They got into the Hummer, Tommy behind the wheel. He peeled away from the manor, shredding up the lawn in the process.

They tore across the hilly countryside at high speed, taking small detours to run through farms and tear up fields of crops. One time an old farmer in his overalls came out of his house, shouted profanities and heaved a pitchfork at the SUV. Tommy did a 180, gunned the engine and ran the man over, splattering his guts all over the windshield.

Finally they caught up to the caravan with the El Hambro?s payroll. There were ten fully armored horsemen, five in the front and five in the back of an armored carriage, wherein Captain Farrell most likely guarded the loot.

Tommy drove straight at them, plowing into the horses in front of the carriage. Beast and man alike crumpled beneath the mighty wheels of the Hummer. Chaos erupted as horses shrieked and soldiers screamed. Armor and bones crunched sickeningly as they were ground up, the Figure reversing to drive over their bodies several times.

The guards behind the carriage came forward, swords drawn, charging the Hummer. Their shouts were full of fear and outrage, yet they approached the vehicle devoutly, ready to die in the line of duty.

The Figure threw open the door and leapt out, guns blazing. With his twin Mark VII Desert Eagles, he took aim on the soldiers and shot them off their horses, one by one. Bullets pierced armor, creating a violent metallic cadence.

Meanwhile, Skyler went for the armored coach itself. He snuck out on the other side of the truck and skulked up to the carriage unseen. He yanked as hard as he could on the doorknob, but it wouldn?t give. So he drew his revolver and blasted the lock open. There was a deafening clang as sparks flew. Then he wrenched open the door and stepped inside.

Clad in chain mail and helm, Captain Liam Farrell stood against the far wall, glaring loathsomely at the Baron. The treasure chest carrying the gold was against the wall, padlocked.

Skyler returned the glare, fury twisting his features. The young Baron drew his samurai sword and said, ?Stand and deliver, or the Devil, he may take you!?

Farrell drew his long sword and charged at Skyler, thrusting skillfully. The boy parried, but was knocked back out of the coach and sent sprawling. Farrell leapt out after him. The man was a professional soldier. He let no emotion show as he closed on Skyler, apparently seeing this duel to the death as just another daily duty.

The Baron picked himself up and engaged the Captain. There on the dusty road their weapons clashed in a grand duel, as the two skilled swordsmen ranged all over the open area, dead soldiers and horses at their feet.

The duel lasted a good ten minutes. Tommy had finished his massacre of the horsemen and taken a seat on the hood of the Hummer to watch Skyler and Farrell try to kill each other. It was that image which gave Skyler the inspiration he needed to win ? what he saw out of the corner of his eye ? Tommy watching him, judging him.

Farrell came in with a high cut, which Skyler blocked, but he lost his balance and began to teeter. The Captain then lunged in with the killing blow, a thrust directed at the boy?s chest. The Baron managed to move aside just in time and perform a stop hit. Farrell?s blade slid harmlessly behind him, missing its target. At this point, Skyler seized the Captain?s wrist with his left hand and pulled the man toward him sharply, impaling him on Wang, which awaited outstretched in his right hand. Wang penetrated through his mail and ruptured his heart. Farrell collapsed to his knees, then pitched over on his face, twitching as he bled to death.

Skyler stood over him for a long time, panting heavily, his long black hair sweaty and blood-stained. After a while he pulled his sword out of the man?s body and began wiping off the blood. Tommy watched him silently, without expression.

Finally the Baron glanced up, grinning greedily. ?We?re rich.?

He and Tommy went into the coach and blasted the padlock open. Inside, what looked to be at least five thousand gold coins glimmered up at them. They each grabbed an end of the chest and carried it back to the Hummer.

?The treasury ain?t empty no more!? howled Skyler. They got back into the truck and Tommy floored it, peeling out and spewing dirt all over the dead soldier?s bodies. They drove back to the manor house of New Haven, leaving the bodies to rot in hot afternoon sun.