| Chapter 20 - Letting off steam |
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I had heard of such places of course, but I found the reality a most remarkable experience. I felt a little conspicuous shedding and storing my adornments in the changing area but the few locals doing so around me paid me no attention. Thus, I ignored my awkwardness and strolled, in what I hoped was a natural manner, into the main steam room wearing only my undergarments and carrying my towel. Within mere steps, the intense humidity struck me and I found a peculiar dizzyness affecting me. Visibility was limited in the thick steam but I could just make out some marble seats against the near wall. I lumbered over and slumped heavily into the nearest available example, hoping that the ten or so patrons would not be disturbed by my appearance.
At this lower level, the steam was not so overwhelming and breathing became easier, allowing me to clear my head. After a few minutes my body became acclimatised to my surroundings and a certain level of sharpness returned to my mind. I now observed a faint and pleasant odour of jasmine in the air and was soothed by the sound of a nearby decorative and grand fountain, from which water issued forth from the trunk of an elephant head worked from the same pure white marble which lined the walls. I was pleased I had opted to arrive here earlier for I was not sure I would have been able to negotiate my terms upon my entry into this establishment. Perhaps, I mused, this was Fielding's intention. A sheen of sweat now covered my skin and I could feel the bruise on my head begin to throb with the increased blood flow but I was experiencing a most pleasant sensation that my aches were subsiding and being released through my pores. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply. Upon opening them, I turned to view the last of the other patrons leaving. I was not aware of how long I had dozed for time had no meaning in this isolated place. Shortly, I heard heavy steps at the entrance and viewed a large local man making his way purposefully toward me, smiling broadly as he beheld my seated form. "Are you William Percival, sir?" he enquired with a thick accent. "I certainly am, have you come to negotiate for Mr. Fielding old chap?" I replied. "Yes, and I enjoy my work" he replied, his smile turning sour and dropping his towel to reveal a curved knife. "Yes, I'm....sure you do" I muttered, throwing myself to my left as he thrust forward with his knife, looking to skewer me with it but instead scraping marble. I rolled and came to my feet to observe that two more of Fielding's associates, this time fully dressed, stood at the door impassively, barring my escape. Their expressions conveyed the fact that they didn’t anticipate needing to be involved. Appraising my assailant, I have to admit, I initially agreed with them. He was a hulking great man who, while far from in prime physical condition, had great power underneath his slightly overweight physique and look he fixed me with left no doubt that he was a more than capable killer. While looking a little piqued that I had evaded his initial attack, he was still wearing the same sickly smile. As we circled each other, I wrapped my towel around my left arm and used this to deflect his next advance, rabbit punching him as I pushed him past, into the wall. I was better prepared for combat on this occasion, for the Captain had given me instruction in such matters. In a scenario like this it was all about maintaining balance and using your opponent’s momentum to your own ends - and hoping you didn’t make the first mistake. He spun and slashed wildly, catching me by surprise with the speed and fury of his assault and I reacted just enough to stop my insides from being spilled over the floor but not enough to prevent the thankfully shallow cut which now formed a dripping red line across my stomach as I slipped a little on the moist floor, backwards toward the fountain. "Piece by piece, you will be mine, little one" he sneered. I unwrapped the towel from my arm. "Well then, let’s conclude the negotiations shall we, or are you planning to hide behind that knife all day?" I retorted, hoping to anger him. I succeeded, for he bellowed his rage and charged towards me, knife held high in his right hand. Timed slowed as it does in such moments of danger and it seemed to take an eternity for him to reach me. As he did so, I threw the towel in his face, obscuring his vision and attempted to grasp his right wrist with my left hand, taking a gash on the wrist as I did so. His superior weight bore down on me but from somewhere I found the desperate strength required to throw my shoulder into his chest and spin him around, his fleet slipping on the floor, and hurl him into the fountain. He let out an outraged, pained cry as the marble tusks penetrated his torso and impaled him upon them, the fountain running red with his blood. "I never was very good at sharing I'm afraid old chap..." I whispered while prising the knife from his inert hand. His lifeless eyes stared in surprise down at his chest. I turned to face the guards at the door, only to find them slumped against the wall as dead as their cohort on the fountain. Though slightly surprised by their state, I seized my chance and ran from the steams into the changing area. "Come with me if you want to get out of here alive" I spun around to see a tall, long haired, blond Englishman standing in a corner casually cleaning the bloody sword he held in his right hand. "And for god's sake put some clothes on man..., you really aren’t looking your best" he smirked, throwing my items at me. |
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