The Genesis Illusion

Chapter 28

Paul easily opened the access lid pushing it up with his Strong-Arm while he held onto the ladder with the other hand. Water poured in like he had opened the hatch on a surfacing submarine. Pushing himself upward with his legs, climbing the ladder he emerged from the waterfall. Crouching momentarily aside the open access he scanned the street and the sidewalk in front and behind. Parked cars partially blocked his view, but the street appeared all clear. Maybe they've already gone? He stood up to see over the cars. Water streamed down his face like he was taking a shower with his eyes open.

On the other side of the street he spied them. They glared directly at him. He felt their eyes like lasers boring through his flesh. They've seen me. The two men ran in his direction splashing each time a foot hit the ground. He sprung forward in the opposite direction retracing his route from the Arcadia warehouse. This time, though, his pursuers were much closer, less than a block separated them.

He wasn't losing them so he ducked into a dark alley and jammed himself into a recessed doorway. Maybe they'll run by? He cupped his hand over his ear, "VK can you hear me? VK?"

"Yes, Paul, I tried to reach you but...," Nara said but Paul cut him off.

"They're after me again. I had to get out of the flood control tunnel. It was filling with water."

"Okay, let me see if there's anywhere else..."

"No time. They're right behind me. Keep track of me if I'm captured."

The roar of water striking the metal roof of the awning above his head made hearing anything else impossible. The dimly lit shadows quivered behind the liquid wall obscuring his view from the shallow doorway. A face turned the corner of Paul's entryway hiding-niche only a few feet away. Another then appeared just behind the first.

Startled Paul didn't wait for them to make the first move. He thrust out his right arm that wore the Strong-Arm sleeve knocking the man back into his partner and sending them both flying onto the flooded street.

Paul stepped over the first man to run down the street but the second one grabbed his ankle.

He tumbled face first on the pavement making a huge splash.

One of men jumped on Paul's back while the other wrestled trying to hold his arms.

Twisting with both of the men riding his back, he used his Strong-Arm as a club to beat the men with the strength of a mechanical battering ram.

The attackers grunted in pain from the impact of the blows.

Paul then used both arms to push himself off the street to make his escape.

The deafening sound of a nearby gunshot made his ears ring. Am I hit?

"That's enough," a voice yelled with a Thai accent. "Stay where you are or I'll shoot."

Paul turned his head still crouching on all fours. His pursuers lay next to him, incapacitated, on the flooded street. A third man pointing a gun at him stood only a few feet away but far enough so he couldn't reach him. Paul went limp, resigned to his surrender.

"Stand up and keep your hands behind you. That arm of yours is lethal so keep it behind you. Hold it with your opposite hand behind your back and don't get too close. I'll pull this trigger if you try anything." The man barked his seemingly rehearsed orders, each sentence separately without any emotion.

He means it.

"My orders are to capture you and bring you back to headquarters, but if you try anything I'll kill you."

Paul knew he had to go along for now. I'll look for a way to escape. His two immobilized attackers slowly peeled themselves up off the street wincing in pain while their partner with the gun held Paul captive. Motioning with his gun, using jerky robot-like movements, he directed Paul to walk back toward the warehouse.