Shattered Read Free Page B

glistened.
    â€œPretty nice, eh?” he asked.
    The two guys between us backed away until all three of them stood side by side. I staggered forward so that the man was now between them and me.
    â€œYou really think you’re scaring us?” the leader asked. “Not trying to scare anybody. Just want us to walk away in one direction and the three of you go in the other.”
    â€œYou’re not goin’ anywhere except down … let’s take’em!” the guy yelled.
    The three thugs surged forward. Lightning-like, the man jumped to the side and with his leg swept the feet out from under the leader, who crashed to the gravel with a heavy thud! Almost in the same motion he brought themetal rod down on the leg of a second, who screamed out in pain as he collapsed to a heap on the ground. The third one skidded to a stop. The man stepped toward him, swinging the metal rod in the air, and the young guy turned and ran away. Now the man spun around and leaped forward until he was standing over top of the two thugs.
    â€œDon’t move!” he yelled.
    I stood stock still before I realized he wasn’t talking to me.
    One of the two tried to get back up. The man reached over and kicked his arm out from under him and he crashed back down to the ground. The other one was clutching his leg, rolling around in pain.
    â€œShoes,” the man said, pointing the metal rod at them. “Sure … he can have them … we weren’t really goin’ to take them,” the leader whimpered. He didn’t sound so brave now—or look so big. He reached to the ground where my shoes had fallen when he was knocked down. He held them out for me.
    Cautiously I inched forward and took them. “Thanks,” I said. That sounded stupid.
    â€œNow your shoes,” the man said.
    â€œWhat?” the thug asked.
    â€œI want all the shoes. Your shoes … and his,” he said, pointing at them with the metal bar.
    â€œBut—”
    â€œNow!” He took the bar and slammed it against one of the shrubs, causing the wood to splinter.
    Both thugs scrambled to undo their laces.
    â€œNo, wait!” he ordered. “You get to keep your shoes,” he said, pointing to the guy whose leg he’d hurt. Hepointed to the other. “I want your shoes and your coat … I hope it doesn’t have lice.”
    The thug looked shocked and then angry and then like he was going to say something, but he didn’t. Instead he took off his second shoe and then slipped out of his jacket.
    â€œGet up.”
    The injured one had trouble rising—he was barely able to put weight on the one leg. He was grimacing in pain and his face was stained with tears.
    â€œNow get out of this park and I don’t ever want to see either of you back here again.”
    â€œThis isn’t the end,” the big guy said. Suddenly, on his feet, he was feeling more confident again.
    â€œIt is the end unless you want to lose your pants as well.”
    I almost laughed but restrained myself. The thug now seemed more comical than threatening as he stood there without his leather jacket, bouncing around on his stocking feet—his big toe sticking out of a hole in the one sock.
    â€œI won’t forget you or what happened,” the thug said. Brave words, but I noticed he kept his distance.
    â€œI don’t want you to forget,” the bum said. “I want you to remember … remember what happens if you pick on people.” His voice was calm, quiet, but menacing. “Remember, if you come back here again, it won’t just be your shoes and jacket that you lose.” He held the rod up. “You have any idea what would have happened if I’d hit him in the head instead of the leg?”
    Neither of them answered.
    â€œYou want to find out?” the man demanded as he stepped toward them, waving the rod in the air.
    The two men hurried away.
    â€œCome on back!” he