty five, onsieur. 9e had agreed to three hundred cases, non2(

(% have all three hundred-in a safe $lace. =ou1ll get the balance !hen % see the cash.(

(% understand.( >ac/ues flicked at his moustache in irritation, then gestured to thecases. (#ay %*(

(+nock yourself out.(

>ac/ues $ried o$en the lid of a crate and removed one of the s/uared bottles. 'euncorked it and took a si$. (Ecellent. 9e said fifteen francs a bottle*(

(9e said t!enty-five.(

>ac/ues reached into his 0acket $ocket and !ithdre! an envelo$e. (So !e did.( 'ethumbed through the envelo$e1s contents and $ulled out a sheaf of blue- and red-embossed bills. (%f you $refer % can convert this, for a slight additional fee, into gold.(

(old suits me better.(

(As you !ish. % can meet you !ith-(

(And as long as !e1re talking about my $references, >ac/ues, % $refer to deal !iththe $eo$le in charge, too. See, % !as thinking that maybe % could get you more thanthree hundred cases.(

>ac/ues eyebro!s shot u$ and a smile s$read across his !ell-oiled suave features.(%ndeed, that !ould be most-(

(% !as thinking three hundred mores cases,( Paladin said, (...a !eek.(

()hree hundred a !eek* %m$ossible.(

Paladin ste$$ed to!ard >ac/ues, his $istol casually aimed at his heart. (on1t get me!rong2 % like you as my middleman, and that1s not going to sto$ as long as thingscontinue to run smoothly. But % !on1t risk my neck crossing the )eas border 0ust tohave someone on this end tell me they can1t move my merchandise. % !ant to meetthese Die pinne$eo$le. Face to face.(

>ac/ues1 ga&e darted to some distant $oint as he thought this over, $robably figuringno! much his cut !ould be, then his oily smile oo&ed back over his face. (But ofcourse, #onsieur Blake. % had intended to this very thing tonight. =ou have a $lane,yes*(

Paladin nodded at their 'o$lites.

(% !ill have the men load it, then !e can deliver the goods, in $erson.(

(Perfect,( Paladin re$lied.

>ac/ues !histled and the t!o co$s re-entered the hangar. )he one !ho Paladin hadcold-cocked !as rubbing his head" he cast a murderous glance in Paladin1s direction.>ac/ues instructed them to load the crates.

As they $ut back the cases Paladin and )ennyson had 0ust unloaded, )ennysonste$$ed close to Paladin and !his$ered, (=ou couldn1t think of a less collo/uial name


22/49

for me than 1)ennessee*1 And ho! did you kno! these $olice !ere crooked !hen youdre! your gun on them*(

(%1ll e$lain later, )enny.(

'e didn1t kno! if he could e$lain it, though. )hose co$s had gone after )ennyson-reason enough to dra! his .:;-but there !as more to it. 'e !as close to finding

Flora and ending this business. #aybe close enough that Paladin !ouldn1t even letthe $olice get in his !ay.

'e didn1t like the !ay this !as going. 'e had stolen-albeit !as from his $iratebrother-but it !as still theft. 'e had leveraged his re$utation, and that of BlakeAviation, to trans$ort contraband. And he !ould he have shot, maybe killed, t!omen to get !hat he !anted.

#aybe it !as more than Paladin1s looks and name that lent themselves to $laying therole of #atthe! Blake.

9hen the 'o$lites had been loaded, >ac/ues said to Paladin, (% !ill go !ith you.( 'enodded and smiled at )ennyson. (And onsieur )ennessee can follo!.(

(Follo! us !here*( Paladin asked.

(% am afraid % must sho! you. =ou !ould not believe me other!ise.( >ac/ues turnedto his $olice escort. ()hat !ill be all for tonight, gentlemen.(

)he co$s gave one last long look at Paladin, then left. Paladin ho$ed that !as the lasthe sa! of those t!o.

'e, >ac/ues, and )ennyson then boarded their 'o$lites and taied onto the run!ay.%nside, the $lanes had seventy-five cases of li/uor crammed into every availables/uare inch. %t took all five hundred feet of run!ay for the overloaded $lanes to get

airborne. ('ead southeast,( >ac/ues instructed.(9e1re going to run out of land /uick,( Paladin remarked.

(Oui, % kno!,( >ac/ues said. (Southeast, $lease.(

Paladin keyed the radio micro$hone. (Follo! me, )enny.(

(


23/49

!ith him and )ennyson ending u$ one hundred and t!enty-five cases lighter-and abullet heavier.

-But he doubted it. 'e didn1t trust >ac/ues...but he could de$end on the man1sgreed.

Paladin !atched the airs$eed indicator and ke$t the 'o$lite eactly at one hundred

miles $er hour. 'e had left Pontchartrain Aerodrome at $recisely ;23;. 'e should beable to figure out the total distance to !herever it !as they !ere headed.

)he s!am$s thinned into muddy tidal flats, reflecting the t!ilight so it looked like a$lain of gold leaf.

(No! head due east,( >ac/ues shouted over the engine noise.

Paladin ad0usted course and double-checked his seven. )ennyson !as right there,!atching his back.

)he muddy flats vanished under!ater and they fle! over the ulf of #eico.Although the sun had set, there !as a glo! ahead-not from the !est, but from theeast.

As they a$$roached, Paladin sa! the light came from an island. o&ens of cargo

shi$s and tugboats s!armed around the $iers that stretched into the !ater. 8n theground there !as a city !ith more flashing lights than #anhattan" there !ere threerun!ays, t!o aerodromes, and more &e$$elins docked than he could easily count.Paladin s/uinted and s$otted do&ens of anti-aircraft batteries silhouetted on hillsaround the island.

(9hat is this $lace*( Paladin asked.

(9elcome to 1*e 'oeur du inuit,1 onsieurBlake, (>ac/ues said. (9elcome to thesecret $irate city.(

Chapter Si': (eadly )e!nion

)hree Furies rose in a @-formation behind Paladin1s autogyro. 'is first instinct !as todive-but he checked his hand on the stick. 'e !asn1t outmaneuvering anything !itha 'o$lite loaded to the gills !ith bourbon-and a single round from one of thoseFuries !ould turn him into a fireball.

(Allo! me to handle this,( >ac/ues said. 'e ad0usted the radio fre/uency and s$okeinto the micro$hone in ra$id-fire reole. 'e smiled and nervously glanced over hisshoulder.

After a $ause, a voice bristling !ith static gave a terse re$ly in French.

()hey are allo!ing us to land.( >ac/ues sighed and slum$ed into his seat. (See,onsieur* Nothing to !orry about.(

(Sure,( Paladin muttered. )here !ere several more $lanes in the air no!, s/uadronsof evastators and Brigands circling the island like vultures. (Nothing at all.(

)he Furies $ulled ahead, banked, and descended to!ard the island2 (*e 'oeur duinuit(-(#idnight1s 'eart( >ac/ues had called it. Paladin !as no stranger to trouble-but infiltrating this secret $irate city this !as more than 0ust trouble" he !as ste$$inginto a $it of vi$ers.

(% ho$e you kno! !hat you1re doing, >ac/ues.( Paladin noted the radio fre/uency hehad used, then s$un the dial back to )ennyson1s channel. (Follo! me in, )ennessee.('e set do!n the micro$hone and said to himself, (% ho$e $kno! !hat %1m doing.(

Paladin banked his 'o$lite and trailed behind their escorts, skimming over the !aves


24/49

breaking on the beach belo!.

)he island !as a s/uare-mile of !orn hills, s!am$y farms, and mudflat shores. )he$lace looked bigger, though, because of the $iers that stretched into ulf of #eico.)here !ere roads s!itchbacking u$ the slo$es, and a host of four-story S$anishhaciendas. #ost of the buildings !ere decorated !ith flashing signs-diamonds,s$ades, hourglass-sha$ed feminine figures. (AS%N8,( and (Fustice*1( he/uietly asked. (% thought you shot it do!n si months ago.(

(So did %,( Paladin !his$ered back. (% never sa! it crash, though.(

(9e !ill $ay a call on our ne! friends,( >ac/ues said as he climbed out of theautogyro. (9e1re 0ust leaving my bourbon here*(

(8f course, onsieur. %t is under Die pinnes$rotection. No one !ill dare touch it.(

No one but Die pinne, Paladin thought. 9hat !as going to sto$ themfrom taking it*()his island is theirs*( he asked >ac/ues.

(%n a matter of s$eaking.( >ac/ues smoothed out his recently !aed moustache. (%tis...on loan from the 7ouisiana government.( 'e looked about, and s$otted a call boin the corner of the hanger. (Pardon me, % !ill call a tai.(


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)ennyson !his$ered, ()hese $irates must $ay a $retty $enny for this $lace.(

Paladin nodded. (9orth it, though, if the French foreign legions garrisoned in Ne!8rleans kee$ iie and )eas a!ay...and it makes sense for the French 7ouisianagovernment to kee$ the $irate1s ha$$y. %t1ll kee$ them from signing on as $rivateersfor iie or )eas. %t1s a smart set u$.(

>ac/ues returned and fished three bottles of bourbon from the autogyro1s hold. ()heyare sending a car from the to!er. %t !ill only be a moment.(

A tall man sauntered into the hanger. 'e !ore greasy coveralls and a gun-belt !itht!o ivory-handled olt revolvers. Scars raked do!n the left side of his face !here he!as missing an eye. 'e removed his smoldering cigarette from his leathery li$s anddid a double take at Paladin and )ennyson.

Paladin kne! him-old >ustice1s $ilot, (the >udge.( 'e1d taken the la! into his o!nhands and killed a do&en men and !oman during the )eas-8klahoma riots...most ofthem innocents !ho had sim$ly gotten in the >udge1s !ay. Paladin tried to actnonchalant, even though his heart raced and his hand no! rested on his .:;.

)he >udge1s eye darted bet!een Paladin and )ennyson, then briefly to >ac/ues. 'ethen tossed his cigarette butt to the ground, crushed it under his boot1s heel, andcontinued !alking to!ard his $lane.

A silver limo rolled to a sto$ in front of the hangar. (8ur ride,( >ac/ues said. (As youcan see our ne! friends have im$eccable taste.(

(reat,( Paladin muttered, not taking his ga&e off of the >udge. 'e eased into theback of the limousine after )ennyson and >ac/ues.

()he +ing1s ross,( >ac/ues told the driver.

As they drove a!ay, the >udge !alked to the hangar door!ay and !atched them go.

)he hair on the back of Paladin1s neck $rickled. 'e didn1t like this...one !ord fromthe >udge and every cutthroat on this island !ould be tearing the $lace a$art lookingto kill Paladin Blake.

)he car s$ed a!ay from the air$ort, the acceleration cushioned by the crushedleather u$holstery. %nside, the car had $olished silver trim and a stocked barcom$lete !ith crystal decanters and gold-ti$$ed cigarettes. 8utside, ho!ever, there!ere barbed !ire fences and tin-roofed huts amid fields of sugar cane and tobaccoand red $e$$ers.

()his island used to be farmland,( >ac/ues e$lained. (% believe they made hot saucehere. 9ell,( he chuckled, (they still do under a ne! label. )hose that fall into thedebt of Die pinneare $ut to !ork, a form of indentured servitude.(

(#ore like slavery,( )ennyson !his$ered. (Barbaric.(

(onsidering the alternative,( >ac/ues re$lied as he $oured himself a martini andeased into the seat, (they are getting off easy, non*(

)hey !ound u$ the hills then do!n again. )he shacks gave !ay to !hite adobebuildings !ith red S$anish tiled roofs" starlight faded under the glare of flashingneon signs. A strange mi of $eo$le moved briskly on the streets-men in suits, !ithgo!ned !omen on their arms alongside !ell-armed $ilots in bomber 0ackets andscarves.

)he limousine rolled to a sto$ on the cobblestone entry!ay of a olonial mansion!ith reek columns and a !ide $orch. A red neon cursive (H( strobed from thesecond-floor balcony.


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A doorman dressed in a Na$oleonic army costume-but !ith a modern 9inchesterrifle-o$ened the door for them. As Paladin ste$$ed from the car, he noted machinegun nests on the roof.

(ome, gentlemen.( >ac/ues strolled thorough the entrance" Paladin and )ennysonfollo!ed.

)he foyer had black marble floors, and overhead a crystal chandelier bathed theroom in !arm lighting. )o the right !as a ballroom cro!ded !ith men and !omen,clustered around tables covered !ith cards and chi$s and red franc notes. A roulette!heel s$un" there !ere roars of delight.

>ac/ues led them left to the cloakroom. A girl in a French maid costume stood on theother side of a counter" beyond !ere racks of camel hair overcoats and sable fursand locked strongboes. >ac/ues !his$ered to her in reole then handed her a !adof francs. She curtsied, led them in back and $ointed to a rack of suits.

>ac/ues looked )ennyson u$ and do!n. (A forty-eight regular !ill do for you,onsieur )ennessee.( 'e sorted through the tuedos on the rack then handed one to)ennyson. >ac/ues then $icked out a coat for Paladin. (Forty-four tall for you.(

Paladin looked at the $roffered coat like it !as a coiled cobra. (% don1t !ear monkeysuits.(

(@ery !ell, onsieur,( >ac/ues said, (then you !ill have to allo! me to negotiate onyour behalf. =ou cannot enter the casino in such attire-even if you had the moon tooffer.( >ac/ues1 eyebro! shot u$. ()here are standards, after all.(

Paladin grabbed the suit. 'e sli$$ed into the tailed coat. %t fit. >ac/ues handed him abo!-tie and Paladin a!k!ardly knotted it. %t felt good to dress u$, Paladin thought.'e1d been living like a $irate for a !eek.

'e glanced in the mirror and smoothed back his hair. From the !aist u$ he almostlooked res$ectable. )hat !as the $roblem" #atthe! Blake !asn1t su$$osed to lookres$ectable. 'e didn1t dare clean u$ anymore.

As the Frenchman sorted through $ants on the rack, Paladin gro!led, ()his1ll do,>ac/ues.(

(@ery !ell, onsieur.( >ac/ues looked them over !ith a $ained e$ression. (% hadho$ed you could be more...$resentable. 'est3la vie.( 'e led them back through thecro!ds in the casino to double doors in the back. 'e !his$ered to the t!o guardsthere, and they let them $ass.

)he net room housed another casino, but for a different class of customer. )here!as no $oker or cra$s here. )here !ere $added stools and girls circulating !ith traysof drinks bet!een the baccarat and black0ack tables. old coins and $rivate notes ofcredit littered the green felt. )he gamblers !ore tuedos and s$orted monocles.)heir diamond cufflinks gleamed.

>ac/ues cut through the room to another door, guarded by a single man in colonial

costume. 'e frisked >ac/ues, and removed his small .I-caliber $istol. Paladinreluctantly handed over his .:;s. )ennyson, to Paladin1s sur$rise, removed a sa!ed-off shotgun from his coat and surrendered the !ea$on. )he guard then frisked themthoroughly, a$ologi&ed, and unlocked the door.

Beyond !as a $arlor !ith gilt !all$a$er and floors covered in thick oriental rugs. )hefar !all !as all !indo!s that overlooked the harbor. )he air inside the room !asthick !ith smoke. Paladin smelled something s!eet and rich in it-he couldn1t $lacethe scent, but it tickled his nose, enticed and re$elled him at the same time. %t felt


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like he !as dro!ning in honey.

Flora !as here.

Paladin1s heart fluttered. She stood in the corner, by the !indo!s, the glittering lightsin the harbor and the moonlight on the ulf of #eico creating a halo around her.#en and !omen s!armed around Flora, fied on her every !ord. She !ore a clinging

black satin dress that flo!ed over her body as if it !ere li/uid. 'er red hair !as $iledhigh on her head and tiny curled !is$s fell about her cheeks. Emeralds adorned herdelicate neck and brought out the color of her eyes-eyes that suddenly fied u$onPaladin.

Flora smiled at him, but it immediately faded, and she bit her lo!er li$ and her bro!crinkled. She looked around the room, then back to Paladin. 'er smile returned, butit !as someho! colder.

'e took a ste$ to!ard her. Finally. 'e had to /uietly and /uickly escort his sister outof here, get back to the air$ort and-

Flora turned and !his$ered to the !oman net to her.

Paladin sto$$ed dead in his tracks.

)he !oman net to Flora !ore a go!n of !hite silk that flared about her feet. She!ore diamonds in her black lustrous hair. 'er dee$ blue eyes flickered casually fromFlora to Paladin, then back to Flora.

Paladin remembered this !oman1s features2 the !ide e$ressive eyes, the full li$s,and tiny dim$le in her chin. 9hen he had last seen her, he !as stra$$ing her into a$arachute and $ractically thro!ing her from a doomed &e$$elin.

She !as the $ale man1s com$anion, the secret mastermind behind a nionist $lot tobomb 9ashington, a $lot he had foiled t!o years ago.

)he !omen left their admirers and !alked arm-in-arm to Paladin.

(ood evening, #ister Blake,( the !oman in !hite said. (% see you1re a gamblingman.(

Chapter Se#en: S!gar and Spice and *#erything +ice

Paladin didn1t like games-es$ecially !hen the !ager !as his life. (Am % a gamblingman*( he re$lied, struggling to meet the steady ga&e of the !oman in !hite. (%su$$ose so.(

(So your sister has said.( She tilted her head and the diamond brooch in her darkhair flashed. She offered her hand.

'e !as sure he had seen her before-not only on the $ale man1s &e$$elin, but also!ith Flora. 'e had an image of the t!o together-giggling, dressed in uniforms-butwhen* Paladin took her slender hand and kissed her !hite glove.

(A gentleman $irate*( she cooed, smiled and dim$led her cheeks. ('o! novel.(

'e released her hand and cast a hard ga&e at Flora-ho$ing she understood that onesli$ of his real name !ould get him killed.

Flora cleared her throat. (+arina @on ilder, allo! me to introduce( -her mouth/uivered !ith a half-su$$ressed laugh-(my dearbrother, #atthe! Blake, distiller offine s$rits and smuggler etraordinaire.(

She !his$ered to the dark-hair !oman, (Be careful, +arina...he1s a the lady killer.(Flora saddled net to Paladin and laced her arm through his. (#atthe!2 meet #iss+arina @on ilder, o!ner of the +ings ross and $ractically everything else on this


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rock.( She cu$$ed her hand over her mouth and said, (She1d be /uite the catch,too...one of the richest and most beautiful !omen on t!o continents.(

(on1t embarrass your brother,( +arina said coolly. ('e1s certainly been throughenough this evening traveling to our island.(

)hat !as an understatement. Paladin had fought his o!n brother, torched the family

moonshine o$eration, and trod through every seedy bar in Ne! 8rleans to get to *e'oeur du inuit-(#idnight1s 'eart.(

(%1m sure the t!o of you to are itching to get together-( Flora said, (-and talkbusiness. But give me a fe! moments !ith my brother. %t1s been !eeks since %1veseen him.(

(8f course,( +arina said. (% shall a!ait your $leasure, #ister Blake.( She glided a!ay!ith effortless grace. >ac/ues a$$roached her, !ringing his hands and bo!ing as ifshe !ere royalty. 'e held out the bottle of Black +night Bourbon for her ins$ection,but she ignored him.

Flora grabbed Paladin1s arm and led him to!ard the bar, brushing $ast )ennyson.

(#iss Blake,( )ennyson said startled. ('o! good to see you again.(

Paladin shook his head at )ennyson. (et that limo, )enny,( he murmured, (minusthe driver. And be ready for anything.( Paladin /uickly glanced around the room-allthe doors guarded. (Bring the car around back if you can s!ing it. et our guns onyour !ay out, too.(

(nderstood.( )ennyson nodded to Flora and left.

Flora !atched him go. ()ennyson,( she muttered !ith a sco!l, (your 1ever-faithfulmanservant.1 o you still feed him scra$s from the table*( She dragged Paladin tothe bar and sat !ith a flourish of her black satin dress. She s$oke French to thebarkee$ and he returned !ith t!o drinks. She slid a highball glass to Paladin. (rinkit,( she hissed. (%t1ll look strange if you don1t.(

Paladin looked at the drink as if it !ere $oison.

(%t1s only !ater,( Flora said. (% kno! better than to try to $ly you!ith li/uor.(

'e took a cautious si$. (9hat are you doing here Flora*(

'er li$s $arted in a grin. (%1m having fun. )hese $eo$le have money and $o!er andaren1t afraid to use them. )hey kno! ho! to live...unlike some men % kno!.( Shes!illed the contents in her glass. (9hat are youdoing here*( she !his$ered. (o youkno! ho! many $eo$le on this island !ould like to see you dead*(

(Probably not as many as !ould like to kill me.( 'e crossed his arms over his chest.(% came for you, Flora.(

()hat1s s!eet of you, brother. But let1s try the truth. 9hat Blake Aviation Securityscheme are you running today*(

(#atthe! and % are !orried about you. =our drinking, this lifestyle, and your ne!friends...they1re more dangerous than you reali&e. %1m here to take you home.(

(% see,( she said and stared into her drink. (=ou think 1$oor little Flora1 is all sugarand s$ice and everything vice. % hate to disa$$oint you, but %1m all gro!n u$-andthere1s no home for me to go to. =ou and dad and #atthe! have seen to that.(

%t !as true. Neither of them had a real home or family anymore, but that1s !hatPaladin !as here to set straight. No! all he had to do !as find a !ay to tell her that!ithout sounding like a sa$.


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'e looked around the casino at Flora1s (friends.( )hey !ore designer go!ns andsmart tuedos and 0e!els. )hey s$oke in French and erman. 8$ium smugglers*#oonshiners* 9ho !ere they really*

'is ga&e landed on the dark-haired !oman, +arina" she !as lovely and smart...anddeadly. She had engineered the theft of a 7ockheed $rototy$e, almost started a !ar-and !as the architect of a scheme that !ould have killed or in0ured hundreds ofinnocent bystanders. She had fooled everyone...including Paladin.

(9ho is she*( he asked.

Flora drank dee$ly from her glass until there !as only $ink froth at the bottom.(+arina @an ilder, % already told you.( 'er eyes narro!ed. (=ou really areinterestedin her. % !onder !hy*( She scooted closer to Paladin and set her hand on his arm. 'esmelled the same overly s!eet odor on her breath that filed the room. (9e !ere atSmith together. =ou met her in 15I.(

Paladin visited Flora the summer before she dro$$ed out of college. 'e rememberedher very young and a!k!ard girlfriend !ho had eyes for him. !his!as the same!oman*

()he @on ilders have real money,( Flora said. ()hey go any!here and do anythingthey !ant. )hey make things ha$$en.(

A gunshot rang out-less than a block a!ay. No one noticed...or if they did, theydidn1t seem to care. )hen again, in a city of $irates and smugglers, murder andmayhem in the street !as $robably normal. )his $lace, des$ite its o$ulence, gavePaladin the cree$s.

(#atthe! thinks you1re in danger,( he told her. (%f you !on1t listen to me, then-(

Flora giggled. (Poor #atthe!. 'e must have been convinced % !as in $eril to eventalkto you. 9as he even sober !hen he told you about the +ing1s ross and Diepinnesocial club*(

('e !as sober...to start !ith,( Paladin said. (=ou don1t kno! your friends half as !ell

as you think.((


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Flora leaned into Paladin, kissed his cheek and !his$ered, (%f anyone needs savingit1s not me...it1ll be you. Be careful.(

+arina took Paladin1s hand and led him from the bar. (o you $refer dice, cards, orthe !heel, #r. Blake*(

(% thought !e !ere discussing business, not games.(

(ambling isho! !e do business !ith ne!comers on *e 'oeur du inuit,( +arinasaid. ()hey must $rove their intellect, their resourcefulness, and their luck. Besides,all of life is a !ager, no*( She flashed him a da&&ling smile.

(% never to gamble !ith anything but my heart,( Paladin said. (But for you, %1ll makean ece$tion. 9hat are !e !agering*(

She sna$$ed her fingers. (>ac/ues.(

>ac/ues obediently ste$$ed for!ard and tried to take her hand to kiss. She !ithdre!it. (=ou have a sam$le of #r. Blake1s fine li/uor*(

(Oui, adamoiselle,( >ac/ues stammered. 'e gingerly handed her the s/uare bottleof Black +night Bourbon. She took it and !aved the Frenchman a!ay.

She ran her inde finger of the label. (% thought !e !ould !ager your cargo. %f you!in, % shall $ay you the cash e/uivalent-say t!enty-five francs a bottle* )hen !e canmove onto more...interesting stakes(.

(% see,( Paladin said cautiously, unsure of 0ust !hat her $lan !as. (ards then.(

Another gunshot sounded-$ossibly in the street outside the casino. A fe! headsturned, but in moments the gamblers returned to their games, non$lussed.

+arina a$$roached a Baccarat table and !ith a nod of her head, the $layers anddealer got u$ and left.

Paladin sat do!n o$$osite from her.

She set the bottle on the green felt bet!een them. (9e have met before, #r. Blake,but % cannot /uite $lace !here and !hen.( 'er green eyes s/uinted slightly as if she

!ere trying to see through him.

(%1m flattered, but % don1t think !e have.(

She hadto remember !ho he !as. Paladin1s $hoto had been s$lashed on every$a$er and ne!sreel !hen he1d brought her brother1s &e$$elin do!n $ractically on to$of the 9ashington #emorial. So !hy kee$ u$ the $retense*

9hy did a cat $lay !ith the mouse before ri$$ing it a$art*

+arina reached under the table and handed Paladin a sealed deck of cards.

'e o$ened it. )hey didn1t look marked. 'e shuffled, offered her a cut, !hich shetook. (A test of luck*( 'e dealt t!o cards face do!n. (7ady1s $ick. 'igh card !ins.(

9ith her delicately long fingers she fli$$ed over a card2 the eight of clubs.

Paladin turned over his2 the >ack of iamonds.

She leaned for!ard and her bro!s arched. (@ery good, #r. Blake. % o!e you ninetythousand francs. 9ould you care to !ager again*(

(Sure.( Paladin tossed the >ack onto the table. (#y three hundred cases and themoney for information. %f % !in % !ant to kno! more about the ie S$inne socialclub...and ho! a guy like me gets to 0oin.(

She scoo$ed u$ their cards and buried them in the deck. (=ou a$$ear to be a


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gambling man after all.( She shuffled !ith the s$eed and $recision of a se!ingmachine, and then thre! a card in front of Paladin and dro$$ed one in front ofherself.

(% !ill tell you this,( she said, (Die pinneis more than a social club...as you haveobviously gathered. 9e are an im$ort-e$ort enter$rise. %nde$endent o$erators andseveral national governments use us to move their $roducts.(

She !ithdre! a business card from her long !hite glove and flicked it across thetable. Embossed u$on it !as a s$ider !eb. (Die pinne-1the S$ider1 in erman,( shee$lained. (Each strand of our !eb etends to a different nation, across NorthAmerica, Euro$e, and even the 8rient. 9e are every!here.(

Paladin sa! the s$ider-!eb !as bent, the strands kinked half!ay from the center.

(9e have other, more ambitious $lans, of course,( she added, (but before % can tellyou of our future...the cards.(

A gunshot blast echoed in the ad0oining room. )his time everyone took note. +arinastood. Paladin instinctively reached for his .:;s-!hich !eren1t there.

)he door to the other casino fle! in!ard off its hinges. )he >udge ste$$ed in, )ommy

gun $ointed at the cro!d. 'e glared at Paladin !ith his good eye. (% knewit !asyou.(

(>udge,( +arina said in a deliberately calm tone, (% ho$e you have an ecellente$lanation for this interru$tion or you !ill !alk the short $lank.(

(%1ve got reason enough.( 'e $ointed !ith the mu&&le of his gun. ()hat1s PaladinBlake.(

+arina didn1t look sur$rised. She turned over her card, revealing the Ace of S$ades.(%t a$$ears, #r. Blake, that your luck has run out.(

Chapter *ight: Cold ,!&tice

Paladin Blake stared do!n the barrel of the >udge1s )ommy gun-there !asn1t muchelse he coulddo !ith it $ointed at his face. (=ou got me mistaken for my brother,(Paladin said smoothly. (%1m #atthe! Blake.(

)he tuedoed men in the casino aniously !atched, but no one interfered. No onedared get in the >udge1s line of fire. Flora, ho!ever, giggled and ordered a bottle ofBlack +night Bourbon from the bartender.

+arina looked at Paladin, then at the >udge. (9ell,( she $urred. (9hich is it* Paladinor #atthe! Blake*( 'er blue eyes narro!ed to slits.

)he >udge !agged his gun at Paladin. (%1ve gotten drunk !ith #atthe! Blake. %1vebeen shot do!n by Paladin Blake. And %1m tellin1 you2 this aint#atthe!.( 'e glared!ith his one good eye.

Flora sauntered across the room, holding her bottle by the neck and halted by the>udge1s side. ('e1s right,( she said and clutched onto the >udge1s free arm to steadyherself.

(Flora, no,( Paladin !his$ered.

()hat1s my brother,( she slurred, (...Pal1din. 'e told me he1d break my neck if %tattled.(

(%ndeed,( +arina said and looked Paladin over. (%t a$$ears, #r. Blake, that !e havemet before.( She collected the cards on the table and s/uared them. (And it a$$earsthat our business is not concluded after all.( She balled her !hite-gloved hand into a


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fist. (>udge, take him to the green room. et the doctor. 9e !ill then have anetended conversation !ith our guest.(

Paladin didn1t like the sound of that.

'e had to do something-but there !eren1t many o$tions. 'e couldn1t dodge the>udge1s aim at this range, and he !as too far a!ay to gra$$le !ith him. 'e could

grab +arina, use her as a shield...and get mobbed by every man in the casino.Flora laughed hysterically. (Brother dearest, you are a $ain in the ass, but % stilladore you.( She reeled back and s!ung her free arm-along !ith the bottle-andlanded a blo! on the back of the >udge1s head. lass and li/uor s$rayed across thePersian rugs on the casino floor.

)he >udge stood still, staring at Paladin. )he $irate took a ste$ for!ard...thencolla$sed in a hea$.

No one moved. Everyone fied u$on slender Flora, singularly elegant in her blacksatin dress and glimmering emeralds, the 0agged bottle neck still gras$ed in herdelicate her hand as she stood over the fallen giant.

Paladin broke the s$ell first" he stood, gabbed his chair and thre! it at the !indo!s

on the !estern !all. )hey shattered, and ra&or shar$ shards rained onto the groundbelo!. #en and !omen scattered around the room. %n the confusion, Paladin ran tothe ledge-skidded and turned for Flora.

She backed a!ay. (o,( she !his$ered and raised the serrated bottle. (=ou1re nottaking me any!here. % belong here.(

Paladin had come to *e 'oeur du inuitto get his sister out of the snake $it. )hat!asn1t ha$$ening tonight. 'e no longer had the luury of trying to (save( his sister.'e had to save himself.

'e 0um$ed through the broken !indo!.

Silvers of glass sliced through his tuedo, his cheek, arms, and legs. Paladin flailedthrough the air-three stories-and landed on a rose hedge in the sunken garden

belo!.'e $ulled free of the thorns and got his bearings. From the broken !indo!s of thecolonial mansion $eo$le stared and $ointed at him. 8n the roofto$ he heard theracking of machine guns. 'e looked for cover2 there !ere fountains, and a hedgema&e. Behind him !as the roar of a car engine. Paladin turned and sa! a silverlimousine mo!ing do!n to$iary animals.

)he car skidded to halt net to him. )ennyson $o$$ed o$en the driver1s door and slidover. (et in. 'urryD(

Paladin shouldered himself behind the !heel and stom$ed the gas $edal to the floor.

Bullets $inged off the trunk. )he limo fishtailed over a fountain basin, knocked overmarble $lanters !ith night blooming magnolias and crashed through $laster reek

statues. )he !heels caught and the limo rocketed back over the to$iary animals-bum$ed over a side!alk, scattering $edestrians, and then screeched onto thecobblestone boulevard.

Paladin smoothly accelerated to!ard the hills and the air$ort on the other side of theisland.

(9hat ha$$ened to #iss Flora*( )ennyson asked.

Paladin gritted his teeth. Flora took out the >udge by herself and bought him a s$litsecond to get a!ay. She had saved him-!hen he1d come to save her. 'e o!ed her


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one for that. 'e !as going to return the favor and get her out of her...even if he hadto straight0acket her first.

(Flora has her o!n $lans,( Paladin said. (9e1ll be back for her soon enough.(

'e glanced in the rearvie! mirror. )here !ere no cars behind them on the !indingroad. (9e1re home free. By the time they catch u$ to us, !e1ll be u$ in the air and

half!ay back to the mainland.(7ights flashed in the mirror-far a!ay but directly behind them. Paladin had to slo! ashe took the corners, s!itchbacking u$ the hillside road. )he light-no matter !hich!ay he turned-stayed on his tail, and !as closing fast.

Paladin ke$t one hand on the !heel, turned and s/uinted into the darkness. )hoselights !ere at the same level as their car, floating a half-mile out.

(9hat the hell*( Paladin muttered. ()hat1s no car, its-(

Fifty-caliber bullets tore into the limo1s trunk and to$, ri$$ed through the velvet-u$holstered seat bet!een )ennyson and Paladin, and then s$rayed and s$arkedacross the hood.

A evastator thundered overhead, arced u$, and banked.

('e1s setting u$ for another strafing run.( Paladin looked for his $istols-uselessagainst an armored $lane flying at a hundred miles an hour. )hey !ere sitting ducksin the limousine.

)ennyson dre! his sa!ed-off shotgun from his overcoat.

(et out,( Paladin said. (#ake a run for it. )hat1s not getting through the $lane1sarmor,(

(Juite right,( )ennyson calmly re$lied. ()his, ho!ever, may.( 'e removed from thefolds of his coat !hat looked like a scaled model of a rocket, t!o feet long, !ith!hite shark teeth $ainted on its nose. (% develo$ed it for our boys at the iie branchoffice.


34/49

(enius, old cha$.(

Paladin looked u$" there !ere t!inkling stars and clouds obscuring the moon and nomore $lanes. )here had to be an airstri$ near the casino...!hich !as $robably ho!that evastator had found them so fast. 'e1d bet there !ere more on the !ay.

'e stom$ed on the gas and the limo 0um$ed. Steam $oured from the hood, and the

gearbo rattled and ground metal. %t !as another mile to the air$ort-this car had tohold together. Paladin raced over the summit, $ast the fences and barbed !ire$rotecting the anti-aircraft guns, then do!n the other side of the hill, through thefarms and tin shacks. Soon, the lights of the run!ay and the shado!y outlines of&e$$elins a$$eared on the hori&on.

Paladin aimed the car at the air$ort gate. )he red- and yello!-stri$ed arm of thegatehouse !as do!n. 'e didn1t slo!.

)he limo crashed through the arm and then through a chain link fence. )he fronttires ble!, but Paladin didn1t ease u$ on the accelerator. 'e struggled to steer thescreeching car to!ard the hangars.

A glance in the rear vie! mirror2 men ran after them, rifles dra!n.

)here !as a clank in the gearbo and a rattling" the engine revved, but there !as no$o!er to the !heels. Paladin turned hard, and slid to a sto$, slamming into thehangar !all. )hey 0um$ed out of the battered car and ran inside. )ennyson climbedinto the cock$it of his customi&ed 'o$lite, Bumblebee.

Paladin started to!ard his 'o$lite-sto$$ed. ()ennyson, !ait. )here1s no armor on1Bee, and it1s full of bourbon. %t1s the last thing !e !ant to fly out of here.(

(9hat then*( )ennyson asked and his bushy !hite bro!s arched.

Paladin glanced /uickly about the hanger at the three beat-u$ evastators...thens$otted the 9arha!k bristling !ith rockets, (old >ustice.( )he >udge1s $lane.

'er hard$oints !ere laden !ith rockets and there !ere additional racks on the to$ ofher !ings, too. She also had a ne! modification since Paladin1s last aerial encounter

!ith the >udge2 the cock$it had been etended for!ard and a rear gun turret hadbeen !elded on her tail.

(%t !ould be 0ustice to steal that$lane.( Paladin climbed into the cock$it and hot-!ired the ignition.

old >ustice1s three engines s$uttered and turned and roared to life. )ennysoncra!led into the rear gunner1s seat.

Paladin $ushed the throttle from idle to one /uarter and taied out of the hangar. Asmall cro!d of armed men !ere on the run!ay !aiting" this 9arha!k had nocannons-every inch of her frame carried rockets-but the mere sight of her turningto!ard them scattered the guards like leaves.

'e eased the throttle to half, rolled onto the run!ay, gathered s$eed and rose into

night. Paladin then banked and turned back to!ard the air$ort. 'e dialed the radio tothe same fre/uency that >ac/ues had used on their a$$roach to the island.

()his is the >udge,( Paladin said in his best )ean dra!l. (9e got intruders on theground, boys. Paladin Blake and his security thugs, thirty...maybe forty of 1em.Better !atch yer backs.(

A French-accented voice ackno!ledged.

Paladin ke$t one eye on the anti-aircraft guns" they remained silent. 'e $ointed old>ustice at the ro! of $arked 'ellhounds on the ground and fired. A do&en rockets


35/49

!hooshed from her !ings, snaked through the air, and turned the e$ensive erman$lanes into fireballs of fuel, bits of glittering shra$nel, and $lumes of oily smoke.

)hat !ould gum u$ their run!ay for hours, and limit the number of $lanes they couldget into the air.

'e $ushed the throttle to full, cut the running lights, and $ulled back on the stick.

7ike his (7ightning irl,( this 9arha!k !as 0ust as clumsy, but she did have oneadvantage over the nimble evastators and Furys that $rotected the island2 her6,CCC-foot ceiling. %f he could climb high enough, fast enough, the smaller $lanes!ouldn1t be able to touch them.

old >ustice rose through layers of clouds and broke through. Paladin sa! stars andthe half moon, and as far as he could see, no other $lanes.

()ennyson, get on the radio and raise the )eas udge and bought Paladin the seconds he had needed to esca$e. 'o! farcould she stretch her friendshi$ !ith +arina @on ilder*

For Paladin, (!aiting( didn1t mean he1d be sitting on his hands.

From a distance the hicago skyline !as beautiful, s$ires and canyons of concreteand steel !ith art deco filigree of gold and silver. )he sunrise reflected off thehicago ac/ues1 em$loy!ere from hicago, according to BAS files. )heir involvement !ith >ac/ues meantthey !ere also $art of the crime syndicate, Die pinne. And there had been no re$ortof the hicago-based &e$$elin, the 'ommerce, having been stolen, even though it

!as being unloaded at the $irate aerodrome. )here !ere also all the erman-made'ellhounds on *e 'oeur du inuit...and the gra$evine in the aviation community !asrife !ith rumors about secret deals bet!een the %.S.A. and ermany.

Each fact by itself !as circumstantial evidence at best, but added u$ it !as glaringlyobvious that something fishy !as going on. Paladin had a feeling that all the ans!ersto *e 'oeur du inuitand +arina @on ilder !ere here in hicago.

'e taied the 9arha!k to the Blake Aviation Security hangar at the end of therun!ay then cut the engine.


36/49

)he hief of 8$erations of the BAS1s hicago1s office, Eliot Ness, ran out to meethim. 'e !ore a gray suit and tie. 'e !as neither tall nor short, and his hair had beenneatly combed and $arted in the middle. 'e had the kind of face that blended into acro!d, although his ears stuck out a bit. 'e !as not the kind of man you1d havee$ected to s$earhead the )reasury e$artment task force to eliminate bootleggingin hicago.

9hen the .S. colla$sed, Eliot stayed in hicago, !orking !ith the local co$s to rootout corru$tion, and !as one of the first $eo$le Blake hired !hen he set u$ offices inthe %.S.A.

Paladin liked Eliot. )he man delivered on his $romises, and having him on the $ayrollgave his business some badly needed $restige !ith the %.S.A. )he mobsters hatedhim, but he !as a bona fide hero to the average citi&en.

(#r. Blake,( Eliot said and etended his hand. )hey shook and then Eliot greeted)ennyson as !ell. ()his is an une$ected visit.( Eliot looked u$ and do!n the field.(=ou came alone* % guess that means someone1s in trouble.(

(>ust me,( Paladin said. (7et1s head into the office and get a cu$ of coffee. And)ennyson could use a na$.(

(A s$ot of tea !ill do fine,( )ennyson said, ya!ning.

)hey !alked together on the tarmac. (%1ll need some information on a &e$$elin.(Paladin said to Eliot, (She1s called the 'ommerce.(

Eliot o$ened the door for them, (% kno! her. 7eased by #ercury Shi$$ing 7ines, shehas si hundred thousand $ounds of lift, and is armed !ith broadside cannons and afistful of machine gun nests. She1d give your o!n(egisa run for her money. 8ne ofthe %.S.A.1s biggest and best, sir.(

Paladin ste$$ed inside the hangar. %nside !as a $arked s/uadron of +estrels, readyand gleaming !ith s$it and $olish. 8ne corner of the building had been convertedinto office s$ace. nlike Paladin1s Santa #onica office, the $lace !as neat as a $in.)here !ere ro!s of filing cabinets, not a stray $a$er out of $lace, ma$s of hicago

and the %

crimson skies - paladin blake and the secret city by eric nylund

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