THE NEXT DAY

Munroe awoke to find fresh clothes by his bed , and a glass of cold orange juice on the bedside table.
 He had a shower then went to the canteen Tommy had shown him the previous day., and  as he ate his breakfast Tommy entered, accompanied by  another man
“Morning Franck.”
“Hi Tommy, whose your friend?”
“Robbie. Robbie, Mr Munroe.” The man shook Munroes hand and explained he was actually called Mike Robinson but was known by everyone as ‘Robbie’. He was a short man of about thirty  who smiled widely as he spoke.
“It’s a pleasure to meet another Englishman, like myself, joining our team Mr Munroe, and especially one of such distinction!”
Before Munroe could respond Tommy said he had to leave now, as his uncle wanted Robbie to escort  Munroe to an event that he wasn’t to attend.
 “And you’ll love it!” Robbie enthused. He sat down, and with a gushing enthusiasm, grasping Munroes arm as he spoke, told him he was to see a technological marvel that would amaze him. “Its Mr Darling,s favourite toy, and its called,” he paused to add emphasis, “the Deathbringer.” He paused again, a big grin on his face. “And you won’t believe what it does!”
Munroe, with his elbow on the table, rested his chin on his hand as he looked thoughtfully at Robbie. “If its called the deathbringer then I would imagine what it does is bring death.”
Robbie laughed and slapped Munroe’s arm. “You got it! And a professional assasin like yourself, if you don’t mind me saying so, is gonna love it!”
Munroe was beginning to find the other man irritating. He finished his  tea, wiped his mouth with a cloth, and spoke again. “Alright, lets go and meet the Deathbringer.”

Maybe, Munroe was to ask himself later, he should have asked  what exactly the Deathbringer was,  it might have saved him the shock he experienced when   Robbie led him into the room where it was kept. For a second he gasped as he gazed at the nightmarish construction in front of him, and memories of the escape he and Rose had earlier made were brought back to him. Not more than a few feet from where he stood was a  mechanical being, roughly like a human in shape, but taller, made of black metal, fearful in its appearance. He instinctively drew his gun.
“Please Mr Munroe,” the voice was that of Darling, “you are in no danger.” Regaining his composure Munroe put the gun back in his shoulder holster and noticed there were several people in the room, including Marie, who smiled mischievously as she spoke.
“Losing your cool Franck?” Munroe ignored her and turned to Darling.
 “I think I saw this before, at a police station where a man named Riva was being held.”
Now it was Darling who was startled, “I’m so sorry to hear you were there, you were lucky to escape with your life. Riva was a troublemaker, we needed to get rid of him. But I would never have sent the Deathbringer at that time if I’d known you were there.” Relaxing a little he continued, “I think you’re the  first to see this machine up close and survive. Didn’t I tell you,” he turned to Mareie “He’s darned good!”
“And so is the Deathbringer!” Robbie enthused, approaching  the machine. Grinning broadly he  grasped its claw like hands and turned to face Munroe. “These can crush steel!” He pointed at its teeth, at least two inches long, “And these can bite through it. I designed the jaws, and, ooh, it was fun to help construct this killing machine. Believe me, it’s a wonder to see it in action”
Darling smiled, “So lets show Mr Munroe what it can do.“ He nodded at a man at a control panel, and Robbies broad grin turned to an expression of agony as the machine he’d helped to build took his hair in one of it’s giant hands and  lifted him up off his feet. “Excuse me,” Darling turned to Munroe “I have  to deal with a traitor.” He nodded again at the man at the control panel and Robbie was lowered so his feet were on the floor again, and Darling approached him. “You fool, did you not think we would have monitors that would detect your radio message, we even know it communicated with a satelite owned by the Pentagon and soon we will have decoded it.”
Through his pain Robbie smiled again, in a way, a snarling, agonised  sort of grin. “You’re the fool Darling, you don’t know whats really happening. Whatever death you’ve got lined up for me, yours will be worse.”
Darling stared at him for a few seconds, his face expressionless, then he turned to Munroe. “If you would be so good to rid us of this nuisance please.” Munroe ended Robbies life with a single shot. “You’ve been infiltrated Mr Darling. There maybe others.”
“Indeed there may,” Darling responded, “if you see anyone doing anything traitorous shoot them immediately. Don’t hesitate.” He turned to Marie, “Is everything ready?,” she nodded and Darling looked again at Munroe. “Later today our customers are arriving, I want you to be there. For the moment go and relax, word will be sent for whern your needed.”

After Munroe had left Marie asked Darling if he thought there might be other spies who had infiltrated their organisation. “Maybe,” Darling replied in a tone that seemed unconcerned, “its happened before. How long before Robbies message is decoded?”
“Hours. It’s going to be a while before we know what he said”’
“But we know who it was said to,” added Darling, “So we know the Pentagon is on to us. But there’s no need to panic, we are nearly done. Tomorrow we’ll be very rich.”
“Your already rich,” Marie said with a grin, “if you weren’t I wouldn’t be working for you.”
“Ah Marie,” Darling took hold of her hand,  “And tomorrow you will rich too, you can have anything you want. And I will have governments from all over the world begging me to help them. To save them from the deadliest weapon since the nuclear bomb! But we must make sure our presentation goes well today, if there are any more traitors that could be a moment they will try to make trouble. Co-operate with Mr Munroe, if there are problems he could be invaluable.” Marie nodded.

Munroe had not long left when he met Tommy. “Hi Tommy.” he greeted him and Tommy responded with his usual smile, then asked where Robbie was. Munroe paused before replying, “Tommy, your not going to see Robbie again.”
“Is he dead?.” Tommy’s response was immediate.
“Yes” Munroe replied.
“Did you kill him?”
“Yes.”
Tommy turned away, his fists clenched, then turned back to look at Munroe, tears in his eyes. “Why do people like you always have to spoil things? Robbie was a nice person, he was always cheerful, I liked him,” he paused briefly, “did Uncle Eddie tell you to kill him?”

“You should speak to your uncle about this Tommy.”
“Why? He never tells me anything! He just gets people like you to, to spoil things!”

Tommy was beginning to cry as he walked away. As Munroe watched him he reflected that he’d wondered if his innocence was an act. If it was, he now thought, then he was a very good actor. THE HARD SELL

 As Darling had said Munroe received word to to join him a liitle later that day. The man who conveyed the message gave him directions and so he set off through Darlings underground complex and as he neared his destination he was met by Tommy.
“Hello Frank,” Tommy was looking at the floor as he spoke “I’m sorry I got angry, but,” he paused, then looked directly at Munroe, “Robbie was a nice guy, and I was upset, I, “ again he paused, “but if uncle Eddie hadn’t got you to kill him he’d have got someone else . So, are we still friends?”
“Sure. I have to go now but I’ll catch you later.“

On reaching his destination Munroe found himself in a part of the complex he hadn’t seen before. It was a large, oblong shaped room, luxuriously decorated ,  with, he estimated, about a hundred people inside it. A few were  security personnel, but the majority were what he assumed were the customers Darling had spoke of. All were expensiveley dressed, they could have been a gathering of stockbrokers he thought.

 And one noticed him. A middle aged American, he stared at Munroe for a few seconds, then approached Darling, “That man,” he nodded toward Munroe “ does he work for you?”
“Mr Munroe?” Darling replied. “Yes Mr Adams, he’s a valued employee.“
The responce  from Adams was brief. “He killed my brother.”
Darling paused for a few seconds before replying, “What were the circumstances?”
“A paid hit, for the Feds I think. I want him dead Mr Darling, if you want to do business with me.“
“Indeed,“ Darling then spoke in Portuguese to one of his assistants. “Come with me Mr Adams, we will resolve this.“ He then led the other man to a nearby room and a moment later Munroe entered.
 “You wanted to see me Mr Darling?“
“Yes.” Darling pointed a finger at Adams, “Would you be so good as to shoot this man?” Adams jaw dropped in schock, but before he could speak Munroe put a bullet through his head.
“Who was he?” Munroe enquired.
“Apparently you shot his brother, He wanted revenge.”

“Ah, my past catching up with me. Happens occasionaly.”
“And it happens to me too. But,” Darling smiled broadly and put an arm round Munroe’s shoulders, “Now we are friends we can watch each others backs. So lets rejoin to the others, an exciting spectacle awaits us.“ He smiled again. “Prepare to be amazed.”

On their return to where Darlings customers were being entertained the centre of the room was now clear of people apart from Marie and a young man, who was not of European stock but of local, native Indian, race. The audience, some with a glass of wine from the buffet Darling had arranged,  watched with evident interest as Marie addressed them. “Gentlemen, ladies,” she pointed to the man “this is what we offer you. He looks a normal, ordinary man, but observe and wonder!” For his part the man stared into the space in front of him, his arms hanging limply at his side, no emotion apparent. Marie drew her gun from its holster, held it aloft so all could see it, then grasped the man’s right hand. Placing the gun into it she then stood back. “Shoot me.” He raised the gun level with her face. “Stop,” she commanded, and as he remained with his arm outstretched she  took hold of his hand and turned it around so the gun he held now pointed at his own  face. Marie gently pulled his jaw down and pushed the barrel of the gun into his mouth, the man offering no resistance. She stepped back. “Shoot yourself.” He did so, the bullet exploding from the back of his head and his lifeless body falling to the floor.

All around the room there were gasps of amazement and Marie allowed a few seconds to pass before speaking again. “This is what we are offering you, a treatment we have developed that completely removes a persons emotions and willpower, so they will do whatever you command them. Imagine having an army that will do whatever you order, that has no fear, no sense of self preservation, no morality, just a readiness to obey. Imagine what it must be like,” she raised her voice slightly, “to be a god!”

Some in the audience began to talk about what they had just seen but Marie continued. “And we have a special offer that I know will interest you.” She snapped her fingers and at the end of the room a door opened. Two of Darlings security people appeared, and with them were Nixon and Rose, whose hands were tied in front of them. As they reached Marie she smiled broadly, “Here we have Al Nixon,” she  placed a hand on his shoulder, “thirty five years old and with years of experience working for the CIA. With our treatment he would give you every bit of information he has learned during his time. “And here,“ she motioned toward Rose, “we have Rosemary Mcdonald. Only twenty seven and already a CIA Field Commander. With the treatment we can supply she would tell you all she knows of CIA operations, and,” she smiled again, “do anything else some of you, er, shall we say less gentlemanly of gentleman might want her to do.” There was a ripple of laughter around the room, while Marie turned and looked into Nixons eyes.
 “Once, a man like you, a white man, could look at a woman like me, a black woman, and if he wanted her he took her. But times have changed. Who is in control here?”
“What makes you think I’d want you?” Nixon responded with a sly grin.
Marie also smiled ,“Ah, big man talking tough to hide how scared you are.” She turned to Rose, “We’ve done some research on your career and I hear at university your thesis was ’ethics and the security services’. And I expect you really are stupid enough to think your countries security services have some ethics.”
And having completed  taunting  her prisoners she turned to the audience again. “One more thing ladies and gentlemen, to ensure your safety we employ only the highest quality security personnel. And we have a new recruit, a man whose expertise with firearms is legend. Frank,” she motioned to Munroe ,“step forward, let our guests see you.“ He hesitated a second then stepped from the crowd. “Im sure everyone would love to see you demonstrate your skills Frank,” she continued, “so lets show them what you can do.” She took two apples from a table loaded with food for the buffet then faced Munroe. “Draw your gun please Frank and I’ll throw these apples into the air. I’m sure you’ll have no trouble shooting them both before they hit the ground.”
Looking on, Darling raised his eyes upwards. “Oh Marie,” he said with a sigh.
She threw the apples into the air above her and  a second later each erupted into tiny pieces as bullets from Munroes gun went through them. There was a seconds silence then everyone applauded. “Thankyou Frank,” said Marie, still smiling. Munroe suspected she’wanted to humiliate him, not expecting he’d be able to carry out the task she‘d set, but she showed no sign of disapointment, and joined in the appluase. Addressing the audience again she spoke with a smile, “I told you he was good and that’s why we hired him.” She then lifted another apple from the table and was about to take a bite from it when the fruit exploded, juice and and pieces of apple smothering her face. She screamed, then realising she had suffered no harm wiped the juice from her eyes. And as  she saw Munroe, his gun pointing at her, she became aware it was a bullet he had fired that had destroyed the apple. In the audience there were gasps then laughter.
“I thought,” Munroe spoke, “you would appreciate a close up demonstration of my skills.” For a few seconds she stared at him before speaking .
“Thankyou,” her eyes narrowed, “and I won’t forget it.”

Nixon nudged Rose, “Looks like Frank isn’t getting on to well with some of his new comrades.”  She nodded before replying, “But we’d better worry about what they’ve got planned for us”.

Darling was moving among his guests as they indulged themselves in the buffet and wine he’d had provided for them. “Some of your employees  are a little fractious with each other Edward.” The speakes was a tall and beautiful woman, about thirty years old, dressed in a blue, business like  suit, and with her blonde hair tied behind her head.
Darling shrugged, “Their like children, they fight sometimes.” The woman smiled, then seeing Munroe nearby excused herself of Darling and approached him.
“That was a pretty impressive display.”
Munroe seemed preoccupied with his thoughts and it was a few seconds before he replied. “I wouldn’t argue with that, the guy just shot himself when ordered to, I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“Actually,” the woman said, “I was referring to your display with your gun. I’ve never seen anything like that. I’m Ingrid by the way, and as you’ve probably realised from my accent I’m English like yourself.” She extended a hand and Munroe clasped and shook it, then replied.
 “Oh I do that all the time.”
“You handle your weapon expertly.” Ingrid added. Munroe still didn’t appear to be concentrating on her words, he paused in thought, but then turned to face her and smiled.
 “I bet you say that to all the boys.”
Ingrid laughed, and then, looking quizzically at him, spoke again. “Did that guy really shoot himself because of a treatment, as Edward put it?”
“Edward? Then you know him well I presume.”
“Yea I’ve known him a little while. So, do you think that demo was genuine?”
“Looked it to me. His bodies still on the floor if you want to inspect it, make sure he’s dead.”
“He’s dead. But he could have been drugged, insane or bribed.”
“Bribed?” Munroes face showed his puzzlement. “Bribed to kill himself?”
“He was a local Indian,” Ingrid said, “many live in dire poverty. An offer of, say, a million dollars into his childrens bank account might have persuaded him to sacrifice himself.”
“Maybe,” Munroe looked at the lifeless form on the floor, “really your talking to the wrong person, I’ve no idea whats going on here.”

What is going on here was, perhaps for a microsecond, a thought that went through the mind of the young Brazilian woman who was running through the rain forest as fast as the undergrowth allowed her., not more than a mile from Darling,s premises. But now only one thought occupied her mind, fear! Absolute terror, like she’d never experienced other than, perhaps, in nightmares as a child. The trees slashed cuts in her clothes and flesh as she ran, but she had no comprehension of it or anything accept the terror that had engulfed her and the sound of her pursuers crashing through the jungle. If she had faith she might have prayed but she could give no time to thoughts other than summoning all the strength she possessed to run. And then she stopped. For barring her way was a figure, that of a man. A strange man, his hair long and white, his flesh blueish and rotting, his eyes staring at her, unblinking. “Papa,” her voice was tremulous, barely audible. She raised a shaking hand and touched the mans cheek, “Papa, help me.”

Darling was still entertaining his guests,  when Marie spoke softky to him, and he excused himself to move into a quiet area with her. “Robbie’s message has been decoded,” she told him. A few seconds passed, before Darling replied. 
“And he said?” Marie remained silent, looking pensive and fiddling with a small piece of paper. She looked again at the paper, which had some writing on it, breathed hard and spoke.
“He said?” again she paused, “the dead are walking.”

Chapter Two

WHO IS RUNNING THIS SHOW ?

“Ladies, gentlemen,” Darling spoke to his guests, “I hope you’ve all had enough of the wine and food laid on for you, but now its time to begin negotiations. My staff will direct you, and if you have any questions I will be only to pleased to help.” With a large smile he left the room.
“Looks like he’s wined and dined us enough,” Ingid spoke with a grin “now it’s time to talk money. I’ll catch you later Frank.” She walked away then looked back at him and smiled in a way that he would have interpreted as seductive had it not been that trying to get romantic in these circumstances seemed unlikely. But he was puzzled by Ingrid, her manner seemed more familiar than he’d expect from someone whose purpose here was to buy Darling,s lethal technology. 

 Not being included in the negotiations between Darling and his customers Munroe first went to his quarters, and then, becoming bored, decided to go to the cafetera for a coffee. He was not there long before Marie joined him.
  “Come with me Frank, we have a security situation.”
She led him to a room near one of the exits to Darlings complex, and on seeing about twenty people in army style clothing, checking over automatic weapons, he turned to face her. “A serious situation by the look of it.” Marie was speaking to one the others but turned to him
“Nothing we can’t handle.” Then she glanced over his shoulder and spoke again, “And we’ve got an old friend of yours to help.”
Munroe turned and there he saw a familiar face, that of Morton, Charles Morton who had been with him at the slaughter of the Thompson family in Khazakstan.
 “Howdy Frank, I’d heard you’d joined us,” Morton grinned as he spoke, and after giving Munroe a hefty slap on the back continued, “Good to have you on our side, you won’t regret it! I’ve been in on Darlings operation a long time, from before we offed the Thompsons. You just aren’t ‘gonna believe how much money you’ll make out of this, and,” he winked at Munroe and nodded toward Marie, “look at the lovely company we got!”
“Mr Morton,” Marie’s voice was completely unemotional as she spoke, “shouldn’t you be attending to your duties?”
“Yea, and I can sure think of some duties I’d like to attend to with you!” And with that he left, going out into the forest. The others of Darlings staff had already gone, leaving Munroe alone with Marie. “How well do you know Morton?” he asked.
“Well enough.” was her short response.”Ok, this is the score. There’s a group of people who work at a plantation a few miles from here, they’ve rebelled and are on their way to attack us,” 
Munroe interrupted her,  “Rebelled? What, their on strike? And why do they want to attack us?”
“If  you needed to know that I’d have told you.”
“Oh, this is like dealing with the CIA,” then seeing Marie looking quizzically at him he apologised for interrupting her, and she continued.
“The soldiers you saw leaving will meet them head on and should blow them all away. We take the left flank to look for stragglers, Mortons covering the other.  The rebels will be armed but not many are likely to have a gun, and those that do probably don’t know how to use it. So,” she smiled, “should be easy picking for us.” She then handed him two small, square objects that looked to Munroe like electrical devices. “After we’ve finished the Deathbringer will be sent out to hunt down any survivors, so you need these if your still in the forest then. They emit a radio signal that means the Deathbringer identifies you as a friend. There’s two in case one is lost or broken. If you lose them both,” again she smiled “Pray!”
“ And you need this,”  she handed him a small radio. “Its default is to receive so instructions can be sent from base. To talk to them, flick that switch at the top. If you turn it over,” Munroe did so, “that bit you see that looks like a compass is your guide back. The needle always points to base so if your alone in the forest just follow it home. Ok?”
“Ok. Lets go.”

Once they were in the forest Munroe was nervous, unused to the sounds and movements, he fingered edgily with his gun, and, noticing Maries pistol was still in its hip holster asked her why she hadn’t drawn it.
 “Some of us,” she spoke with a smile, “Don’t need guns to kill.”
The sound of gunfire in the distance caught their attention and Marie spoke again, “That will be our colleagues, who do use guns, taking out the rebels.”
“Wonder if these, er, rebels, had any idea what their taking on?” Munroe replied, not looking at her but continuing to cast his eyes back and forth, anxiously staring into the thick undergrowth.
“You ask a lot of questions,” Marie replied, “Lets just say they work for us, in a sense, and they will kill us if they get the chance. So lets make sure we don’t let them.”
Munroe grunted in response. Had he not been so preoccupied with being in an environment he was not familar with he might have noticed how Marie’s army style uniform clung to her body., the material stretching around her chest and hips as she walked. But he barely noticed her until, after they had walked for about twenty minutes, she nudged him and put a finger to her lips to let him know he should be quiet.
“Stay cool,” she whispered, then stepped, moving gently and gracefully, toward the trees surrounding them. Munroe wondered what she was doing, but realising it could involve danger was ready to shoot.  Marie motioned with her hand for him to lower his gun, and, reluctantly, he did so. She pulled some branches back to reveal a young man, obviously not one of Darlings security staff as his clothes were ragid and filthy, his face unshaven, his hair unkempt. And there was a young woman with him, her appearance being the same. And each carried a weapon, the mans being a baseball bat, the womans a machette. Screaming with  aggression the man raised the bat above his head to strike Marie, who, with an expression of contempt on her face, stepped back to avoid the blow then moved forward to deliver a kick to one of his knees. It was a fearful strike, that of someone well practiced in the art of violence, and it caused an agonising break in his kneecap. Though he was to cry in pain for less than a second as Marie’s booted foot was propelled into his throat, and he fell to the ground with blood pouring from his mouth, unconscious, dying. The young woman gasped in horror, and Marie took advantage of her hesitancy to grasp, with her right hand, the wrist that held the machette. She then wrapped her left arm under the womans upper arm and over her shoulder, and pressing down on her wrist, twisted  and dislocated the elbow. Taking the machette from the screaming womans hand she plunged it into her stomach, twisted it and then pulled it out in a scooping motion, the internal organs spilling out. As the  dead woman sank to the ground Marie stepped back and briefly glanced at the bodies before turning to face Munroe.
“As I said, some of us don’t need guns to kill.”
“So I see,” replied Munroe “I’m very impressed.”