Part 13 (1/2)

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The interlocking path of the cave system led upward at a steep angle. At times they had to squeeze through confined pa.s.sageways; at others vast caverns opened onto wide expanses. But at last April saw an irregular patch of natural light ahead. It was an opening to the outside world shaped like a zigzagging vertical slit in the rock.

Following the women, Skarda squeezed through the opening into bright suns.h.i.+ne. They were standing on a wide ledge above a deep scrub-covered valley whose sides jutted up into a series of flat-topped b.u.t.tes and low mountains marching away into the distance. April led the way eastward, followed by Flinders. The ledge was wide enough for sure footing, but even so Skarda's boots scattered rocks as he made his way forward, making him uneasy. In front of him, Flinders moved ahead with hesitant steps, trying to deliberately place each foot onto an area free of stones. He kept a wary eye on her, ready to grab her if she teetered toward a fall.

At the edge of an outcropping of white limestone April stopped short, throwing a hand behind her to signal them to stop. She crouched and peered into the valley below.

Scuttling back, she said, ”There's a rocky plateau down there and two 6x6 trucks. M939's. I see one man guarding. The others must have gone inside the mountain.”

Skarda considered. ”I guess we have two options. Wait them out, then go back to the boat, or steal one of the trucks.”

April thought about it. ”If I were Jaz, I'd search the caves just in case. So they'll probably find our suits. I say we take the truck.”

He nodded his agreement.

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The guard had sought shelter from the heat in the cool shadow of the rear of the second 6x6. He was just lighting a cigarette when Skarda stepped out into the open and said, ”Hi!”

Letting the cigarette fall, the man s.n.a.t.c.hed at his rifle, but not before April, stepping up behind him, smashed a rock down on the back of his skull. He fell, sprawling with his arms flung apart on the rocky soil.

Grabbing his rifle, she sprinted to the cab and climbed in. The keys had been left dangling in the ignition. She fired up the engine while Skarda and Flinders scrambled into the rear.

Twisting around, she glanced back through the open part.i.tion into the truck bed. ”Look around for weapons.”

Then she punched the accelerator and the truck rumbled forward.

Skarda's frantic shout reached her ears. ”We're blown!”

Glancing in the mirror, she saw a second guard running out into the open behind them, lifting his rifle and letting loose a burst of bullets. Slugs spanged off the tailgate and whizzed past her head, punching starred holes in the winds.h.i.+eld.

Immediately she spun the wheel, zigzagging on the makes.h.i.+ft track that was serving as a road. In the mirror she saw Jaz running up to the guard, jerking his arm up and striking him in the face.

”They want us alive!” she yelled back into the truck's interior. ”They think we have the Tablet!”

She hit the gas, the wheel shuddering in her hands as the truck lurched forward over the rutted track. Through the starred winds.h.i.+eld she could see a broad plateau stretching out in front of her to the near horizon, hemmed in on both sides by a forest of juniper and pine. But after that her sightline was lost.

Glancing in the mirror, she spotted Jaz and two men climbing into the second 6x6. The truck wheeled around in a tight curve, accelerating toward them, its big 11:00R20 tires spewing out clouds of dust in its wake.

A machine gun stuttered and mini-explosions of dirt and stone erupted along the flank of the truck on April's side. They were trying to take out the tires! She veered, careening toward a stand of pines, then back to the other side of the road, jerking the wheel back the other way, fighting the centrifugal force that wanted to drag the truck headlong into the trees.

In the bed, some of the bullets flew overhead, hitting with dull smacks. Skarda grabbed Flinders' shoulder and pushed. ”Get down!”

He lifted his head, risking a look. Behind them, the other truck was gaining ground fast, the driver able to barrel ahead in a straight line. More slugs ripped into the road, sending up fountains of dirt. Bullets clanked against the fleeing truck's flank, a burst piercing the thin steel and slamming into the padded seat next to April with a loud, flat whump. A side window exploded into fragments. Cras.h.i.+ng up and down in the ruts, she caught a fleeting glimpse of the scope of the plateau.

It was a sheer drop-off, and the distance was decreasing at an alarming rate.

s.n.a.t.c.hing up the guard's rifle, she tossed it back through the open part.i.tion. Skarda grabbed it in mid-air, swinging around, letting off a burst on full auto at the oncoming truck. His aim was high. He saw a line if bullets st.i.tch the metal casing above the winds.h.i.+eld, touching off a shower of sparks.

”Weapons?” April yelled.

He looked around, seeing nothing but a wooden case. Curling his fingers under the lid, he pried the box open, seeing what looked like a scaled-down version of a cruise missile.

Risking a glance, Flinders eyed it with mistrust. ”What is it?” she asked.

”It's how they blew that hole in the mountain,” he told her. He yelled out to April. ”We have a bunker buster back here!”

Yanking the wheel, she glanced back as more slugs tore up the road, tearing branches to kindling. The pa.s.senger side winds.h.i.+eld shattered, spraying her with a carpet of gla.s.s. ”Park! I'm going to need you to take the wheel!”

For a heartbeat Skarda closed his eyes. He hated to drive. But then he sprang forward, levering his body through the open part.i.tion. A moment later he'd switched places with April.

She traded a look with him. ”Sorry,” she said, then shot him a wicked grin. Then she clambered into the back.

The truck took a airborne leap, then crashed, slamming into a crater in the road. April went flying, catching herself by grabbing onto the lip of the crate. Flinders yelped.

Raising herself up, April threw a glance behind her- The other truck was steadily gaining, chewing up the road, almost on their tail.

Grabbing the rifle, she let loose a burst at its front wheels. The 6x6's b.u.mper buckled and dangled at a crazy angle, striking off sparks on the rocky road. The left front tire shredded and the truck yawed crazily. She saw the driver's mouth open in a shout. He jumped on the brake and the truck dropped back.

She whipped around to Flinders, still pressed against the floor. ”Can you shoot?”

A stray bullet whined through the truck, ricocheting off a steel strut.

”No!”

April thrust the gun into her hands. ”Just aim in their general direction and pull the trigger.”

Flinders just stared at her, not moving.

”I need you to do this. Now!”

With an uncertain nod Flinders took the weapon and crept forward toward the raised tailgate. Again the truck was gaining on them, the driver fighting the wheel to compensate for the shredded tire.

Lying flat and raising the rifle with both hands over her head, Flinders pointed and pulled the trigger. The rifle jerked up, spraying bullets at the ceiling of the bed, tearing open a ragged gash. With a sharp cry she let go and the gun clattered to the floor.

”You can do it!” April yelled, kneeling beside the crate. ”Try again!” She inspected the missile. Next to the bunker buster sat a digital control box. With expert fingers she set the warhead for a five-second delay.

Still p.r.o.ne at the tailgate, Flinders was fumbling to raise up the rifle into firing position, her body pitching with the careening turns of the truck.

”When I say 'Now!',” April shouted at her, ”I want you to drop that tailgate. Can you do it?”

Glancing around frantically, Flinders saw the tailgate latch. She scrambled over and grabbed it. ”Okay!”

April leaned toward the open part.i.tion. ”Park! Drive straight! When I say so, hit the brakes!”

In her peripheral vision she saw movement from the 6x6 cab. The man in the pa.s.senger seat was leaning out of his window, trying to carefully aim his rifle. His finger jerked on the trigger, unleas.h.i.+ng a hail of bullets at their right rear tire- It burst apart in an explosion of rubber.