Laura 02 The God Code

by Anton Swanepoel

  Nikolai’s heart skips a beat. Victor is standing next to Laura in line to stamp their passports. Just in time, a perfect shot. Goodbye Victor. Nikolai takes aim at Victor’s head, and starts to squeeze the trigger, then holds it. His breathing is slow and steady. Another visitor to the ruins has moved between Victor and Nikolai, blocking Nikolai’s view.

  Slowly the man moves away, and Nikolai adjusts his aim, keeping the scope’s crosshairs on Victor’s left temple. Nikolai inhales slowly and holds his breath, readying to fire.

  “Shit, damn tourists!” Nikolai utters beneath his breath as a woman blocks his view. There are just too many people walking past for Nikolai to get a clear shot, he will have to wait for them to move to the busses. Impatiently he waits for Victor and Laura to stamp their passports. Nikolai smiles as Victor and Laura move to the small cafe near the gate. The cafe has an open seating area, a perfect place to kill them. Nikolai keeps the crosshairs on Victor and Laura as best he can while they buy food at the counter and then sit down at a table to eat.

  “Perfect,” Nikolai comments as he skillfully holds the crosshairs over Victor’s head. A sadistic smile forms on his face as he starts to pull the trigger.

  “Shit,” he mutters as a man suddenly blocks his view. The man stops to talk to a woman who is sitting at a table next to Victor and Laura’s.

  “Ask her what she wants to eat and get out of my way.” Nikolai mutters beneath his breath. Expertly he holds the scope in position, ready for when the man moves.

  “Come on, get out of the way,” Nikolai says impatiently, as if the man can hear him. The seconds slowly tick by and it takes another 30 seconds of agonizing waiting before the man lazily walks away.

  Nikolai gives a sigh of relief as he sees Victor and Laura again, however Laura has moved positions and is now directly in front of Victor.

  Nikolai has orders to shoot Victor and if possible Laura as well, now he can do both with one bullet. Carefully he aims for the middle of Laura’s neck. The sniper rifle is not powerful enough to go through her skull and also kill Victor, but it will go through her neck and so to Victor’s. It will be a slow agonizing death, paralyzing both from the neck down until they die from blood loss. Gently he squeezes the trigger, millimeter by millimeter.

  “Hey, what are you doing?”

  The voice behind him frightens Nikolai so much that he jerks the gun up just as he pulls the trigger. The bullet goes right over the cafeteria and slams into the wall of the path to the ruins, right behind a tourist who scratches his head in bewilderment at hearing something behind him but not seeing anything.

  “What the hell do you think you are doing sneaking up on a park ranger?” Nikolai replies, regaining his composure.

  “Park ranger? What are y-” His words get cut short as a bullet enters his skull, right between the eyes. Two more rounds enter his body, both finding his heart. The man’s lifeless body sinks to the ground.

  “Idiot,” Nikolai murmurs as he holsters his pistol and chambers a new round in the sniper rifle. Luckily for him both his pistol and sniper rifle are silenced. Taking aim, a shock goes through him as he realizes the bench Laura and Victor were on is now occupied by another couple. Frantically he searches the crowd. Did Victor hear the shot go over even with all the people talking? Nikolai freezes as he spots Laura and Victor standing in line to get on a bus.

  Quickly Nikolai makes ready to shoot. As soon as the croshairs find Victor, he pulls the trigger. The rifle kicks against his shoulder as the round leaves the barrel.

  At the exact moment Nikolai fires, an empty bus passes between Nikolai and Victor. The veins on the side of Nikolai’s face bulge out as he glares at the bus. Did I hit Victor or the bus? Nikolai’s breathing is steady and deep as he listens for screams from the other tourists when they see Victor dead…..Nothing. So I did miss. Damn. I will have to go to plan B.

  Quickly Nikolai disassembles the rifle and packs it back into his backpack, then swings the pack over his shoulders as he makes his way to the busses. Victor carefully scans the crowd and bushes. Every muscle in his body is tense, ready for action. I am sure I heard a bullet go over us while we were eating. But it makes no sense. Sure, it is possible for a sniper to miss, but by such a distance as not to hit anyone else is very unlikely, and why did the sniper not try again? Still, I do not want to be a sitting duck, it is better that we get out of this place. We can finish our sandwiches on the bus. Victor’s attention turns to the conductor who is counting the people waiting for a bus, splitting the line into groups and assigning each group to a separate bus. When the conductor reaches Victor and Laura, he splits them into two separate groups, Laura to the next bus to leave and Victor to the following bus.

  “Excuse me sir, but we are together,” Victor informs the driver.

  “I only have space for one more on the first bus. You can both go on the second bus.”

  “Thank you,” Victor replies, just as something in the corner of his eye catches his attention.

  Quickly Victor turns and scans the crowd. I am sure I saw a man with an old backpack passing between the busses and people, where is he now? Something is off, I have seen that backpack before. That man has popped up too many times to be a coincidence.

  “You can take my place. I am travelling alone and am in no hurry.” The voice rips Victor out of his thoughts. An elderly Scottish gentleman in front of Laura smiles at them and indicates for Victor and to take his place.

  “Thank you very much sir,” Victor replies as he steps towards the first group, taking the man’s position, with Laura next to him. The conductor just shrugs his shoulders and asks the people to start climbing aboard the first bus. When it is Victor’s turn to get on the bus, he gives one last look at the crowd, then climbs aboard, unaware of the small bomb that is placed inside one of the bus’s front wheel wells.

  “You can take the window seat this time,” Laura says with a smile.

  “You sure?”

  “Oh yes, I had enough of looking down at the wheels hanging off the side of the road thanks, too much action for me in one day.”

  Victor quickly scans the other passengers on the bus, before taking the window seat in the second row. Laura tiredly sits down next to him, still sipping on her soda. She had finished her chicken wrap as they waited for the bus. The bus driver quickly climbs in and checks that all is okay on his instrument panel. Satisfied that everything is working, he gives a quick glance over his shoulder to make sure everyone is seated, then starts the bus and pulls away.

  Laura stares past Victor at the gate to the Ruins. A knot forms in her throat, and she has difficulty holding back the tears. Sadness fills her heart at leaving such a magnificent place. The bus passes the gate to the parking area and starts to follow the narrow dusty dirt road down the mountain.

  “Can we come back here one day when it is safe?” Laura asks.

  “Of course, and I will even make an advanced booking for us for the same room with the hot tub if you want.” Victor winks in reply.

  Laura blushes, and her body starts to respond as her thoughts go back to the previous evening. Quickly she covers her breasts, not wanting others to see her body’s response, then comments smilingly, “You are so naughty.”

  The bus makes a sharp turn as the road switches back on itself. Suddenly the bus slows down fast as the driver brakes due to another bus coming up. There is a bus behind Laura and Victor’s bus, and he has to wait in the turn. The two busses passing each other almost touch, so close do they go past each other, with Victor and Laura’s bus having to give way to the bus coming up. As soon as the bus passes them, their driver pulls away hard, obviously in a hurry. The bus behind them also has to wait until the other bus passes, but has to reverse first to make space for the bus going up to pass.

  Laura stares in amazement at the driver’s skill as she looks through the back window at the two busses.

  Unknowingly, she bites her lower lip while holding her breath. The one bus is so close to the drop off,
it looks like it is going to slide off the mountain.

  As soon as the two busses pass each other, and the one behind them is free to travel again, Laura turns in her seat and looks forward again. They are at another turn, and as their bus slows down to take the turn, the bus behind them catches up to them.

  Laura puts her head on Victor’s shoulder as a light on the bomb in the wheelwell turns red and the digital counter activates, 5 seconds.

  Victor slowly puts his arm around Laura. 2 seconds left. Laura raises her head and their eyes lovingly connect.

  Laura jerks from the sound of the explosion. The small bomb rips through the left front tire, blowing it to pieces. The bus’s nose dips dangerously and the left side scrapes on the ground. The bus veers sharply to the side of the road, about to drive off the pass. There is no doubt that if the bus goes over it will roll down the mountain, killing all on the bus. The driver expertly controls the bus, keeping it from rolling over and, as best he can, keeping the bus on the road. Miraculously he steers the bus until it comes to a halt against a tree, partly hanging off the road.

  Laura’s mouth hangs open from shock and unconsciously she digs her nails into Victor’s arm as she looks back at the scene behind them. Slowly she closes her mouth and eases her grip on Victor’s arm as she sees the bus come to a stop on the edge.

  Laura’s bus driver immediately stops when he hears the explosion and parks his bus in the turn.

  “Juan, are you okay?” he asks over the two way radio.

  “Yes, seems like I blew a tire.”

  “Wait, I will come and help you.”

  “No, take your people down. I am okay and the rescue truck is calling me on the other radio, they will be here shortly. No need to delay more tourists than needed.”

  “Okay, take care,” the driver replies as he starts his bus and makes ready to pull away. A few hikers close by come to help the people get off the stranded bus. Among them is a man with an old backpack, fuming that the bus did not crash.

  Nikolai was hoping for the bus to roll down the mountain. Holding his jacket over his right hand, he conceals his pistol and aims it secretly at each passenger as they climb off the bus. As the last passengers get off the bus, Nikolai realizes with a shock that Victor and Laura were not on the bus. How can it be? I am sure I heard the conductor inform Victor that they had to go on this bus. Nikolai however missed when they were given a space on the first bus. The first bus pulling away in line with them on the road below draws his attention. His heart skips a beat as he spots Victor at a side window on the bus. Slowly he turns away, not wanting to attract attention; he may still have the element of surprise. As soon as the bus rounds the next corner he starts to sprint down the road, then takes the hiking trail used by those who do not want to use the bus. The trail cuts through the bushes between the sections of the road, and then passes over the road in the middle at each point that it crosses the road. Nikolai does not know that the hiking path is a one hour trip down for fit people and only 30 minutes by bus. Frustrated he watches as he comes out of the bush at each switchback road section, only to see Victor’s bus getting farther and farther away.

  The running with the heavy backpack is tiring Nikolai, and he has already fallen twice. Admitting defeat, he stops and watches the bus disappear in the distance while he gasps for air.

  “You have to take the train back Victor, I will get you at the station,” he says breathlessly to himself. Then starts to follow the path down at a brisk but manageable pace for the gear he has.

  “That is unfortunate for those people, and scary. How do we know our tire will not also blow?” Laura looks at Victor for comfort.

  “Something tells me the wheel did not blow, more like being blown up.”

  “You think someone put a bomb on the bus?”

  “I do not know, but it just does not feel right to me. These busses are in very good condition and checked every day, they do not allow worn out tires. It could have been a defective tire, but it is highly unlikely.”

  “What are we going to do?”

  “Borrow a faster ride than the train.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Remember the rich tourists that flew in by helicopter this morning? We are going to borrow that helicopter.”

  “Is there anything you cannot fly?”

  “Well, I have not piloted a large passenger jet or a space shuttle yet, but I am sure I will get the hang of it if they give me a chance.”

  “Show off,” Laura laughs.

  The rest of the trip goes by in silence. The bus stops just after the train tracks, close to the market.

  Victor leads Laura along the train tracks towards the end of town. They pass a sign reading “Helipad”, close to a very nice restaurant with a large thatched roof. Suddenly they come to an open section close to the river with a large level concrete slab, forming the helipad. A boy of around seven is playing next to a twin engine Aerospatiale Squirrel AS355F2 five seater helicopter.

  “Hey kid, do you know whose helicopter this is?” Victor asks.

  “My dad’s.”

  “Wow, it is a very nice helicopter. Do you think it will be okay if we have a look inside?”

  “I do not know. He always locks it.”

  “Do you know where the keys are?” Victor is hoping he does not need to try and pick the lock. He is unaware that Nikolai has reached the market and is making his way to the train station, looking for them.

  “They are always on the kitchen table, he is taking a nap.”

  “Where is your house?”

  “Just up there, about 5 minutes away,” the boy replies, still playing with two rusty old metal toy cars.

  “Will you go and get them for me? I will give you 100 US dollars.”

  “I do not know. My dad will be angry if I wake him.”

  “You do not need to wake him, just bring the keys. We just want to look inside. You can stand and watch, we will be quick, and then you can take the keys back.” Victor holds up a 100 dollar bill. The kid’s eyes widen and he jumps up and runs away without replying.

  “You think he will get the keys or his dad?”

  “I do not know Laura, guess we will have to wait and see.”

  Nikolai is also waiting, seeing if he can spot Victor and Laura in the train departure area. The departure area is only a 6 minute jog from the helipad. Gasping for breath he walks over to the ticket office.

  “What time is the next train?” he asks the ticket office clerk, while trying to catch his breath.

  “Next train leaves in 10 minutes, do you want a ticket?”

  “No, when is the last train out?”

  “The last train out today is 8pm sir.”

  “Okay,” Nikolai comments, and walks away. Nikolai scans the departure area, no sign of Victor or Laura. Will Victor stay the night in town, or will he catch a later train? Only one thing to do, wait and see. If Victor does not show when the last train departs, then I will check into a hotel and be ready for the first train out tomorrow morning. Nikolai tiredly takes a seat near the departure’s entrance, at the same time as a small boy comes running to Victor with a bunch of keys in his hand.

  Victor smiles as he gives the boy the 100 dollar bill and the kid’s face lights up, admiring the money in his hands. Victor tries three keys before he finds the one that opens the helicopter.

  “Wow, it is nice inside,” Victor comments as he opens the pilot’s door, discretely taking the key off the key chain. Laura peeks inside, also commenting on how nice it is.

  “Well, better return the keys before your dad wakes up.” Victor hands the keys back to the boy as he speaks, closing the door of the helicopter at the same time. As soon as the boy takes the keys he continues, “Tell you what, here is 10 dollars, if you use it to go and buy us some Coca Cola, I will give you another 100 dollars when you come back.” The boy’s eyes widen and his mouth falls open. Slowly he takes the ten dollars from Victor, and then runs away as fast as his short legs can carry him
.

  “That was mean, promising the boy another 100 dollars when we will not be here.” Victor reopens the helicopter’s door as Laura speaks.

  “That does not mean I cannot leave it for him,” Victor replies as he bends down and picks up one of the metal cars. Opening the car’s door, he stuffs a 100 dollar bill inside the car.

  “Sorry,” Laura replies, feeling a bit stupid.

  “Come on, get your sexy ass in the helicopter,” Victor replies laughingly, giving Laura a light slap on the bum.

  As soon as Laura gets in, Victor climbs in and starts to look at the instruments, making himself familiar before starting the engines.

  Nikolai sits back comfortably on the bench and takes out his iPod. Suddenly he jumps up, listening.

  “Damn.” He curses to himself as he recognizes the distinct sound of a helicopter starting up in the distance. Quickly he runs towards the train ticket office.

  “Is there a helicopter pad in town?”

  “Yes, down the path next to the market until you get to the train tracks, then turn left and follow them to the end of town, not too far.”

  Nikolai turns and runs as fast as he can, pushing people out of his way. Unaware of Nikolai gaining fast on them, Victor goes through the preflight check to make sure the oil and fuel pressure is correct and that all the instruments and controls are working. He had flown many helicopters before, but all are a little different and he has to search to find a few of the switches and gauges. Suddenly he hears the distinct sound of bullets hitting the side of the helicopter. He has heard that sound many times before when being shot at while being evacuated from a hot zone. Victor gives a quick glance out of the side window. A man is running towards the helicopter, firing from about 300 yards away. Even though the bullets hit the helicopter all over, the man’s shooting skills impress Victor.