XLVI- BLACK EYES AGAIN, part 2
A farmhouse, Southwestern China, an hour later
Bill was awakened by an urgent grip at his shoulder. He was still dizzy and tried to focus his eyes. As he finally managed that, he looked into the chinese womans eyes. He partially understood her urgent speech. Japanese were coming.
He noticed his wounded arm had been bandaged with white cloth, and it was in a sling. He rose slowly, tried to stay erect, it was difficult, but possible. One of the young daughters led him to the rear entrance of the small farmhouse, carrying a bag with her. She led him outside, dragging him on his unwounded hand behind her. She looked apprehensively to the right. He could see soldiers aproaching the farmhouse there. Further off, over a hill in the distance, he saw an air ship with the red rising sun of Japan hovering. Just great. They were searching for him.
The farmhouse, 20 minutes later
Miyabi entered the shabby house and took the situation in. The older woman and the male were all beaten up, the girl until now unharmed.
A sergeant approached her.
„We found the parachute buried in the fields. And this.“
She held up bloodied khaki garnments. Miyabi smiled. She went over to the daughter and drew a knife.
„What a pretty face,“ she beamed in chinese, and moved the edge of her weapon along the girls cheek.
„No,“ blurted the mother, her face broken and puffed out.
„Dont hurt her.“
„I take it you helped the American devil?“
„Yes, we did. Dont hurt her, please!“
„Where is he?“
„In the woods, my other daughter led him.“
„Very well, I will pick up their trail. Sergeant, lets move.“
„What about these chinese scum?“
„Kill them all.“
The woods in the night, Southwestern China
„Lady, I cant go farther, I need a break.“
He collapsed to the ground, his legs aching as well as his wounded arm. Everything was spinning around in Bills head. He nearly vomitted into the grass.
The chinese girl chrouched beside him.
„Must go. Hurry.“ he understood.
„Please, only five minutes, I am...“
„Look here, what do we have here. An american male in the chinese countryside. What a thrilling sight. Out here with your chinese girl having some fun? A peasant girl, to be sure. I thought the better of you. But we are all to accustomed to disappointments.“
The japanese ninja just came out of the surrounding bushes, together with a dozen armed soldiers.
The chinese chick cringed, while Bill felt himself in an icy grip of terror. It was she, the killress!
„It looks like we finally got you for good, Squire Bill Eaton of America. Be sure, we will make much of that. American mercenaries fighting for the chinese bandits, despite America being neutral officially. This will hurt your country. And you are the means to bring it all about.“
The killress was obviously very pleased with herself. She produced a pack of Marlboro and put one filtered stick between her lips. She fumbled with her matches, as Bill starred up at her like the rabbit at the snake.
Suddenly, deafening sounds let Bill cringe, and bullets were flying all around. The Japanese were taken totally by surprise and fell one after the other, each hit by numerous bullets. It was over in a few moments. All twelve soldieresses lay dead in their blood.
Only Miyabi was still alive. She just stood there, the cigarette still dangling from her lips, and seemed to not have moved a single muscle. Her eyes were like black glass.
About 30 chinese in rugged clothes entered the small clearing, all outfitted with submachine guns, rifles or pistols, looking really grim and frightening.
A lady in blue garnments with a black leathercap and a smg asked Bill in clear english:
„Are you alright, Squire Eaton?“
Shaken, but alive, Bill answered:
„Yes, I am well, thank you.“
Always the polite male in front of ladies. Some sheep he was.
„I am Shia Ling Zen,“ the chinese introduced herself, „ and this is my band of freedom fighters against the japanese opressors.“
Then she turned her attention to Miyabi.
„We should kill you right here on the spot for murdering the peasant family. But instead we give you a trial and will hang you. Later.“
Miyabi just stood there, unmoving. Maybe her eyes narrowed slightly.
„Drop your weapons, and then kneel.“
This the Ninja did. The Chinese went to work with stout rope and bound her securely, then she was gagged with two thick scarfs, and finally blindfolded with a third one.
When the Japanese was secured, Shia Ling turned to Bill again.
„Are you strong enough to march for another hour or two? We must clear the area. There are more Japanese around, and their air ship can be here in minutes.“
„I think I have to.“
„Very well. Lets move.“
And that was that. Bill was glad he was in good hands now, but every now and then he glanced over to the Ninja, now a helpless package, but still emanating menace and danger. He shuddered. He would only sleep well again when the Chinese had really hung her.
The forrest, later in the night
The group of resistance fighters, or bandits, as they hand been only recently, settled down at their small camp deep in the forrest. Bill was given some rice with meet and vegetables, and after eating he got very sleepy again and dozed off. But not without a last look at the packaged japanese woman in their midst. They would hang her in the morning, Shia Ling Zen had said. Soon Bill was dreaming about the Ninjas black eyes haunting him.
Meanwhile, the whole camp settled down. Two sentries were positioned, one for the camp and one for the prisoner.
The prisoner guard was rather amused to see the japanese wriggle and moan to no avail. A cowardess, this japanese ninja. She hit the Jap with the butt of her rifle and laughed.
Suddenly, the Ninja leaped upwards, her ropes falling in coils to the ground. The Chinese was surprised and wanted to scream in alarm, but a vicious kick in her stomach and another to her throat saw to that. She was dead before hitting the ground.
Miyabi was still gagged and blindfolded, but nonetheless moved with great speed and very determined. The other sentry loosened a cry of alarm and shot at the black shape. But Miyabi vanished into the woods.
All awakened by the scream and the shot, and immediately Shia Ling organized a search party for the escapee. Bill looked about confused and afraid. How could the Japanese get free and escape? She was a devil, unhuman, a demon of death and destruction. He hadnt thought of himself as superstitious, but he was changing his mind.
The Chinese searched the whole night, but the Ninja was gone. Only Bills fear remained.
Southwestern China, March 11th 1940, 6.04 hours
They were marching for a week now. Always in the night, as japanese airships and planes ruled the day searching for them. Shia Ling Zen tried to bring Bill over the border to Burma, into the british realm and safety. But the Japanese were everywhere, trying to get the american aviator. Bill was sure the Ninja was with them again, leading the hunt. She wouldnt give up this time...
Resistance fightress Shia Ling Zen comes to the rescue of Bill, no matter that she was a mere bandit only a short while before.
Uploaded with
ImageShack.us
Bill will never forget these eyes, and now the killress has escaped again. Will he ever be safe again?
Uploaded with
ImageShack.us
