CAPTURED!

  There had been two shots.
  Two shots blending as one.
  "Hickok!" Blade exclaimed, and surged toward the west bank, stepping past Achillles, and even as he moved there were two more shots.  "Let's go!"
  A large, vague shape suddenly came into view on the left, angling to intercept them.
  "Blade!" Achilles cried in warning.
  "I see it," the giant replied, and aimed the Commando on the run.   He squeezed the trigger, shooting by instinct, and his aim turned out to be unerring.
  The thing clutched at its torso and toppled.
  Blade faced front, his legs pounding, his heart doing the same.  What if he was too late?  What if the mutations had killed his friends and the others?   What if his blunder wound up costing lives, the lives of the two best friends he had?

#24
NEW ORLEANS RUN

VOODOO VIPER

  The living nightmare slid slowly toward the man in black, its dark, obsidian eyes reflecting its soul-less nature.
  Henry Pétion performed a sweeping, obsequious bow.  "Lord Damballah, I am yours to command!  Do with me as you will."  He straightened, his arms at his sides.
  The Snake God acknowledged the request.
  Suddenly sweeping forward, the black serpent's enormous head darted at the expectant human, its maw opening wide enough to accommodate a horse.  Exhibiting lightning rapidity, striking before Pétion could utter a single sound, the snake snapped its mouth shut over its prey, then reared back.
  Blade felt revulsion at the ghastly sight.  He could see Pétion's ankles and feet jutting from between the reptile's lips, the black shoes kicking and twisting, and then the snake tilted its head upward, gulped, and swallowed.
  Pétion's feet disappeared.