Page 10
Story: Capture the Rainbow
Billie shrugged. “It’s interesting enough for a while, but I’ll probably be ready to move on by the time the picture is finished. I usually get too restless to stay in one place for long.”
They had reached the jeep and Billie was helping the porter stow the baggage in the back with strength surprising for one of her apparent delicacy. In a few minutes she had tipped the porter and was negotiating her way out of the parking lot into the crowded street.
She darted Kendra a curious glance from enormous eyes as dark as wood violets. “Now if I had a job like yours, I might have more staying power. It must be a real kick to take the chances you do and get paid for it. How did you get started in a business like stunting?”
“I grew up in it,” Kendra answered. “My father was in the business all his life and when other kids were tumbling down sliding boards and playing on the teeter-totter, my brother and I were learning how to fall off thirty-foot towers into swimming pools without breaking our necks.” A nostalgic smile curved her lips. “It’s a good thing we were too young to have sense when we first started or we’d have been scared to death. As it was, by the time we realized just how dangerous some of the stuff we were doing was, it was old hat.”
“Didn’t your mother object to all those shenanigans?”
“Why should she? She was in the business herself before she married my father. Then after Casey and I were born, they decided it would be more responsible if one of them quit stunting.” Her smile was sad. “They didn’t want to take a chance on leaving us orphans. It’s rather ironic that it happened anyway. A drunk smashed into their car on the freeway and killed them both.”
“Is your brother a stuntman, too?”
“Not anymore,” Kendra murmured. “He’s studying to be a lawyer now.” She’d been gazing with interest at the passing scene and remarked, “I had no idea Sedikhan would be so modern.” Tall skyscrapers, wide, busy streets, and late model cars all reflected a strong economy. Even the dress was principally Western and up to the minute.
“The citizens of Sedikhan have one of the highest per capita incomes in the world. They have so much oil here that it staggers the imagination,” Billie said. “I heard they have an entire government department just to think up ways of spending their income.” At Kendra’s snort of disbelief, she grinned impishly. “Well, it’s almost true. Ben Rashid has been trying to yank his country out of the last century and into the space age. You’ll see what I mean in a minute. But get off the main thoroughfare and you’re back in the land of flying carpets and veiled dancing girls.”
“And we’re going to be getting off the main thoroughfare?”
Billie nodded as she turned into a side street. “Joel’s leased practically an entire village outside of Marasef for the location, but it takes forever if we keep to the main drag. One of the extras told me about a shortcut that should get us there in a jiffy.” She cast Kendra a mischievous glance. “Even if it doesn’t, there’s no harm done. You’ll get a chance to see a little of the Arabian Nights of Marasef.” Her voice lowered dramatically. “You’ll find it sinfully fascinating, dahling.”
Sinfully. Apparently that was one of Billie’s favorite adjectives, Kendra thought in amusement, yet there was nothing in the least wicked about herjoie de vivre.And the side streets they traveled were fascinating. The streets were narrower here and they had to stop twice to avoid hitting a pushcart with a gaily striped awning and then a donkey loaded with copper pots and pans. There were no skyscrapers here, but only flat-topped houses with arched windows, one on top of the other. The clothing of the pedestrians was different also. The men wore flowing burnooses for the most part and the few women she spotted were garbed in dark, shapeless draperies.
“Well, at least the women aren’t wearing veils,” she commented. “Feminism has made a few strides here.”
“That’s because all you’re seeing on the street is the more liberated segment of female society,” Billie said dryly. “The men in Sedikhan still have very firm ideas about the place of women in the general scheme of things.”
“Joel Damon must feel right at home here,” Kendra said absently and then could have bitten her tongue at the curious glance Billie shot her. She had thought she had successfully blocked out all trace of Joel Damon for the past month, blast it.
“You know each other well?” Billie asked, turning off into a deserted byway. “He did mean to meet your plane, you know. Then he got tied up with—oh my God!” She stomped on the brake with a force that almost threw Kendra through the windshield. “They’re going to kill him!” Billie jumped out of the jeep and started running down the street.
Kendra stared bewilderedly after her and then straightened in shock as she saw Billie’s objective. A huge wild-haired Arab was pinned to the wall of a building by two burly toughs in flowing robes. His face was bruised and cut and even as she watched, a fourth man with a Vandyke beard ran a wickedly curved knife down the victim’s cheek leaving a trail of blood. She was out of the jeep in a flash dashing after Billie.
Billie gave a loud piercing shriek that resembled a coyote in agony. It brought all three of the men whirling toward her with startled faces; the one wielding the knife let loose an angry cry.
“Billie, no!” Kendra shouted. But Billie wasn’t listening as she dove toward the bearded man like a tornado and fastened desperately onto the arm wielding the knife. She uttered that nerve-jarring shriek again and butted her head violently against the bearded man’s nose.
Kendra expected to see that deadly knife plunged into Billie’s stomach. Oh Lord, why on earth had Billie done this?
But help came from an unexpected source. Evidently the two men who had been holding the bleeding man captive had loosened their grips at Billie’s surprise attack, because the giant suddenly exploded into action. He jerked free. His left arm backhanded to slam one of his former captors against the wall; his other hand darted out to deliver a numbing karate chop that knocked the knife from the bearded man’s hand.
Kendra reached them and retrieved the knife, then grabbed a struggling Billie, pulling her away from her still dangerous antagonist. “Billie, dammit, you’re going to get yourself killed! We can’t fight these men alone. We’ll have to go for help.”
But it appeared that no help was needed. Now that he was free, the bushy-haired victim seemed to be more than competent to handle the situation. He was holding the bearded man by the throat with a grip that was turning the man’s face a livid hue, while his elbow slammed into the man on his right. With an incredible swiftness for one so large, he whirled and lifted his knee in an agonizing blow to the loins of the man on his left, then with crushing force bashed together the heads of the other man and the bearded knife wielder. It was over so quickly that Kendra could only gasp as she watched the three men sink to the ground in various states of semiconsciousness.
Their bruised and bloody Samson wasn’t waiting to enjoy his victory, however. He turned and took both women by the elbows and ran down the street half pushing, half carrying them along.
Behind them they heard a dazed groan and a shout of rage just as they reached the jeep. They scrambled into the vehicle and Billie reversed, then made a screeching U-turn that almost threw Kendra out of the passenger seat and caused the fierce Arab in the rear to cling grimly to the seat in front of him.
Then they were racing recklessly down the cobbled street. Kendra cast a frantic glance behind them to see one of their pursuers stop in the middle of the street, lift a furious fist, and shout what was obviously an obscenity at them. Billie turned the corner and they were once more back on a busy thoroughfare. Kendra sat back with a sigh of relief as Billie eased up on the accelerator.
“I think we lost them,” Billie said breathlessly. “Damn, I was scared.”
“You could have fooled me,” Kendra said dryly. “Do you often take on three murderous brutes like those or did you simply want to provide me with a little local color?” Suddenly she began to laugh. “I have to admit you’re right, Billie. I certainly found our little side excursionsinfullyfascinating.” She glanced at the scowling barbarian in the backseat. “And just what do you intend to do with him?”
Billie was frowning uncertainly. “I don’t quite know. I guess we’ll wait until we get to the outskirts of the city and let him out. I wouldn’t want those men to catch him again.”
“Not after you almost got yourself drawn and quartered rescuing him.” Kendra chuckled, then shook her head wonderingly. “And you thought being a stuntwoman would liven up your life. At least I get paid for taking chances.”
They had reached the jeep and Billie was helping the porter stow the baggage in the back with strength surprising for one of her apparent delicacy. In a few minutes she had tipped the porter and was negotiating her way out of the parking lot into the crowded street.
She darted Kendra a curious glance from enormous eyes as dark as wood violets. “Now if I had a job like yours, I might have more staying power. It must be a real kick to take the chances you do and get paid for it. How did you get started in a business like stunting?”
“I grew up in it,” Kendra answered. “My father was in the business all his life and when other kids were tumbling down sliding boards and playing on the teeter-totter, my brother and I were learning how to fall off thirty-foot towers into swimming pools without breaking our necks.” A nostalgic smile curved her lips. “It’s a good thing we were too young to have sense when we first started or we’d have been scared to death. As it was, by the time we realized just how dangerous some of the stuff we were doing was, it was old hat.”
“Didn’t your mother object to all those shenanigans?”
“Why should she? She was in the business herself before she married my father. Then after Casey and I were born, they decided it would be more responsible if one of them quit stunting.” Her smile was sad. “They didn’t want to take a chance on leaving us orphans. It’s rather ironic that it happened anyway. A drunk smashed into their car on the freeway and killed them both.”
“Is your brother a stuntman, too?”
“Not anymore,” Kendra murmured. “He’s studying to be a lawyer now.” She’d been gazing with interest at the passing scene and remarked, “I had no idea Sedikhan would be so modern.” Tall skyscrapers, wide, busy streets, and late model cars all reflected a strong economy. Even the dress was principally Western and up to the minute.
“The citizens of Sedikhan have one of the highest per capita incomes in the world. They have so much oil here that it staggers the imagination,” Billie said. “I heard they have an entire government department just to think up ways of spending their income.” At Kendra’s snort of disbelief, she grinned impishly. “Well, it’s almost true. Ben Rashid has been trying to yank his country out of the last century and into the space age. You’ll see what I mean in a minute. But get off the main thoroughfare and you’re back in the land of flying carpets and veiled dancing girls.”
“And we’re going to be getting off the main thoroughfare?”
Billie nodded as she turned into a side street. “Joel’s leased practically an entire village outside of Marasef for the location, but it takes forever if we keep to the main drag. One of the extras told me about a shortcut that should get us there in a jiffy.” She cast Kendra a mischievous glance. “Even if it doesn’t, there’s no harm done. You’ll get a chance to see a little of the Arabian Nights of Marasef.” Her voice lowered dramatically. “You’ll find it sinfully fascinating, dahling.”
Sinfully. Apparently that was one of Billie’s favorite adjectives, Kendra thought in amusement, yet there was nothing in the least wicked about herjoie de vivre.And the side streets they traveled were fascinating. The streets were narrower here and they had to stop twice to avoid hitting a pushcart with a gaily striped awning and then a donkey loaded with copper pots and pans. There were no skyscrapers here, but only flat-topped houses with arched windows, one on top of the other. The clothing of the pedestrians was different also. The men wore flowing burnooses for the most part and the few women she spotted were garbed in dark, shapeless draperies.
“Well, at least the women aren’t wearing veils,” she commented. “Feminism has made a few strides here.”
“That’s because all you’re seeing on the street is the more liberated segment of female society,” Billie said dryly. “The men in Sedikhan still have very firm ideas about the place of women in the general scheme of things.”
“Joel Damon must feel right at home here,” Kendra said absently and then could have bitten her tongue at the curious glance Billie shot her. She had thought she had successfully blocked out all trace of Joel Damon for the past month, blast it.
“You know each other well?” Billie asked, turning off into a deserted byway. “He did mean to meet your plane, you know. Then he got tied up with—oh my God!” She stomped on the brake with a force that almost threw Kendra through the windshield. “They’re going to kill him!” Billie jumped out of the jeep and started running down the street.
Kendra stared bewilderedly after her and then straightened in shock as she saw Billie’s objective. A huge wild-haired Arab was pinned to the wall of a building by two burly toughs in flowing robes. His face was bruised and cut and even as she watched, a fourth man with a Vandyke beard ran a wickedly curved knife down the victim’s cheek leaving a trail of blood. She was out of the jeep in a flash dashing after Billie.
Billie gave a loud piercing shriek that resembled a coyote in agony. It brought all three of the men whirling toward her with startled faces; the one wielding the knife let loose an angry cry.
“Billie, no!” Kendra shouted. But Billie wasn’t listening as she dove toward the bearded man like a tornado and fastened desperately onto the arm wielding the knife. She uttered that nerve-jarring shriek again and butted her head violently against the bearded man’s nose.
Kendra expected to see that deadly knife plunged into Billie’s stomach. Oh Lord, why on earth had Billie done this?
But help came from an unexpected source. Evidently the two men who had been holding the bleeding man captive had loosened their grips at Billie’s surprise attack, because the giant suddenly exploded into action. He jerked free. His left arm backhanded to slam one of his former captors against the wall; his other hand darted out to deliver a numbing karate chop that knocked the knife from the bearded man’s hand.
Kendra reached them and retrieved the knife, then grabbed a struggling Billie, pulling her away from her still dangerous antagonist. “Billie, dammit, you’re going to get yourself killed! We can’t fight these men alone. We’ll have to go for help.”
But it appeared that no help was needed. Now that he was free, the bushy-haired victim seemed to be more than competent to handle the situation. He was holding the bearded man by the throat with a grip that was turning the man’s face a livid hue, while his elbow slammed into the man on his right. With an incredible swiftness for one so large, he whirled and lifted his knee in an agonizing blow to the loins of the man on his left, then with crushing force bashed together the heads of the other man and the bearded knife wielder. It was over so quickly that Kendra could only gasp as she watched the three men sink to the ground in various states of semiconsciousness.
Their bruised and bloody Samson wasn’t waiting to enjoy his victory, however. He turned and took both women by the elbows and ran down the street half pushing, half carrying them along.
Behind them they heard a dazed groan and a shout of rage just as they reached the jeep. They scrambled into the vehicle and Billie reversed, then made a screeching U-turn that almost threw Kendra out of the passenger seat and caused the fierce Arab in the rear to cling grimly to the seat in front of him.
Then they were racing recklessly down the cobbled street. Kendra cast a frantic glance behind them to see one of their pursuers stop in the middle of the street, lift a furious fist, and shout what was obviously an obscenity at them. Billie turned the corner and they were once more back on a busy thoroughfare. Kendra sat back with a sigh of relief as Billie eased up on the accelerator.
“I think we lost them,” Billie said breathlessly. “Damn, I was scared.”
“You could have fooled me,” Kendra said dryly. “Do you often take on three murderous brutes like those or did you simply want to provide me with a little local color?” Suddenly she began to laugh. “I have to admit you’re right, Billie. I certainly found our little side excursionsinfullyfascinating.” She glanced at the scowling barbarian in the backseat. “And just what do you intend to do with him?”
Billie was frowning uncertainly. “I don’t quite know. I guess we’ll wait until we get to the outskirts of the city and let him out. I wouldn’t want those men to catch him again.”
“Not after you almost got yourself drawn and quartered rescuing him.” Kendra chuckled, then shook her head wonderingly. “And you thought being a stuntwoman would liven up your life. At least I get paid for taking chances.”