Date: Wed, 12 Oct 1994 17:14:27 EDT Reply-To: Highlander TV show stories Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: the dungeon of souls Subject: "Unwelcome Inheritance" Act I, part 3 "Unwelcome Inheritance" by Caile Donachaidh Kane Act I, part 3 comments to _Part 3_ Shae kept repeating the name to herself like a mantra: Duncan MacLeod, Duncan MacLeod. If he could be the one to help her, if only... Fitz spoke of him often, with great reverence. They were close friends, Duncan had saved his head more than once. Still, from Fitz's tales, he seemed larger than life, a myth, a spirit that might melt away before her very eyes. But on the other hand, that was the kind of guy she *needed*, she thought, digging her nails into the armrests as the plane took off from Heathrow. The thing she *really* needed, though, was some sleep. Haven't slept in days.......... Soon, she sank into a deep sleep, the kind that only the bone-weary sleep. The flight attendant tilted her seat back for her, and put a pillow behind her head. Pretty girl, he thought, as he walked back down the aisle. Hope she's having sweet dreams. Shae might have laughed at him had she been able to hear that thought. Or she might not have, because she was so far into the grip of the nightmare that she could barely move. She was fighting someone, someone she cared about. With an unfamiliar sword, in unfamiliar clothing, in a strange place and time. "Give up, Richard," she heard herself saying, in a voice that was hers and yet it was not. "I'll spare you, and grant you your head. I'll forget your debt, you won't owe me. Just _put_ _up_ _your_ _sword_, Richard!" Richard's face was fuzzy, she couldn't quite make out the expression as he slashed at her. She deflected the blow, and knocked the sword from his hand. "Richard..." she pleaded. "End it!" he snapped back. "I'll not be in your debt." "If this is how you want it." She swung, and severed his head in one neat stroke... Shae woke in a cold sweat to sound of the captain's tinny voice on the loudspeaker. "...ETA at Kennedy, one half hour." She cursed, knowing she could not go back to sleep, knowing food would make her sick. She wished for her swords, all of which were at Fitz's house, except her second-best katana, which was with her luggage, and the family sabre, which was in her mother's home in Knightsbridge. She'd send for them all when she got to Vancouver. Damn, Vancouver! Shae cursed again with the realisation that she'd be changing planes in New York and flying another five hours toward Vancouver. As the tears sprang into her eyes, Shae wished fervently for an end. ********** further parts forthcoming =========================================================================