A Crying Shame (183 page)

The camps had been, or so it seemed to Jon, deliver-ately left for them to see. He said as much to Karl.

That is my feeling, as well, old friend. It is almost as if . . . they are luring us deeper. But these camps appear to have been here for a long while; they seem to be the camps of what we call normal Links. I do not understand the reasoning for this obvious display of their life style.”

They want us to see something, perhaps?”

Yes. After a time. But what?”

I think the maddened Links want us deeper in the swamp . . . to fight. I think they are, for the most part, a nonviolent species.”

Karl smiled.
A most interesting observation, my mercenary friend. But neither a new nor a novel one. Walter and I gleaned that several days ago.”

I thought as much. And probably more than you're telling me. But it will not deter me from my mission.”

The German shrugged.
What can I say?”

I think you want these beasts alive so badly you'll do almost anything to prevent my destroying them.”

Quite right.”

Just how far will you go, Karl?”

I will go to almost any lengths for science, Jon. Surely you must see how important a find this is?”

Jon's M-10 lay on the seat beside him; his .45 pistol belted at his side. Karl held the AK in his hands. Jon wondered why he had picked it up, clicking it off safety.

You'd go to that length, Karl?”

Karl's reply was to swing the muzzle of the AK-47 toward Jon. Jon watched the German's expression harden, become savage. The mercenary dived for the bottom of the boat as Karl squeezed the trigger.

 

Linda stood by the window facing the swamp and stared out, arms folded under her breasts. She heard Tammy's footfall behind her.

You really own all that swamp?” the blonde asked.