Nima handed over the bag without questions. Boris helped himself to some hydrocortisone cream they found in Nima’s bag, while Dean and Kash treated Avi’s stings.
______
A tiny drone, almost invisible, hovered silently above Dean and his team as they revived Avi. It lowered itself a few inches closer to the ground to get a better view of the live feed for the Advanced Intelligent Video Surveillance Systems (AIVSS).
The team leader of the surveillance unit tapped impatiently on the desk as he spoke to someone on the phone.
“I just got off the phone with the director of the Foreign Intelligence Service, and he is demanding updates,” he said.
“One sparrow inactive, the ravens are still on the move,” one of the surveillance technicians replied. “Look at the other sparrow; she looks like she knows her onions, but there’s discord already growing in the group. She’ll make a valuable prisoner.”
“Get the drone closer to her,” the team leader ordered.
The technician spun the drone around with one tap on the keyboard, and the camera closed in on Nima, who stood away from the rest of her team.
“She’ll likely sell her birthright for a couple of grand. I guess that’s the motivation behind her signing up for espionage. I wouldn’t trust her, though. She could pass for a double agent,” the team leader observed. “Let’s see how far they can go in that labyrinth, and then we’ll—”
He was interrupted by some officers who were watching a replay of the feed on another screen.
“I bet they didn’t see that coming,” one of the soldiers doubled up in laughter as he replayed the scene where Kash and the others tried to escape the angry bees.
“I’m getting a kick out of this,” another soldier chuckled. “C’mon, put it in slow motion. I want to see him bolt again. Yeah, that’s it. Now forward, backward, forward again. That’s it.”
And the two burst into uncontrolled laughter.
“Officers, do you mind indulging me in your amusement?” the team leader asked with a stern look on his face.
“Er, nothing of interest. But...” One of them shrugged. The other officer nudged him.
“We are sorry, sir,” he apologized before facing the screen again.
Everyone turned their attention to the screen showing Dean and his squad. They were oblivious to the quick movement of a figure lurking in the shadows on another screen. It wasn’t until one of the technicians went to the shelf for a recorded video did he notice the fuzzy screen.
He immediately checked for the previous feed, but there was nothing. Perhaps some mice or other critters had helped themselves to the wires. It happened all the time.
Miles crouched close to the low wall and waited for the LED light on the surveillance camera to blink. It didn’t, so that meant he had done a neat job. He continued along the wall until he came to an air-conditioning unit fixed into the wall. This was his detour, and he waited for a minute to listen to the sounds around him. When he was sure that the coast was clear, he took out a screwdriver from his bag and dismounted the air-conditioning unit.
The space was narrow but big enough for him to crawl through with little difficulty. He pushed his bag into the hole before he slipped through and found himself in a dark hall. Miles pulled back the unit in place to avoid detection, but then he figured out that if he left it, he might die of asphyxiation inside there before he reconnected with the area that was on the path of natural air supply.
After fixing the AC, he picked up his flashlight and made his way down the hall. It was so dark he could barely see his feet ahead of him. The air felt stuffy, and there was dead silence all around him. Miles had to hold his breath for several seconds as his lungs got accustomed to the little air in the hall. His movement was slow because he had to turn off his flashlight at intervals to avoid setting off any light detecting sensor that might be installed in the hall.
Although it was too dark to install a surveillance camera due to the poor light in the hall, Miles had every reason to believe that the Russians would certainly put other security measures in the hall. He hummed a happy tune in his head and tried to visualize his path. It was easy to start hallucinating in such conditions and get lost, or worse still, scamper right into the enemy’s net.
Miles was about to turn on his flashlight again when he heard something fall with a soft thud. He froze in his tracks and held his breath as he listened for another sound. The hall was eerily quiet. He felt something very cold and heavy move slowly over his feet. Then it stopped. The weight settled on Miles’s feet, but he dared not move or turn on the light. For a moment, he wished he was anywhere else but there.
He let out his breath slowly to calm his nerves, but panic was already setting in. He couldn’t tell if whatever it was that laid across his feet was a part of some dangerous animal or the animal itself. There was no way of knowing what he was up against. It then occurred to him that the animal could have sensed danger too and was also weighing him up.
Unhurriedly, the creature continued its progress across Miles’s feet. It was about four feet long, and it took all the bravery in Miles to stand there and wait. He breathed a sigh of relief when he felt the weight off him but waited for a few moments just to make sure it was not waiting for him to make the wrong move.
The animal was no doubt another security measure.
Miles continued until he came to a point where the hall opened up into a cavern. The air was fresher here. The GPS became faulty, and the sailor’s compass he had on him was useless too. The dial spun on its own like a wall clock. Miles had to rely on his hearing and inner sense of direction, which was not so helpful. He was beginning to feel cold and thirsty. Miles pulled out a large plastic bag and his water bottle from his bag. He drank sparingly because he had to save enough to keep his body from getting dehydrated.
With his finger, he tore a small hall in the plastic bag and put it over his head before sitting down on the floor. This was to conserve some heat and calories in his body. Miles wished he had sonar or echolocation like the cave bats.
The flashlight grew dimmer, a clear indication that the batteries were getting weaker. Miles turned it off and stumbled on in the dark. He heard a dripping sound somewhere and thought it could be an underground spring. He needed to drink more water and refill his water bottle. He found the spring and was well on his way.
Before long, thirst came knocking again, and Miles gladly opened up his bottle of cool fresh water. On second thought, he pointed his flashlight to make sure the water was clean. He threw away his bottle when he saw a pair of olms wiggling happily in the water. He tripped over a small rock and went down the side of the low ledge into a hole. Then everything went blank as he lost consciousness.
_____
Miles woke up to the sound of a low mew, and he blinked his eyes several times as he tried to remember where he was. He heard the mew again and made to get up when he heard a snarl. It sounded angry and wild. He turned his head slowly, and his heart did a mile in a second when he saw a wild cat licking its tawny fur and paws.
Miles shivered a little when the wild cat bared its flesh-devouring teeth as it yawned.
Perhaps he was truly hallucinating or could have had a concussion from the fall. He was surprised he still laid alive beside a ferocious female. He was probably still alive because the animal thought he was dead and it wasn’t too hungry. He closed his eyes and controlled his breathing.
A cub jumped on him and playfully nibbled at his bare arm, another joined in the game, and Miles endured the sharp pain their tiny teeth made on his flesh. He prayed their mother didn’t get curious as well and join in the exploration.
The mother snarled at her cubs, and they gathered around her.
Phew! Miles thought.
The next thing to do was plan an escape. He needed to get out of the lion’s den as soon as possible. He was running low on supplies and out of time.
Miles opened one of his eyes slowly and noticed the walls looked a l
ittle brighter. Perhaps there was an exit somewhere, and he was closer to the surface than he thought.
One of the cubs began to yip pitifully like it was in pain. The sound turned into a full wail, and the mother snarled and growled as the cub ascended the walls of the cave. It couldn’t go after her cub because she wasn’t so nimble, and she was caught between going after her distressed cub and protecting the others who were on the ground.
It didn’t take too long for Miles to notice the shadowy figure pulling up the cub slowly by a rope made of dried tree roots. He couldn’t believe his luck. Without waiting to see if his rescuer was friend or foe, Miles scanned his possible exit out of the lair. He inched closer to the rocky walls as the lioness tried to save her cub.
Then the cold air made him sneeze, and she turned around to face him, her glowing eyes staring fiercely into his. He could tell she was happy to see him alive. It had been a long while since she had a good feast, and she probably deserved one after babysitting three cranky cubs.
Fear froze Miles’s limbs as the beast approached him. He felt more hopeless when he remembered that his penknife was in his backpack. She growled and licked her lips.
Yeah, I would do the same too if I found a fine meal like you just did, Miles thought to himself.
A rock hit the animal, and she turned around. She growled in anger when another one hit her. Miles was glad for the distraction, and he quickly scampered up the wall. It was a slow slippery climb, and he was grateful for the boots he wore. The soles had enough traction to grip on slippery rocks as he ascended slowly and painfully up the cave.
The animal roared and snapped at him from below; one slip, and that would be the end of the story. He saw something slip by his side, and he almost let go when he realized it was a rope. Grabbing on for dear life, he endured the jagged rocks that tore through his bare arms as he was lifted to safety.
Now far away from the wild beast's jaws, Miles came face-to-face with the young boy who had rescued him. He wondered where the boy had summoned the strength to pull out someone his size until he saw the other end of the rope tied around a rock.
Miles nodded slowly. Then remembering that he had not thanked the boy, he did a namaste and a bow before grinning foolishly at the boy. The youngster stared back at him before giving him a tight-lipped smile.
“Yeah, weird, isn’t it? But that’s just me saying thank you for rescuing me from Mrs. Feisty Wild Cat. Man, she’s a mean girl. I bet her partner’s in time-out somewhere. He can’t come home until she’s cool with it.”
The boy untied his rope and picked up a small torch he had hidden behind another rock, and made a sign for Miles to follow him. They went deeper into the cave, then came upon a ledge. Miles looked down and saw a city before him.
“Mezhgorye,” Miles breathed.
“Mezhgorye,” the boy beamed.
17
Chapter Seventeen
Yamantau, Russia
May 2019
The air had become colder, and the floor was damp and slippery. The darkness was thick but not impenetrable. It felt like walking in a void. It was so quiet that each person could hear their heartbeat.
Nima walked purposely behind Boris. He was the only one who didn’t judge her for her actions so far. She could sense that the wall was growing between her and the others, especially Kash. Besides, they had left only two flashlights on to save the batteries. She had to stay as close as possible to Boris so she could see ahead of her. The thought of stepping on another gory creature made her gut wrench.
Kash walked a few feet behind her, his eyes as keen as ever. There was no telling what surprise hid in this dark cave. Avi trudged on behind him; although she was feeling a little better already, she still felt hurt in a hundred places and wished she could lay down.
Avi shook her head vigorously several times and blinked her eyes rapidly to stay focused. Dean must have given her a little more than the right dosage of Benadryl. Her footsteps slowed down, and Dean watched her closely. Avi swayed from side to side before landing on the ground with a thud.
The others turned around quickly and rushed to her side when they found her sprawled on the floor and out cold.
Kash glanced at Dean but could barely make out his face in the shadows. It was clear they had to stop for a while. Dean looked around for a suitable place to lay Avi, as the floor was cold and could make her condition worse.
“What could it be this time?” Nima asked irritably when she saw Avi on the floor. “I told you guys to let her alone; she’ll recover. Now you’ve played doctor and made it worse.”
“Nima, could you shut up for once? If I didn’t know better, I’d think you worked in one of those crack joints downtown,” Kash retorted.
Nima fumed silently. Kash had hit her where it hurt most, right below the belt. She took one look at Avi but turned her face away. Nima was sure she could feel no sympathy for her.
“I think she needs a break,” Dean suggested. “We can’t get too far with her in this condition. We could all do with some rest too.”
“Yeah, but first, we have to find somewhere to set up camp,” Kash agreed.
“What nonsense!” Nima protested. “We can’t stop now, not here. It’s dangerous, you know. We’ve got a mission, and time is crucial, right?” She turned to Boris, the only person she felt was still on her side.
Boris shook his head thoughtfully from side to side before turning around to look at the rocks. Nima glared at his back.
“We’ve been here for about seven hours without a bite, and I think an hour’s break wouldn’t hurt. It would also give Avi enough time to get back on her feet. And just in case you skipped that class in teamwork while you were in training, the closer you get to your mission, the more you need all hands on deck,” Kash said.
Nima ignored him.
Boris found a cleft in the rocks not too far from where they stood. It was partially hidden by a few rocks but wide enough for the five of them to stay in. Dean checked it first to see if there were no inhabitants before he laid out a plastic bag over the floor. After setting up camp, he had Kash help him carry Avi.
They had a light meal of canned tuna with sandwiches and some drinks.
“It’s quite nippy in here. Can we light a fire or something?” Kash asked.
Nima chuckled. “What happened this time? Did that paragraph of the acquired encyclopedia get ripped off? Maybe you can build a fire if you happen to carry and dried sticks with you. Wanna know the best part? Building a fire would be such a good idea for a thermo-crack. The rocks would fall on you and knock you out so cold you wouldn’t need a fire anymore.”
Avi sneezed and murmured something, then her eyes flew open. The swelling on her face had reduced greatly, thanks to the cold air.
“Where am I?” she asked feebly as she placed her hand on her forehead.
“Somewhere in a cave,” Dean replied.
“Oh,” she groaned.
“Do you want a sandwich?” Dean asked, offering her one already.
Avi nodded and took it from him. She munched hungrily and asked for a drink.
“I wonder what could have happened to Miles,” Avi thought aloud.
“Same here. We shouldn’t have split ways,” Kash responded. “A lone wolf roaming this unpredictable territory isn’t such a good idea.”
“Miles will be fine by himself,” Dean assured them. “If there’s anything, he could always look out for himself.”
“I don’t think so. The Russians must have their hands on him by now. Nothing escapes their notice, not even the most remote parts of their territory. I’m sure Miles won’t be out there playing Boy Scout,” Boris said solemnly.
To Dean, Boris’s eyes were shining with mischief, and he had an inkling that Boris was trying to demoralize the team.
Dean wanted to cross-examine Boris, but he thought it was best to hold his horses.
“How do you know this?” Avi asked.
Boris had a faraway look in his eyes. He swal
lowed uneasily, and his lips trembled slightly as his face flushed with restrained anger.
“My older brother got into their tentacles when he was on a mission. They tortured him so bad and broke him pretty badly as well.”
The silence hung in the air as they waited for him to continue the story. They were eager to learn more.
“If the Russians aren’t boring through Miles’s tough hide to get out any information from every cell, that cursed bracelet on him must have blown him into tiny particles for manure.”
No one said a word. They all huddled in their sleeping bags, each lost in their own thoughts. Nima’s eyelids began to droop; she badly needed a nap, even if she didn’t want to admit it.
Avi dozed off again, still under the influence of the medication, and Kash joined in shortly.
Dean pretended to sleep, but his ears were keen for any sound of movement, especially from Boris's direction. He slightly opened his eyes occasionally to see what Boris was doing. However, weariness took over, and Dean succumbed.
Unknown to Dean and his squad, they were not alone in the cave. It teemed with dozens of hidden eyes and ears, which followed every step they took and listened to everything they said, even the tiniest whisper. There were several tiny microphones, barely bigger than a bean seed, all around them.
Nima stirred in her sleep when a small insect crawled up her arm. She missed another one on her face by a few inches when she tried to swat it. She opened her eyes when she felt another one crawling in her hair. This was what she dreaded most, and she stood up abruptly as she tried to shake the annoying bugs out of her hair.
She stumbled on Kash, who let out a loud yelp that woke the others.
Hunt for the Lost Sanctum Page 12
