Free Beluga Fay (Dragon Bone Hill) by David S. Wellhauser

man for many different reasons, but the enjoyment he took in inflicting pain had to top the list. Killing, Titus had seen on a couple of occasions, took the man to the point of orgasm. It wasn’t the madness that bothered Pym; it was the lack of control and focus this suggested. Taking the automatic from its holster, Synon followed his lead. “How many did we get?” Titus asked Essie.
    “Cars?”
    He nodded.
    “Four, but one ran out of gas, and we had to leave it.”
    “Strip it first?”
    “Everything we could, while not falling too far behind.”
    Pym nodded, waiting for the prisoners.
    Each of the column vehicles had two men in them. Eight prisoners were not what he’d been counting on. Pym’s intention had been to grab one car—maybe two—but now he had three and spare parts from a fourth. That was all good, but having eight prisoners was not. As these were brought up, Titus began to feel a little easier—until he got a better look at them. “What happened here?” Pym asked Bannly.
    “Lander was interrogating them.”
    “Didn’t I say they were not to be harmed, Lander?”
    “They were noisy—had to quiet them down.”
    Essie rolled her eyes behind the man, and shook her head. Pym could see this, but didn’t respond to the information. He was, for the moment, stuck with Lander. His occasional usefulness made it impossible to get rid of him, and he was always efficient.
    “There’s a chance for you and your people to walk away from this.” Pym began. Several around him shuffled about anxiously. It was then he noticed someone in the back of the guards. “Who’s she?”
    “Was being guarded in the vehicle we had to abandon.” Synon answered.
    “Put her in your car. You take care of her and make certain no one interferes with her.”
    “Little late for that.” Essie groused.
    “Who...”
    “Who do you think?” Essie interrupted.
    “Did he...”
    “Didn’t get that far.”
    “Lander, you take your fun out on a prisoner like that again and I’ll have you shot.”
    “She’s a Makati—they get fat while we starve.”
    “Just once again and I’ll have you. Now piss off outta here.”
    Seemed Lander knew enough to make himself scarce.
    “Put her in your car, Synon, and keep her safe.”
    Nodding, the woman took the prisoner and disappeared toward the front of the column.
    “So,” speaking to the eight prisoners, “who’s got information to trade?”
    “Trade for what?” A guard of middling years asked from the center of the group. Another elbowed him, but he pushed them aside and stepped up. “Trade for what?”
    “I can keep that fellow I just threatened to shoot away from you.”
    “What about letting me go?”
    “It’ll have to be big. Is it?”
    “You looking for fuel?”
    Pym wanted a quiet word. “Send the others to the back of the column. Keep the guards safe—don’t let Lander near them.”
    After the meeting with the guard, Titus called his people together again—including Lander. “We’ve found a fuel depot a few kilometers north of Makati.”
    “That guard?” Essie asked.
    Titus nodded.
    “Big?”
    “Enough to keep us going for a while, and there are supposed to be a couple of tanker trucks up there as well.”
    “Convenient,” Lander sniped from the back.
    “Glad you believe so because I’m sending you, Synon, and whoever will go with you to claim it.” Pym forced ahead before Lander could interrupt. “Take two of the police cars and their uniforms too. That should get you through the gate before they see you aren’t who they believe you are. After that, it’s up to you.”
    “But...” Lander began.
    “You are going, or you’re against the wall.”
    Lander gave it up.
    “What about the prisoners?” Bannly asked.
    “What of them?” Pym had an idea of where this was going.
    “We can’t leave them alive if we do this—they’ll know where the information came from and then the Governor will be coming after us.”
    “I’m not