The Sword of The Immortal

Mutt grinned as he tasted the blood between his teeth. It’d been three months since he’d been enrolled in Saint Martin’s Academy outside of Liverpool (after getting kicked out of most every college in America) and he’d been aching for a good fight. Of course, he’d promised his parents he’d behave himself this time and actually graduate so he couldn’t seek a rumble out. But the rich kids at Saint Martin’s had finally given him an opportunity. He figured defending a young girl’s honor was a decent excuse to work out some aggression.1

Mutt gulped down the blood and slammed his head into the guy behind him. The Brit swore and finally released Mutt’s arms. The young Jones quickly made use of this by punching the other one hard in the gut. The boy- Mutt thought his name was Timothy Mueller or Millen or something like that- doubled over in pain. Mutt looked around. He was sure there had been three of them but one seemed to have disappeared.2

If you can’t take the heat-3

Mutt’s inner monologue was cut short as the third boy came up from behind, putting him in a headlock. Mutt grimaced, struggling to break free. He’d thought the ties in the school uniform felt like a hangman’s noose: this guy was a Neanderthal. Ignoring everything either of his father’s- or Ox for that matter- had taught him about fighting fair, he reached done and punched his assailant in the crotch. King Kong dropped groaning to his knees and Mutt kicked him twice in the stomach. If he was gonna cheat, he might as well cheat a lot. Mutt didn’t think his father would condemn him much for it. It was three against one… odds Indiana Jones was quite used to.4

Mueller or Millen managed to get up and throw a clumsy punch at him. Mutt ducked but heard the hit land on the guy who’d tried to hold him down. I thought that only happened on The Three Stooges. He tried not to laugh.5

Mueller- he was sure it Mueller! - hesitated for a moment, surprised at hitting his comrade. Mutt used this to grab Mueller and slam him into a nearby wall. The other boy crumpled to his knees, clearly unconscious. Mutt looked around again. Around him, the two conscious bullies moaned and doubled over in pain. The girl they’d been tormenting had long since booked it. Mutt couldn’t really blame her. He wondered why a teacher hadn’t shown up yet. It was only a matter of time. Mutt picked up his book bag and headed quickly down the hallway.6

The fight felt good in his bones. Mutt grinned. It had been far too long since he’d exchanged blows with somebody. In the back of his mind, he felt a little sorry for breaking his promise to his mother but then he was fairly sure that Marion would have wanted him to step in, in this particular situation.7

“Hey, where you going, Chink?”8

Mutt closed his eyes in distaste at the memory of what had prompted the fight. Saint Martin’s was mainly a boy’s school and the few girls who attended were almost carbon copies of each other, fashionable hairstyles, milk white skin and low IQs. About a week ago, however, the school had gained its first minority student. She called herself Mary Cauldron but somehow Mutt didn’t think that was her real name. She was certainly nothing like the other girls at the school. Her hair was long and… rather unkempt, as though it hadn’t been cut in a while. It was jet black, not at all the usual style of short, meticulously placed into the correct fashion. She carried herself with the air of and Empress which made sense as she was obviously Chinese.9

“What’s the problem? Can’t talkie English?”10

To her credit, Mary had ignored the three boys who targeted her in the hallway and tried to move past them. Mutt happened to be using the bathroom nearby when he heard sentiments that made him ashamed of his race. 11

“Hey, relax, chink girl. Loosen up!”12

“Let go of me.” 13

That had been the final straw for Mutt. Mary’s voice was calm and commanding and the laughter that met her drove him to the edge. He didn’t know particularly why. It might have been because he identified with outsiders, it might have been because he wanted to fight and any excuse would do but either way he’d stepped it.14

“Leave her alone.”15

“Stay out of this, Greaser. This is between us and the chink.”16

That was when Mutt hit him.17

He’d reached his dorm room by now. Mutt slipped in silently and shut the door behind him. His roommates were out somewhere and he was glad of it. They were more of the type he’d beaten up in the hall way. He crossed the room quickly and stared at his refection in the mirror. He grinned. It looked like he’d been in a fight. A few bruises were already being to darken and there was a small cut on his chin. His uniform was crumpled and disheveled, just another perk to the day’s activity. Mutt loosened his tie and pulled it over his head. He reached in his pocket and drew out a black comb. Deftly, he put his hair back the way he liked it and grinned again at his reflection. Now he was starting at last to look like what he was. A Mutt.18

His head was still swimming from the fight when Mutt (aka Henry Jones III) sat down to start his homework. He had never cared that much for school work until two years ago when he’d first met Indiana Jones and started thinking the old legends Ox was always droning on about might actually be true. Now Mutt forced himself through each boring history assignment, digging around for anything remotely interesting. As he reached in his bag for the text book, Mutt’s fingers closed around a small scrape of paper. He pulled it out and read it with growing alarm.19

It was note, written in subtlety feminine hand writing. Mutt blinked at it, reading it over and over. She must have slipped it in during the fight. The words were ominous.20

Meet me in the village on Saturday. I know what happened to your parents.21

***22

“It’s Jones.” Mutt repeated to the man at the post office. “Henry Jones the third.”23

“Sorry, son, there’s nothing here under that name.” The guy was old with a large white mustache. Mutt knew he shouldn’t be angry with this man but he clenched his teeth in frustration.24

“Try Williams. Mutt Williams.”25

Dutifully the mail man went into the back room to inquire. Mutt swore under his breath. He hadn’t heard from his parents in the past two months. At first he’d thought they’d just forgotten. The Joneses usually had something interesting going on. His mother had never been an overtly sentimental woman and his father hadn’t contacted either of them for the first 19 years of Mutt’s life. There couldn’t be much reason to keep in touch now.26

But ‘Mary’s’ note had gotten him paranoid. Marion had written him twice a month for the first couple at Saint Martin’s but the supply of letters had dried up after that. At the time, Mutt hadn’t thought much of it but now, apparently, something had happened to his parents. With his father’s track record, it wasn’t too far of a stretch.27

“Sorry.” The old man returned. “There’s nothing there for any Jones or Williams.”28

“Thanks, I guess.” Mutt muttered and headed out the door.29

It was Saturday, two days after he’d gotten the note. He’d tried to find Mary after he read it but she was mysteriously absent. Mutt wondered if she’d show up today or if the note was just some sick feminine joke. There were no classes at Saint Martin’s on Saturday and the students were allowed to do what ever they liked. Mutt usually hung out at the local mechanic’s shop, breathing in the beloved fumes. He’d had to leave his own bike back in America (something he never would have done if he’d had a choice- Marion had resorted to underhanded tactics, telling him the bike was being shipped on another flight and waiting until Mutt was in England to tell him she wasn’t about to pay for his escape route should he get bored with college. She knew him to well) but Marty, the head mechanic, would allow him to work on the cars in the shop. He wore what he called his American clothes, faded blue jeans, a white t-shirt and his leather jacket, which were banned at Saint Martin’s. 30

Today, instead of going to the garage, he wandered aimlessly up and down the main street of the village. He wondered what the hell he was doing out there. He was being way too paranoid. Nothing’d happened to his parents. Just in case something did happen to them, Mutt was fairly certain they could handle it. Of course, his mother had already been kidnapped and had to be rescued once before and his father wasn’t getting any younger… 31

Mutt swore under his breath. Even if something did happen… He thought angrily, what am I supposed to do about it? Save them? Sure, I’ll just take all the money I don’t have, hop on a plane to I-have-no-idea-where and ride in like the lone ranger!32

“I wondered if you would come.”33

Mutt jumped at the sound of her voice. He’d thought he was alone. Mary was also dressed casually- a yellow skirt and blouse. She looked like lemonade. Mutt shook himself.34

“You took your time about getting here.” He said irritably. “What happened to my parents?”35

‘Mary’ looked around and shook her head. “Not here. There are too many people. Follow me.” She turned quickly and walked away. Mutt followed. Soon they found themselves in a back alley behind the mechanic’s garage. Mutt reached out and grabbed Mary’s wrist.36

“Listen, I’m about this close to losing my patience with this goose chase.” He growled at her. “Now, why don’t you tell me why I’m here?”37

“You’re direct, Henry Jones.” She smiled for the first time since she’d come to Saint Martin’s. “Just like your father.”38

“Where is my father?”39

“Just like he said.”40

“Listen Dolly-”41

“Your parents are in China.”42

“China?” Mutt stared at her. It was about the last think he’d expected to hear. He remembered reading about China in the newspaper when the communists took over. He didn’t think Americans were allowed in.43

“Yes.” Mary nodded. “They’re in great danger. You must come with me.”44

“Hold on a minute! What danger? How do you know all this?”45

“There’s isn’t any time for that!”46

“Why?” He noticed she was looking over his shoulder. Mutt turned and saw three tall men get out of a black Volkswagen. He turned back to the girl. “Who are they?”47

“They’re looking for you, Henry Jones.” She smiled again, ruefully this time, “Believe me, you don’t want them finding you.”48

Mutt glanced back at the three thugs. One was peering down the alley. He turned back to Mary. “After this, I want some answers.”49

“You’ll get them.” She said. “Follow me- Hurry!”50

Mutt followed. Mary ran quickly and this alerted the thug to their presence. He shouted something in Mandarin and the two other’s followed them down alley. They each carried pistols.51

“We got company.” Mutt told her.52

The girl looked over her shoulder. “Shit!” She skidded to a halt in front of Marty’s garage. “We need a car. Now!”53

Marty looked curiously from her to Mutt. “What’s that, then?” He asked. “You don’t look like you’ve got the money to pay for a car. What’s going on, Mutt?”54

“If I knew, I’d tell you.” Mutt said as a bullet flew past him. “Come on, man- give us something!”55

“There’s people shooting at you!” The Mechanic exclaimed.56

“Yeah, I know!” Mutt said, pushing Mary into the garage. “Give us a car, damn it!”57

“Here’s the keys to the motorcycle over there!” Marty tossed them to him. “What’s happening, Mutt?!”58

“Tell you later!” He and Mary looked at the bike. It was tiny. Not nearly in as good condition at his old one but it would work. Mary looked dubious.59

“You know how to work one of those?”60

“As a matter of fact…” Mutt slide the key into the ignition. “Hop on!”61

She did. Mutt speed out with a hail of bullets behind him.62

“Wait!” Marty called. “Mutt! The brakes! They don’t work!”63

“What’d he say?” Mutt asked over the noise of the engine.64

“I don’t know.” Mary shouted. She held on tightly around his waist as they speed through town, knocking over fruit carts and forcing pedestrians out of the way. Their pursuers followed them in the black car, shooting out of the windows. In spite of it all, it felt great to be back on a bike. Mutt grinned.65

“Where’re we headed?” He shouted to Mary.66

“The pier!” She screamed holding on to him tighter. “You drive like a maniac!”67

“Thanks!” Mutt revved up the engine, urging it to go faster. The thugs weren’t far behind them. He turned sharply down the next intersection to try and lose them. It worked. The car continued speeding down the open road as the ocean and the pier crept into sight.68

“There!” Mutt cried in satisfaction.69

“Slow down!” Mary pleaded.70

Mutt pressed his thigh on the brakes. Nothing happened.71

“Slow down!” Mary repeated, obviously hysterical.72

“I can’t!” Mutt shouted, trying again.73

“What?” She screamed.74

“There’s something wrong with the brakes!” They were about six feet away from the edge of the pier. A small fishing vessel was the only ship in sight.75

“Brake!” She screamed. “Brake, brake, brake, brake!”76

“I can’t!” He shouted back. In a few seconds, they landed with a splash in the water. Mutt emerged coughing to the surface.77

“Mary!” He called to her. She popped up a moment later, grabbing on to his shoulders with both hands. Instinctively, Mutt put his arms around. She held him tightly, gasping for air.78

“Now what?” He asked. 79

She made no answer. Suddenly, Mutt felt himself lifted out of the water. They were caught in the fishing boat’s net. Mutt looked up wondering what fresh danger awaited them. He was certain now. His parents were involved in something heavy. 80

“Are you alright?” A voice called out to them, “Here, let me help you.”81

Mutt found himself face to face with a Chinese man. He was short and looked about thirty years old. His face was dark from working in the sun and worn with the cares of age. Mutt thought he looked a little like Indy, only much younger and much less of a hard ass. The man grinned broadly at them and Mutt noticed he was wearing a New York Yankee’s baseball cap.82

Mary shouted something at him in Chinese, adding an irritated “Hurry!” in English. The Man quickly obliged and went the helm. Mutt looked back and saw the black Volkswagen pull up to the pier. The three men stormed out and began to shoot at them. Mutt swore as he and Mary were thrown out of the fishing net when the man fired up the engine. They sped across the channel leaving the thugs, the motorcycle and Saint Martin’s far behind them.83

Once they were out of sight of the shore, the man returned with towels for each of them. He grinned again at Mutt and helped Mary to her feet. Mutt took the hand he offered and stood unsteadily. He felt thoroughly exhausted.84

“So!” The Chinese man smiled at him. “You’re the son of Doctor Jones?”85

“Yeah.” Mutt shook his hand. “Who are you?”86

“My name is Wan Li.” Wan Li couldn’t seem to stop grinning. “But when I traveled with your father, he called me ‘Short Round’.”87

Mutt stared at him and Shortie began to laugh.88

“I didn’t think so when I saw you with that red hair-” He chuckled. “But with that expression, you look just like him!”89