Jack Canyon and The Wiccan Stones | CHAPTER TWO

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"Why is it that someone always wants to bring back some
ancient ruler to a world they'll never understand, a world
filled with technology and weapons so much better than they
had before?" Jack asked almost scolding the woman's plan for
worldly domination. "Unless you want to overtake the Amish."

The woman's nonchalant face shifted into an enraged death
glare at the American archaeologist. Without much force she
thrust her hand into Jack's throat, which knocked him back and
knocked the wind from him. He choked slightly before taking
another blow, which knocked him out completely.

Logan stood in silence and fear as the woman single-handedly
took out his boss.

"Idiot," Yuriko stated sharply. She turned her attention to
Kin and Hiroshi. "Take them away."

"Wait, this is all just some kind of mistake," Logan tried to
reason, but no one would listen. "This is all Jack's fault."
Still, no one cared. "If we make it out of this alive, I'm
going to kill you, Jack."

***

"You're an idiot," Logan said kicking Jack's foot. "Wake up!"

Jack lay unconscious on the floor still from the beating he
had received from Yuriko Mushanaokoji.

"Wake up!" Logan yelled as he kicked Jack harder.

Jack was startled at first as he jumped up and looked around.
"I thought she killed me," Jack said rubbing his throat. "How
long was I out?"

"Nearly a day," Logan replied. "Are you sober? Can you
function properly enough to get us out of here?"

"Where is here?" Jack asked as he scanned the dark, empty
room.

"I don't know," Logan explained as he sat down on the cold
floor. "It's some kind of storage room."

"They didn't store much here," Jack said.

"They continuous checked on you throughout the night," Logan
told him. "I think they're waiting for you to awaken to get
information out of you. They haven't been in this morning."

"Well, they're not very good hosts, are they?" Jack asked as
he searched for the door. "Is there any kind of light in here
other than that dim one in the middle of the room?" Jack
turned and looked at the hanging light. He squinted his eyes
and moved closer.

"What are you doing?"

Jack reached up as high as he could trying to grab the light
fixture. "Do you have anything I could use to change the
direction of the beam?"

"Oh, yeah, I carry a mirror in my pocket, you know?"

"I need to find the door," Jack stated. "We have to get out
of here. These stones are not something I want this Japanese
bitch to get her hands on."

Logan sighed heavily at Jack's words. "That's always the
case, isn't it? Stop the bad guys from doing something stupid
that could destroy the world, right?"

"Yeah, that's usually the case."

"Why don't we get out of here and find them ourselves?" Logan
asked.

"I don't think that's a good idea," Jack answered. "They're
not meant to be disturbed."

"But you did the research on them and even found possible
locations," Logan responded vivaciously. "Why throw it all
away?"

"It's too dangerous of a trek," Jack argued with his partner.
"These stones are nothing separate. You put them together and
the magnitude of their power is devastating. Their power is
unlimited. The four sisters brought their friend back to life
and killed a man. With the right Wiccan incantations, the
world could be destroyed before you can even blink. That kind
of power should never be disturbed."

"But we cou--"

The door was opened abruptly interrupting Logan's sentence.
The light beamed into the room from the entrance. The flip of
a switch and the entire room was illuminated.

Jack stood directly beneath the center light as Yuriko
Mushanaokoji entered with Hiroshi Fukushima, Kin Mizoguchi,
Kisho Osaragi, and Taku Saeki. "You need four men to
accompany you to meet me? Last I checked you didn't need body
guards."

"They're not my bodyguards, Mr. Canyon," Yuriko told him.
"You have already met Hiroshi and Kin. This is Kisho and
Taku. These four men are my associates, so to speak. They
are my aids. They do my dirty work."

"Hey," Jack protested, "I'm not a dirty job."

"Mr. Canyon, please, come with us," Yuriko said as she turned
and headed out of the now-lit room.

"And if I refuse?"

Kisho poked Jack in the back with a gun forcing him forward.

"Hey, not on the first date," Jack joked, but was still forced
outside. Jack followed Yuriko out onto the pier behind the
warehouse. He felt quite uncomfortable with this situation.

"Now, as I was told, you would help," Yuriko announced.
"Logan Scott informed us that you were the best archaeologist
in the world."

"Well, I'm honored of such a title," Jack said acting as if he
was surprised and receiving some type of award.

"Now, tell us where we can find the stones," Yuriko ordered
him with a forceful tone.

"No," Jack declined.

"Then take us to them."

"I can't do that," Jack told the Asian woman.

The woman sighed hard enough to cause a the water in Tokyo Bay
to form a hurricane. She pulled a gun from under her gray
suit which fit to her form. She jabbed the barrel into Jack's
forehead and cocked the hammer.

"Killing me won't solve anything," Jack told her with a cocky
grin on his face.

Yuriko's face shifted from anger to realization. "You're
right. Tell me or I kill Logan Scott." She turned her gun
toward the other American.

Logan's arms shot up into position as if he were in a hold up.
His gut began to churn as he grew nervous. "Jack. . ."

"I don't know anything!" Jack yelled. "I never did. Don't
do this. Don't kill him."

"Take Mr. Scott away," Yuriko said. "Dispose of him."

Taku and Kin forced Logan down the pier and around to the
other side of the warehouse. Eventually they were out of
sight and behind the warehouse where no one would see the
events.

Jack jerked slightly as he heard a gunshot and then a splash.
"You bitch!"

"You have a very bad track record with partners, do you not,
Mr. Canyon?" Yuriko asked with a wicked look on her face. "I
think I see why you switched to men partners. You feel less
guilt than if they were women."

Jack jumped at Yuriko, who quickly grabbed him by the throat
and threw him down with great force. This woman was going to
be tough to beat with her martial arts technique.

"Tell me what I need to know. NOW! I know you know where two
of the stones are. Scott has informed me of your research and
notes."

"That idiot. . ." Jack muttered to himself as he rose to his
feet.

"So, tell me or you die," Yuriko said urgently.

"What's with all killing?" Jack asked. "Come on. It's not a
very lady-like thing to do. You might ruin that lovely suit."

"Take him back there and get rid of him," Yuriko said. "We
shall search for his journal ourselves. We do not need his
help."

Hiroshi and Kin forced Jack to move down the pier to where
Logan had been killed and dumped off into the water. Kin
pushed Jack close to the edge of the pier, causing him to fall
to his knees.

"I just bought these Carhartts!" Jack cried as he slowly got
back onto his feet. He dusted off his knees and checked the
moss-colored pants for tears.

"Where do you want it?" Kin asked as he readied his gun for
Jack.

"How about nowhere?" Jack pleaded.

"Just kill him and lets go back to work," Hiroshi stated.

Jack turned around to face the water. He made sure to take in
the entire set up of the dock. He made special note of the
crane arm not far from where he stood.

Kin pointed the gun at the back of Jack's head. "See you in
the next life."

Before Kin could pull the trigger, Jack spun around and
knocked it from his hand. He moved to punch the Japanese man,
but he ducked and came up with a kick to Jack's jaw. Jack
winced in pain and held his jaw.

Hiroshi was upon Jack before he knew it and delivered a
massive chop to his back knocking the American down. Quickly,
he did a roundhouse kick, which Jack avoided.

As Jack spun out of the way, he met Kin on his right. The
Asian man punched Jack multiple times with lightning fast
speed. Jack could barely recover in time before Hiroshi was
attacking him again. Finally getting back his footing, Jack
blocked their assault. Swiftly, Jack threw a few punches of
his own, connecting with Kin's nose and breaking it. With
Kin's nose broken and eyes watery, he could focus solely on
Hiroshi.

"American street brawl style?" Hiroshi asked with an amused
look on his face.

"I take it that you guys like this stuff, huh?"

"Makes for great enjoyment," Hiroshi responded as he kicked at
Jack and then punched at him. He landed a few good licks on
Jack, before Jack was able to come back.

Without great effort, Jack punched Hiroshi in the mouth
causing blood to flow. He jerked around and jumped out onto
the cable of the crane arm and swung out into Tokyo Bay where
a passing boat was. It was just some Japanese kids having a
joy ride in daddy's new speed boat.

Hiroshi and Kin looked from the dock in disbelief at what the
American was capable of.

Jack let go of the cable as the boat neared and landed right
on top of its bow. He held on for dear life as the young
driver ordered the other man in the boat to help the American
out. He was then pulled onto the boat and safe.

"Are you okay?" The man asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Jack replied. "Thanks for helping me out."

"Who are you?" One of the ladies on the boat asked.

"The name's Jack Canyon," Jack said with a wink.

"The infamous archaeologist?" The driver questioned in shock.

"That's me." Jack turned slowly around to see in the horizon
boats coming his way. Yuriko had sent her own armada of boats
after him. Damn, he thought.