misshapen head. The giant caught Donovan’s arm, grabbed his belt and hoisted him up. Donovan twisted and writhed in his grip. Coeus growled and started to bend Donovan’s body backwards. Just then, finally, sirens began to wail along Surf Avenue. The giant hesitated. With a frustrated snort he hurled Donovan across the Boardwalk. Donovan belly-flopped on the beach and rolled against an overflowing garbage can. Grains of sand skid-burned into his skin. By the time he’d untangled himself, Coeus had pounded almost to the West 8 th Street subway station.
He grabbed the pipe and followed.
The giant crossed above Surf Avenue. Below, oblivious, units from the 60 th Precinct, ambulances, even a pair of fire trucks raced through the streets and blasted through the security gate barring the aquarium parking lot. Sirens screamed above the music and laughter of Coney Island. Flashing lights tinted everything as red as the water of the shark tank. Donovan held the pipe and sprinted up the walkway.
The token clerk sat in her crime-proof booth, eyes shocked wide. “The giant!” Donovan shouted. “Which way?”
A train screeched along the tracks above their heads, slowing to a stop. The clerk’s mouth worked but no sound came out. She brought one arm up and pointed.
“Go down and get some of those cops up here! Now!”
He vaulted the turnstile. Breath hissed from his throat as he pounded up the stairs. He stuck his head out and scanned the bottom one for the giant. No sign. He ran to the top and braced himself in the entranceway. The waiting train had cheerful yellow and orange seats, and all of its lights worked. Red bulbs were next to every door, lit to show the doors were still open. Donovan began to run down the platform, scanning—
A black-sleeved I-beam shot out from one door, swiping at his head. Donovan jerked out of the way and stumbled to the ground. Coeus lunged from the train. The doors slid shut, and the train moved forward. Its interior lights highlighted the massive silhouette. Donovan swallowed. He scrambled to his feet and backed to an open section on the platform, where he could fully swing the pipe.
Where the hell are the cops?
The giant sprang forward. Donovan smacked the steel across his cheek. Coeus snarled and swung crazily. Donovan danced back. He risked a glance behind him—he was running out of platform, and the only escape was across of both sets of tracks and two electrified third rails. He leapt down onto the tracks, quickly spun and clubbed the giant’s tree-trunk ankles. His wrists flinched at the shock of hitting bone.
A few hundred yards away, on the opposite tracks, came a Manhattan-bound train.
The giant crouched low, grabbing for him. Donovan ducked and swung again, this time striking elbow.
“Ow! You hit my funny bone!” His words, spoken in the rasping growl, shocked Donovan. He stared, puzzled, at this childish reaction. The moment passed, and fresh rage coursed through the giant. “I’m gonna kill you!”
He jumped down. The train drew nearer. Donovan made sure to keep its lights at his back. The giant faltered; even in his psychotic state he resisted the bright light. Donovan picked his way over the humming third rails. The train rumbled closer, air-horn blaring. Donovan blocked out the sonic blast and waved the pipe, taunting. The giant took the bait and came for him. Donovan saw the train lights reflecting nearer in the frighteningly pale face. He swung the pipe at the giant’s ribs. The giant snatched it. They played a brief tug-of-war before Donovan relinquished his grip. He plunged at the monstrous midsection and hammered body blows with both fists. The giant kneed Donovan in the chest. Donovan tottered backwards.
The conductor stomped his emergency brake. Sparks showered.
Coeus was mindless of everything but Donovan’s death. The pipe was a toothpick in his ham-fist. “You can’t beat me! I’m bigger and stronger!”
Donovan felt the ground shake. “But
He grabbed the pipe and followed.
The giant crossed above Surf Avenue. Below, oblivious, units from the 60 th Precinct, ambulances, even a pair of fire trucks raced through the streets and blasted through the security gate barring the aquarium parking lot. Sirens screamed above the music and laughter of Coney Island. Flashing lights tinted everything as red as the water of the shark tank. Donovan held the pipe and sprinted up the walkway.
The token clerk sat in her crime-proof booth, eyes shocked wide. “The giant!” Donovan shouted. “Which way?”
A train screeched along the tracks above their heads, slowing to a stop. The clerk’s mouth worked but no sound came out. She brought one arm up and pointed.
“Go down and get some of those cops up here! Now!”
He vaulted the turnstile. Breath hissed from his throat as he pounded up the stairs. He stuck his head out and scanned the bottom one for the giant. No sign. He ran to the top and braced himself in the entranceway. The waiting train had cheerful yellow and orange seats, and all of its lights worked. Red bulbs were next to every door, lit to show the doors were still open. Donovan began to run down the platform, scanning—
A black-sleeved I-beam shot out from one door, swiping at his head. Donovan jerked out of the way and stumbled to the ground. Coeus lunged from the train. The doors slid shut, and the train moved forward. Its interior lights highlighted the massive silhouette. Donovan swallowed. He scrambled to his feet and backed to an open section on the platform, where he could fully swing the pipe.
Where the hell are the cops?
The giant sprang forward. Donovan smacked the steel across his cheek. Coeus snarled and swung crazily. Donovan danced back. He risked a glance behind him—he was running out of platform, and the only escape was across of both sets of tracks and two electrified third rails. He leapt down onto the tracks, quickly spun and clubbed the giant’s tree-trunk ankles. His wrists flinched at the shock of hitting bone.
A few hundred yards away, on the opposite tracks, came a Manhattan-bound train.
The giant crouched low, grabbing for him. Donovan ducked and swung again, this time striking elbow.
“Ow! You hit my funny bone!” His words, spoken in the rasping growl, shocked Donovan. He stared, puzzled, at this childish reaction. The moment passed, and fresh rage coursed through the giant. “I’m gonna kill you!”
He jumped down. The train drew nearer. Donovan made sure to keep its lights at his back. The giant faltered; even in his psychotic state he resisted the bright light. Donovan picked his way over the humming third rails. The train rumbled closer, air-horn blaring. Donovan blocked out the sonic blast and waved the pipe, taunting. The giant took the bait and came for him. Donovan saw the train lights reflecting nearer in the frighteningly pale face. He swung the pipe at the giant’s ribs. The giant snatched it. They played a brief tug-of-war before Donovan relinquished his grip. He plunged at the monstrous midsection and hammered body blows with both fists. The giant kneed Donovan in the chest. Donovan tottered backwards.
The conductor stomped his emergency brake. Sparks showered.
Coeus was mindless of everything but Donovan’s death. The pipe was a toothpick in his ham-fist. “You can’t beat me! I’m bigger and stronger!”
Donovan felt the ground shake. “But
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