#4
"Fire of the Dragon"
by Joe King

The naked Chinese girl struggled against her restraints. She threw her head from side-to-side. Tears welled in her eyes as she watched the men gather around her.

“This is bullshit,” said the little fat man. He was state administrator Freddy Givens. “She’s too skinny.”

“Is this not what you asked for?” The Chinese man stroked his Fu Manchu moustache. “Did you not want a naked virgin for your fantasies?”

“Yeah,” said Freddy. “But she’s too skinny. I can see her ribs poking out for crissakes!”

Fu Manchu sighed. As quick as lightning, he whipped his hands out of the kimono he was wearing. He placed a hand on Freddy’s sweaty shoulder.

“I’m sorry,” said Fu Manchu.

“I’m leaving,” said Freddy. He started to put his clothes back on.

“Wait,” said Fu Manchu. “Would you like to use your toy?”

Freddy stopped putting his clothes on and stared at the man. He let his pants drop down, crumpling against his naked ankles.

“You’d let me do that?”

“Of course,” said Fu Manchu. “And since you’re so dissatisfied with the young lady, it won’t cost you an extra cent.”

Freddy licked his fat lips. He pushed his glasses up his hawk-like nose. Slowly, he began to rub his nipples. He pinched them, making them grow hard.

“It’s a deal,” he said.

He walked across the room. In the far corner, a brazier was burning, throwing red-and-black shadows against the walls.

On the table, the naked girl continued to wiggle.

“Please,” she said, looking at Fu Manchu, “let me go.”

“Silence,” he told her. “Do as you’re told.”

Standing next to the brazier, a muscled Chinese man watched Freddy stoke the fire with a red-hot poker. A pony-tail snaked down over his shoulders. A large dragon tattoo was inked across his chest. Chow Yung Fat let loose with a hearty laugh as he watched Freddy.

“You’re a pervert,” said Fat, in broken English. “I like you.”

“Yeah,” said Freddy. He was scared of Fat. “Thanks.”

Freddy picked up the poker. Ashes fell from its tip, sizzling as they fell back into the fire.

“Are you ready?” asked Fu Manchu.

Freddy wiped the back of his hand across his sweaty brow. He quickly nodded his head.

“Then proceed,” said Fu Manchu.

Freddy walked across the room. His erection, poking out from his mound of curly pubic hair, bobbed in the tepid air. He stroked himself as he stood over the girl.

She let loose with a scream. Freddy reached out and slapped her across the face. Salty blood flooded through her mouth. She screamed, again.

“I like when they scream.”

“Go ahead,” said Fu Manchu. He waved his arms around the room. “No one will hear her.”

Freddy giggled.

He held out the red-hot poker. Its end was starting to cool, turning a sky-blue as it hissed.

He leaned down over the girl. His face split open into a smile. She spat at him. He wiped it away from his cheek.

“You shouldn’t have done that, little girl,” said Freddy. He pressed the poker down onto her left breast. It crackled as it burned her flesh. Her screams were lost in her throat.

Freddy giggled.

“This is going to hurt.”

_____

“Fire of the dragon,” said Fu Manchu.

Jonah Hex sucked down the smoke from the opium pipe. He felt its effects run through his body. His brain suddenly felt soggy.

“Is it good?”

Hex took another snort. Then he began to slowly nod his head.

“Very,” he said. “It’s just what I’ve needed.”

Since traveling to San Francisco through the Midwest, Hex had encountered his share of outlaws and Indians.

Just three days ago, he’d been sitting in the Gold Tooth Saloon. He had his back to the wall, scanning the crowd, when he’d seen Paul Cooter walk through the door. Cooter had a price tag on his head. Hex could use the $500 bounty.

So he’d killed Cooter deader than fuck.

But Cooter had gotten off a lucky shot. Before Hex’s bullet had torn open his skull, shooting bone and brain over the scattering crowd, Cooter had let loose with his own return shot. It plugged Jonah in the shoulder, throwing him back against the wall.

But at least I got the $500, Hex thought to himself as he took another plug on the opium pipe. He laughed. Cooter’s pimply ass hadn’t even been worth that.

The pain from the wound suddenly shot up his shoulder like a blue streak of lightning.

He’d had the sawbones dig the bullet out after killing Cooter, but it still was a bitch.

Hex rubbed his shoulder as he took another hit from the pipe.

Fu Manchu coughed. “Are you sure that’s all you’d like, sir?” He stroked his moustache. “Would you not prefer a bit of female company as you, uh, relax?”

Hex laughed as he massaged his wounded shoulder.

“You know,” he said, “that might not be a bad idea.” He felt the lump of money in his pocket calling to him. Not to mention the bulge in his crotch that suddenly began to throb. “I think that’d be pretty damned nice, indeed.”

“As you will,” said Fu Manchu. “I shall return, shortly.”

A few minutes later, Fu Manchu returned with a short Chinese girl. She huddled in her kimono. She was obviously afraid of Hex’s ugly looks.

Hex rubbed away the milky liquid dripping from his bad eye.

“Here she is,” said Fu Manchu. “She’s a very obedient love slave.”

“Good,” said Hex. “I could use a bit of loving about now.”

Fu Manchu held out his bony hand. “That’d be $5,” he said.

Hex dug into his pocket. He handed over the crumpled bills.

“Would you like clean sheets?” asked Fu Manchu. “They’re only $2 more.”

Hex glanced at the frightened girl.

“Yeah,” he said. “You’d better bring the sheets.”

Fu Manchu disappeared for another few moments. When he returned, he held over the sheets as he took Hex’s outstretched money.

Hex looked at the sheets.

“These are the clean ones?” he asked. He ruffled through them. He could see dried cum stains on the sheets.

“They’re washed by hand,” said Fu Manchu. Then he turned back to the door. He looked over his shoulder. “Enjoy yourself.”

Then he was gone.

Hex looked at the girl. She was dressed in a red long-john shirt that draped down to her knees.

He took a seat on the bed. He patted it, offering her a seat beside him.

“Want to sit down?” he asked.

The girl simply stood there, shifting from foot-to-foot. She had her head down.

“What’s your name?”

“Sue Lee,” she muttered.

“That’s a pretty name,” said Hex. “It’s also good to know that the cat doesn’t have your tongue. I like to hear gorgeous girls talk.”

Sue Lee let loose with a small smile.

Then she lifted the shirt up-and-over her head.

Hex grunted as he saw the burns on her body. He stood up, fingering the wounds.

“Who in blue blazes did this to you?” he asked.

“Is that how you get off?” said Sue Lee. “Young girls telling you dirty stories?”

“Of course not,” said Hex. “But I can’t believe anyone would mark up such a beautiful body.”

“They used me,” said Sue Lee. “They used a red-hot poker to burn me.”

“Well,” said Hex. “That’s enough of that shit.”

Shirtless, he put on his gun belt. He pulled his Frontier Colts from their holsters.

“No,” said Sue Lee. “I don’t want any trouble.”

“I am trouble, baby.”

Hex left the room. He walked towards the front of the building. There, behind the front counter, stood Fu Manchu.

“Have you already finished?” he asked.

“I haven’t even started,” said Hex.

“Is there something wrong?” asked Fu Manchu. He smiled. “Is there a certain toy you’d like to use?”

“You really are a sick fucker,” said Hex. He raised his Frontier Colt and shot Fu Manchu dead in the face. Bones and brains exploded onto the dragon tableau behind the counter.

Hex reloaded his pistol.

Then he turned around, making his way through the brothel. He kicked open the first door he came to. Inside, Freddy was holding a hot brazier over a young and naked Chinese boy tied to a bed.

“Who are you?” asked Freddy. “What do you want?”

Hex shot Freddy in his fat belly. The bullet exploded inside him, blowing his guts out his asshole. The fat man stumbled backwards, knocking over the brazier. Flames began to lick at the walls.

Hex flicked his knife out of its sheath. He went over to the boy and placed a sheet over his naked body. Then he cut the ties binding the boy to the bed.

The Chinese boy stared at him with tears in his eyes.

“Get out of here,” said Hex. He flicked his knife towards the door. “And don’t let me see your ass in here, again.”

Hex watched the boy shuffle from the room. Hex followed him out. He saw Sue Lee standing in the corridor.

“Get your clothes on,” said Hex. “I’m getting you out of here.”

“You’re taking me with you?” asked Sue Lee.

Hex glanced at her. A wry smile split open his ugly face. He wiped at the sloppy goop leaking from his bad eye. “Just get your clothes on,” he repeated.

And that’s when Chow Yung Fat exploded into the hallway. His ponytail whipped out behind him, his muscular arms ending in tight fists, as he rammed into Hex.

Hex fell backwards beneath Fat’s heavy weight. He crunched onto the floor. Fat let loose with a meaty fist, hitting Hex in his wounded shoulder.

Hex let loose with a scream as the wound opened up. Blood poured down from the gaping hole in his body. It streamed down in rivers, soaking his jeans.

He fumbled for his pistols but Fat was too much. He straddled Hex, pouring more punches into his wound.

Then he grabbed Hex’s neck. He felt Fat’s thumbs begin to crush his windpipe. Fat smashed Hex’s skull into the hardwood floor, opening up another wound in Hex.

Hex struggled for air. He saw black spots appear before his eyes.

He was going to die.

And that’s when the red-hot poker slammed out of Fat’s chest. Behind him, driving the weapon deeper into his body, Sue Lee, tears streaming from her eyes, wiggled the poker around.

Fat let loose with a gurgled whimper. He reached for the poker extending from his chest. He gripped it, his hands sizzling from its red-hot tip.

Then he fell off Hex. He slumped onto the floor, still fighting with the poker as he slowly died.

Hex pushed himself up onto his elbows. He choked out a gasp, regaining his breath.

“I’ve never done that,” said Sue Lee. “I’ve never killed anyone before.” She put her hands to her face. “What do I do now?”

“Now,” said Hex, “you live with it.”

He stumbled up onto his feet, grabbing the wall to regain his balance.

Overhead, the ceiling was a burning inferno. It collapsed in, wooden beams slapping down onto the corpse of Fat.

“You take me with you, now?” asked Sue Lee.

Hex looked at Fat’s dead body. Flames were licking it, turning the skin black. Hex thought he looked like a roasting pig.

“Let’s go,” said Hex, “unless you want to stand around and chew the Fat.”

_____

Next Issue: A marriage of heaven and hell ...