Free The Killer by Jack Elgos Page B

and you easily beat him in a knife fight. You even did it without drawing blood, so he was totally embarrassed, disgraced and dishonoured. And a man with no honour - well, no telling what he would resort to. Or who he would talk to. You understand, no?’
    It was obvious to Rosa that the Irishmen didn’t like what she had done one little bit. But, they both fully understood why she had done it. The two of them grudgingly admitted this to her. She had been right. Juan had been dishonoured and may have sought his revenge by turning informer - or anything really. Yes, she had acted correctly and they told her so.
    Darren still had blood running down his face from his wound so Rosa declared that training would commence the next day. The men headed back to the barracks in silence. The family and the two Irishmen climbed into the van. As they drove back down to the farmhouse not a word was spoken.
    Early the next morning Darren was in the van again, his cheek stitched roughly, but efficiently, by Rosa. This time only Steve and Roberto accompanied him and, as they crested the hill, they saw every one of the men outside their barracks, standing to attention, waiting for their new instructor. Steve and Roberto remained at the van, happy just to watch, as Darren left and approached the line of his new pupils.
    Standing in front of them, he saluted and asked who was in charge. A man stepped forward; he had what appeared to be only one eye, as he wore a piratical black patch over the left one. ‘I am Captain Antonio Rodriguez de la Vasco, and I am senior officer here,’ he announced as he saluted. Returning the salute Darren told him to group the men into pairs and prepare for the first day’s training. Within a matter of seconds they were paired up. ‘Hmm, they seem keen enough,’ he thought as he smiled at the speed of the pairing. He was impressed. He had never seen himself as a teacher, but he thought back to the calm, efficient instruction he had received from Collins and the authority that the man had possessed. He had that authority now and knew it was his best ally in his new role of instructor.
    Rosa had given him a little more information as she was stitching his cheek the previous afternoon. He wasn’t sure he’d taken it all in. Rosa didn’t have the gentlest touch and the pain hadn’t helped him to concentrate in Spanish. However, from what he could figure out, E.T.A . were desperate for new recruits and they needed them trained quickly. A breakaway faction of their organisation was giving up arms and attempting to reintegrate into the political structure. Rosa did not approve of her government, and Darren could understand that. He didn’t approve of his government either. So, here he was with yet another set of freedom fighters and this time he was the teacher.
    He gave his first order. ‘All weapons are to be removed and placed on the floor in front of the first hut. This includes all knives, knuckledusters and anything else that could be considered as dangerous. You will each then be searched by your respective partners.’ The men grumbled a little, but not one of them questioned the order, as they walked over to the front of their barracks and sullenly began emptying their pockets of all weapons, dumping them on the ground before returning to form their pairs. As Darren walked among them he ordered the men to search each other. Only two reported finding remaining weapons on their counterparts. One was a cutthroat razor, which the man in question, Pablo, claimed was not actually a weapon, but rather a personal hygiene aid. The other was a small but deadly lock knife and this, he was told, was just a small good luck piece.
    ‘Put them on the floor with the other weapons,’ Darren ordered. The two men reluctantly placed the knife and razor with the rest and returned to the line.
    ‘OK men, this is a close combat course, so show me what you can do. On my command, throw your opponent to the floor and hold him