Path of Destruction
Part Eleven: The Might of the Mightiest
Miss Lara Croft squeezed back on the trigger of the nine-millimeter pistol in her left hand. It was
aimed directly at the head of Devon, who had angered the young lady by dropping her of off a cliff. Now
as he came into view from behind a large rock formation her revenge would be realized.
"Goodbye love," she whispered quietly under her breath as she moved the trigger back the last few
millimeters.
All of a sudden the calmness of the air was shattered by a loud bang as a bullet was released into
the air along with a flurry of smoke. It flew swiftly and with purpose toward its target intent on tearing
through flesh and bone leaving its victim dead as a doornail upon the ground.
This was not, however, the result. Before it could even come anywhere near its target the deadly
projectile slammed forcefully into the rock formation sending a spray of dust and rock into the air.
Instantly, Devon threw himself back around the corner in shock sending Beeman, who was right
behind him, bounding backward as if they were playing an extremely poor game of follow the leader.
"What's going on," he asked his countryman in a panic.
The Texan shook his head trying to regain his faculties, "I think somebody got here first."
"Who," answered the other frantically.
"I hate to think," exclaimed the southerner running his forearm across his brow. He was very
certain that he had sufficiently done away with his adversary but in the light of her miraculous escapes in
the past his fears lingered in his mind. Besides that, Sam's question now became very valid as well
because if it was not her than who else would want the stone?
It was not long at all before the answers to these questions became frightfully apparent for Lara
had become increasing agitated that her adversary had hidden himself from her view. "DEVON," she
yelled at the top her lungs as she slinked toward the rocky out cropping with both pistols now at the ready.
"Devon, you have thirty seconds to get you worthless hide out here."
The Texan smiled evilly at his companion who was still on the ground next to him. A malicious
plan had come into his head to save his hide, sacrifice the archeologist. "Sorry partner," he chuckled, "but
your time is up."
The archeologist stared back silently in curious wonderment attempting to decipher the intentions
of his countryman. He was just about too but before he could open his mouth he was being shove out into
the open intending as if her were a cheap decoy.
Unfortunately it was more of a distraction to Sam than to Lara. As soon as he hit the open area he
duct down in a panic to avoid the barrage of gunfire that he was sure was coming. For her part, Lara
remained calm but alert. The moment that the American appeared her weapons were immediately trained
on him but, with the same speed and efficiency, moved off when she realized that he was not the target.
"Get back, Beeman," she ordered as she continued to prowl toward her prey.
The young man, being of a halfway intelligent nature, obeyed the order without hesitation. At the
same time he somehow discovered within him the courage to question her motives. "What are you going to
do," he asked softly not wanting her to turn her wrath upon him.
For a few seconds the explorer neglected to answer. She had just come upon the edge of the wall
that separated her from Devon and was preparing herself for an assault when the archeologist spoke. Even
then, the only reply that she could give was in the form of a very assertive, "None of your business,"
followed by a second, more stringent order to keep well out of the way.
Unfortunately for her and to Devon's great delight, that is exactly what Mr. Beeman did. He
removed himself so out of the way, in fact, that he discovered the jewel as well and just like Lara had done
moments before began to examine it. The only problem was that he neglected to notice the trap.
And so, just as Croft had swung around to finally eliminate her adversary once and for all, Sam
took the opportunity and retrieved the jewel from its pedestal. "DON'T TOUCH IT," she cried out when
she noticed what he was up to. But, in his own Lara like persistence, he ignored the warning and removed
the artifact.
That's when Devon attacked. With his adversary's attention diverted there was suddenly a
window of opportunity and one that he did not intend to pass up. Using all of his power the Texan threw
himself headlong into the explorer as if he were pro wrestler. He then set upon her and would have beaten
her until she was dead if she had not immediately shoved him off to one side in favor of rescuing the other
American from the booby trap that he had just sprung.
As soon as the jewel was lifted off of the pedestal the sections in the floor instantaneously began
to collapse beneath him. He only had one chance to survive. He tucked the artifact underneath his arm and
made a wild dash back to where Lara and Devon were. But it was too late. He only made it half way
before the floor completely dropped from beneath him sending him and the stone spiraling downward out
of view into the precipice.
The young lady couldn't believe it. There, right before her very eyes, Sam Beeman had met his
doom and all because of Devon. Furiously, she whirled around drawing her second weapon at the same
time, firing randomly around her sending the Texan diving headlong behind a nearby rock. "You little
toad," she mocked through an angrily calm voice as she moved toward him, "You should have left this
between us, or were you too scared that I'd actually off you this time."
"Hey, I'm just following orders," replied the other from behind the boulder.
"Orders," repeated the tomb raider angrily to herself, "orders to let innocent people die."
"If necessary," yelled the other coldly from his hiding place.
Now Lara was really angry. Slowly, she inched her way toward the man as if she were Death
himself. "I don't think it was necessary all," she answered, "It makes me wonder what the real nature of
your orders was."
"What about them," asked Devon cautiously peeking out to see what his adversary was up to.
"Well," the explorer began again, "I know why Drake hired me, but what about you? You're
usually only around to stop me but this time we started out working for the same man."
"What's your point Croft," yelled the American.
Lara shook her head in disappointment. "Surly you can't be that stupid," she moaned. "You and I
being hired by the same man can only mean that he wants to keep one of us in check. And somehow, you
little worm, I don't think they worry too much about you."
The American smiled sinisterly at the accusation. "All right, I'll give you that much," he
conceded as he silently began to moved himself around the rock in hopes taking the young lady by surprise.
Little did he know that she had already beaten him too it. As he stealthily clambered his way
around the side of the boulder he suddenly found himself face to face with an outstretched silver nine-
millimeter pistol and behind it, a very serious looking Lara Croft. "I'm glad you'll agree with me on that,"
she barked as she pulled the man out into the open by his collar. "What's the plan," she asked
malevolently.
"Its pointless now," insisted the other, "the jewel is gone."
"So it won't matter if you tell me will it," she countered shoving the gun barrel hard into the
man's forehead."
"Alright," cried the American, "it's like this. Mr. Drake's grandfather was a member of some
ancient society out in California in the thirties. They believed that all gods everywhere existed and
competed for the praise of man."
Croft lifted an eyebrow. "God's such as Shiva, Osiris, and Jupiter," she asked knowingly.
"Yeah," Devon nodded, "just like the jewels.
Now things were getting clearer than ever before. She bit down thoughtfully on her lower lip
trying to work it all out in her mind. "So, what's the connection between the two," she finally asked.
"Because," replied the Texan sternly, "Somebody found an ancient manuscript that said there was
way to talk to any of these gods directly."
"Wait," interrupted the explorer, "I bet I can guess the rest. Drake wants to talk to these three
gods, right?"
Devon shook his head, "I don't know about that," he answered, "All I know is that he needs these
stones to what ever it is he's gonna do."
"Thank you," Croft remarked politely as she backed away from the man with her pistol still
stretched out in front of her, "I truly appreciate the information." The time had come, she thought, to end
the whole affair once and for all. Once again she began to squeeze back her weapon's trigger. "Goodbye
Devon," she said, "I shall not miss you at all."
"Wait a minute," yelled the other smugly, "you can't kill me. You'll never find the site in Israel
without me."
Lara smiled maliciously at the panicking man in front of her. "Ah, but I'm not going to Israel,"
she chuckled, "I'm going home. I think I'll keep the India stone for my personal museum but the Jupiter
stone will have to be thrown into the ocean or something."
"Jupiter stone," remarked the curiously, "you mean the one that just fell into the pit with
Beeman?"
Suddenly the smile on the young lady's face grew to nearly three times in size. "Not at all," she
laughed, "I'm talking about the Jupiter stone that I pulled off the pedestal right before you came around the
corner. The thing that Sam tragically tried to take was that fake Egyptian stone. If he hadn't been so
excited he may have noticed in time. Too bad too, I was rather hoping you'd try it."
"So we're back in business then," asked the American ignoring the last remark.
Croft shook head. "No, I'm in business and you're dead."
"I don't think so," replied the other becoming courageous than usual."
It made Lara nervous. What was he hiding? Quickly, she scanned the man from head to toe
trying to uncover the source of his bravery. "Oh, and why is that," she asked finding nothing of
consequence.
"Because of that," he said gazing far over the explorer's shoulder.
Lara couldn't resist. Despite the fact that it was a very old cliché she had to know why it was that
she couldn't shoot such an ever-present thorn in her side right at that very moment. Had she any inkling at
the time about what she was going to see she probably would have shot the man anyway despite any regard
to her own safety.
As she threw her head over her shoulder she detected a small black dot on the horizon. A second
later it had doubled in size and after about a minute its true form began to take shape. It was a helicopter.
To be more precise it was Bell UH-1H Iroquois transport helicopter just like the ones used by the
Americans in Vietnam.
She recognized it immediately as Mr. Drake's personal helicopter. He had some how acquired it
from the U.S. Military and ever since then it had served as a notorious warning of his, or his associates,
arrival. Why the man had never bothered to simply purchase a civilian transport he had never said and, no
one had ever asked. The only thing that anyone really knew was that he owned it and even that had come
under suspicion a great many times.
Nonetheless, it was here now and undoubtedly, its owner had sent it to collect his prize. How he
had located them Croft didn't. What she was sure of, though, was that it meant trouble for her. Also, she
was sure to be outgunned and there was nowhere to run but back to the dark paths that she had just escaped
from.
"How did they find us," she demanded angrily.
Now it was Devon's turn to smile. Reaching into his hip pocket he removed a small block oblong
box. It was about the size of an ordinary cigarette lighter. In replace of a wick, however, was a red button..
"It's a homing device," Explained the Texan holding it up in the air, "In case I needed an early escape
route.
In a sudden rush of desperation Croft took a step toward the American to better her aim. By that
time, however, the helicopter had reached a close enough range for the gentleman in the back to fire a
warning shot that impacted the explorer's foot.
Instinctively, the young lady turned sharply toward the source of the gunfire to defend herself
leaving Devon another opportunity for attack. The second that his nemesis's head was turned he threw
himself into her with all his might sending her flying helplessly into a nearby rock formation.
As her head collided hard with the rock face the explorer's body went limp allowing her pistols to
fall from her hands as if some unseen force had ripped them out. Their owner followed them in short order
landing facedown beside them in a stunned daze.
When she finally returned to her senses the young lady rolled herself over onto her back. It was
quite possibly one of the most painfully experiences in all her life. . Not only did the blow from Devon
leave her with a huge bruise but now all the other pains she had suffered during the whole expedition
suddenly returned with a vengeance.
In particular, the she landed directly on the cut over her eye. Once again a small stream of blood
began to trickle out of it forming a small pool on the ground.
To top it all off when she opened her eyes she did not see a clear blue sky or a flock of birds or
even a cloud. All that was there was a large, sliver, nine-millimeter pistol and on the other side of it, with
the sun glaring down from behind him, was Devon.
He had wasted no time, after incapacitating Croft, in disarming the young lady. Even with the
cover of helicopter he was not at all comfortable with her presence especially when she was armed. In fact,
he may have killed her right there if he wasn't sure that Drake would want the honor for himself.
By now, the chopper had finally come to a complete hover directly above the two adversaries and
immediately a rope was lowered for their convenience. "Get up," the Texan ordered loudly over the sound
of the rotors and waving the gun in the air as if he were John Wayne.
Lara breathed a heavy sigh of annoyance as she slowly pulled herself up to a sitting position and
then, with some coaxing from the American, to her feet. As she did she felt a sudden stint of dizziness over
take her as if all the blood had gone to her head. Drunkenly, she stumbled backward and then forward
slightly trying to catch her balance.
All the while Devon stood well back from the exhibition lest he get caught up in the whole affair.
He couldn't help but lose the menacing demeanor that he usually liked to carry with him. This time he was
forced to chuckle slightly at the sight. Right before him, his greatest adversary swung this way and that as
if she had just undertaken the company of a bottle of Tequila. In reality, the whole show only lasted for
about ten seconds but that was more than enough time for Devon to view a scene that would become
legendary for years to come in archeological circles.
"Get on up there," the Texan ordered through convulsions of laughter.
"Go and boil your head," Croft counted grabbing the rope ladder for support. She was
increasingly becoming sick of the man's sick humor.
Devon simply ignored the statement. He was too happy to give it any consideration. After all, he
had gotten two jewels and Miss Croft all at the same time. It was absolutely heaven.
Lara, on the other hand, took the next few minutes, as she climbed, to contemplate her situation.
She was under the whim of an armed man who hated her. Worse yet, the weapons that he was carrying put
him in control of the jewels. That was more power than she cared to let him have. Now she really had to
get rid of him. Unfortunately, she had no clue had to do it. She would have to wait for an opportunity.
For the remainder of her trip up the ladder the Lara's imagination raced with possibilities. She
began to daydream slightly about what she would do if she were here or he were there or what were
chances of success if this or that happened.
Her mind was still racing when she reached the top. So much had gone through her head, in fact
that, for a moment, she wasn't entirely sure of where she was. In the next second, however, she
remembered and gazed into the helicopter with heightened curiosity. As air transport goes, it was rather
spacious. This, of course, was due in part because the sides to the passenger area had been removed
creating the illusion of have far more room than there actually was.
Adding to this deception were the two rows of facing seats that stretched along both sides of the
walls. They extended almost completely to the edge of the helicopter on both sides giving Lara a
terrifically menacing idea about how to go about getting out the spot that she was in. She would simply
wait for him to climb up and then push him out again.
There was only one problem, a black hat. Actually, it was not the hat its self that stood in her way
but the person that sat underneath it. He was a rather thin man and at first glance did not appear to have a
great deal of strength in him either. More over he did not seem to be overly encumbered by a great deal of
intelligence either. As a matter of fact, the only reason why Miss Croft did not send him tumbling out of
the helicopter at that very moment because he had a sniper rifle securely tucked under one arm.
Upon the face of the man sat a thin pair of glasses. That is to say that the rims were of a very thin
nature. The glasses themselves, while not being unusually thick, seemed to indicate that the man's eyesight
was anything but stellar.
The hat that sat atop the gentleman's head was of the wide brimmed fashion but one look at it was
quite enough for anyone to deduce that it had been used for far more than simply keeping the sun off. The
brim was bent down in the very front forming a little dip from the numerous times it had been swiftly torn
off and thrown back on.
Further up from that was caked a great deal of old dust and dirt that had fallen carelessly onto the
garment. In fact, the hat was blotched by a number of such patches. They were scattered on all sides and
in all shapes almost as if the designer had placed them there himself for effect.
"Can I give you a hand," the man asked politely as the young began to climb in.
Lara sneered sarcastically back at the man. "Only if you want to learn to fly the hard way," she
snapped.
"Goodness, aren't we touchy today," quipped the stooping down and locking one end of a pair of
handcuffs to the explorer's right arm. Immediately, Croft countered with a well-placed low blow sending
the man to the floor of the helicopter. She then proceeded to move upon him and would have done a great
deal of more serious damage to his person had not Devon once again.
"What in blazes is going on here," he yelled rolling himself into the helicopter and once more
brandishing Lara's pistols.
"Your friend was getting a bit fresh with me," replied the lady smartly.
The Texan shook his head. "You all right Mike," he asked the other man.
Mike rolled over and sat up as best as he could. "I'll be ok," he answered, "but next time tell me
when they're going to be uncivilized."
"Don't you know anything," Devon responded motioning his captive to the side with her own
pistols, "All women are uncivilized."
Lara grinned at man maliciously as she moved off to one of the side seats that was being pointed
out. "You know," she reflected, "until I met you, Devon, I had a great deal of respect for the United
States."
"Just sit down Brit," he ordered, "Mike, lock her down."
Croft did as she was told allowing Mike to move in and lock the remaining end of the handcuffs to
a small hook that was fastened into back wall. "Now what," he asked.
With his adversary now secured, Devon placed the pistols between his belt and his pants in front.
"Now, he answered, "Mr. Drake makes us very rich and very powerful."
To Be Continued…
Part Eleven: The Might of the Mightiest
Miss Lara Croft squeezed back on the trigger of the nine-millimeter pistol in her left hand. It was
aimed directly at the head of Devon, who had angered the young lady by dropping her of off a cliff. Now
as he came into view from behind a large rock formation her revenge would be realized.
"Goodbye love," she whispered quietly under her breath as she moved the trigger back the last few
millimeters.
All of a sudden the calmness of the air was shattered by a loud bang as a bullet was released into
the air along with a flurry of smoke. It flew swiftly and with purpose toward its target intent on tearing
through flesh and bone leaving its victim dead as a doornail upon the ground.
This was not, however, the result. Before it could even come anywhere near its target the deadly
projectile slammed forcefully into the rock formation sending a spray of dust and rock into the air.
Instantly, Devon threw himself back around the corner in shock sending Beeman, who was right
behind him, bounding backward as if they were playing an extremely poor game of follow the leader.
"What's going on," he asked his countryman in a panic.
The Texan shook his head trying to regain his faculties, "I think somebody got here first."
"Who," answered the other frantically.
"I hate to think," exclaimed the southerner running his forearm across his brow. He was very
certain that he had sufficiently done away with his adversary but in the light of her miraculous escapes in
the past his fears lingered in his mind. Besides that, Sam's question now became very valid as well
because if it was not her than who else would want the stone?
It was not long at all before the answers to these questions became frightfully apparent for Lara
had become increasing agitated that her adversary had hidden himself from her view. "DEVON," she
yelled at the top her lungs as she slinked toward the rocky out cropping with both pistols now at the ready.
"Devon, you have thirty seconds to get you worthless hide out here."
The Texan smiled evilly at his companion who was still on the ground next to him. A malicious
plan had come into his head to save his hide, sacrifice the archeologist. "Sorry partner," he chuckled, "but
your time is up."
The archeologist stared back silently in curious wonderment attempting to decipher the intentions
of his countryman. He was just about too but before he could open his mouth he was being shove out into
the open intending as if her were a cheap decoy.
Unfortunately it was more of a distraction to Sam than to Lara. As soon as he hit the open area he
duct down in a panic to avoid the barrage of gunfire that he was sure was coming. For her part, Lara
remained calm but alert. The moment that the American appeared her weapons were immediately trained
on him but, with the same speed and efficiency, moved off when she realized that he was not the target.
"Get back, Beeman," she ordered as she continued to prowl toward her prey.
The young man, being of a halfway intelligent nature, obeyed the order without hesitation. At the
same time he somehow discovered within him the courage to question her motives. "What are you going to
do," he asked softly not wanting her to turn her wrath upon him.
For a few seconds the explorer neglected to answer. She had just come upon the edge of the wall
that separated her from Devon and was preparing herself for an assault when the archeologist spoke. Even
then, the only reply that she could give was in the form of a very assertive, "None of your business,"
followed by a second, more stringent order to keep well out of the way.
Unfortunately for her and to Devon's great delight, that is exactly what Mr. Beeman did. He
removed himself so out of the way, in fact, that he discovered the jewel as well and just like Lara had done
moments before began to examine it. The only problem was that he neglected to notice the trap.
And so, just as Croft had swung around to finally eliminate her adversary once and for all, Sam
took the opportunity and retrieved the jewel from its pedestal. "DON'T TOUCH IT," she cried out when
she noticed what he was up to. But, in his own Lara like persistence, he ignored the warning and removed
the artifact.
That's when Devon attacked. With his adversary's attention diverted there was suddenly a
window of opportunity and one that he did not intend to pass up. Using all of his power the Texan threw
himself headlong into the explorer as if he were pro wrestler. He then set upon her and would have beaten
her until she was dead if she had not immediately shoved him off to one side in favor of rescuing the other
American from the booby trap that he had just sprung.
As soon as the jewel was lifted off of the pedestal the sections in the floor instantaneously began
to collapse beneath him. He only had one chance to survive. He tucked the artifact underneath his arm and
made a wild dash back to where Lara and Devon were. But it was too late. He only made it half way
before the floor completely dropped from beneath him sending him and the stone spiraling downward out
of view into the precipice.
The young lady couldn't believe it. There, right before her very eyes, Sam Beeman had met his
doom and all because of Devon. Furiously, she whirled around drawing her second weapon at the same
time, firing randomly around her sending the Texan diving headlong behind a nearby rock. "You little
toad," she mocked through an angrily calm voice as she moved toward him, "You should have left this
between us, or were you too scared that I'd actually off you this time."
"Hey, I'm just following orders," replied the other from behind the boulder.
"Orders," repeated the tomb raider angrily to herself, "orders to let innocent people die."
"If necessary," yelled the other coldly from his hiding place.
Now Lara was really angry. Slowly, she inched her way toward the man as if she were Death
himself. "I don't think it was necessary all," she answered, "It makes me wonder what the real nature of
your orders was."
"What about them," asked Devon cautiously peeking out to see what his adversary was up to.
"Well," the explorer began again, "I know why Drake hired me, but what about you? You're
usually only around to stop me but this time we started out working for the same man."
"What's your point Croft," yelled the American.
Lara shook her head in disappointment. "Surly you can't be that stupid," she moaned. "You and I
being hired by the same man can only mean that he wants to keep one of us in check. And somehow, you
little worm, I don't think they worry too much about you."
The American smiled sinisterly at the accusation. "All right, I'll give you that much," he
conceded as he silently began to moved himself around the rock in hopes taking the young lady by surprise.
Little did he know that she had already beaten him too it. As he stealthily clambered his way
around the side of the boulder he suddenly found himself face to face with an outstretched silver nine-
millimeter pistol and behind it, a very serious looking Lara Croft. "I'm glad you'll agree with me on that,"
she barked as she pulled the man out into the open by his collar. "What's the plan," she asked
malevolently.
"Its pointless now," insisted the other, "the jewel is gone."
"So it won't matter if you tell me will it," she countered shoving the gun barrel hard into the
man's forehead."
"Alright," cried the American, "it's like this. Mr. Drake's grandfather was a member of some
ancient society out in California in the thirties. They believed that all gods everywhere existed and
competed for the praise of man."
Croft lifted an eyebrow. "God's such as Shiva, Osiris, and Jupiter," she asked knowingly.
"Yeah," Devon nodded, "just like the jewels.
Now things were getting clearer than ever before. She bit down thoughtfully on her lower lip
trying to work it all out in her mind. "So, what's the connection between the two," she finally asked.
"Because," replied the Texan sternly, "Somebody found an ancient manuscript that said there was
way to talk to any of these gods directly."
"Wait," interrupted the explorer, "I bet I can guess the rest. Drake wants to talk to these three
gods, right?"
Devon shook his head, "I don't know about that," he answered, "All I know is that he needs these
stones to what ever it is he's gonna do."
"Thank you," Croft remarked politely as she backed away from the man with her pistol still
stretched out in front of her, "I truly appreciate the information." The time had come, she thought, to end
the whole affair once and for all. Once again she began to squeeze back her weapon's trigger. "Goodbye
Devon," she said, "I shall not miss you at all."
"Wait a minute," yelled the other smugly, "you can't kill me. You'll never find the site in Israel
without me."
Lara smiled maliciously at the panicking man in front of her. "Ah, but I'm not going to Israel,"
she chuckled, "I'm going home. I think I'll keep the India stone for my personal museum but the Jupiter
stone will have to be thrown into the ocean or something."
"Jupiter stone," remarked the curiously, "you mean the one that just fell into the pit with
Beeman?"
Suddenly the smile on the young lady's face grew to nearly three times in size. "Not at all," she
laughed, "I'm talking about the Jupiter stone that I pulled off the pedestal right before you came around the
corner. The thing that Sam tragically tried to take was that fake Egyptian stone. If he hadn't been so
excited he may have noticed in time. Too bad too, I was rather hoping you'd try it."
"So we're back in business then," asked the American ignoring the last remark.
Croft shook head. "No, I'm in business and you're dead."
"I don't think so," replied the other becoming courageous than usual."
It made Lara nervous. What was he hiding? Quickly, she scanned the man from head to toe
trying to uncover the source of his bravery. "Oh, and why is that," she asked finding nothing of
consequence.
"Because of that," he said gazing far over the explorer's shoulder.
Lara couldn't resist. Despite the fact that it was a very old cliché she had to know why it was that
she couldn't shoot such an ever-present thorn in her side right at that very moment. Had she any inkling at
the time about what she was going to see she probably would have shot the man anyway despite any regard
to her own safety.
As she threw her head over her shoulder she detected a small black dot on the horizon. A second
later it had doubled in size and after about a minute its true form began to take shape. It was a helicopter.
To be more precise it was Bell UH-1H Iroquois transport helicopter just like the ones used by the
Americans in Vietnam.
She recognized it immediately as Mr. Drake's personal helicopter. He had some how acquired it
from the U.S. Military and ever since then it had served as a notorious warning of his, or his associates,
arrival. Why the man had never bothered to simply purchase a civilian transport he had never said and, no
one had ever asked. The only thing that anyone really knew was that he owned it and even that had come
under suspicion a great many times.
Nonetheless, it was here now and undoubtedly, its owner had sent it to collect his prize. How he
had located them Croft didn't. What she was sure of, though, was that it meant trouble for her. Also, she
was sure to be outgunned and there was nowhere to run but back to the dark paths that she had just escaped
from.
"How did they find us," she demanded angrily.
Now it was Devon's turn to smile. Reaching into his hip pocket he removed a small block oblong
box. It was about the size of an ordinary cigarette lighter. In replace of a wick, however, was a red button..
"It's a homing device," Explained the Texan holding it up in the air, "In case I needed an early escape
route.
In a sudden rush of desperation Croft took a step toward the American to better her aim. By that
time, however, the helicopter had reached a close enough range for the gentleman in the back to fire a
warning shot that impacted the explorer's foot.
Instinctively, the young lady turned sharply toward the source of the gunfire to defend herself
leaving Devon another opportunity for attack. The second that his nemesis's head was turned he threw
himself into her with all his might sending her flying helplessly into a nearby rock formation.
As her head collided hard with the rock face the explorer's body went limp allowing her pistols to
fall from her hands as if some unseen force had ripped them out. Their owner followed them in short order
landing facedown beside them in a stunned daze.
When she finally returned to her senses the young lady rolled herself over onto her back. It was
quite possibly one of the most painfully experiences in all her life. . Not only did the blow from Devon
leave her with a huge bruise but now all the other pains she had suffered during the whole expedition
suddenly returned with a vengeance.
In particular, the she landed directly on the cut over her eye. Once again a small stream of blood
began to trickle out of it forming a small pool on the ground.
To top it all off when she opened her eyes she did not see a clear blue sky or a flock of birds or
even a cloud. All that was there was a large, sliver, nine-millimeter pistol and on the other side of it, with
the sun glaring down from behind him, was Devon.
He had wasted no time, after incapacitating Croft, in disarming the young lady. Even with the
cover of helicopter he was not at all comfortable with her presence especially when she was armed. In fact,
he may have killed her right there if he wasn't sure that Drake would want the honor for himself.
By now, the chopper had finally come to a complete hover directly above the two adversaries and
immediately a rope was lowered for their convenience. "Get up," the Texan ordered loudly over the sound
of the rotors and waving the gun in the air as if he were John Wayne.
Lara breathed a heavy sigh of annoyance as she slowly pulled herself up to a sitting position and
then, with some coaxing from the American, to her feet. As she did she felt a sudden stint of dizziness over
take her as if all the blood had gone to her head. Drunkenly, she stumbled backward and then forward
slightly trying to catch her balance.
All the while Devon stood well back from the exhibition lest he get caught up in the whole affair.
He couldn't help but lose the menacing demeanor that he usually liked to carry with him. This time he was
forced to chuckle slightly at the sight. Right before him, his greatest adversary swung this way and that as
if she had just undertaken the company of a bottle of Tequila. In reality, the whole show only lasted for
about ten seconds but that was more than enough time for Devon to view a scene that would become
legendary for years to come in archeological circles.
"Get on up there," the Texan ordered through convulsions of laughter.
"Go and boil your head," Croft counted grabbing the rope ladder for support. She was
increasingly becoming sick of the man's sick humor.
Devon simply ignored the statement. He was too happy to give it any consideration. After all, he
had gotten two jewels and Miss Croft all at the same time. It was absolutely heaven.
Lara, on the other hand, took the next few minutes, as she climbed, to contemplate her situation.
She was under the whim of an armed man who hated her. Worse yet, the weapons that he was carrying put
him in control of the jewels. That was more power than she cared to let him have. Now she really had to
get rid of him. Unfortunately, she had no clue had to do it. She would have to wait for an opportunity.
For the remainder of her trip up the ladder the Lara's imagination raced with possibilities. She
began to daydream slightly about what she would do if she were here or he were there or what were
chances of success if this or that happened.
Her mind was still racing when she reached the top. So much had gone through her head, in fact
that, for a moment, she wasn't entirely sure of where she was. In the next second, however, she
remembered and gazed into the helicopter with heightened curiosity. As air transport goes, it was rather
spacious. This, of course, was due in part because the sides to the passenger area had been removed
creating the illusion of have far more room than there actually was.
Adding to this deception were the two rows of facing seats that stretched along both sides of the
walls. They extended almost completely to the edge of the helicopter on both sides giving Lara a
terrifically menacing idea about how to go about getting out the spot that she was in. She would simply
wait for him to climb up and then push him out again.
There was only one problem, a black hat. Actually, it was not the hat its self that stood in her way
but the person that sat underneath it. He was a rather thin man and at first glance did not appear to have a
great deal of strength in him either. More over he did not seem to be overly encumbered by a great deal of
intelligence either. As a matter of fact, the only reason why Miss Croft did not send him tumbling out of
the helicopter at that very moment because he had a sniper rifle securely tucked under one arm.
Upon the face of the man sat a thin pair of glasses. That is to say that the rims were of a very thin
nature. The glasses themselves, while not being unusually thick, seemed to indicate that the man's eyesight
was anything but stellar.
The hat that sat atop the gentleman's head was of the wide brimmed fashion but one look at it was
quite enough for anyone to deduce that it had been used for far more than simply keeping the sun off. The
brim was bent down in the very front forming a little dip from the numerous times it had been swiftly torn
off and thrown back on.
Further up from that was caked a great deal of old dust and dirt that had fallen carelessly onto the
garment. In fact, the hat was blotched by a number of such patches. They were scattered on all sides and
in all shapes almost as if the designer had placed them there himself for effect.
"Can I give you a hand," the man asked politely as the young began to climb in.
Lara sneered sarcastically back at the man. "Only if you want to learn to fly the hard way," she
snapped.
"Goodness, aren't we touchy today," quipped the stooping down and locking one end of a pair of
handcuffs to the explorer's right arm. Immediately, Croft countered with a well-placed low blow sending
the man to the floor of the helicopter. She then proceeded to move upon him and would have done a great
deal of more serious damage to his person had not Devon once again.
"What in blazes is going on here," he yelled rolling himself into the helicopter and once more
brandishing Lara's pistols.
"Your friend was getting a bit fresh with me," replied the lady smartly.
The Texan shook his head. "You all right Mike," he asked the other man.
Mike rolled over and sat up as best as he could. "I'll be ok," he answered, "but next time tell me
when they're going to be uncivilized."
"Don't you know anything," Devon responded motioning his captive to the side with her own
pistols, "All women are uncivilized."
Lara grinned at man maliciously as she moved off to one of the side seats that was being pointed
out. "You know," she reflected, "until I met you, Devon, I had a great deal of respect for the United
States."
"Just sit down Brit," he ordered, "Mike, lock her down."
Croft did as she was told allowing Mike to move in and lock the remaining end of the handcuffs to
a small hook that was fastened into back wall. "Now what," he asked.
With his adversary now secured, Devon placed the pistols between his belt and his pants in front.
"Now, he answered, "Mr. Drake makes us very rich and very powerful."
To Be Continued…