Run, Spy, Run

"There's nothing to tell you," said Nick. "You know it all."

"Who are your colleagues?"

"We haven't any. We hire out our services, that's all — like you do."

Something like a titter came out of the unlikely mouth.

"A presumptuous comparison. I'm sure the lady's story will be far more sensible."

"The lady's story," said Nick firmly, "will be exactly the same as mine."

Judas turned to Julia, beautiful, pitiful in her nakedness. "You'll speak for yourself, won't you, my dear? After all, it is your body that your gallant colleague so easily ignores for his noble cause. So why not give me the true story, Miss Baron? Perhaps then Braille won't hurt quite so much."

"You can go to hell," said Julie. "I wouldn't give you the lint from my navel. There's no story. Just your sick preoccupation with Braille."

Nick caught his breath. She had said too much.

Judas eyed her coldly. "How extremely coarse." He looked from her to Nick and then back again. Suddenly he stepped back out of the light and his curt, echoing voice snapped: "Braille!"

Something shambled in the shadows.

Nick tensed. The cord cut into his raw body. He was wrong; it was useless; nothing was giving. Julie braced herself. Her firm, smooth body drew erect within the bonds, her chin jutted defiantly.

Braille stepped into view.

Even Nick could scarcely repress a visible shudder of revulsion.

Julie uttered a choked cry which she swiftly bit into silence.

Braille was a travesty of a man, a blasphemous distortion of nature.

Wilhelmina, Hugo, Pierre and Friend

Mr. Judas' talented lieutenant was an unspeakably hideous human being. Braille was a mockery of mankind.

He was very tall and very wide. His shoulders hunched forward, his thick knees bent a little more than necessary when he walked. Long arms ended in great knotted hands. His face was horribly pitted and scarred. Putrescent-looking lumps bulged from his forehead and neck. The diseased appearance of the flesh gave a crawling, loathsome quality to his incredible face. It was no wonder Julia had cried out.

Braille halted at the sound. Mr. Judas chuckled.

"You see, Braille? The lady is captivated by you already."

Braille looked enquiringly at Judas.

"Yes, you can have her."

The creature lumbered forward, hands outstretched. Julie shrank. The hands moved over her. Then one of them disappeared into the brown folds of his commonplace suit and came out holding a long-blade knife with a serrated edge. Nick watched as the blind giant quickly and neatly severed the ropes that held Julie's arms. She was almost paralyzed with fear, and held her face averted from the horror that was yet to come.

Nick opened his mouth and shut it quickly. Julie had lifted her arms from the painful, crucifix-like crossbar and was standing almost free. Braille bent his huge body and sliced the cords that bound her feet. The knotted hands clamped around her body.

Nick was aware of Judas' close scrutiny. When Braille touched Julie, Nick shuddered and burst out:

"Stop that! Tell him to stop that!"

Judas clucked gently. "Why should I, Mr. Cane?"

"You win, damn you! Make that animal leave her alone."

Judas nodded approvingly. "Braille!" The high voice whispered through the room. "That's all for now." The giant dropped her and shambled back to the shadows from which he had sprung. The switch-blade shot from Judas' finger.

"No tricks now, Mr. Cane, T warn you. T can easily knife the lady — or turn her back to the hungry Braille." Julie slumped against the pole, her eyes dazed and her body shaken by tremors.

"Tell me what you have to say. And be sure that I believe it," Judas scoffed.

"How can I be sure of that?" said Nick between his teeth. "And what difference does it make? No matter what I say, you're going to have to kill us. But maybe you'll come with us!"

"Just what do you mean by that, Cane?" The eyes shot cold fire.

"I'm bargaining, Judas — for a quick death. For me and the girl. Without pain and without Braille. You promise me that and you make me believe it, and I'll tell you what you want to know."

"So. Perhaps I misjudged you, Mr. Cane. All right, we bargain. I get correct information, you and the lady get L-pi!ls. I shall even leave you alone while you digest them. But don't think of trying to get out of this cellar. There's only one way out, and we'll be blocking it."

Nick smiled.

Judas' eyes glittered. "You will talk now. And you'll start by explaining what you meant by taking us with you."

Julie stirred and brushed the hair back from her forehead. Beyond the brilliant light, Braille waited. Nick measured Judas across the malodorous room.

"Do you know poker, Mr. Judas?"

"What about it?" snapped Judas.