Page 122 of Samson

He pulled his hands away slowly, cradling the air around the device until he was confident it was secure, then he lifted the box with the rest of the bombs and hurried down the hall to his next destination, glancing up the stairs as he passed.

When he heard voices echoing through the halls, he ducked into an empty room, holding his breath until the quiet returned. Then he hurried on until he came to a corner he hadn’t been expecting.

He looked back the way he’d come, bringing a mental image of the blueprints to mind. It was impossible they’d reconstructed the basement since the blueprints were made.

“God,” he whispered. “I need your help. I’m in the dark here.”

He had little choice but to see what was around the corner anyway, so he continued forward.

A room at the end of the corridor had a light on. He approached slowly, his ears attuned to any sound no matter how small.

As he drew near, he heard a throat clear. It came from close to the door. He quickly set the box on the floor and prepared for a fight when someone came out of the room.

Demir stopped, then reached for his gun, but came up emptyhanded.

“Samson. This is unexpected,” he said, his eyes flicking sideways, back into the room where he’d probably left his weapon.

When he moved to retrieve it, Samson said, “You won’t face me man to man?”

Demir paused to consider his proposal. “It wouldn’t be a fair fight.”

“You’re probably right. I am feeling strong.”

Demir laughed. “You believe you could take me if we fought one on one after we’ve been starving and beating you?”

“I don’t know. But I’m game to find out.”

Demir looked into the room again.

“You could get your gun,” Samson said. “That may make it a more equitable fight.”

Demir cracked his fingers. “How’d you get out?”

“Answer my riddle, and I’ll tell you.”

“What riddle?”

“The one I told you when we met outside this place.”

“Something about honey?”

“What is sweeter than honey and hotter than the sun? The king needs it, but the beggar has it. Whoever eats it dies. It’s also what I’m going to leave you with because it’s what I have to lose.”

“Clever.”

“You think so?”

“You think you’re in a position to leave me with nothing?”

“I know I am.”

Demir looked at the box Samson had left on the floor. “Your plan is to blow this place up? These walls are reinforced. But Ihave to give you some credit. You’ve fought until the end. Which makes it that much sadder. Because for all your preparation to get this close, only to fail. It’s pathetic.”

Demir dove into the room, and Samson took off after him but didn’t reach him before he’d gotten his gun.

Samson lunged, knocking him to the ground as a round was fired. The feel of the bullet ripping through his flesh was a distant pinch as the two men wrestled on the ground.

Demir tried to bring the gun around to get off another shot, but Samson grabbed his wrist, wrenching it over his head and smashing it against the wall until he dropped it. Then they rolled across the floor, where Samson slammed into the leg of the table knocking the wind out of him. It gave Demir the chance to get out of Samson’s grasp.

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