Part 40 (1/2)

Some of the Neetha guards had guns-but most of them were old and poorly maintained, and they were no match for the modern weapons of the invading force.

And so Wolf's force advanced through the ravine system, killing Neetha defenders on every side. The Neetha fought fanatically, giving away nothing, fighting to the bitter end.

Many Congolese troops were killed, either by gun or by arrow, but their numbers were too great and their techniques too good, and soon they were spilling out onto the main village square.

As the invasion of the ravine system began, pandemonium broke loose all around the prisoner platforms.

The villagers-until then eagerly awaiting the results of the hunt in the maze-had scattered. So too the royal clan members, taking up their weapons.

Any warriormonks who had remained near the platforms quickly dashed to the safety of their templefortress, crossing its first drawbridge and taking up positions in their holy tower-the fourstory structure situated out on the lake, halfway between the temple fortress and the opposite sh.o.r.e.

As for Lily and Wizard, they were simply left on their platforms.

They could only watch helplessly as explosions and gunfire rang out from the ravine, growing louder and closer.

But then Lily saw some movement on the other side of the lake.

She saw the warlock and two monks dash out to the triangular island in the middle of the lake and scoop up the three sacred items sitting there: the Delphic Orb, the Second Pillar, and the inclinometerlike sighting device.

Then they turned and bolted for the opposite sh.o.r.e, arriving at a narrow path next to the maze's outer wall just as- -Zoe and Alby dashed out along the same path, racing out from the shadows at the southern end of the maze!

Lily almost cheered.They'd got through the maze...

A struggle ensued, with Zoe disarming the two warriormonks before jamming the b.u.t.t end of a spear into the warlock's face, felling him, knocking him out cold.

Lily then watched as Zoe and Alby s.n.a.t.c.hed up the three sacred objects and- Clunk!

Lily turned at the sudden sound.

And saw Ono standing opposite her platform, holding a plank vertically, as if he was ready to lay it down across the void to her platform. Diane Ca.s.sidy stood similarly near Wizard's platform, also with a plank in hand.

They both held rather oldlooking pistols in their spare hands.

In the chaos all around them-Neetha warriors rus.h.i.+ng to the defenses, exploding grenades, wild gunfire-the prisoner platforms were being ignored.

Ono said quickly, ”Young Lily! There is escape tunnel hidden within priesthood's island tower! I will show you...if you take us with you.”

”Deal,” Lily said.

Ono didn't understand the word.

”Yes, yes,” Lily said quickly. ”We'll take you with us.”

Clunk! Clunk!

Both planks thunked loudly into position on the two platforms and Lily and Wizard dashed off them, free at last.

As they ran toward the templefortress of the priesthood, Wizard saw Zoe and Alby on the other side of the lake, running in the same direction, carrying the island's sacred objects.

”Zoe!” he called. ”Get to the central tower! The priests' tower! It's an exit!”

”Got it!” Zoe yelled.

No sooner had she spoken than a great explosion blasted out above the huge waterfall at the northern end of the Neetha ravine.

The awning of bentover trees concealing the ravine there spontaneously erupted in flames, and burning branches and tree trunks rained down onto the lake below, falling a full four hundred feet.

Then with a terrific roar, two CIEF Black Hawk helicopters swooped down through the opening that had been created, hovering perfectly-noses up, tails down-directly above the priests' island tower!

They were modified Black Hawks known as Defender Armed Penetrators, or DAPs- although the only modifications they possessed were in the amount of weaponry they carried. These choppers were armed to the teeth with guns, rocket pods, and missile launchers.

Rockets shot out from the two DAPs, hitting every one of the Neethas' strategic defensive positions. Stone towers were blown to pieces. Warriors were hurled into the lake.

Obstacles in the main entry ravine were blown clear out of the water, allowing the Congolese foot soldiers to pour into the village unopposed.

The priesthood's templefortress was also hit by a rocket from above.

In a single instant, flames flared from every one of its narrow stone windows, and a moment later its huge armored doors flew open and burning warriormonks came spilling out of it, rus.h.i.+ng down the steps and hurling their flaming bodies into the lake...where the flames were doused, but where the everpatient crocodiles lay waiting.

Screams. Splas.h.i.+ng. Thras.h.i.+ng.

”This is our chance,” Wizard said. ”Inside! Now!”

With Lily, Ono, and Ca.s.sidy behind him, he rushed for the templefortress, ducking arrows and dodging bullets- -only to be blocked at the steps of the templefortress by three unexpected players: the obese chief of the Neetha and two of his sons, all of them brandis.h.i.+ng pumpaction shotguns aimed right at Wizard's fleeing group.

The chief barked some angry words at Ono and Ca.s.sidy, and they immediately lowered their little pistols.

”What'd he say?” Wizard whispered.

”He says that we cannot leave,” Ca.s.sidy said. ”He says that I am his, that he owns me.

When this is all over he says he will teach me a lesson in his bedroom, and that he will thrash Ono to within an inch of his worthless life.”

Ca.s.sidy glared at the chief.

”There will be no more lessons in your bedroom,” she said flatly, defiantly, just as she whipped up her pistol and fired it twice-expertly-into the foreheads of the two royal sons.

Both men dropped, the backs of their skulls bursting with blood, dead before they hit the ground.

Stunned, the chief whipped up his own shotgun, only to find himself already staring into the barrel of Diane Ca.s.sidy's pistol.

”I've been waiting five years for this,” she said.

Blam!

The bullet went through the Neetha chief's nose, breaking it on the way into his brain, causing a ma.s.sive geyser of blood to splatter all over his face.

The fat ruler collapsed onto the steps of the templefortress, his body sliding down them, his crackedopen skull oozing brains.

The King of the Neetha was dead.