CHAPTER NINETY-ONE
Abe heard the tremendous roar and the collision of two bodies in the air that could be nothing else but Stranger and someone of nearly equal size, and as Jake increased his speed out of intrigue and they rounded a corner in the palace, emerging out into the smoke-choked sunlight, his theory was proved correct.
“I’m getting better with age,” he muttered to himself.
Stranger and what appeared to be Urchyn McAvi were rolling around on the ground, locked in a fierce struggle. Both of them were clawing and tearing at each other in such an animalistic manner that Abe could not even tell if that was a Wolvark at all. Blood spattered the ground and the air, and Stranger’s roar continued – a tremendous thundering of rage and pain that would not stop.
Abe shook off Jake’s arm. “I can walk on my own – don’t interrupt them, we have to get outside.”
“Right, the Mudokon army.” Jake frowned. “What are you going to do?”
Abe tested his weight on both feet. The pain staggered him, and he nearly fell – but before Jake could grab him, he pulled himself back to his full height. He began to limp toward the gates, grabbing the rifle the presumably Wolvark bounty hunter had dropped.
“What are you going to do?!” Jake shouted again.
“The same thing we’ve always done, Jake,” Abe laughed tiredly. He flipped up his gun and began firing off laser rounds at the generator for the door’s protection field.
Jake hurried toward him, moving quickly despite his advanced age. “What have we always done, Abe?”
Abe turned and smiled at the shaman, though he could find no reason to be happy. “We’ve always done what we’ve had to.”
Apparently stray blasterfire from the Slig/Mudokon battle had damaged the door’s protection field; it took little time for Abe’s small laser carbine to shut off the field. Stranger’s roar still had not ceased, and Abe had no idea how the massive once-bounty-hunter managed to keep his rage going.
He glanced at the floor battle that still raged between Stranger and the Wolvark, and grimaced at the sight of one of Stranger’s legs, severed at the knee, lying on the ground in a pool of blood.
Then he turned, activated the gate’s opening switch, and headed out into the battle.
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