Death Wind Read Free Page A

up at Allie, his face dark with hate.

Chapter Four
    That night there was a dance to wind up the skateboarding meet. It was held in a community center nearby. Razz asked Allie to go with him and she said yes.
I’ve got nothing better to do except worry
, she thought.
    The center was packed with kids when Allie and Razz arrived. There were banners and posters all over the walls,advertising skateboards and gear. At one end of the room a few kids were doing a Freestyle demonstration on a wooden platform. The music was so loud Allie thought the roof would fall in.
    Allie danced with Razz a few times. He was good. She danced with a few other guys, too. But she was nervous and kept looking around for Slammer.
Maybe he’ll turn up and give me a hard time
, she thought.
    At about nine o’clock Razz said to her, “Brainy, I’ve gotta go phone my sponsor. They wanted me to tell them how I did today. I’ll be right back.”
    Allie sat down on one of the metal chairs, sipping a Diet Pepsi, thinking about her parents. Maybe she had made up her mind too fast. Maybe she shouldn’t have left home after all. What was she going to do when Razz’s tour was over? She had to admit to herself that she hadn’t thought things out too well.
    â€œDid the big shot leave you all alone?” a voice asked.
    She knew the voice without looking up. It was Slammer.
    He was dressed in black—black leather pants and cycle jacket. The light shining on his white hair made him look like a ghost. Standing with him were two other guys.
    Slammer leaned over and hissed, “I’d have won today if it wasn’t for you, bitch.”
    Allie could smell the beer on his breath. She didn’t answer, knowing that what he said was a lie. She decided to get up and walk away. Slammer roughly shoved her back into the chair.
    â€œGet lost,” she said, wishing she felt as brave as she sounded.
    â€œFor a good-lookin’ chick she’s got an ugly mouth on her,” said Slammer. One of the guys behind him, a tall blond kid, laughed.
    Allie crossed her arms over her chest and looked away.
    â€œCome on with us,” Slammer sneered, “and we’ll show you how to party.”
    Allie was scared. She looked around, but there was no one near her. All the kids on the dance floor had their minds on other things.
    Slammer reached down and grabbed her arm, squeezing hard. He pulled her to her feet. The two goons moved in and the three of them surrounded her. Someone grabbed her other arm and yanked it behind her back. She twisted and struggled. She heard her shirt rip as a jab of pain shot into her shoulder.
    â€œLet me go, you losers!” she yelled. But the music was so loud her voice was lost. Slammer and the two goons hustled her out the back doors of the community center. Allie shot a frantic look back over her shoulder. Just as the door slammed behind her, it flew openagain. It was Razz, and he looked mad.
    Slammer and the other goon let go of Allie and she stepped to the side. Slammer had his knife out—the one he had used to do the job on the van. He and the other goons separated so they could come at Razz from two sides. They paid no more attention to Allie.
    â€œCome on, scum,” hissed Slammer. “Let’s get it on.”
    â€œDrop the knife, hot dog,” Razz said. “Let’s see if you can fight without a blade in your hand.”
    Slammer looked around, then folded the knife and put it into his jacket pocket. He grinned.
    It was dark behind the community center and there was no one around. The cold wind whipped Allie’s hair in her face. All she could do was watch as Razz and Slammer took off their jackets.
    They began to circle, each fighter bent over a little, looking for an opening.Slammer struck first, aiming a kick at Razz’s stomach. Razz stepped back and caught Slammer’s foot. He twisted it and Slammer fell to the dirt. Razz waited for him to get up