A Game of Death Page #4

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And what a perfect setting

for your purpose.

Jungles with a maze of trails,

right off the beaten path.

It's only unfortunate that you have to

depend on chance shipwrecks for your quarry.

I never leave anything as important

as that to chance, Rainsford.

You mean you...

It's so simple.

To move the lights in the channel.

Sailors thinking they are in deep water.

Suddenly find their ships

smashed against my coral reefs.

So that's how you do it.

Yes.

You remember the old German

legend of the Lorelei?

Who lured sailors to destruction on

the Rhine. It was as simple as that.

But if they're drowned, surely

you defeat you own purpose.

Not at all.

Only those powerful enough to

swim to shore, make fit game.

Don't you see?

How very ingenious.

You and I are strong Rainsford.

And life is for the strong,

to be lived by the strong.

The weaklings of this world were

put here to give us pleasure.

To die for us, if need be.

But how do you get your

man to take to the trail?

I suggest to him that we go hunting.

I give him an excellent hunting

knife, and a good start.

I follow, armed with

only bow and arrows.

You see, I want him to have

a good chance to defeat me.

He must above all things, be dangerous.

If he alludes me until

dawn, he is the victor.

But suppose he refuses to be hunted.

After seeing my trophy room,

my guest invariably

accepts my invitation.

And if he wins?

To date, I have not lost.

My dear Kreiger, it's a privilege to meet

a man of your daring imagination.

I like you Rainsford.

You and I think alike.

If fact you're the only man I've

ever met who shares my opinions.

I'm going to accord you a courtesy,

I have given to no other living man.

Will you accept the

privileges of my preserve?

I consider it a great honor.

Good, you shall join me tonight.

Young Trowbridge may not be the gamest

quarry in the world, but he'll do.

Is he at all fit?

He's in better shape than you'd believe.

He almost got away from me this morning.

I must clip his wings or lose him.

Until tonight then.

Until tonight.

How'd it go?

Even better than I'd hoped. I have

Kreiger's complete confidence.

Now hold onto yourself, and don't go

overboard at what I've got to tell you.

I'm going hunting with him tonight.

But he'll kill you, just as

he has did the others.

I said with him, not against him.

Hunting?

Whom?

Your brother. Don't worry.

When I get Kreiger out in that

jungle, the hunt will be short,

and the victim won't

be your brother.

Herr Kreiger, come with me.

I warned you. He

wasn't in his room.

They were protecting him.

This man is dangerous.

Kill him now.

No Pleshke.

I have other plans for Mr. Rainsford.

It's time.

Alright.

Now let's go over it again.

Listen carefully.

When Kreiger tries to separate

you, don't make a scene.

Go quietly to your

room and stay there.

Alright.

And when he turns you loose in the jungle,

head fast for the lagoon and stay there.

I'll walk him straight into a trap.

Yes, but no one has

ever beaten Krieger.

Bob, you've got to pull

yourself together.

You too Ms. Trowbridge. Why,

you're shaking like a leaf.

I can't help it.

So much depends on him, so much

can happen in the next hour.

Aw, buck up. And above all, be natural.

Those faces are a dead give away.

He'd know something was up.

Yes, you're right.

That's the stuff. Just relax,

and everything will be alright.

Talking of lion stories, I remember

once in British East Africa, I...

Rainsford.

It just occurred to me. You can't

possibly hunt in those clothes.

I've had Pleshke lay out others for you.

Oh well thanks. I won't be long.

Please don't. We're a

little late already.

Ms. Trowbridge.

Goodnight, Mr. Kreiger.

Bob, are you coming?

Oh Bob, you haven't finished your drink.

I'll just wait until Rainsford comes down.

Alright.

Goodnight, Ms. Trowbridge.

Goodnight.

You sure you want to

finish that drink, Bob?

What do you mean Erich?

Don't you know?

It will be a long time before

you see Rainsford again, Bob.

Carib!

Carib.

Isn't Rainsford going with you?

Not tonight.

Then, who is?

You.

You alone.

What? I won't hunt with you.

I won't be hunted down like an animal.

I think you will.

You've always wanted to

see my trophy room, Bob.

Now you shall.

No.

I won't go I tell you.

Come Bob.

Come with me.

No.

I won't go, I tell you.

I won't go.

Guard the door from the

outside, until we come back.

Jawohl.

Rainsford!

Kreiger knows! Save Ellen!

Save her!

Look out for my dog.

He's a man killer!

Auf wiedersehen!

Kreiger has caught on

to our plan somehow.

Where's Bob?

They took him into the jungle with him.

I saw him from my window.

Bob!

Ms. Trowbridge.

Wait!

Bob!

Wait, Ms. Trowbridge. Wait!

Bob.

- Stop it Ellen.

- Let me go, he'll kill him.

Ellen, please. Please!

Don't move Herr Rainsford.

Herr Kreiger.

Come quickly.

How did they get in here?

I don't know. I heard the boat and

came down and found them here.

Where's Bob?

He met with a most

unfortunate accident.

You killed him.

You've killed my brother.

He had his chance.

He was a weakling. You're

better off without him.

Bob never hurt

anyone in his life.

Only a madman would do a thing like this.

You think I'm insane.

I know it.

Anyone who takes half-drunk

men from wrecks,

drives them out to be

hunted, is insane.

That scar, it hurts you, doesn't it?

That's because you're mad.

I wouldn't have believed anyone as

lovely as you, could be so unpleasant.

I'd kill you, if I could!

I'm bitterly disappointed

in you, Rainsford.

I thought as great hunters,

we had a common bond.

You, a hunter. Tracking

down a helpless man,

who didn't know a jungle

from a drawing room.

Oh, you're wrong Rainsford.

Really, you are.

Bob did better than you'd believe.

He gave me quite a chase. Even

tried to swim the lagoon.

And you have the nerve to

call yourself a sportsman.

You wouldn't dare hunt anyone that

had half a chance against you.

What do you mean?

Why don't you play your

dangerous game with me?

I'm saving you for last.

You're a bluff Kreiger. You

won't hunt me, you don't dare.

You shall see.

Tomorrow night.

Hedging eh?

I thought you would.

It's my game.

I make the rules.

You mean you stack the deck?

No Kreiger, tonight.

Or not at all.

A few hours in this room will

change your mind, I think.

Have you looked?

Have you seen what's in this room?

Yes, but your trophies won't frighten me

into running as they did your other victims.

Too bad, isn't it?

Rainsford, you're becoming

extremely unpleasant.

The trouble with you is,

you want all the odds.

You have no real nerve,

you're just a braggart.

You wouldn't dare match your brain against

my brain. Your skill against mine.

You think not?

The sun doesn't rise until 10 after 5.

10 after 5. Time enough to

prove how good you are.

Or how bad.

Very well Rainsford.

You asked for it. It shall be now.

I'm going with you.

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