Part 37 (1/2)
”The Americans are here,” cried the pilot.
”Good,” she said. ”Take me back to the airport.”
One of the troops jammed his rifle into her back. ”Lower your weapon,” he cried.
She glanced back over her shoulder. ”I'll kill him! And then we all die, unless you know how to fly this helicopter.”
He thought it over, then complied, and in one fluid motion, she turned, put her pistol to the trooper's head, and shot him point-blank. The trooper beside her grabbed her arm.
But before he could get closer in an attempt to seize her weapon, the chopper suddenly pitched forward, and cannon fire tore into the bay. Alarms blared from the c.o.c.kpit, and the pilot cried, ”I've lost power!”
EPILOGUE.
Sheikh Zayed Road Near Mina Jebel Ali Two Hours Later A SEAL team had flown in from the Eisenhower Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, and Brent had already been examined by the medics. He was about to be airlifted back to the s.h.i.+p when Juma s.h.i.+fted forward with his cousin. ”Brent, I'd like you to meet Sheikh Hussein Al Maktoum. The ruler of Dubai.” Carrier Strike Group, and Brent had already been examined by the medics. He was about to be airlifted back to the s.h.i.+p when Juma s.h.i.+fted forward with his cousin. ”Brent, I'd like you to meet Sheikh Hussein Al Maktoum. The ruler of Dubai.”
The boy, who was still wearing an environment suit identical to the Snow Maiden's, extended his hand. Brent took it. ”Thank you, sir, for recovering the gold and helping my country.”
”You're welcome. I do wish we could have gotten her.” He glanced up to Juma. ”Any word yet?”
Juma shook his head. ”Her helicopter went down near Al Lisaili, but there's still no sign.”
The boy released Brent's hand. ”Captain, if there is anything I can ever do for you?”
Brent took a long breath. ”Hold that thought. I may come looking for a favor sooner rather than later.”
Hussein nodded. ”Anything you need. Just let me know.”
Two crew members from the chopper lifted Brent's long backboard and carried him away. At his request, they placed him beside Lakota in the helicopter's cramped bay. He reached over, took her hand, then raised his voice over the droning engines. ”You did good, kid.”
She sighed. ”You, too!”
He raised his head and spotted Voeckler and Schleck seated across from him. They were ragged, red-eyed, exhausted.
He took a deep breath. The rest of his team who'd been riding in the pickup truck was coming home in body bags. He closed his eyes and braced himself.
The guilt burned.
And burned. And burned.
Moscow Four Days Later The Snow Maiden stood over his bed, watching him sleep. He was a pathetic old man swollen with greed and with a terrible l.u.s.t for power that had blinded him to the atrocities committed by his government. He had been schooled in the rules of success by a war hero father who'd taught him to crush those in his way, so even from the beginning there had been no hope for him. He was a schoolyard bully with a war machine at his disposal.
Her breath grew shallow as she considered shooting him. Ending it quickly. No words. Just instant gratification. Revenge served coldly, as it should be.
Instead she nudged his head with her pistol until he jolted awake.
She flicked on her penlight and shone it on her face, illuminating herself like some night creature.
”Viktoria, is that you?” he said, lifting his hand and squinting.
”Yes, General. Heinrich said you wanted to talk to me.”
”We a.s.sumed you were dead. Like him.”
”Another friend gave me a ride, although she's no more trustworthy than you.”
”If you've come to kill me, then be done with it. I'm sixty-two and much too old to be insulted by you.”
”You're fat and ignorant. And even with a gun to your head you still think you can give orders?”
”Viktoria, we didn't kill your husband. Or your brothers. You've constructed this fantasy and turned us into murderers, when we are anything but.”
She jabbed the pistol into his forehead, and he groaned sharply. Then she climbed on top of him and began pressing the muzzle deeper and deeper into his flesh. ”You don't know anything about me.”
She began to tremble.
”Just shoot me!” he cried.
”I should,” she gasped, beginning to pant, her face warming with the desire to finish him now. ”But I won't. I can't.”
”Then what do you want?”
”You're coming with me.”
He stifled a laugh. ”You're going to kidnap me?”
”Yes. I need your help.”
”With what?”
”With killing the president. With bringing down the motherland. And then we will stand back and watch it burn.”
”You're insane.”
”Yes.”
”Okay, Viktoria, whatever you say. Whatever you want me to do, I will do.”
She pulled the pistol from his head and set it on the night table. ”First you'll satisfy my needs, then you pack. We have a long trip ahead of us.” She shoved her tongue down his throat and tore at his pajamas.
SinoRus Group Oil Exploration Headquarters Sakhalin Island North of j.a.pan Six Days Later Igany Fedorovich rose from his desk as the Snow Maiden and Izotov strode into the room. Patti entered from a side door, and all four of them took seats around a small conference table.
”Please forgive the weapons search,” said Fedorovich. ”But it was necessary. I'm sure you understand.”
”I hope this will be brief,” said Izotov.
The side door opened again, and the Snow Maiden lost her breath as in stepped Colonel Pavel Doletskaya, along with another woman, smartly dressed and at least ten years younger than Pavel. She seemed strangely familiar.