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〃Jesus；〃 Estilo said。
Tori said； 〃Let's by all means kiss him on both cheeks the next time we see him。 I don't think you're seeing this situation clearly。 I made a promise to Sonia； and I'm going to keep it。〃
〃You'll do nothing of the kind；〃 Russell said。 〃You made one mistake； but I'll be damned if I'll let you make another。 You had no right to promise that woman anything。 She obviously got to you on an emotional level； but I'm ordering you to put aside your emotions…they're far too dangerous out here in the field。 This is the end of your maverick ride； Tori。〃
〃Like hell it is；〃 Tori said。 〃If you won't help； Estilo and I will…〃
〃Forget it；〃 Russell snapped。 〃You signed on with the Mall； and you've got to learn discipline。 You'd better start right now。 We're back to civilization； and my word is law。〃
〃If you think Machine…Gun City is civilization； Senor Slade；〃 Estilo said； 〃you're dead wrong。〃
Estilo's words turned out to be more prophetic than even he could have imagined。 The plane was met at Medellin airport by Cruz and his cadre of sicarios。 None of them were shy about brandishing their MAC…10's。
The engines of the Twin Otter were still idling when Cruz directed the moving stair against the airplane's side； began climbing it。 Tori went aft； opened the door。 The three of them were waiting for him when he entered the cabin。 His sicarios piled in after him； immediately beginning a thorough search of the entire plane。 Cruz watched them carefully while he waited。 He said nothing。
〃No cocaine？〃 he said at last when the sicario leading the cadre returned； shaking his head negatively。 Then the sicario handed over the glassine packet of metallic pellets。
〃We weren't there for the coke；〃 Russell said； deliberately ignoring the glassine packet。
〃Ah。 Then did you discover who is running the cocaine factory？〃
〃No。 We got something of a rude weling。〃
〃Then you were inept。〃 Cruz gave them a wide grin。 He hefted the packet。 ''But I see for all that； you didn't e away empty…handed。〃
Russell said； 〃You mean this plane？〃
Cruz's nasty laugh echoed in the confined space of the cabin。 He stared at the packet。 〃This must be very valuable…to you。'' He lifted his gaze。 〃But then everything bees valuable； sooner or later。 Take information； for instance。 While you were gone； I received some。 It seems that Sonia had been the lover of Ruben Orola； the bastard I blew away last year。 Now isn't that interesting？ Of course； Sonia thought it interesting。 She'd tell you so herself； but sadly； she could not be here with us today。 She met with an unfortunate accident。 She went for a walk in the wrong part of town； and someone shot her。 Foolish girl。 How many times was she warned？〃
In the silence that followed； Cruz stepped up to Russell； stared him in the eye。 〃I don't know what your game is； but it's ended now。 You have an hour to get out of Medellin。 After that〃…he shrugged… ''I can make no assurances concerning your safety。''
〃We'd be only too happy to leave；〃 Russell said amiably。 〃Just give his our package and…〃
〃But no；〃 Cruz said。 〃I must exact payment for the use of my helicopter； not to mention me inconvenience your visit has caused me。〃
〃That package is of no use to you；〃 Russell said。
〃Perhaps。 But this plane is。〃 Cruz studied Russell。 〃And it is enough to know that I have something you want。 In a few days I may throw it away…who knows； who cares…but it is mine to do with as I wish。〃
He turned； was walking away； when Russell said； 〃I challenge you。〃 Russell's heart was beating fast； and he felt a sick sensation in the pit of his stomach。
Cruz paused。 Without turning around； he said； 〃You're a gringo。 Why should I…〃
〃It was this gringo who found the Orola mole inside your organization。 You'd be dead without me。〃 Russell grinned。 Somewhere； a voice inside his head was screaming for him to shut up； but he would not。 He had to prove that he could pull his weight in the field。 Along about the time when bullets were whistling past his head in the llano negro it had occurred to Russell that Bernard Godwin had deliberately sent him into the field as a taunt； a humiliation for not having e up in the Mall in the same way Bernard himself had。 Russell was determined not to give Bernard…or Tori…the satisfaction of seeing him psychologically torn apart by field work。 〃Besides；〃 Russell went on； 〃your sicarios might wonder at the reason you won't listen to my challenge。 Is it that I'm just a gringo？ Or have you bee afraid？ Are you being soft and weak？〃
Cruz whirled around； his face was flushed with rage。 〃When I discovered what Sonia had been…an Orola spy…1 shot her myself。 I； Castro Cruz。 I put the barrel of my gun into her mouth and pulled the trigger。 I was looking into her eyes the entire time。 I watched the ing of death； I saw it claim her。 Does this sound soft and weak？〃 He walked up to Russell。 〃And now I have to ask myself if Jorge was indeed the Orola spy you claimed he was； or why you； the spy hunter； missed Sonia。〃
〃I wasn't looking at Sonia；〃 Russell said。 In his mouth was the taste of metal； bitter and nauseating。 ''Take my challenge。''
Cruz glanced around the cabin。 His sicarios were watching him expectantly。 He gave a perfunctory nod； then shrugged。 〃It's your death；〃 he said。
The corrida was eerie。 Silent and empty； it lay sleeping in the heavy sunlight。 There was nothing going on in the bullring except on Sundays； when the Medellin natives crowded its stands to drink in the contrast of life and death when man faced bull。
〃All right； Senor Slade；〃 Cruz said。 He and his men surrounded Tori and Estilo in the lower reaches of the stands。 〃You have challenged and I have answered。〃 Cruz grinned down on Russell； who stood in the bloody dust of the corrida itself。 Waiting。 〃I have instructed that my best bull be set loose。 If you handle him； I will give you what you want。 If； on the other hand； the bull has his way； whether or not I have this package will no longer matter to you。 You'll be dead。''
Tori tried to read what Russell was thinking by the expression on his face； but he was too good for that。 She was thinking； If he dies； it will be on my head。 I will never be able to forgive myself。
〃Russell；〃 she called out； 〃you don't have to do this！〃
Cruz grunted。 〃But of course he does。〃 He nodded to one of his sicarios； who pointed his semiautomatic at Russell。 〃A man does not back out of a challenge。 Oh； but Senor Slade； I forgot for a moment that you're not a man； you're a gringo。 Anything is possible for one such as you。〃
Russell said nothing。 his attention was fixed on the huge iron…bound wooden doors across the dusty floor of the corrida。
Cruz raised his arm； let it drop。
The wooden doors creaked open； and they could see in the semishadows a huge； hulking figure。 It snorted heavily； then pawed the ground。 Russell moved； and the bull came charging across the corrida toward him。
〃Doesn't he even get a killing sword？〃 Tori said to Cruz。
〃No。 The killing sword is for a matador only； not a gringo。 He will have to manage on his own。''
〃But he won't be able to；〃 Tori said。 〃Not with just his bare hands。〃
〃Well； I suppose that's the point。〃 Cru