chap4

prince..

prince chuckled his cigarette out the window i see them, who? the engine whined as prince pressed harder on the gas pedal the lack of surprise on his face was not comforting they gained a little distance only to veer a round a corner and find a pick up truck shooting out of a skinny back road right in front of them prince slammed on the brakes and the model t skid to a swerving halt leaving scant inches between them and the bed of the truck the crates of alcohol behind them rattled and cracked benedick let out a breath hands braced on the dash the truck's driver door opened and a thicker man walked out his mouth ws full of the kind of grimy teeth that would make even a sincere smile look bad and his smile was not sincere in the passengers seat a young man lowered i think you know why we stopped you this fine morning and why when our shipment was a few counts low of what we ordered this past month weve been inclined to let it slied he spread his hands as if to demonstrate the generosity hed offered prince had gone still he was scarcely breathing the man took a step closer to their car he snapped glowed fingers and the young man in the passengers seat opened the door an automatic rifle in both hands so heres the deal kid the man said you hand over what belongs to us and well say no more thats the smartchoice otherwise we teach you how to make smart choices the crates claude whispered right we can give them back benedick glared at prince whose eyes narrowed sorry claude prince muttered goddmaned italians under his reathe he made a vulgar gesture over the steering wheel then jerked the reverse stick into place benedick muttered a thank you to whatever god was listening that the engine hadnt quit in their unplanned stop prince pounded the gas pedal and they lurched back another set of headlights appeared behind them the direction they were hurtling toward in his newfound freedom benedick had thought he didnt give a damn what became of him it seemed he cared after all he at least wanted to live lookng over his shoulder prince said get the gun out from under the seat bendick crouched down and found leos rifle the weapon felt wakward in his hands give that here claude said with the rifle in one hand he angled himslef out the side window his foot braced on the seat one well aimed shot took out the left headlight of the car behind them thats what three seasons box hunting gets you an answering bulllet blasted apart one of the crates in the back benedick fisrt panicked thought was for his typewriter prince yanked the steering wheel around and they slammed over the edge of the road into the weeds hard enough that the car bucked and benedick had to grab calude around the legs to keep him from falling out the tin lizzie swereved several yards off the road tires squeling as prince braked and changed gears take over the wheel he said before benedick could ask what name prince was doing his friend had flown out of the door i dropped the gun claude gasped as he collapsed back into his seat benedick craned his neck and watched in the grayness of dawn as prince grabbed the rifle out of the dirt bent down on one knee and cocked the gun against his hsoulder the car chasing them blazed past blowing off prince cap he fired a shot that took out the back tire the car skidded and careered both passengers cursing in italian the truck roaring in the other direction braked kicking up dirt to avoid hitting them its terrifying calude said that jerked benedick out of his seat he fumbled into the drivers spot the gears ground with his clumsy shifting but by the time prince jumped in through the opposite door claude frantically scooting to make room they were moving away from the road another shot blasted through their backseat and benedick