Part 29 (1/2)

Striganov rose and walked swiftly to a wall map of California. He punched a spot. ”There!

Right there is where that d.a.m.nable Raines will strike.”

Wrong, the XO thought. You're wrong. You're losing your grasp of reality, Georgi. And something has to be done. Quickly.

But Striganov was giving orders. ”Move everything from the coast to Weaverville north to form a line from Crescent City to Youreka, west to east.

Order artillery out, immediately. Then I want you to-was ”No!” the XO screamed. ”No, G.o.dd.a.m.n you, no.” He fumbled for his sidearm, pulling out the pistol.

”What?” Striganov said, turning, his face paling in shock. ”How dare you!” he shouted.

The XO jacked back the hammer on the pistol.

”Listen to me closely, Georgi. You're sick.

You've got to have help. I respect and admire you, Comrade, but I've watched you deteriorate, mentally, over the months. Please, Georgi, let me help you.”

”Put that gun down! Put it down and we'll say nothing about this outrage. But do it now.”

”I can't!” the XO'S voice was choked with scarcely controlled emotion. It was tearing his guts out to disobey the man he had served for so many years.

Striganov took a step toward his desk, his hand outstretched for the b.u.t.ton panel.

”Don't do it!” the XO shouted.

”You won't shoot me,” Striganov said.

”I will if I have to. Don't make me wound you, Georgi. Please. I'm begging you.”

The office door suddenly banged open, startling both men.

General Georgi Striganov's executive officer pulled the trigger.

Chapter.

Twenty-six.

”One more hour,” Ben muttered. ”I hate waiting.”

He looked at his watch.

It was a minute later than the last time he'd glanced at it.

Twice he had detected movement on the rooftop through the long lenses. Those troops up there must be roasting beneath this hot sun, he thought. But that was good. They would not be as attentive with sweat running into their eyes.

He wondered how Ike was taking the waiting.

”G.o.ddammit, I hate waiting!”

Ike b.i.t.c.hed.

Ike and his team were poised on the northernmost finger of Clear Lake, just outside a small town.

An IPF outpost had been spotted and pinpointed.

But unlike Ben's team, Ike had managed, due to the terrain, to get close enough for their small 60 mm mortars to be effective.

He glanced at his watch. ”Come on, come on!”

he muttered.

He wondered how Dan was taking it.

”Thank you,” Dan said to his batman. ”There is nothing like a good hot cup of tea to refresh one.

Please join me, Carl.”

”Thank you, sir. I believe I shall.”

The two Englishmen sat on the ground and sipped their tea.

Dan's team was located between Big Bar and Helena, waiting for the time to plunge deep into the Trinity wilderness. The former SAS man stretched out on the cool ground and closed his eyes. ”Awaken me in thirty minutes, would you, Carl?”

”Certainly, sir.”

The slug from the XO'S gun caught Jane in the center of the forehead, busting out the back, splattering brains all over the wall. The girl hit the carpet, trembled once, then lay still.

”Oh, my G.o.d!” the XO shouted. ”I didn't mean-was He never got a chance to finish it. Striganov leveled his own pistol and shot the man dead.

The room filled with men and women.

”He went insane,” Striganov said, holstering his weapon. ”After all the years we spent together, he turned on me, tried to kill me. Poor Jane.” He shook his head.

The bodies were removed from the room.

Striganov repeated his original orders.

”Full scale,” he told the officers. ”We stand and slug it out with Ben Raines. As men of honor should do.

Professionals. Move out.”

”Sir!” Carl's voice brought Dan wide awake.

Dan glanced at his watch. ”Carl, I've just closed my eyes.”