Ted got closer slowly, step by step, aiming at the monk’s head. The monk smiled.
‘It seems that we have a problem,’ he said. ‘I would call it a stalemate.’
‘Let her go.’
‘Drop the gun.’
‘Let her go.’
‘Like I said,’ the monk said. ‘Stalemate.’
Ted tried to evaluate the situation. The monastery was close by, someone could appear on the road any time - on the other hand, who, and what for? The monk seemed to be very composed, despite the fact that he didn’t own the situation yet.
‘I will let the girl go,’ he said. ‘And I will put the knife down. You drop the gun. We will have a fair fight, no weapons. Just you and me.’
He’s a psychopath, Ted concluded. A total whackjob. He saw fanatical fire in the monk’s eyes. And still Monica was what mattered the most.
Ted made the decision in a s
