Nogi did not have to hold up his arms to gain attention. A karate senseialways has his students' attention. Nogi had only to begin speaking.
"Aya Jishin does us the honor to visit us again. Most of you do not need to be told who she is, but for the new recruits I will say that she is the very capable commander of all the Harassment Initiation Teams. She brings us another chance to strike out against those who have taken your jobs away from you."
No one cheered. No one smiled. Everyone simply transferred attention to the ugly woman.
Lyons's attention almost wandered as her monotonous hoarse voice reminded people of how they had been victimized by automation. He listened more attentively when she got down to the specifics of the operation.
"We attacked Elwood Electronic Industries four days ago, killing many of the enemies of the worker. However, the biggest enemy, Lao Ti, escaped. Tomorrow we will go back and find her and execute her in the name of the millions of unemployed."
She had Lyons's full attention now. His adrenaline was racing. Hal Brognola was setting that place up as a trap, but he would not be set yet, not by a long way. Somehow, Lyons had to get the raid postponed until they could get set.
"Question," Lyons called out in a loud voice.
A sudden silence fell over the dojo. No one had interrupted with a question before.
Jishin looked at Nogi, her glance demanding that he explain how such a thing could happen.
"He started yesterday," Nogi reported. "He can shoot the testicles off a flea at a hundred yards, but he has no civilized skills or understanding at all."
"You had better teach him some elementary manners soon," Jishin remarked. Her voice was hoarse at the best of times; in her anger it sounded like a bullfrog trying to talk.
"Question," Lyons repeated.
"What is it?" Jishin snapped, her voice menacing.
"According to the newspapers, you lost your entire squad the last time you hit that place. Wouldn't it be more sensible to learn if this enemy of yours is there beforeyou go in and throw away another squad?"
The members of the Harassment Initiation Team started to mutter to each other. Since it was their lives on the line, it seemed to make sense that the person they wanted should be there when they attacked.
"Do you take us for complete fools?" Jishin demanded.
"That depends on whether you've bothered to get enough intelligence. Do you know when whoever you want will be there?"
"You doubt my ability to do things properly?" Jishin raged.
"After the last fiasco..." Lyons replied with a shrug.
"Teach him some manners, now," Jishin commanded Nogi.
The karate instructor glided to the centre of the dojo and motioned to Lyons.
"All this crap because I recommend the use of basic strategy," Lyons bitched as he sauntered toward the sensei.
Lyons was to be made an example for all those under Nogi's guidance. The idea was to make the beating short, swift, savage. Later, when there was no one to see, the victim could be killed and disposed of. The class would be told that he was too ashamed to come back.
Nogi faked a blow to the head and drove his foot toward the Able Team member's crotch. Lyons's closed fist connected with the shin bone with enough force to spin Nogi on his one foot, deflecting the front kick to one side.
Nogi backed up very quickly and stood for a moment, sizing up his disciple. Lyons stood waiting. He adopted no particular stance, deliberately looking casual, but his weight was well distributed and he was ready to react instantly. Lyons knew that he had one small advantage to offset Nogi's lifetime of training. Nogi was forced to bring the fight to him.
"You would dare to strike your sensei!"Nogi said, his voice indicating that no one in his right mind would do such a thing.
"Of course I'll try to defend myself if the bastard attacks me," Lyons spat.
"It's hopeless," Nogi told him.
"Get on with it," Jishin commanded from the sidelines.
"You always listen to that stupid old lady?" Lyons asked.
Nogi answered by advancing one long pace at a time, flashing out a kick or a punch with each step forward. It would have been deadly, but Lyons stepped sideways or backward each time Nogi came forward. He retreated twenty feet. None of the blows connected. Someone snickered.
Angrily, Nogi increased his forward charge. Lyons delivered a short uppercut with his right fist to Nogi's elbow, causing the karate master's blow to go high in the air. Lyons's left fist slammed into the exposed ribs with the impact of a HE grenade. Ribs cracked.
Again Lyons did not try to press his advantage. He was out of the fight and away before one of Nogi's killer fists or feet could launch another blow.
The karate instructor was no longer a coolheaded adversary. He was losing face, and anger and humiliation combined to push him into desperate maneuvers. He rushed forward with a flurry of front kicks.
Lyons backpedaled, leaving Nogi to kick hell out of empty space. The tempo increased. A lifetime of practice meant that Nogi could move forward kicking faster than the big blond could backpedal.
Lyons suddenly reversed direction, plowing straight into the instructor between kicks. He landed a hard blow to the chest. In return he received an elbow smash that sent him reeling. Nogi waited until Lyons staggered away the right distance. Then the foot flew up again. If it had connected with the plexus where it was aimed, it would have killed. However, Lyons managed to twist. The kick glanced off his ribs, sending him whirling like a top.
Lyons knew he would not have time to recover his balance, so he harnessed his circular motion and spun back into the battle. He twisted past a flashing foot and landed a light blow to the side of Nogi's neck. Lyons stood, his body pressing against the terrorist's, his arms working like driving pistons on an engine. Nogi was blocking the constant rain of body blows, but could not free an arm to strike back, nor could he lift a leg to kick. If a leg came off the floor, the force of the blows would have upset the Japanese karateka.
Nogi went low to the ground, his feet braced so that he was stable and difficult to upset. Then he exploded upward. Lyons was pushed back, once more fighting for his balance. Nogi moved in immediately, snapping punches.
Lyons found himself covering up, trying to backpedal, but forever off balance. He finally managed to fall back into a deep cat stance, most of his weight on his left leg. Up to this point, Lyons had given no indication that he too was a shotokankarate black belt. He had fought like a street-wise tough, but street methods were only good for their surprise value.
Before Nogi could recognize Lyons's trained stance, the terror fighter's left foot flashed up in a high front kick that smashed the instructor back three steps before he fell on his ass.
Nogi was caught by surprise. He had made the fatal error of underestimating the man he fought. The moment it took Nogi to readjust his thinking was the time it took Lyons to move forward and snap another kick into Nogi's chest. The sound of breaking bones could be heard.
Nogi did his best to roll away from the assault. His broken ribs slowed him down. Before he could get his foot under him, another kick rolled him farther. Then a roundhouse kick to the side of the head jarred him almost into unconsciousness. With an effort that came from deep conditioning, rather than from conscious thought, Nogi managed to wrap one arm around the flashing leg and hang on. The fighters found themselves tangled on the floor.