When the sensors were all in the water, the divers returned to the capitol tower for a few hours of rest before more training. Finally, Michael took them to the Sky Arena, where they were given breakfast and water.
He was there with them now, standing in front of Mac and Felipe. A rusted metal rack of swords and spears was nearby. Pedro stood with his arms folded over his chest, dreads hanging over his back. He was here at X’s request, although Michael wasn’t quite sure why.
Michael handed a bottle of water to Sofia, who passed it down to the other divers. The casual onlooker wouldn’t have known a greenhorn from a veteran. They all looked exhausted.
Sofia, Lena, Ted, Hector, Edgar, Arlo, Magnolia, and Rodger were all here, but barely. Some were almost staggering.
Arlo sat down and then leaned back with his hands behind his head. “Let me know when you’re ready,” he said. “I’m going to take a quick nap.”
“X should be here soon,” Michael said.
He looked up at the surrounding seats, picturing the crowds that had watched when X and Rodger first fought here.
So much had changed since then.
Some of the other divers started to sit down, too, but Michael remained standing next to Magnolia and Rodger.
“I know you’re all tired,” he said, “but suck it up. What you’re about to learn could very well be the difference between life and death once we reach Africa.”
“I ain’t fucking going to Africa,” Rodger muttered.
Michael wasn’t in the mood to argue, and he didn’t want to upset Rodger further so soon after he buried his parents.
“That’s going to be decided by King Xavier,” he said. “Regardless of where you go, there or Aruba, you need this training.”
Rodger grumbled, and Magnolia elbowed him in the ribs.
The sound of boots on the stands commanded his attention, and Michael brought a hand up to shield his eyes from the sun. Ton and Victor walked with X down the stairwell splitting the stands. Miles trotted after them but stopped at the railing.
Arlo and the other divers got to their feet.
“Stay, boy,” X said.
The dog paced and whined after X and his guards climbed down to the sand. The king carried the double-headed spear that had belonged to his most trusted guard, Rhino.
“Sorry I’m late,” X said.
“Welcome, King Xavier,” Mac said. He bowed slightly and twirled a cutlass in his only hand. “This afternoon, you’re getting a crash course on how to wield that spear.”
“What the hell do we need those for when we have machine guns and blasters?” Arlo asked.
Mac looked at the diver as one might respond to a slow child. Then he said, “Guns don’t always work in the wastes, and a sword doesn’t run out of ammo.”
He swung the cutlass at Arlo’s neck, the blade stopping less than an inch from his Adam’s apple.
“In the time it would take to aim a gun, I would have just lopped your head off,” Mac said.
Arlo swallowed, looking shaken.
“Everyone, grab a weapon,” he said. “Your training starts now.”
The divers walked over to the rack of weapons and chose from the blades and spears. Pedro joined the divers and grabbed a double-edged sword.
“Hope you got a plan on how to teach me to use this with one arm,” X said, raising his spear awkwardly in the air.
“Oh, I’ll show you a few tricks,” Mac said.
Michael didn’t like the idea of X trying to fight Horn with the weapon, but he knew better than to try to talk him out of it. Once X had his mind made up, he rarely entertained alternatives without a fight. But also, Michael wanted to see how Mac would train X on the weapon.
“Watch and learn,” Mac said.
He stepped into a white ring painted in the dirt and raised a blunted cutlass to Felipe. The younger Barracuda got into a fighting stance with a short sword. Sweat beaded on his bald pate and trickled down the crab tattoo.
Mac let out a cry as he swung first. The blades clanged.
For an old man with only two natural limbs, Mac was fast. Felipe was a strong fighter, too, and he didn’t seem to be going easy on the veteran. They traded blows for several minutes, staying within the border of the white line.
“Don’t watch your opponent’s eyes,” Mac said to the spectators. “He can use them to fake you out. You can get a better read on his next move by watching his chest.”
Felipe, who didn’t know much English, wasn’t prepared when Mac flitted his eyes to the left and jabbed with his right. Mac turned the dulled blade aside at the last moment, smacking Felipe in the back with the flat.
Wincing, Felipe hopped away.
“Wow,” Arlo said. “That was sick.”
Edgar twirled his sword. He was still bruised and injured but looked more determined than ever. “Let me try,” he said.
The former militia soldier wasn’t just an expert with a sniper rifle. In the militia he had been an artist with a baton. He wasn’t bad with a sword, either. At least, that was what Michael thought until Mac had the Hell Diver on his back, with a blade to his chest, within four strokes.
“Damn,” Arlo said. “You just got worked, homes!”
“Sick? Worked? Homes? What the hell does that shit even mean?” Sofia asked.
“Just stuff I heard in old-world movies and songs,” Arlo said.
Sofia stepped up next, and to everyone’s surprise, she swung her sword so hard that it made Mac take a step back with his prosthetic leg.
He hit back, but Sofia lunged, forcing him to sidestep the blow.
“Whoa,” X said. “Take it easy, Sofia.”
But she only hit harder. Mac parried the blows with his cutlass, not striking back, letting her expend energy.
“Damn,” Arlo said. He looked to Lena. “You got hidden moves like that?”
“I know a few tricks,” she replied.
He winked at her, and Lena rolled her eyes.
“Guys, less talking, more watching,” Michael said.
“She’s got skills,” Arlo said.
“You’re right for once,” Ted said after taking a slug from his flask.
Sofia grunted louder, hitting harder, feet moving nimbly.
“Careful,” X warned them.
But Mac didn’t seem to be easing up any more than she was, and the bloodlust in her eyes made Michael a little uneasy.
A scream pierced the morning as Sofia charged Mac. She swung hard, sparks flying when Mac’s sword deflected the blow.
Felipe stepped closer, clearly worried about his commander.
“You’re good, but not that good,” Mac said. He swung at her, but she swung harder, almost knocking his sword out of his grip. She smacked him in the face with her elbow.
Stumbling backward, he dragged his forearm across his lips, smearing blood. His eyes glared with rage.
They both raised their swords at the same time, but Michael strode into the middle of the ring and reached out with his metal arm, catching her sword blade. Felipe stepped in front of Mac.
“Enough!” X said.
The king’s raised voice seemed to calm Mac down, but Sofia just yanked on her sword. Michael’s robotic fingers held the blade like a vise.
“Calm down,” he said.
“Fuck you.”
“Hey!” Magnolia said. “Sofia, you need to check yourself.”
“You can fuck off, too,” Sofia said. She finally let go of her sword and stormed off, over the railing and up the stairs.
Magnolia walked after her, but X shook his head.
“Give her time,” he said.
Blood dripped off Mac’s chin. He held up his hand and spat a tooth into his palm.