Realizing what had happened, Jupiter picked up the short wooden pole, one of several lying around left by workers on some archaeological team probably, and limped toward me. I holstered Wilhelmina and picked up a pole of my own just as Jupiter reached me. He slammed the pole down toward my head. I deflected the blow at the last moment with my pole.
"A little knightly joust perhaps?" Jupiter said, breathing hard. In the light of the moon, I could see the mad glitter in his eyes.
He swung the pole again, with both hands, using it as the ancient Britons had, staggering a little on his wounded leg. His madness gave him strength. Again I found myself on the defensive. He swung at me again and this time connected with a glancing blow to the side of my head. I stumbled backwards and fell.
Jupiter pressed his advantage, swinging for my head. I tried to parry the blow but still the club thudded into my arm and chest, knocking the pole out of my hand.
I rolled away from the next blow and as Jupiter raised the pole again, I twitched the muscle in my right forearm. Hugo slipped into my palm.
The pole was coming toward my head again when Hugo sank into Jupiter's heart. He stopped, the pole stretched out in front of him, staring at me in sudden bewilderment and frustration. He raised the pole slightly, took one uncertain step toward me, then did a half-spin to the left and collapsed.
I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. It was over. I pulled Hugo from Jupiter's body and wiped the blade off on his trousers. Then I returned the stiletto to its sheath. I looked at Jupiter in the light of the rising moon.
Heather came up to me and put her arm around my waist. She was shivering. "The distance was too great. I knew I couldn't hit him. I only fired to distract him," she whispered.
I gathered her close to me. "You saved my life, you know," I said. "That last bullet he fired at you, it was meant for me. If it hadn't been for you…"
She shuddered and sought the warmth of my body.
"Anyway, I have to admit you're one hell of an agent. I had my doubts at the beginning, but you're quite something, as an agent… and as a girl."
"That's how I'm best," she smiled up at me. "As a girl, I mean," she said, reaching for my hand.
She clasped my hand in hers and drew me along to the tall grass which surrounded Stonehenge. We sank into the dew-covered earth and she began proving to me again just how good she was… as a girl.