False Horizon - Alex Archer [95]
She did so and shot an elbow into Hsu Xiao’s midsection. The assassin grunted and then thrust her hand at Annja’s trachea. The shot scored a hit and Annja felt herself gagging and choking at the same time. She willed her throat to stop convulsing and prayed it wouldn’t swell up.
Hsu Xiao raked her claws back and tried to catch Annja, but Annja had already started to duck and the claws only sliced through where her hair had been seconds earlier.
Annja pivoted on the ground and tried to sweep Hsu Xiao’s legs out from under her, but the woman leaped into the air and then came down, aiming her heels at Annja’s exposed knee. Annja saw the attack coming and, at the last possible second, curled her leg to avoid the incapacitating blow.
Hsu Xiao cut down and Annja barely had enough time to bring the sword up to block the shots. Hsu Xiao’s claws clattered off the steel of the blade and Annja tried a halfhearted stab at Hsu Xiao’s midsection.
Sweat poured off both of them. All of Annja’s injuries stung from the sweat and salt rubbing with the blood and exposed skin. Hsu Xiao seemed to be running on fumes but her attacks never wavered.
She came at Annja, slashing with her claws at Annja’s abdomen once more. Annja pivoted out of the way and used the pommel of the sword to backhand Hsu Xiao by the temple. She struck but the pommel only grazed Hsu Xiao. The assassin tumbled past and tucked herself into a roll.
Annja chased and cut down but then Hsu Xiao stopped herself and shot a donkey kick into Annja’s body, catching Annja under the ribs. Annja felt the two previously injured ribs crack again and she cried out in pain.
Hsu Xiao recovered and then lunged at Annja, her claws already unfurling and aiming right at Annja’s face. Annja ducked back and the claws arced through the space where her head had just been.
Annja brought the sword up and tried to once again stab into Hsu Xiao’s midsection, but the assassin merely spun and the blade cut nothing but air.
This is getting ridiculous, Annja thought. I need to find a way to finish this thing once and for all. I haven’t got much energy left and time is running out.
By Annja’s estimate, they had perhaps five minutes until the entire installation blew up.
She had to end this battle.
Hsu Xiao delivered two sharp hand strikes to Annja’s collarbones and Annja felt the jarring impact like it was a concussion grenade. She slumped with the strikes and Hsu Xiao followed up by kneeing Annja in the face.
Annja heard her nose crack and a fresh river of blood flowed down her face.
“You’re finished, Annja Creed,” Hsu Xiao said through clenched teeth. “Give up now and I will kill you painlessly.”
“I don’t know how to give up,” Annja said. She cut back at Hsu Xiao and, this time, the point of her sword caught the lithe assassin near the ribs. Annja twisted the blade but Hsu Xiao had corrected her position and the blade cut no more.
Hsu Xiao danced away but Annja could see that she’d struck a solid cut. Blood was spreading on Hsu Xiao’s shirt.
Annja pressed the attack, cutting out from the side, trying to cleave Hsu Xiao in two with the blow. Hsu Xiao ducked the blow and then tripped Annja as she passed.
Annja sprawled onto the ground and the sword clattered away.
In an instant, Hsu Xiao was atop Annja. Annja flipped over and faced Hsu Xiao. The Chinese assassin raked at Annja’s face again and again.
Annja blocked the strikes and punched up into Hsu Xiao’s face, scoring a direct hit on her nose. Hsu Xiao’s face opened up and blood covered them both.
Annja kicked her hips up, trying to dislodge Hsu Xiao but the woman would not allow herself to be bucked off. Instead, she brought one of her claws under Annja’s ear, nearly nicking it off in the melee.
Annja grimaced and used her elbows again to strike at Hsu Xiao’s temple. She scored once and Hsu Xiao rolled clear.
Annja got to her feet, wobbling from the loss of blood.
Hsu Xiao also seemed unsteady, but her claws still gleamed in places that weren’t covered with Annja’s blood.
“It