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Working quickly as a precise, experienced team, the men set up the small laser and got
to work burning a hole through the pitted lava surface. It only took minutes before the
porous substance dissolved and the tiny cave was exposed to the open air. With a sweeping,
impatient gesture of his arms, Barlow directed his men to enter the cave. All six of them
130 Laura Baumbach
eagerly responded, leaving the capable Betovan guards behind to watch over the woman and
the pirate.
Knowing they only had a short time before the sun rose in the clear blue Caribbean sky
and revealed their hiding place, Talos and Marius edged closer. Taking advantage of the noise
of the men anchoring cables and climbing down into the cave and the fact that everyone s
attention was riveted on the process, they managed to move in very close, hiding among the
damaged shuttle pieces.
Syphus s deep voice echoed up from below. We re all the way through.
Nearly vibrating in place, Barlow yelled back into the hole. Excellent, excellent work.
Now, bring me my treasure. Eyeing Maymon standing by the dying bonfire, Barlow smiled
and jerked his head toward Rice. Zrac and Garn instantly pulled a struggling Rice to her feet
and waited for Barlow s next command.
Rice pulled her arm from Zrac s grip and wiped a light sheen of sweat and sand off her
face, then straightened her clothes and brushed the grime from the knees of her pants. She
shot Barlow a killer glare and held her head up high, ignoring the wisps of matted red hair
that the ocean breeze whipped across her bruised face.
Maymon smiled winningly at Barlow. You ve got me treasure, matey. There s no need
for the lass and me to be in the way whilst your men work. What say you have us dropped
off at the nearest port? Barlow returned the smile but his didn t reach his eyes. Maymon
hesitated, then hopefully ventured, Or leave us a jolly boat or a gig? Don t need to leave any
oars even, just the boat will do.
It s not quite that simple, my dear Captain. Barlow rested his hand on the hilt of his
sword and paced around the rough edges of the fresh hole in the ground he had created. I
dare say your bounty hunter will be quite displeased to find you missing. He flicked an
arrogant, disdainful glance at Rice. And I m sure someone will notice the doctor is gone as
well. He turned his back on her and sniffed, Eventually.
Eh, now. Maymon circled around slowly, walking along the edge of the hole, keeping
a fair distance away from Barlow as the man strolled around the opening. In a low, throaty,
placating tone, Maymon coaxed, We re both in one piece, mate. No broken bones, no new
holes, so no harm done. What say we just call it a short visit tween ... acquaintances.
That does sound more civilized, Barlow amicably agreed, however, even if you could
get the good doctor to agree to keep silent about this little excursion of ours, which I doubt,
I m afraid your hunter won t see it the same sensible way you do.
No one s going to believe we left with these people willingly, Aidan. Rice shook her
head, her voice a croaked murmur, dry and brittle sounding. She looked pale and tired, her
face full of deep shadows highlighted by the first rays of the early morning sun. She sighed
and added, Marius won t let it go either. He ll be charged with kidnapping, at the very
least.
Details of the Hunt 131
And I m afraid I can t let that happen. Barlow walked toward the defenseless doctor,
his dark intent clearly written on his face for all to see.
Moving quickly, Maymon jumped to the edge of the pit, grabbed a lit torch from the
closest holder and tossed it down into the opening. The flame ignited the aged and extremely
potent gunpowder he had poured over the treasure earlier. The first explosion shattered the
intact bottles and set off a chain reaction, igniting the multitude of remaining bottles of
powder left below.
The resulting explosion was huge. The tiny, unstable rock ledge masquerading as an
island shuddered and lurched, knocking everyone to the ground. As he crashed into the
ground, Barlow lost his hold on the heavy scepter, and the staff fell from his grip, tumbling
back down into the smoking hole into the cave.
An ear-splitting crack snapped in the air, drowning out the few muffled cries from
down below in the cave. A large section of the narrow beach broke off and slid into the
ocean, forcing a huge surge in the swirling water. A massive wave billowed up and washed
up the beach, pulling loose sand and brittle rock back with it as it cascaded over the far side
of the tiny island.
Scrambling for dry land, Barlow grabbed hold of Maymon and the Betovans pulled
Rice with them to a slightly higher ground. No one emerged from the collapsed hole.
Still hidden behind the shuttle, Talos and Marius could only watch the newest
development, their plan to rush the nearby guards suddenly snatched from their grasp by the
explosion.
Stunned, Barlow stared at his empty hands, then surveyed the surrounding devastation
brought down on his head by the smiling, cocksure, man beside him. Livid and barely able to
breathe, Barlow hissed, You vile, thieving, deceitful ... you sly, dirty ...
Backing away several paces, Maymon grinned and added, Pirate? He winked at
Barlow and quipped, Thought you knew that afore, matey. Thought that what was what
you liked about me.
Bellowing maniacally, Barlow pulled his sword and advanced rapidly on Maymon.
Scrambling inside the long sack still gripped tightly in his hand, Maymon shook off the bag,
revealing an ornate steel sword he had taken from the treasure mound in the cave.
Comfortable and happy with a blade in his hand, the young pirate s delighted grin widened
as he squared off against his attacker.
Barlow hesitated a moment then sneered, continuing his attack.
Using the sudden distraction of the duel to her advantage, Dr. Rice rapidly scanned the
area looking for something to use as a weapon. A small move by the abandoned shuttle
caught her eye. She hung her head and darted her gaze to one side to watch from the corner
of her eye. The movement flashed again and she recognized the two tiny orbs of violet
reflecting in the fire s dying flames as the eyes of an Oracan hunter. Deciding to even the
odds a little more in their favor, she dropped to her knees in the sand. When Zrac and Garn
132 Laura Baumbach
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