Search Jump: Comments
    Chapter Index
    Back to Story
    Cover of Assassin’s Revenge–A David Slaton Novel
    Adventure FictionThriller

    Assassin’s Revenge–A David Slaton Novel

    by Larsen, Ward
    “Assassin’s Revenge—A David Slaton Novel” by Ward Larsen follows former assassin David Slaton as he is drawn back into a world of danger when a shadowy adversary targets his family. Forced to confront his past, Slaton employs his lethal skills to unravel a conspiracy that spans international borders. The novel explores themes of vengeance, loyalty, and the moral complexities of retribution, blending high-stakes action with intricate plotting. Larsen’s taut prose and relentless pacing make this a standout thriller, appealing to fans of espionage and suspense. The book underscores the enduring consequences of violence and the personal cost of redemption.
    PreviousNext
    Assassin’s Revenge–A David Slaton Novel

    Chapter 80: Eighty

    by Larsen, Ward

    The chap­ter “Eighty” alter­nates between two tense nar­ra­tives. Chris­tine and her son Davy are held cap­tive in a guard­ed office with­in a North Kore­an res­i­dence, sur­round­ed by uncer­tain­ty as dis­tant shouts and move­ments sug­gest esca­lat­ing tur­moil. Davy, obliv­i­ous to the dan­ger, mim­ics a mil­i­tary parade broad­cast on state-run TV, while Chris­tine remains vig­i­lant. The arrival of Park and addi­tion­al guards height­ens the ten­sion, sig­nal­ing an impend­ing threat. Mean­while, Com­man­der Rhea and Sla­ton are en route to North Korea in a fight­er jet, refu­el­ing midair and rac­ing against time. Sla­ton stud­ies the aircraft’s sys­tems and plots a course to the res­i­dence where his fam­i­ly is held, but a mes­sage reveals a North Kore­an con­voy is approach­ing, forc­ing him to recon­sid­er his plan.

    Slaton’s des­per­a­tion mounts as he real­izes the mis­sion to res­cue his fam­i­ly may be impos­si­ble. The news of the approach­ing con­voy crush­es his hopes, leav­ing him feel­ing pow­er­less. How­ev­er, instead of suc­cumb­ing to despair, he expe­ri­ences a surge of clar­i­ty and resolve. With no rules left to con­strain him, Sla­ton devis­es a reck­less new plan: eject­ing into North Korea alone. He calm­ly ques­tions Rhea about the ejec­tion sys­tem, sub­tly prepar­ing for his next move. Rhea ini­tial­ly dis­miss­es Slaton’s hints as a joke, but the mood shifts when Slaton’s silence con­firms his dead­ly seri­ous­ness.

    The ten­sion peaks as Sla­ton reveals his intent to be dropped into North Korea, forc­ing Rhea to con­front the moral and pro­fes­sion­al con­se­quences. Rhea protests, cit­ing the sui­ci­dal risks and poten­tial court-mar­tial, but Sla­ton coun­ters by sug­gest­ing Rhea claim he was hijacked. To empha­size his deter­mi­na­tion, Sla­ton fires a shot into the cock­pit, prov­ing his will­ing­ness to esca­late. The con­fronta­tion leaves Rhea stunned, grap­pling with the real­i­ty of Slaton’s des­per­a­tion and the impos­si­ble choice before him.

    In a final appeal, Sla­ton shares the per­son­al stakes: his wife and son are trapped in the com­pound, fac­ing immi­nent dan­ger. Rhea, a fam­i­ly man him­self, falls silent as he weighs Slaton’s plea against his duty. The chap­ter ends on a cliffhang­er, with Slaton’s fate—and Rhea’s decision—hanging in the bal­ance. The nar­ra­tive under­scores themes of sac­ri­fice, moral ambi­gu­i­ty, and the lengths one will go to pro­tect loved ones, leav­ing read­ers antic­i­pat­ing the next dra­mat­ic turn.

    Down­load PDF Sum­ma­ry

    FAQs

    • 1. How does the chapter portray Christine’s awareness of her situation, and what does this suggest about her character?

      Answer:
      Christine demonstrates limited but growing awareness of her circumstances, hearing distant shouts and noticing increased security measures (four guards instead of two). Her instinct to protect Davy by putting an arm around him when Park arrives shows maternal vigilance. The text suggests she’s observant but intentionally kept uninformed, highlighting her vulnerability as a hostage. Her character is portrayed as protective and perceptive despite being deliberately isolated from information, maintaining composure in a tense environment while focusing on her son’s well-being amid uncertainty.

      2. Analyze the significance of Slaton’s emotional shift upon learning about the approaching convoy. How does this transform his approach to the mission?

      Answer:
      Slaton’s initial despair (“helplessness,” “desperation”) gives way to clarity and invigoration as he realizes conventional rules no longer apply (“There were no longer any rules”). This pivotal moment marks a transition from structured military protocols to unrestrained personal resolve. The text emphasizes his psychological liberation through phrases like “astonishing sense of freedom,” suggesting he will now operate outside legal/ethical boundaries to save his family. His immediate focus on the ejection lever and confrontation with Rhea demonstrates this shift—abandoning diplomacy for coercion when necessary.

      3. What does the aerial refueling sequence reveal about Commander Rhea’s skills, and how does this detail enhance the narrative tension?

      Answer:
      Rhea’s expertise is highlighted through precise maneuvers (“plugged the Hornet’s receptacle into a drogue”) and relaxed banter during refueling, establishing him as a highly capable pilot. This technical proficiency creates narrative tension when contrasted with Slaton’s later demand for an unsanctioned mission—readers recognize Rhea could theoretically execute the dangerous plan, making Slaton’s coercion more plausible. The earlier demonstration of Rhea’s skill also raises stakes: his competence makes the North Korea infiltration seem marginally feasible, while his reluctance (citing “SAMs, triple-A, fighter response”) underscores the mission’s extreme risk.

      4. Evaluate the symbolic contrast between Davy’s imitation of the military parade and the actual military threats unfolding in the chapter.

      Answer:
      Davy’s innocent mimicry (“goose-stepping,” giggling at marching) starkly contrasts with the real military escalation (approaching convoy, Park’s iron stare). This juxtaposition underscores the chapter’s central tension between childhood obliviousness and adult peril. The propaganda parade on TV—initially a source of amusement—foreshadows the violent military reality encroaching on the family. The irony is heightened when Slaton later studies the same regime’s borders on his nav display, emphasizing how Davy’s playful reenactment exists in tragic parallel to the very forces threatening his life.

      5. How does Slaton’s manipulation of Rhea reflect both his desperation and his strategic thinking? Cite specific tactics he uses.

      Answer:
      Slaton employs layered persuasion: first proposing the plan logically (“drop me off”), then appealing to empathy (revealing his family’s peril), and finally resorting to coercion (shooting the compass, threatening “twelve rounds left”). This escalation shows strategic adaptation—he tests Rhea’s compliance at each stage while conserving his leverage. His fabricated “coded assignment” claim demonstrates psychological manipulation, exploiting military chain-of-command norms. The calculated delay in revealing his true motive (“I owe Rhea more”) proves he prioritizes effectiveness over ethics, using every tool available to a man with “no rules.”

    Quotes

    • 1. “There were no longer any rules. None whatsoever.”

      This quote marks a pivotal moment where Slaton, realizing his family’s dire situation, abandons all conventional constraints. It captures his shift into a desperate, rule-breaking mindset that drives the chapter’s climax.

      2. “‘You just shot my airplane!’ ‘I’ve got twelve rounds left.’”

      This tense exchange between Slaton and Commander Rhea demonstrates Slaton’s ruthless determination to rescue his family, even at the cost of hijacking a military jet. The stark dialogue underscores the extreme measures he’s willing to take.

      3. “‘Drop you…’ Rhea hesitated, then began laughing out loud. ‘Damn, Killer! You had me going for a minute. Take your ass into North Korea, let you eject, then fly away with the wind in my hair?’”

      This moment of dark humor contrasts sharply with the life-or-death stakes, revealing Rhea’s initial disbelief at Slaton’s audacious plan. The laughter fading into sober realization mirrors the chapter’s transition from tension to action.

      4. “‘Because you’ll tell them you got hijacked.’ ‘And who the hell would believe that?’ ‘Everybody.’ ‘Why?’”

      This rapid-fire dialogue showcases Slaton’s calculated manipulation of the situation. The terse exchange highlights both the absurdity and inevitability of his plan, while demonstrating his psychological advantage over Rhea.

    Quotes

    1. “There were no longer any rules. None whatsoever.”

    This quote marks a pivotal moment where Slaton, realizing his family’s dire situation, abandons all conventional constraints. It captures his shift into a desperate, rule-breaking mindset that drives the chapter’s climax.

    2. “‘You just shot my airplane!’ ‘I’ve got twelve rounds left.’”

    This tense exchange between Slaton and Commander Rhea demonstrates Slaton’s ruthless determination to rescue his family, even at the cost of hijacking a military jet. The stark dialogue underscores the extreme measures he’s willing to take.

    3. “‘Drop you…’ Rhea hesitated, then began laughing out loud. ‘Damn, Killer! You had me going for a minute. Take your ass into North Korea, let you eject, then fly away with the wind in my hair?’”

    This moment of dark humor contrasts sharply with the life-or-death stakes, revealing Rhea’s initial disbelief at Slaton’s audacious plan. The laughter fading into sober realization mirrors the chapter’s transition from tension to action.

    4. “‘Because you’ll tell them you got hijacked.’ ‘And who the hell would believe that?’ ‘Everybody.’ ‘Why?’”

    This rapid-fire dialogue showcases Slaton’s calculated manipulation of the situation. The terse exchange highlights both the absurdity and inevitability of his plan, while demonstrating his psychological advantage over Rhea.

    FAQs

    1. How does the chapter portray Christine’s awareness of her situation, and what does this suggest about her character?

    Answer:
    Christine demonstrates limited but growing awareness of her circumstances, hearing distant shouts and noticing increased security measures (four guards instead of two). Her instinct to protect Davy by putting an arm around him when Park arrives shows maternal vigilance. The text suggests she’s observant but intentionally kept uninformed, highlighting her vulnerability as a hostage. Her character is portrayed as protective and perceptive despite being deliberately isolated from information, maintaining composure in a tense environment while focusing on her son’s well-being amid uncertainty.

    2. Analyze the significance of Slaton’s emotional shift upon learning about the approaching convoy. How does this transform his approach to the mission?

    Answer:
    Slaton’s initial despair (“helplessness,” “desperation”) gives way to clarity and invigoration as he realizes conventional rules no longer apply (“There were no longer any rules”). This pivotal moment marks a transition from structured military protocols to unrestrained personal resolve. The text emphasizes his psychological liberation through phrases like “astonishing sense of freedom,” suggesting he will now operate outside legal/ethical boundaries to save his family. His immediate focus on the ejection lever and confrontation with Rhea demonstrates this shift—abandoning diplomacy for coercion when necessary.

    3. What does the aerial refueling sequence reveal about Commander Rhea’s skills, and how does this detail enhance the narrative tension?

    Answer:
    Rhea’s expertise is highlighted through precise maneuvers (“plugged the Hornet’s receptacle into a drogue”) and relaxed banter during refueling, establishing him as a highly capable pilot. This technical proficiency creates narrative tension when contrasted with Slaton’s later demand for an unsanctioned mission—readers recognize Rhea could theoretically execute the dangerous plan, making Slaton’s coercion more plausible. The earlier demonstration of Rhea’s skill also raises stakes: his competence makes the North Korea infiltration seem marginally feasible, while his reluctance (citing “SAMs, triple-A, fighter response”) underscores the mission’s extreme risk.

    4. Evaluate the symbolic contrast between Davy’s imitation of the military parade and the actual military threats unfolding in the chapter.

    Answer:
    Davy’s innocent mimicry (“goose-stepping,” giggling at marching) starkly contrasts with the real military escalation (approaching convoy, Park’s iron stare). This juxtaposition underscores the chapter’s central tension between childhood obliviousness and adult peril. The propaganda parade on TV—initially a source of amusement—foreshadows the violent military reality encroaching on the family. The irony is heightened when Slaton later studies the same regime’s borders on his nav display, emphasizing how Davy’s playful reenactment exists in tragic parallel to the very forces threatening his life.

    5. How does Slaton’s manipulation of Rhea reflect both his desperation and his strategic thinking? Cite specific tactics he uses.

    Answer:
    Slaton employs layered persuasion: first proposing the plan logically (“drop me off”), then appealing to empathy (revealing his family’s peril), and finally resorting to coercion (shooting the compass, threatening “twelve rounds left”). This escalation shows strategic adaptation—he tests Rhea’s compliance at each stage while conserving his leverage. His fabricated “coded assignment” claim demonstrates psychological manipulation, exploiting military chain-of-command norms. The calculated delay in revealing his true motive (“I owe Rhea more”) proves he prioritizes effectiveness over ethics, using every tool available to a man with “no rules.”

    Note