Heart of a Dragon Read Online Free PDF

said.
    "I dreamed," Salvatore said simply.   "It was very real."
    "Tell me," Martinez said softly.
    Salvatore sipped his tea to clear his throat, glanced longingly at the bread and butter, and then did as he'd been asked.
    "I was in another place," he said.   "There was an ocean, and there were eyes; great orbs of light that filled the sky.   I was frightened, but I could not look away.   Then I saw it.   It was a dragon, huge and powerful.   It screamed, and I wanted to run, but I could not move."
    "Did it see you?" Martinez asked.   The old man's voice remained calm, but when Salvatore glanced up, the old man's eyes glittered with a light Salvatore had seldom seen.
    "Yes." Salvatore said.   "It turned to me, but then, something happened.   Very suddenly it flew into the sky."
    A sudden knock on the door interrupted Salvatore's story.   He fell silent, uncertain what to do.
    "Wait," Martinez said.   "Eat your bread and drink more tea.   We aren't done here."
    Martinez rose and answered the door.   Salvatore shook his head slowly to clear it of visions, and reached for the bread.   His fingers trembled with hunger and he fought the urge to stuff all of it into his mouth in a single bite.   He spread the butter over it evenly and took a small bite from one corner.
    When Martinez opened the door, a large, dark haired man stood outside.   The man's arms were covered in tattoos.   His hair was long, pulled back in a pony tail.   He wore jeans, boots, and a denim vest covered in pins and colorful patches.   A chain dangled from his hip, looping back and fixing his wallet to his belt.   Salvatore had seen the man before, though he did not know his name.
    "What is it, Jake?" Martinez asked.
    Jake's face was drawn and pale, and much like Salvatore, he seemed to have gotten little or no sleep.   He held another vest in his hands, and he twisted and wrinkled the fabric nervously as she stood, as if on the verge of some outburst, or emotion.
    "It's Vasquez," he said softly.   "He's dead.   Last night, in Santini Park…"
    "I have heard," Martinez said, cutting the man off gently.   "I did not know if was truly El Gigante , but I heard many died."
    Jake nodded.   "It was Los Escorpiones , but…something was wrong."
    "Come in," Martinez said, stepping aside.
    The old man glanced at Salvatore, then back at Jake.
    "It is okay to speak in front of the boy.   He does odd jobs for me.   He will be…discreet."
    Jake glanced at Salvatore, frowned, and then nodded.   He stepped inside and a moment later, he'd joined them at the table.    Martinez poured another cup of tea.   Jake took it without even glancing at it and poured a long shot down his throat, ignoring the burning heat.
    "This will sound crazy," Jake said.   "but it's true.   I was there, and I saw it with my own eyes.   If it hadn't been for the storm, I doubt I'd be here to tell the story."
    Martinez sipped his tea and waited.   Salvatore ate his bread slowly and kept his eyes averted, pretending not to listen.
    "I've fought Los Escorpiones before," Jake said finally.   "They are snaky bastards, but they're just men.   We've had something of a truce for several years now, but lately they've spread out and gotten too bold.   We heard rumors that things had changed, but Snake figured it was just talk.   Last night we were supposed to put them in their place.   We didn't expect to win, exactly, just to reassert ourselves.   If you don't make a show of power now and then, your borders tend to shrink.   No one was happy about it, and the stories didn't help.   By the time we got there, with the lightning and the storm clouds gathering, everyone was spooked.   Everyone but Snake.
    "At first it seemed like we were the only ones in the park.   Then they were there.   I swear to God they were not human.   They moved faster than any men I've