Eden's Hammer - By Lloyd Tackitt Page 0,49
the prisoners.”
Linda replied, “We could see them coming from a mile off, and they were moving in a straight line. I thought maybe if we intercepted them, we could bring them back and see if they had any valuable information. Will you torture them? Not that I mind—just curious.”
Clif smiled at the question as Adrian responded, “Torture works, but it can take a long time. With two of them, I’ll play them against each other and not only get better information faster, but I’ll also get corroboration, as well. Unless I miss my guess, by tonight I’ll know everything they know and have it verified. They’re in for a long day, but not much else. At least for now.”
Linda asked, “What do you mean when you say ‘at least for now?’”
Adrian looked her straight in the eye and replied, “It means that when I have all they have to offer, they’ll be killed. They won’t know that, of course. When they are killed, they won’t know it or feel it.”
Seeing the tightening of Linda’s jaw, Adrian said, “It’s harsh, but the reality is that prisoners will weaken us. It takes manpower to take care of them, to guard them. Even then, let’s say we do keep them as prisoners: for how long? What do we do with them, turn them loose? Men who live by killing women and children? Men who rape? Should we turn them loose to continue doing that? Turn them loose on unsuspecting and innocent people? I’ll tell you what, if you can come up with a better plan by morning, I’ll damn sure listen to it.” Adrian truly hated to kill prisoners, yet he knew it was the only valid choice. The fact that it had to be done didn’t make him like it any better. Instead, it created internal conflicts that he knew he could never resolve. That is what made him jump on Linda the way he did. If she could conceive a better method of dealing with prisoners, he truly was ready to listen.
Linda smiled a grim smile and said, “Those may be the men who burned my home, would have killed my son, would have raped and then killed me. If they weren’t the ones, they were certainly part of that gang of animals. No, what I was wondering was, can I be the one who kills them?”
Clif guffawed loudly and then caught himself. “She’ll do, Adrian, she’ll do.”
Adrian was looking at Linda in a whole new light. This is one tough woman. Rare to find one that hardcore and honest about it. He once again began feeling the warring factions of attraction and guilt roaring through his mind. Barely able to keep his voice steady from the internal onslaught, he said, “Linda, you did a damn good job bringing in those two prisoners. When the time comes to kill them, you can certainly take part.”
Linda was shocked at herself for saying out loud what she wanted to do. She wanted to kill these men, yes, but two days ago, she would never had said so, and would never have believed she could do it. Now she was aware she not only could, but it would bring her a certain satisfaction, though not pleasure. She heard Adrian’s praise as though from a long distance and pulled herself together again, answering, “Thank you, General, thank you very much.”
Adrian wasn’t sure if she was thanking him for the praise or for allowing her to take part in killing the prisoners. He just nodded and turned to interrogating the prisoners. He no longer had any doubt that he’d chosen the right person to lead the women.
As Linda watched him walk off, she wasn’t sure which she had thanked him for, either. She was still shocked by her request, and even more shocked that she had meant every word of it.
Adrian addressed the first prisoner, “In a moment, I’ll remove your gag and let you have a drink of water. The blindfold and ties stay on. I’m not interested in your comfort. Then I’ll begin asking you questions. You can choose to answer, and if you do so and answer truthfully, you’ll be taken far out of camp, still blindfolded, in the opposite direction of your band, and released. If you’re ever seen around here again, you’ll be shot on sight.
“On the other hand, if you decide not to answer, then you’ll be tortured until you do. I know how to torture. I know how to