The Two Devils Read Online Free PDF Page B

started toward me, then stopped when I aimed the rifle at him. “Miles, this chest, it contains something truly remarkable. It took us nearly fifty years to figure out how to steal it."
    "Steal it?” I asked. “You planned this?"
    He held his hand up in the air, more to calm his companions than me. “Miles, do you know anything about Greek mythology?"
    "Yes, I do.” People think I'm an idiot. They're usually right. But my grandmother read me most of the Greek myths when I was little. That and the Bible is two things I know something about.
    Clyde seemed surprised. “The god, Hades. Do you know how he controlled the underworld?"
    "He had a helmet. It gave him invisibility,” I answered. “Hades was not the Christian devil,” I added as an afterthought.
    "No, you idiot, he was not.” Clyde picked up the chest. “But things changed. There's still an underworld. And this thing we call Satan rules it now.” He gazed at the chest. “And this chest contains the helmet of his predecessor.” He handed the chest to some other fellow. “And I—we—will soon rule the world."
    This was leading to something I'd been worrying about since I got talked into this job. I'd wondered if I could actually kill someone in order to get this job done. Killing on Nick's behalf, that troubled me. And there I stood. I had the drop on them. But I didn't know what to do next.
    I guess the horse figured I didn't know what I was doing, either. Paul charged out of the darkness snorting and rearing with his hooves slashing.
    That diverted everyone's attention. As they dove for cover, I dove for the chest. Somehow, I ended up on the back of the horse and we were off.
    The spirits and all seven people were soon in pursuit as we raced along a narrow trail in the darkness. At least twice, I caught glimpses of man and horse plummeting down into the river canyon. Soon, we were all alone.
    Their horses were no match for Paul which then stopped, looked around, then climbed up a steep embankment.
    The railroad had a series of tunnels near the top of the ridgeline. This was mainly to protect the track from the heavy snows and avalanches during the winter. Paul found a wooden partition that filled up a natural opening. There was just enough room to squeeze through. I dearly hoped there weren't any trains scheduled. The enclosed track ran for miles. I'd ridden the train through here once, after I got fired at the Stockton Feed and Livery and headed for Nevada.
    We straddled the tracks for a few hundred yards, then turned abruptly to our left and descended into a very dark cavern. The cavern widened out, and there was a little light coming from somewhere. We came to a rusty, crooked metal gate. The gate was locked. I rang the bell hanging from it. A few minutes went by, then a demon sauntered up from somewhere. “What do you want?"
    "I need to see Nick Mephistopheles,” I explained.
    He stood there a moment. “What's it worth to you?” he finally asked.
    "Nothing. Believe me, he wants to see me."
    He made a gesture of some kind. I don't think it was very flattering. “Ah, screw you.” Then he reared back and hurled a fireball at me.
    I guess these fireballs scare people. They're fearsome things, coming at you. But, I'm not impressed. They're all show. I deflected it away with the butt of my revolver. It exploded against the cavern wall. “I think you best summon your master. My business is most important."
    The demon sneered at me. “You wish."
    "Well done, Miles,” Nick said. He was standing right behind me. I don't know where he came from. “Well done indeed.” I was still on the horse. I handed him down the chest. He examined it, especially that the lock was still intact, then handed it to Ellul, who was now standing next to him. The demon also inspected it, then poised it on his shoulder. “Miles, you should've gotten our terms down in advance. I really don't have much incentive to compensate you."
    "Oh, this horse here, and that gun you