Page 49 of Joshua's Mistake
“It’s more like lightning, not really fireballs. I hope you’re not disappointed.”
He could tell she wanted to be annoyed with him. But she smiled, which was the last thing he’d expected. “You might have said something.”
“Yeah, well some people get a bit freaked out when they hear I can shoot lightning bolts from my fingers. It’s not exactly conducive small talk for dating. Unfortunately, it didn’t have any effect on Banta, he must have a shield. I did use it at the Flacks’ farm, but you were busy.”
She frowned. “I wonder who he stole that power from.”
He didn’t respond though he couldn’t argue with her comment. Shielding had not been one of Banta’s natural psi talents when they’d worked together.
“Trouble at the dojo.” It had gotten oddly quiet outside and Trip’s voice was ripe with warning.
The building where Kane had sought safety was the farthest from the house. Farther than the length of a football field, it would leave any of them too exposed to get there and help him.
Three soldiers were closing in on his location.
“I don’t think I can reach that far with the bolts.” Joshua was talking mostly to himself. Kane had come to Key West to help him and now he was pinned down and alone. Joshua needed a way to help his brother and he could think of nothing.
Will knelt by the window with a rifle. “I can get the one on the left from here. The other two are a bit out of range. I might wound them.”
Without waiting for an answer, he took the shot. The leftmost soldier dropped and didn’t move again. The house was again peppered with automatic-weapons fire. It was coming from the left where several of Banta’s team had run for cover behind an oil tank.
“Will?” It was all Joshua needed to say to get his question across.
“What the hell, but it’s going to make a hell of a stink.”
“Sorry, buddy. Cover me.” The entire group fired in the direction of the oil tank. They couldn’t penetrate or get to the men hiding in its shadow, but they managed to clear a path so Joshua could step out of the house. He grabbed hold of the generator wire and fired his lightning at the tank.
Banta screamed from where he still held position near the helicopter. The tank gave the eerie sound of metal twisting and the explosion that followed knocked Joshua off his feet and ten feet away from his original position.
The air rushed from his lungs. His head thudded on the hardtop. Heat from the fire flashed outward, singeing the hair on his arms. The fire rolled back to the fuel source and subsided to a steady burn. Smoke filled the air.
No further weapons fire came from that direction.
Joshua pushed himself back to his feet, shook off the cobwebs in his brain and ran toward the dojo. He heard footfalls behind and knew it was Tessa following. There was something nice about knowing she had his back. She fired toward Banta, but it had no effect. Whatever kind of shield he created neither electricity nor bullets could penetrate.
Maybe it was keeping him from moving forward. Evidently all his men were expendable. He only protected himself and the helicopter.
Joshua changed out the clip in the AK-47 while he ran. When he was within range he fired toward the two who had gone to the right of the dojo. He clipped one on the shoulder and the other backed away.
The heat of the explosion had taken all the fire out of the oil and now it was tapering down. Out of the corner of his eye Joshua saw three figures running across the compound behind the shed. He knew it was Wanda, Will and Trip using the distraction to take a better position.
Suppressive fire from Banta’s men came in from the barricade of cars behind the helicopter.
Without any use of a microphone Banta’s voice boomed through the night. “You are a fool, Lakeland.”
Joshua saw the other soldier lift his gun. For leverage he touched the metal building. Joshua couldn’t fire on the metal building without the possibility of electrocuting his brother. More movement to the left told him more of Banta’s men were closing in on his position. He made a choice and fired his bolt toward the men on the left. After only three seconds the generator failed and the electricity petered away. Still, one of the soldiers fell.
Gunfire from the barricade ricocheted off the dojo. The enemy shooter fell.
Kane opened the dojo door and fired at Banta. The bullet got within three feet and dropped to the blacktop with a tinkle. He fired several more times with no effect.
A gun battle was erupting behind the helicopter. Soldiers were shouting orders on both sides.
Joshua stopped running, dropped the backpack and turned toward Banta. His old friend was within a hundred feet now. From the beams of the spotlights mounted on the buildings he could see the crazed look in Banta’s eyes.
“How so, Troth?” Joshua recognized having a certain psi power gave his foe an advantage. While the rest of them were carefully guarding their minds and unable to use most of their abilities Banta could remain wide open, unafraid of a mental attack.
Troth changed to a normal voice. “You should be flattered. I’ve gone to great lengths to get to you.”
