“That, you know, was rather painful,” the woman said, when, to one degree or another, her composure returned. Then she shook her head sharply, setting the vertebrae with a crunch. - I do not advise to repeat. Okay. Give me a moment.

Beatrice began to put herself in order under the startled glances of the prisoners huddled into the wall. She pulled her trousers and straightened her skirts. She hid her breast looking out like a wet nurse. She picked up a mirror and a silk handkerchief and began to carefully blot blood and dirt on her face. Renewed makeup. She pulled a stiletto out of Mitchell's neck and, shoving it into the “sheath,” combed the bobbed curls. And so she stood before them in almost the same form in which she entered, and the traces of the blow on her face could be seen only if they were aware of them, and even then with difficulty.

However, in the face of Beatrice it was clear that something was missing. Rummaging through her purse, looking at the floor, she glanced at them and finally found Kisaru, who by some miracle was still in Ollie's teeth. Caleb could say for himself that, as a rule, he had a good eye to look at. She helped him to notice a barely perceptible flash of rage, a brief glimpse of flashed through the sapphire eyes. The smile that arose a second later could no longer deceive him: Beatrice was furious.

- Ah ah ah! What a bad boy! Didn't Mom teach you not to take other people's things without asking?

The guy, however, did not guess anything. Muttering an apology, he returned the phone to the woman. On the mouthpiece imprinted his teeth. New flash of rage, stronger than the previous one. Caleb felt cold sweat running down his spine. "She will finish him off." By golly, will nail in place. " Beatrice gently rubbed her kiseru sleeve. She took it in her mouth and became thoughtful. Or pretended.

“Do you like magic tricks, Ollie?” - All of a sudden, she asked. Absolutely serious. The lad nodded uncertainly. - Wonderful. Do you want Auntie Beatrice show you one? I assure you that you have not seen this before. Be nice, give me your jacket and shirt.

In complete bewilderment, the boy took off his outer clothing and gave it to the woman. "Skin and Bones", that was what could be said about him. The “magician”, on the other hand, showed everyone her empty left hand, rolled up her sleeve, and then began to wrap tightly from the fist to the middle of the forearm. First with a shirt, then over it and a jacket. Critically inspecting the resulting hank, she said that she also needed pants. The boy caught up with the color of the face with a beet, but was afraid to contradict. Now he stood completely naked, shyly covering himself. But skuzhuzhivshiysya caused the youngster absolutely not interested in "magician". When the thickness of the clot increased slightly due to the pants, she nodded in satisfaction.

- I think it will do. Now stand still.

Beatrice raised her left hand and aimed it at Ollie. Squared and pushed her a little, making some adjustment. "It seems to be aiming ...", the observant Caleb managed to think. For a fraction of a second, his thought was ahead of the dull clap and hiss, with which the flames engulfed the layering of fabric, turning it into a torch. And at the same time, the boy's head cracked like a watermelon that had fallen asleep, and scattered into pieces, and its contents painstakingly plastered the wall behind it. The sound of falling dead body. Over the past incomplete ten minutes, he has already sounded three times. "Played" by the same "musician".

Beatrice, ignoring the cries, crying and pleading for the mercy of the remaining three prisoners, waved her hand in a picture.The flaming fabric separated surprisingly easily, fell off and was trampled down with a boot. The fire did not leave the slightest trace on the skin of the forearm and hand: no blister or burn. And what was most interesting of all was the Colt "Peacemaker", which the woman squeezed in that very hand. Black as the hair of its owner, not less than thirty centimeters in length, with a sandalwood dark cherry handle. And with a bird of prey engraved on it, clutching a rose flower in its clawed paws.

- Ta-daam! Sleight of hand and no fraud! What's the matter? Didn't you like it? Look at Ollie: he lost his head with delight!

And again that shrill laughter. Beatrice looked crazy. And scary. And then suddenly she became extremely serious. So abruptly, as if turned the lever. Sitting comfortably on Kantz’s cold corpse, she looked from one man to another. They also had to pray to all the gods, in which they believed and did not believe, so that in the mind of this Miss Unpredictability again did not overlap, and she did not decide to "joke" again.

- laughed and that's enough. Now to the point. In case there is a surplus of emotions ... - here she gently hit Zakharia with a handle on her forehead, - ... erased it from your minds, I remind you: I came to get Mr. Straub out of here. And you two will help me in this. Now listen carefully. For what I am about to say will sound once. AND believe meYou do not want to know what will happen if I have to repeat.

“I have all the attention,” Caleb burst out involuntarily. A second later, he was ready to whip his lips for this barb, but his hands were still constrained behind his back. However, despite fears, the woman giggled. Very beautiful and feminine.

- Oh, oh, you just look! What purposefulness, what commitment! Commendable, Mr. Straub. So ... Now Mr. Straub and ... Um ... Which one of you is smarter? Louis. You and Mr. Straub put on the guards' uniforms and take their weapons. Then we separate: Mr. Straub will go with me, this subject - with you. Pretend to escort him for the time being. Most likely, such a conspiracy will be revealed by the first real jailers. But she will allow you to get close to them. And then ... Start killing. I am indifferent to your moral and ethical views or fear of the law. First of all you need to be afraid of me. What am I talking about? Oh yes ... First, you will have to kill all prison staff. Wardens, cooks, doctors. One and all. And secondly, to release all prisoners. Again, one and all. If for some fantastic reason someone resists, scare my great and terrible person, it will not help - shoot on the spot. There should not be a single living prisoner in the cells. Let them pick up the weapons of the killed warders and help you. We, in turn, will do the same in another part of the fort. We meet at the office of the commandant, he is equidistant from here, which way do not go. And before the end of the day we will all be free. Is everyone clear?

- Yes, miss.

- Reckless plan, senora. But we will do everything in our power.

- Where will you go? - grinned Beatrice, fumbled in a cartridge bag hanging on a belt of Kantz, took out a cartridge and loaded a revolver. - Let's throw this place into the depths of Hell! What? Ah, the handcuffs ... Wait a sec ...

***

- Here is the first couple. Are they always walking in twos? Well, be ready, Mr. Straub.

“Please Miss, just Caleb.” No need for "gentlemen."

“Well, just Caleb.” In that case, I'm Just Beatrice. No miss. Gentlemen, get ready.

... So, the plan was stated and taken into account. While Caleb and Louis were pulling on the sand-colored uniforms with their caps, Beatrice collected her belongings, scattered on the floor, including the kiseru hidden back in the case. She fished a coiled gray cloak with a hood from the depths of her purse and wrapped herself in it. Colt put on the top to have quick access to it. You could be nominated. She slid her visors over both "werewolves" and finally went out into the corridor, followed by the others.

The fort had the shape of an ellipse, the long sides of which were straight and parallel, and consisted of two floors. At the first, there was a checkpoint, several guard posts, an armory, an infirmary, kitchens, and living quarters. The second was occupied by countless at first glance prison cells and the commandant’s office, which for unknown reasons did not suit the first one. The office was ...