Hans Stern had just finished pulling on his field pants when Seeker, his 1y.o. Siberian Husky pup, decided to go for a run. Hans was refreshed from his swim in a nice secluded swimming-hole he found in a cool mountain creek that paralleled the highway he traveled on his bi monthly supply trips into town. He was very happy that both his K-9s were clean after he bathed them both in the same creek just minutes ago. Now however, His littlest pack member was heading down the trail toward the parking-lot and highway (about a quarter of a mile away from the Swimming-hole).
“Seeker! Damn it, get back here” Stern yelled as he hastily grabbed and pocketed his keys and Kershaw utility folder . He quickly checked on Brutus, his other Siberian traveling companion, to ensure he was properly secured and then set off at a swift pace down the creek side trail that Seeker had run off on.
Barefooted and bare-chested Stern was not ready for any “Brush-busting” activities but knowing Seeker as he did, the little fella was probably just ahead sniffing some new smell or a cool bug - Most probably he was already rolling in a pile of dirt somewhere. Behind Hans, Brutus had begun to howl… that dog does not like to be left behind.
100yrds from the swimming hole and no Seeker, Stern quickened his pace. “I must get to him before he reaches the parking-lot” Hans thinks to himself. At 200yrds Hans hears a growl… Hmmm Seeker? A sharp bend in the trail ahead slows Stern’s momentum a bit, and as the trail straitened out, there was Seeker, 20 yrds up-trail at the next bend, he was squared up dead center of the path. Not only was he growling but his hair was standing strait up, from the top of his head to his rear hunches.
“Easy Seeker, It’s OK boy” Hans spoke softly to the agitated pup
As he slowly approached his dog from the rear, two still figures appeared around the bend. A man about 25-30 and a youngster stood in a wide area of the trail, neither spoke nor did they make any movement. The youngster stood behind the man, as if he was afraid of an 18lbs. Siberian Husky.
“Hey Guys, no worries about this here pup… I don’t know why he is acting like this” Stern began saying as he reached for Seekers collar.
“Your dog scared my boy.” Said the man “And he would not let us pass”
“Well I don’t see how that is right, though I‘m sorry if‘n your boy was frightened by my pup” said Hans “This here little guy just got away from me not 5 minutes ago.”
“Young man, you can pet him if’n you want” Stern offered the boy, as he squatted down next to Seeker, giving the dog long calming stokes down the length of the dogs frame. Seeker was almost vibrating with energy, and he was so fixated on the man… it was if he did not want to break eye contact with the dude.
Hans was noticing things about the guy as they spoke; he was very spooked, sweaty, wearing a wind breaker on a hot day, belt buckle undone. Wait… Belt Buckle Undone?!?
At that thought Hans said to the boy “ Young man, this guy here is not your daddy, is he?” The kid shook his head “No”
With those words, the animal in human garb said “You really should mind your own fucking business hillbilly” as he reached into the right pocket of the windbreaker. Hans Stern thought “Oh Shit! I can not believe that I would be the dummy who brought a knife to a gun fight!!” But no, what is this?… Asshole has a switchblade!
Hans was busy pulling his Kershaw Utility from his pants pocket, as those stray thoughts passed though his mind. Now that it was in his hand, he put a slight pressure on the thumb-stud and a bit of rotational force from his wrist and 4 inches of tool steel was locked and ready.
Still crouched down next to Seeker, Hans and his new worst enemy were separated by 7 yrds of open space. The boy was momentarily forgotten by his tormentor, but not by Hans, as the guy stepped away from the boy Hans locked eyes with the kid (who was about 11 or 12) and yelled “Run kid, Follow the dog!” With that Hans Stern spun Seeker 180deg. , slapped him on the butt and said “Go Find Brutus, Seeker… Go!” sending him back up trail to the swimming-hole.
The kid was not as fast, but he was edging away from the guy. That stopped the guy’s forward progress at 5 yrds, he was now torn… keep control of his target or attack the interloper. Stern was now standing upright with his Kershaw Folder in the “Ready Up” position in his right hand and his left arm was bent and tucked acting as a shield for his left side torso with the left hand up at shoulder level… really wishing that his CZ-75 9mm was in his hand instead of in his truck’s lock-box.
“This is going to suck donkey-balls” thinks Stern “I hate getting cut!” Remembering the words of his old Hand to Hand teacher “Everyone gets cut in a knife fight”
As that thought past through his brain-box - his opponent decided… Attack the interloper!
The switchblade’s stiletto blade was a bit longer than Stern’s Kershaw, and that is usually an advantage in a knife fight. However that advantage can easily be lost, especially when the one wielding the longer blade has no real training and has only used it for the intimidation and slaughter of weak, helpless children.
The guy came across the 5 yrds separation distance in a few bounds, as he came forward he raised his knife over his head - obviously in an attempt to stab forcefully and repeatedly into the being that is Hans Stern. All this was instantly apparent to Hans, he moved forward as well and with practiced ease preformed a wrist trap, slicing at the unprotected tendons and veins on the back of the knife-hand, a scream from his opponent was Hans‘s reward, however there was no sound of a knife hitting the ground. Stern stepped under the arm and through the attack, as he did so he took a swipe at the back of the pedophile’s neck/head, making very light contact with the creep’s skull just behind the ear.
Spinning back to face the child rapist (who was dripping blood from his knife hand and his left hand was checking the cut on his head) Hans was thinking… thinking fast, judging angles, and picking his line of attack. This time Stern was taking the initiative, and he was going for the take-down. His knife back up at high ready, his blocking arm was set, and he had a plan
Two fast steps and Stern was in the danger circle, the Stiletto blade flashed low. Stern brought his right knee up and… Contact! The switchblade went spinning off into the trees, Hans continued on and inside his opponents defenses. As soon as his right foot was planted on the ground (just in front of the guy), Hans lashed out with his blade, from high left to low right slashing mercilessly across the enemy’s torso using his left hand over right (in a “Power Slash“ move), carving the flesh from bone as it sliced though. Unfortunately for the pedophile, he did nothing to remove Hans from that position nor did he attempt to move away himself, all he did was scream.
“Oh Shut Up!” Stern yelled as the guy sank to his knees, holding his gut.
“I must have gotten a little deep there at the end, uh?” asked Hans. Receiving no reply, and expecting none, Hans continued…“Look Bub, I don’t know your story… Hell I don’t even know your name, but I could give a flying fuck! Your Dead!!”
As that was said, Hans’s Kershaw sang in the air, inline with the throat of the guy… but the guy threw his head sideways, spoiling the aim and adding a mountain of misery to his already overflowing plate of pain.
The drop point blade entered his face at his right tear duct, slicing off 30% of his nose, separating his cheek from his skull to the right side lower jaw. Now the asshole can’t even make sounds… He just kind of grunts and gurgles... freaking pathetic!
The monster fell over on his side, Hans pushed the high shoulder over and the twitching sack of shit was laying on his back. Stern put his foot to the bleeding mans throat, he felt a few weak beats of a pulse and then he put his full weight on it and felt a satisfying crunch.
Stern surveys the scene of the fight… “Fuck what a mess, at least the kid is safe.”
“Oh Well, One less Monster for the world the worry about” Stern thinks as he slowly heads up trail to collect his gear and dogs, and to figure out what to do about the kid and this little dealio here.
Upon entering the clearing the boy (who was sitting with Seeker and Brutus), stood up and came to meet Hans.
“OK Kid, that guy is not going to be hurting you or anyone else, ever again. Now we are going to have to figure out how we want to handle this, but before we talk business, we should know each other’s names, right? So I am Hans.”
The Kid responded very shyly “Ok... I guess, I’m Chance”
