Fletcher Grong II
Although Jebri Galatone went the arena with the ominous spiked iron half-helmet and having an athletic, muscular body, Grong face remained completely calm. But inside, he worried about the next fight, no matter who wins now. For M'ara already was bet more than two hundred and fifteen thousand and the total has grown rapidly, the audience just screamed, a large indoor stadium was filled by the noise and the air was full of smoke which gnawed eyes like hell.
"I've bet thirty thousand more for your woman" Leaned and shouted to Grong Stanley Leikman. "I feel her potential!"
"Excellent" - just nodded Grong but Leikman seemed to even did not react to his movements and looked dizzy from all that crazy atmosphere around.
Jovan Boža was sitting from Grong's right and eagerly waited for the next fight, abundant drinking his strong alcohol. Men's face gradually became color similar to mix of red and blue but his eyes were still decently vigilant.
"Jovan, are you going to bet more?" Shouted Grong that even he felt pain in his vocal cords.
"Twenty thousand more for Jebri and another five thousand for Zik" he snored.
"What?" Grong sounded not satisfied enough.
"Thirty thousand for Jebri and ten for Zik" Had improved Jovan.
Grong did not answer only raised a thumb up. Then he turned to the other by a man sitting behind his back.
"Jakov, bet".
The man shook his head anxiously and bitten his lip:
"Today, I'm not betting on anyone".
"Come on Jakov, be a man" Grong leaned toward him that the arena does not overshadow the drone of his voice.
"If I would be a fighting then I would bet for myself only" he laughed. "I do not like to pray for someone's victory".
"As you want". Plump man finished talk and scrubbed with fingers then turned back. The fight was to begin immediately. The screen flashed with Zik and Jebri Galatone names and profiles.
Then the lights in the stadium dimmed and fallen on the cramped bars fenced fighting arena. The crowd lit a dozen red chemical sticks,which dimly lighted dark shapes of people. Arena floor was red because of blood mixed with gravel from previous fights. Dead Jaya's body had already been removed from the arena. After some serious fighting place was always sprinkled with gravel that would reduce slippery on the surface.
Zik was introduced to the area - medium type guy with shaved head and heavily tattooed back. The best tattoos background stood a large cross with a chain. A powerful male voice through the speaker welcomed the fight participants:
"Got Zik Grender, constipated Oton sector prisoner-survivalist. Nine years spent in Oton sector has strengthened this man like steel, destroying his soul and sent to us to admire his martial art, linking the death of art! Do Džebris Galatone, psychopath murderer will be able to resist? If you rely on our instincts, do not hesitate to bet and win!"
The stadium met him at a frantic roar. The sound was so strong that the ears began to ache. Grong knew that Zik has a lot of potential, but Jebri was superior judging by his strength and weight compared to his contestant. Zik could strangle human with his bare hands in less than a couple of minutes, but rage could soon blinded him and forced to behave recklessly and giving him a major disadvantage.
Grong from sit on chair more comfortably and then the signal has announced the beginning of Match. The crowd began to chant the name Zik by rising burning chemical sticks. Zik firmly clenched fists, demonstrated teeth to blood thirsty audience. He clenched fists, exercised neck muscles, then, seems to have been ready to jump into "work". Galatone anxiously're on and was setting eyes on his opponent and closely followed man's movements. The fighters began to turn the wheels and getting closer untill Zikas finally kicked Galatone into the knee. Zikas shot very strongly, forcing Galatone to stumble on the ground but he instantly jumped up on his feet and retreated.
"Kill him, Zik" Someone loudly shouted from the audience.
Zik looked up for a second but did not noticled anything specific. Galatone attacked again, but Zik rebounded into the country and sent a couple of blows to the opponent's back. Galatone again bounced off and kept the distance.
"Crush him, Zik". Someone's voice slipped out from the crowd once more.
Galatone was deft, but feared Zik and constantly kept away from him. Finally Zik become tired and stopped chasing the ball. Man just stopped on one side of the arena and waited for opponent's attacks. The audience did not liked that and they began to roar Jebri's name to encourage him again.
Someone from the audience threw special fighting glove with iron knuckle protection to Galatone. This forced Zika only to mockingly smile.
Zik raised his hands in the air and roundly demonstrated his tough muscles and overstating called out to the crowd side.
He looked powerful and unstoppable.
He nodded his finger invited Galatone come to him. Jebri walked towards him, seemingly with greater energy, attacked from the right with the protection of iron but Zik easily managed to block all of his hits and once again hit Galatone to the knee. Opponent felt down on the ground but quickly grabbed the gravel and sparkle it to Zik face. Zik seen him how he reaches the gravel and covered by hand he bounced back, but he was too late to avoid one more attack. Galatone jumped into the fight, this time hitting exactly Zik into the throat. You could hear the "click" and by the second blow Galatone wrought iron shot that crossed Zik's lip and threw it on the floor. He badly scratched to a bloody, rough gravel. Zik already did not listen to shouting crowd. Everything merged into anger, hum and power surge cocktail. Galatone jumped on opponent and was preparing to finish him but Zik eyes ignited with overwhelming fury and he threw through Galatone supine using his feet. Just after a second Zik tore off his helmet, grabbed a helmet so that the toothed part was set to the outside and smashed it into his face which become puree.
The fight ended quickly.
"Jovan, you've just push through ten thousand" said Grong. Jovan sat behind Grong but did not heard what he said. The whole stadium was dead silent and seemed apparently impressed Zik fight, oblivious forget to meet him with bold shouts.
"That was something extraordinary" Grong said to Stanley. "I'm totally blinded". Grong tried to remain calm but the last fight made him quite worried. Couple arena ushers dragged Jebri Galatone body and bloody place poured with gravel and smoothed.
A powerful male voice over the loudspeaker announced the winner:
"Got Zia Grender from Otono sector! Is this man ain't great example of unforgettable fight and even more astonishing victory? Ten times hooah to winner!"
The stadium came to life and began to roar with humming even greater than before the fight. People were chanting Zikui hooah until a male voice announced the start of the break. Next fight planned M'ara and Zik encounter.
Grong stood up and moved his numb spine. Then with the people he came down and greeted the guards. Plum man went into a small room where was held his M'ara.
I need to do something. Force her to win. She must win...
Jakov tracked down the outgoing Grong but said nothing.
M'ara was half swam in the dark in a large black cage with thick bars. She was sitting in corner and smoked a cigarette.
"How nice" she said to Grong with wry tone. "Come to encourage me not to lose your money I guess?"
Grong's fingers grabbed the bars.
"Your opponent will Zik Grender".
"And..?" She dew cigarette smoke deeper into lungs and looked completely calm. "What I do in your words?"
" I do not know his weaknesses. He had just killed Galatone with its own helmet. Fucking madman".
"Hah that sounds fun you know". She put out the cigarette in the metal bar and turned head to her master.
"Tell me why are you and come to me without having anything to say, scurvy pars?!"
"Do not call me so" retorted Grong. "Just shoot down Zik and I will initiate the transfer of twenty percent".
"It is now twenty?" Woman light up another cigarette.
"Let there be twenty-one" added Grong.
"And, tell me what I will do with your ill-fated money?" A woman looked at plup man with half closed eyes full of contempt.
She's right, for so that she won't buy neither freedom nor hide underground...
"You know what? You better go to hell" Grong lost his temper. "Quarter!"
M'ara laughed loudly and said nothing more. Grong retired from cage and started hanging around. He did not know what say more. He did not know what M'ara think in general. Grong never fully comprehended her.
He again grabbed at the bars and kneeling interviewed his prisoner.
"If necessary you will stab this thing into Zik" Grong showed small ring with a long spike on the outside on his palm. "I've planned that this extra weapon will does weaken Zik if it's necessary. This is my back-up plan" said the man and threw the ring into the cage, next to the woman. M'ara seemed to have been completely spit on everything.
What else can I tell her? What can you want more?
"You have to win. Zik is just despicable psychopath. Think about fame. Your name will remain forever in history." Grong almost begged her to win
"Leave me alone" finally she said and turned away from him.
Grong smashed his fists in the bars but they were so massive and heavy that nothing actualy happened.
He stood up and went out. However, instead of walking away he crept into the next room.
"Can I expect to find Zik Grender?" Once again he turned to the guards, rubbing hands behind his back.
One of the security only nodded and allowed him inside. They always let Grong to brief word with fighters.
The room was a large dark basement loaded with broken arena armor, fighters weapons: shields, spears, knives and other cold weapons. Meanwhile couple of people were taking care of Zik who had minor injuries after last fight. His personnel bandaged wounds, disinfection abrasions. Seeing Grong coming he expelled his people out of the basement.
"Ziki, you're here" setting friendly mine said Grong.
The fighter sat down on a chair and relied hand on chin.
"Ziki, I want to talk with you about a little matter if you have nothing against. Grong consisted his hands in front and continue but to tell all the plan seemed to be very difficult, especially since he saw what Zikas has done to his opponent.
"Just do not get me wrong, friend, but I have you one very good proposal. You have a full right to disagree and say your opinion".
Zik was silent and looked at fat cuss with grey beard and messy hair which didin't knew what excatly wanted to say.
"If you surrender to M'ara, I will pay you fifty thousand".
Then occured a few moments of silence meanwhile Zik seemed calm as if nothing had ever heard. Grong consisted hands behind his back and came closer, hoping to hear something positive.
But suddenly Zik went upright crazy. He
jumped out of the chair, his blood vessels become swell and he tore his chair and threw it into the Grong. Furniture broke into many parts and knocked humanity thick on the stomach. Grong rushed toward the door and called for help but Zikas grabbed man's neck and lifted him to level of his own eyes.
"After this fight, I'm with a very great admiration and joy gotta crack your neck so that the splint won't help you in any ways" and fighter threw him out of the room into a couple of guards who have already came to rescue the poor humanity. They all felt on the ground like a dolls. Grong rushed out using his hands and legs without looking back.
Zikas was left to wait for the fight.
Break came to an end and Grong returned to his place. Inside he felt humiliated was pleased at the fact that only few eyes had seen what happened in fights rooms.
Among Jovan and Stanley Leikman appeared unseen woman who drank from Jovans bottle. Grong was enraged and today did not let anyone to act such arbitrary. Without anyone's asking, he grabbed the woman by the shoulders and threw out of the chair with whole bottle which felt on ground and crashed. .
"Mister Grong?"- murmed drunk Jovan voice "Discipline yourself, you know". Grong wasn't about to answer anything, he just jointed fingers and set eyes into the arena. Stanley now feared even to open his mouth and was happy to remain unnoticed. About a couple of minutes were left before Final fight. Grong first time felt so hopelessly and completely unable to control the situation.
I always like your novel. Keep it up.