Read Online Robert Charrette - Arthur 03 - A Knight Among Knaves by Robert N. Charrette - Free Book Online

the floor behind the troll. The feet Holger had seen as he came up the stairs belonged to that body. No movement. No breath. No heartbeat. Dead. Evidence of how the troll would deal with Holger, probably whether he complied or not. Holger had to fight, even though the result was foredoomed.
    Holger's breathing was shallow, rapid. His skin tingled Everything he saw seemed sharp-edged, with digitally enhanced clarity. Someone—who? No time to think about that Look at what's in front of you! —had once told him that you can't change anything you don't try to change. Heat crawled along his veins, exploding into flames. He launched himself at the troll.
    Holger used all the combat arts he had been taught in basic training and every dirty trick he had learned since. He kicked and punched and clawed. The troll was pummeling him, but he put aside the pain. Pain wouldn't stop him. He couldn't let it stop him, not even slow him down. He fought harder. Smashing. Ripping. Tearing. He felt muscle and bone part under his assault. He felt his fingers go slippery with blood.
    Then, without apparent transition, he was standing still, panting; this time from exhaustion rather than fear. He was looking down at the broken, bleeding body of the troll.
    Somehow, he had beaten it.
    The monster was defeated. By him. It had bled like a real animal, cried out in pain. It had been real. Too, too terribly real, but...
    He had beaten it.
    He felt... tired.
    And worried.
    This monster was evidence that another of the Department's fears had been realized. The troll was evidence that their shadowy opponent had done a deal with the otherworld andd sent this minion here to intercept Holger. Who knew what other creatures might come to their call? There were things that physical force couldn't touch. Dangerous, deadly things. He knew.
    Holger heard a door open behind him. He tensed, ready lor a further assault, but it was only his contact Chalmers. the man looked as surprised as Holger had been to see the Troll. Chalmers was fortunate that Holger had arrived when he did. Likely Chalmers would have been the troll's next victim.
    At least the test was over.
    Pankhurst came pounding up the stairs. Gaping, he stared at the troll Holger had vanquished. Kneeling by the body, he examined the wounds. "God, Kun, what did you do to him?"
    "Took it out." It was a damned troll. What was he supposed to do? Kiss it?
    "It?"
    "The troll."
    "Jesus." Pankhurst tugged at the skin on the troll's neck.
    With a sucking, ripping sound the skin tore free. Pankhurst peeled the troll's face away. There was a man's face beneath it. Holger didn't recognize the face. No man's face belonged
    there.
    "This is no bloody damn troll," Pankhurst screamed. "It's Leftenant Barkins from MI6. He's wearing a bloody costume, you maniac!"
    Not a troll? But—
    Holger looked to the body of the agent the troll had overcome. He saw what he should have seen in the first place. The body was not a body, but a dummy. No breath or heartbeat because it had never had any. And the troll—barely breathing, heart fluttering—the troll wasn't a troll at all.
    "You do the same to Linkwater?" Pankhurst asked angrily.
    "No." Holger blinked, confused. He shook his head. No. Not to a man. "No."
    "Thank God for small favors." Pankhurst touched his head, behind the ear, where his implant would be. "Man down. Medical evac, stat. Make it bloody fast or just send a body bag."
    Pankhurst stood, shaking his head. He was no more a doctor than Holger. There was nothing either of them could do for—was Barkins the name?
    "Better check on Linkwater," Chalmers said to Pankhurst.
    Pankhurst nodded and left. He left bloody footprints on the stairs.
    Chalmers stepped up beside Holger. The man avoided looking down at the bloody mess that was Barkins. Yes, Barkins was the name. Leftenant Barkins, MI6. Not a troll at all.
    "Looks like you've overcome your fear of the things from the other side," he said. "Do you still have the chip,