Paulito's Last Stand?

"I would not do that again, if I were you," Imhotep said softly. "I do not wish to damage you. But I do not suffer disobedience from my servants."

"I will never serve you!" Paulito growled back, his voice catching between heavy breaths. Imhotep smiled arrogantly and then said, "Never is a long time, child." Turning around, Imhotep motioned for Shechem to rise. The fat man stood, but he still averted his eyes from the ancient creature that he called his Master. "Why has the ritual not been completed?" Imhotep asked. "We were interrupted by the arrival of another, Master," Shechem replied. "And where is this other?" the dark Master demanded. Shechem pointed up the passageway that led up to Paulito's faux grave. A slave appeared there, in his arms was the mangled body of Sir Paulito's would be rescuer. "We could have used him, Shechem," Imhotep said, "you have disappointed me." Shechem trembled, but did not even try to explain or defend himself.

"But now is not the time to waste over lost opportunities," Imhotep continued, "for my ultimate victory is at hand." Shechem's body relaxed, but Imhotep was quick to add, "I will punish you later." The fat man's shoulders dropped like a rock. "Complete the ritual, Shechem."

Shechem nodded and cast his fierce gaze upon the two slaves holding Paulito. Their grips tightened and they pushed the knight forward, toward the edge of the pit. He offered no resistance, until the moment the two men let go of him and pushed his body forward. For a split second Paulito was free of their hold, and a split second was all he needed. His arms shot upwards, his bandaged knuckles cracking against the giants' flat noses. They staggered back, as much due to surprise as to the pain. But they were strong, and conditioned to withstand any agony. Their ape-like arms swung forward, but they connected with nothing but air. Paulito had dropped to the ground, his only hope being to avoid hand-to-hand combat. What he needed was a weapon, and hanging from the guards' belts was exactly what he wanted.

He ripped away the first guard's scimitar and used it to gut the second. But even in his death throes, the man struggled to stop Paulito. As the knight yanked the curved steel free of the giant's unraveling intestines, the man reached out and grabbed the scimitar blade. He strained to keep Paulito from moving just long enough for the first slave to crush the knight in a bear hug. But Paulito wasn't going to let that happen. With a vicious pull the guard lost his grip on the scimitar along with half of one hand and most of the fingers of the other. The first guard then jumped at Paulito from behind, but the knight dropped to the stone floor and rolled out of reach. The silent giant rushed after him, his face a mask of hate. And with a cat-like grace, the furious slave pounced on Paulito as the knight turned and tried to regain his feet.

1. Does Paulito rise to victory or does he fall victim to the giant's attack?

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