CHAPTER 78
Amanda and Richie stood over Duncan, waiting for him to awaken. Methos had taken position
behind Shafer in case he revived first and tried to escape. He stood with MacLeod's katana in
one hand and his own sword in the other.
Joe had made his way to the edge of the platform and sat next to Ellen, his eyes wet with tears as
he shook his head. "I don't know who you are, but thanks for helping us." He began.
"I wish it had turned out better …" she replied in her thick Irish accent as she looked away from
Claudia's body sadly. "I'm Ellen Hanley, we spoke on the phone."
"Connor MacLeod's student? I did a little research on you after you called. Hope you don't
mind." Joe replied as he shook her hand, amazed at how quickly the limb had reattached itself.
"I don't know why you let yourself get pulled into this, but I appreciate what you did for us."
Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of Duncan gasping for air. All eyes turned in
that direction and Amanda knelt beside him.
Duncan awoke with a start, his hand immediately going to the place where the bullet had
impacted his abdomen. The wound had healed, and only the blood remained.
"What happened?" Duncan sputtered as he sat up, but then the memory of the last thing he saw
came rushing back. Half crawling, half stumbling, MacLeod rushed to where Claudia's lifeless
body lay crumpled on her knees behind the guillotine. Her head lay face down in the basket in
front.
"Noooo" he cried, pulling her dead body into his arms and then gasping at the horror of what had
been done to her.
Amanda came to him and tried to get him to let her go, but he would not be comforted. Richie
stood staring, his anger keeping the tears at bay. "That bastard has to die." He said.
Duncan's head shot up and he looked across the plaza where Methos stood over Rick Shafer.
So lost in his grief, he hadn't let his mind think about the villain who had done this. But now, the
rage overtook him.
Laying Claudia's body back down on the platform, Duncan focused his eyes on Shafer. Ignoring
everyone except for the fact that Methos held his katana, he strode purposefully to stand at
Shafer's feet.
"Give me my sword." He asked Methos flatly. He didn't have to wait. Methos handed it over and
stepped back.
"Mac, I want him." Richie protested as he came to stand beside Duncan. "Let me do this."
Duncan looked from Shafer's body to Richie and understood what his young friend was asking,
but no way could relinquish the task. "Richie, I know you loved Claudia. And I understand how
angry you must feel. But this all started because Shafer had a vendetta against me. I am going
to finish it."
Richie argued, but Mac cut him off. "Don't fight me on this Richie. Just know that he will pay for
what he's done to her … to us."
Methos felt badly for Richie. If it had been Beth, no way he could step aside. But this wasn't
Beth, and he understood why Duncan had to do this. However when Shafer revived, he did
nothing to pull Richie off as the young immortal pounced on him and began to pound his face
over and over, not allowing the man to rise.
His blows were so furious and so hard that Shafer fell back into unconsciousness, his face
resembling a raw piece of bloody meat by the time Richie was done with him.
It was only after Shafer couldn't feel the blows anymore that Methos grabbed Richie's shoulders
and pulled him to his feet. "I think he got the message." He said. "Now let MacLeod finish him."
Richie gave Shafer's carcass one last kick and spat on him before stepping back out of the way.
"Take the son of a bitch's head, but make sure he hurts … a lot." He said to Duncan as he
passed the Highlander, not looking at him, but staring straight ahead.
The waiting was unbearable, and Amanda didn't want to wait any longer. Walking across the
grass, she unrolled a garden hose and turned the spigot on full blast and then aimed it directly at
Shafer's face.
Choking and sputtering, Shafer awoke, trying with futility to fight back the strong spray.
"That's enough." MacLeod said flatly, before Amanda turned off the spigot.
"Get up!" Duncan ordered Shafer, who sat staring at him from the ground. "Get up and pick up
your sword."
Shafer looked around, hoping some of his men might still be around, but obviously the one's
inside had left him to his own fate. His delay only further enraged Duncan, who repeated his
order again and threatened to take his head where he sat if he didn't move.
"I thought you were a patient man." Shafer tried to stall the battle by distracting his opponent with
chatter.
"You're time is up Shafer. I've already lost enough because of your depraved vendetta."
"I only did what my comrades dead spirits cried out for." Shafer argued.
"You make a mockery of their memory by what you've done." Duncan replied. "It was exactly
this kind of hatred the White Roses committed their lives to fighting."
Shafer set his jaw indignantly, obviously not agreeing.
"Prepare to defend yourself." the Highlander ordered as he made the first move in Shafer's
direction.
Still groggy from the beating Richie had given him, Rick Shafer stumbled clumsily over one of the
cobblestones on the plaza as he retreated a few steps to avoid MacLeod's blade.
Duncan focused all of his attention on one goal, and in a matter of minutes had Shafer pinned
against the side of the platform with no where to go. No matter how hard he fought back, Duncan
managed to be just a little quicker. He was now bleeding from his left arm, neck, side and right
thigh from the blade that the Highlander kept swiping his way.
Staggering from loss of blood and exhaustion, Shafer used his last breath of energy to insult
MacLeod one last time. "You think you've beaten me, but you are the loser." He began. "You
are still a blight on the memory of the White Roses and always will be … coward!"
Tired of hearing the insane man's rantings, Duncan thrust his sword deep into Shafer's gut …
forcing him to his knees as the point pressed against the back of the man's spine.
"Where did you take Beth and her child?" Duncan demanded, ready to twist the blade to make
the pain even more excruciating.
"Burn in hell." Shafer spat as he dropped his sword and held the blade protruding from his
insides with his hands in an effort to keep the Highlander from twisting it.
Keeping the blade and Shafer where they were, Duncan looked over at Methos. "Can you live
with this? Letting him die without knowing?" he asked.
Methos knew that Shafer could tell them where Garrett was holding Beth, and realized MacLeod
was offering to torture the man further if he thought they could learn the truth. The idea was
tempting, and he knew Richie would not object, but Shafer had been allowed to walk the earth
long enough, and something told Methos that the man would not give up any answers. He knew
he was doomed and would take his secrets to hell with him just to spite them all.
"Finish it." Methos replied, walking to stand a distance behind MacLeod so he could witness the
look on Shafer's face when his head was severed from his body.
It wasn't like MacLeod to gain satisfaction from the suffering of his opponent, but this time … he
made an exception. Twisting the blade cruelly, Duncan slowly pulled it up through the man's
body. He was more than disemboweled, the razor sharp edge tore through his intestines and
the twist allowed MacLeod to literally shred his heart in two before he pulled it out.
Shafer was already dead when MacLeod spun around and sliced one last time, sending his head
bouncing across the platform and tumbling over the edge with a sickening splat.
Methos, Richie and the others moved back as the Quickening began. The sky darkened and a
fierce roar filled their ears as MacLeod's body contorted from the effects. The ground shook
beneath their feet and the air crackled with the sound of electricity. Ellen offered her arm to Joe
and they both left the plaza as the wind began to rush around the courtyard.
When it was finished, Duncan picked up his sword and wiped the blood off on Shafer's pant leg
before turning and picking up the basket that held Claudia's head. Amanda had wrapped her
jacket over the top of their friend's body and Richie lifted her into his arms before following the
others to the van outside. Thankfully the foliage shielded prying eyes from viewing the sight.
Amanda and Richie stood over Duncan, waiting for him to awaken. Methos had taken position
behind Shafer in case he revived first and tried to escape. He stood with MacLeod's katana in
one hand and his own sword in the other.
Joe had made his way to the edge of the platform and sat next to Ellen, his eyes wet with tears as
he shook his head. "I don't know who you are, but thanks for helping us." He began.
"I wish it had turned out better …" she replied in her thick Irish accent as she looked away from
Claudia's body sadly. "I'm Ellen Hanley, we spoke on the phone."
"Connor MacLeod's student? I did a little research on you after you called. Hope you don't
mind." Joe replied as he shook her hand, amazed at how quickly the limb had reattached itself.
"I don't know why you let yourself get pulled into this, but I appreciate what you did for us."
Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of Duncan gasping for air. All eyes turned in
that direction and Amanda knelt beside him.
Duncan awoke with a start, his hand immediately going to the place where the bullet had
impacted his abdomen. The wound had healed, and only the blood remained.
"What happened?" Duncan sputtered as he sat up, but then the memory of the last thing he saw
came rushing back. Half crawling, half stumbling, MacLeod rushed to where Claudia's lifeless
body lay crumpled on her knees behind the guillotine. Her head lay face down in the basket in
front.
"Noooo" he cried, pulling her dead body into his arms and then gasping at the horror of what had
been done to her.
Amanda came to him and tried to get him to let her go, but he would not be comforted. Richie
stood staring, his anger keeping the tears at bay. "That bastard has to die." He said.
Duncan's head shot up and he looked across the plaza where Methos stood over Rick Shafer.
So lost in his grief, he hadn't let his mind think about the villain who had done this. But now, the
rage overtook him.
Laying Claudia's body back down on the platform, Duncan focused his eyes on Shafer. Ignoring
everyone except for the fact that Methos held his katana, he strode purposefully to stand at
Shafer's feet.
"Give me my sword." He asked Methos flatly. He didn't have to wait. Methos handed it over and
stepped back.
"Mac, I want him." Richie protested as he came to stand beside Duncan. "Let me do this."
Duncan looked from Shafer's body to Richie and understood what his young friend was asking,
but no way could relinquish the task. "Richie, I know you loved Claudia. And I understand how
angry you must feel. But this all started because Shafer had a vendetta against me. I am going
to finish it."
Richie argued, but Mac cut him off. "Don't fight me on this Richie. Just know that he will pay for
what he's done to her … to us."
Methos felt badly for Richie. If it had been Beth, no way he could step aside. But this wasn't
Beth, and he understood why Duncan had to do this. However when Shafer revived, he did
nothing to pull Richie off as the young immortal pounced on him and began to pound his face
over and over, not allowing the man to rise.
His blows were so furious and so hard that Shafer fell back into unconsciousness, his face
resembling a raw piece of bloody meat by the time Richie was done with him.
It was only after Shafer couldn't feel the blows anymore that Methos grabbed Richie's shoulders
and pulled him to his feet. "I think he got the message." He said. "Now let MacLeod finish him."
Richie gave Shafer's carcass one last kick and spat on him before stepping back out of the way.
"Take the son of a bitch's head, but make sure he hurts … a lot." He said to Duncan as he
passed the Highlander, not looking at him, but staring straight ahead.
The waiting was unbearable, and Amanda didn't want to wait any longer. Walking across the
grass, she unrolled a garden hose and turned the spigot on full blast and then aimed it directly at
Shafer's face.
Choking and sputtering, Shafer awoke, trying with futility to fight back the strong spray.
"That's enough." MacLeod said flatly, before Amanda turned off the spigot.
"Get up!" Duncan ordered Shafer, who sat staring at him from the ground. "Get up and pick up
your sword."
Shafer looked around, hoping some of his men might still be around, but obviously the one's
inside had left him to his own fate. His delay only further enraged Duncan, who repeated his
order again and threatened to take his head where he sat if he didn't move.
"I thought you were a patient man." Shafer tried to stall the battle by distracting his opponent with
chatter.
"You're time is up Shafer. I've already lost enough because of your depraved vendetta."
"I only did what my comrades dead spirits cried out for." Shafer argued.
"You make a mockery of their memory by what you've done." Duncan replied. "It was exactly
this kind of hatred the White Roses committed their lives to fighting."
Shafer set his jaw indignantly, obviously not agreeing.
"Prepare to defend yourself." the Highlander ordered as he made the first move in Shafer's
direction.
Still groggy from the beating Richie had given him, Rick Shafer stumbled clumsily over one of the
cobblestones on the plaza as he retreated a few steps to avoid MacLeod's blade.
Duncan focused all of his attention on one goal, and in a matter of minutes had Shafer pinned
against the side of the platform with no where to go. No matter how hard he fought back, Duncan
managed to be just a little quicker. He was now bleeding from his left arm, neck, side and right
thigh from the blade that the Highlander kept swiping his way.
Staggering from loss of blood and exhaustion, Shafer used his last breath of energy to insult
MacLeod one last time. "You think you've beaten me, but you are the loser." He began. "You
are still a blight on the memory of the White Roses and always will be … coward!"
Tired of hearing the insane man's rantings, Duncan thrust his sword deep into Shafer's gut …
forcing him to his knees as the point pressed against the back of the man's spine.
"Where did you take Beth and her child?" Duncan demanded, ready to twist the blade to make
the pain even more excruciating.
"Burn in hell." Shafer spat as he dropped his sword and held the blade protruding from his
insides with his hands in an effort to keep the Highlander from twisting it.
Keeping the blade and Shafer where they were, Duncan looked over at Methos. "Can you live
with this? Letting him die without knowing?" he asked.
Methos knew that Shafer could tell them where Garrett was holding Beth, and realized MacLeod
was offering to torture the man further if he thought they could learn the truth. The idea was
tempting, and he knew Richie would not object, but Shafer had been allowed to walk the earth
long enough, and something told Methos that the man would not give up any answers. He knew
he was doomed and would take his secrets to hell with him just to spite them all.
"Finish it." Methos replied, walking to stand a distance behind MacLeod so he could witness the
look on Shafer's face when his head was severed from his body.
It wasn't like MacLeod to gain satisfaction from the suffering of his opponent, but this time … he
made an exception. Twisting the blade cruelly, Duncan slowly pulled it up through the man's
body. He was more than disemboweled, the razor sharp edge tore through his intestines and
the twist allowed MacLeod to literally shred his heart in two before he pulled it out.
Shafer was already dead when MacLeod spun around and sliced one last time, sending his head
bouncing across the platform and tumbling over the edge with a sickening splat.
Methos, Richie and the others moved back as the Quickening began. The sky darkened and a
fierce roar filled their ears as MacLeod's body contorted from the effects. The ground shook
beneath their feet and the air crackled with the sound of electricity. Ellen offered her arm to Joe
and they both left the plaza as the wind began to rush around the courtyard.
When it was finished, Duncan picked up his sword and wiped the blood off on Shafer's pant leg
before turning and picking up the basket that held Claudia's head. Amanda had wrapped her
jacket over the top of their friend's body and Richie lifted her into his arms before following the
others to the van outside. Thankfully the foliage shielded prying eyes from viewing the sight.