Laura 02 The God Code

by Anton Swanepoel

  “Put the cutters down, slowly.” The voice next to her makes her jump. Looking to her side she sees Fabrizio standing with his gun drawn, aiming at her.

  The tunnel is illuminated by the headlamp on Laura’s head, set in flood mode. Slowly she raises her hands, and then holds the cutters out with her right hand. As Fabrizio’s eyes follow her hand, she switches the light off with her left hand and ducks down while jumping sideways, towards Fabrizio. Laura catches him squarely in the stomach with her shoulder, then, keeping contact with him in the dark, re-orientates herself to knee him in the groin. Fabrizio lets out a gasp, and Laura punches as hard as she can, aiming for where the sound came from.

  After landing three punches, she quickly switches on the headlamp in spot mode, blinding Fabrizio with its 300 Lumens power spot. Fabrizio has dropped his gun and is kneeling on the ground, holding his groin. Laura gives him an uppercut to the face, and then quickly picks up the cutters and starts cutting every wire she can reach as fast as she can.

  Suddenly Fabrizio tackles her from the side, taking her down and pinning her to the ground with his 200 pound mass. Laura covers her face, but Fabrizio punches her in the stomach, then grabs her by the arm and pulls her up. Laura is gasping for air, but manages to head-butt Fabrizio who falls backwards, his nose broken, blood gushing from it. Seeing the blood, Fabrizio goes bezerk and storms Laura, punching wildly. Laura neatly sidesteps him and kicks him in the back of the right leg from behind, causing him to crash into the wall. Victor’s training is paying off.

  Fabrizio drags himself up against the wall, then spins around, hate in his eyes. He is about to storm at Laura again, but fear grips him; Laura is standing three feet away, pointing his gun at him.

  “I am sorry that I hit you. I mean you no harm, but I have to do this. Move away from the box.”

  Slowly Fabrizio moves away, and Laura picks up her side cutters again and starts cutting, keeping an eye on him. Laura is just busy cutting another wire, when her headlamp goes out, having been damaged in the fight.

  Suddenly something hard hits her on the side of the head and Laura falls down, dizzy. Fabrizio switches on his flashlight that he used to hit Laura against the head with, which was attached to his belt. He looks down at Laura, lying on the floor, half dazed.

  Quickly he picks up his gun and aims it at Laura’s head.

  “You think by cutting a few wires you are going to save your boyfriend and the Pope? You are wrong. It changes nothing.”

  “You knew we were coming?” Laura looks up at him, the gun returning her gaze.

  “Of course, I am one of the few guards that helped plan the Pope’s murder. And now you will die, and be blamed as one of the people responsible for his death.” Fabrizio aims for between Laura’s eyes.

  The shot rings out in the tunnel, filling every corner. Confused, Laura looks up at Fabrizio, half his head is blown away. Slowly his body drops to the ground, and his flashlight rolls down the tunnel a short distance. Laura is still dazed, but tries to go for the flashlight, but stops when someone down the tunnel turns on another flashlight, shining it onto her. Slowly the figure comes closer, stopping next to her.

  “Are you okay?” Gino asks.

  “My head hurts and I’m dizzy.”

  “I do not know what is going on, but from what I heard it seems there is a plot to kill the Pope and you are trying to stop it, is that correct?”

  “Yes, please help me,” Laura replies.

  “What do you need?”

  “Cut the wires in the box.”

  “Why?” Gino asks skeptically.

  “Because the people who are going to kill the Pope are using the security cameras to enable them to ambush the Pope and his security,” Laura lies, not knowing how accurate she actually is.

  Gino is about to tell Laura that he does not believe her, when he sees something shiny hanging around her neck. What he sees makes him take a step closer. Is it what he thinks it is, can it be?

  “Where did you get that pendant?”

  “The man who is trying to protect the Pope gave it to me, he said if I am in trouble I must give it to the Pope, as it was his.”

  “Okay, I will help, where are the side cutters you had?”

  “I don’t know. They must be here somewhere. Oh, my head hurts.” Laura lies down to stop the world from spinning, and looks right into five shiny metal pieces. Quickly she gathers them up and holds them out to Gino.

  “Here, take these, put them in the box and light them, then help me get away.” Gino takes the explosives from Laura and places them all over the box.

  “Do you have a lighter? I do not smoke,” he asks.

  “Yes, here,” Laura responds, pulling the lighter from her pants pocket. Gino gently takes it and lights the fuses, then helps Laura up. As they walk towards the passage leading to the tombs, sparks are flying behind them from the box. The passage is not far and Gino helps Laura by holding her under the arm. Laura can see the tombs at the end of the short passage; just as they reach the first tomb, they hear the explosives go off.

  “Where are we going?” Laura asks.

  “To the nuns’ chambers, I trust them more than some of the guards. I think there is going to be a shake up here soon.” Laura nods, wishing the world would stand still.

  “Why did you trust and help me?”

  “Because of the pendant around your neck.”

  Laura looks down at the pendant around her neck, it came out from under her clothing during the fight and is now hanging loose on her chest.

  “You recognize the pendant?”

  “Yes, it belonged to the Pope, when he was still a Cardinal. I saw him carry it many times when I protected him. He once went to Peru when I was assigned to another mission and hired outside security. When I saw him again, the pendant was missing, and when I asked him about it, he said it is with someone he trusts with his life.”

  Laura nods and puts the pendant away under her clothing.

  ***

  Ernest carefully adjusts the scope of his McMillan TAC-338 sniper rifle. Glancing down he reverifies the range to the gates. He still cannot believe that he is lying in the garden in Vatican City, protecting the Pope. This is one shot he will not miss, as soon as Victor shows, he will take him out. There is no need to wait for a green light. He has a kill order directly from the President, as if one needs an order to protect the Pope’s life. Slowly the Pope and his two escorts walk towards the gates. Ernest scans the area, looking for movement behind every bush.

  Bill nervously looks around as he unlocks and opens the gates for the Pope, who is currently watering his favorite flowers outside the gates he is waiting for Bill to open. Bill had never realized how long it takes the Pope to water the flowers, until now when he is counting every second the Pope is exposed. Bill does not like it at all that someone he does not know has a rifle trained on the Pope, even if he is vouched for by the US President and the Pope’s personal assistant. Slowly he pulls back one of the big metal gates, and then stands aside, allowing the Pope to enter at his own pace. Pope John Paul II slowly puts the small water sprayer down at the entrance, then slowly enters past the gate where he proceeds to kneel on the bench provided in front of the altar. As soon as the Pope bends over to pray, Bill and Sergio kneel down behind the Pope just outside the gate. Sergio has chosen Bill to assist him as close protection for the Pope, knowing he can rely on Bill when needed.

  The Pope is praying in front of a large altar, which has on it candles and a small cross with a replica of Jesus as he was crucified. The altar is inside a large cave-like structure that was specially built as a replica of the actual grotto in France.

  Ernest suddenly freezes. Something in the corner of his scope caught his attention. Slowly he pans the view to center upon the Pope and his guards kneeling. He is almost certain he saw one of the guards grab his chest, but they are still kneeling, praying with the Pope. Maybe he just made a cross on his chest.

  “Morning Father.” The voice surpris
es Pope John Paul II slightly, but he gives no indication of the fact.

  Victor is slowly opening a small metal grill in the lower part of the altar. The altar is hollow and Vatican personnel place candles inside the storage space for the Pope to use. The Pope can access the candles though the small metal grill at the bottom of the altar without needing to walk around the altar or stand up.

  “Morning Victor, I have been expecting you. You are taking a big risk coming here.”

  “I do not think your two bodyguards are going to interrupt us any time soon.”

  “You killed them? How?”

  “No, just sedated, darts, works in a second, and keeps the muscles stiff, so they do not fall over. They will be out for about 20 minutes.”

  “Are you here to kill me?”

  “Do I have a reason to do so Father?”

  “What are you talking about Victor?”

  “There was an attempt on my life and also my friend’s. I was told you ordered the hit.”

  “My son, I would like the scrolls, but I will not have you killed for them.”

  “Then Father, you have a rat in your kitchen, you should be careful who you trust. I have a favor to ask, there is a girl I care for. She had a slight disagreement with your security system and will by now have been caught. Please have her released.”

  “That is a big favor to ask. It will take some convincing to get the police to release her.”

  “It will be in the Church’s best interest to have her released Father.”

  “Are you offering the scrolls for her release?”

  “It depends on who the rat is Father.”

  “Very well, I will do as you ask, go in peace.”

  “Oh, and Father, please for everyone’s sake keep praying for another five minutes.”

  “Why, where are you going?”

  “I am going to have a chat with the sniper on the hill in the bushes.”

  “You know about him?”

  “Of course, he moves like a gorilla. Don’t worry. I will not hold it against you for not telling me about him. It is the second sniper that worries me.”

  “The second one? There are only the Seal Commander and his friend.”

  “Navy Seals? Come now Father, you do not really think they would send a US Navy sniper to kill me? He is a decoy, which means someone in the US government is involved in all of this.” With that Victor slowly closes the grill and disappears.

  Pope John Paul II breathes deeply, he wants to look back at his two guards to see if they are ok, but he knows that will arise suspicion, possibly getting people hurt. Slowly he lowers his head again and starts praying.

  ***

  Ernest is starting to get restless, this is taking too long, Victor should have moved by now, what are his plans? What if he uses a bomb or a sniper rifle himself? How do they know he will talk to the Pope? And why would he come in-, his thought gets cut off by the pistol barrel being pressed against his right temple.

  “Keep real still, both of you.”

  Shit, how is this possible? He did not even hear the person sneak up on him.

  “Why are you here?” Victor asks.

  “We are here to protect the Pope,” Ernest replies.

  Victor gives a laugh before replying, “From what, toddlers with potato guns? My grandmother could have snuck up on you, have any of you ever fired a gun?”

  “We are Navy Seals!” Sam replies.

  “My point exactly,” Victor replies with laughter in his voice.

  “Take the gun off my head and I will kick your ass,” Ernest replies, while clenching his fists from anger.

  “Oh yes, so that your backup sniper can put a hole in my head when I stand up; you think I am stupid?”

  “What other sniper?” The confused expression on Ernest’s face tells Victor that Ernest is telling the truth and does not know about the second team.

  “In that case you two are screwed.”

  “You angered us to find out if we knew about a second sniper, very smart.” Ernest gently taps Sam’s boot with his. It is a signal system between the two men. Ernest will keep Victor busy while Sam takes action. Ernest does not believe Victor that there is a second sniper team, and if there is, getting Victor into the crosshairs is high on his list.

  Sam slowly moves his left hand to his thigh where he has a knife sheathed. Carefully he closes his hand around the handle; he will need to be fast.

  “Who hired you to kill the Pope?” Ernest is stalling for time, knowing that Sam will try something.

  “I am not here to kill the Pope or you for that matter. Stay still, I am leaving.”

  Just then Sam jumps up, knife in his hand. The bullet takes him right in the head, and his lifeless body falls down next to Ernest. As Sam’s body drops to the ground, Ernest tries to jump up and pull his sidearm. Victor’s punch takes him squarely in the right temple while he is still in a kneeling position, knocking him back down. Even as Ernest’s world is spinning around, he still pulls his sidearm and tries to point it at Victor while lying on the ground. Suddenly Victor’s pistol barrel presses against his head, causing Ernest to freeze.

  “Fuck you,” Ernest spits out.

  “I am sorry about your friend, but I did not fire that shot.” Suddenly dust springs up in front of Ernest as someone shoots at him and misses. Quickly he and Victor move back, out of sight of the sniper.

  “Shit, there really is a second sniper! Hey, what are you doing?” Victor is pulling Sam closer and takes some hand grenades from him.

  “Diversion, the sniper is behind us, on the second hill.”

  Victor rolls onto his back and pulls the pins from two of the hand grenades while talking. “As soon as the grenades explode, jump up and go around to the right. I will go around to the left. Together we can take them out. By the way, I am Victor.”

  “Ernest,” is all Ernest comments.

  “You ready?”

  Before Ernest can reply, Victor throws the two hand grenades over the hill behind them and into the bushes. Five seconds later the grenades explode and Ernest and Victor jump up as one, each running around and up the hill firing.

  The two snipers are caught unaware and before they can defend themselves, Victor and Ernest shoot them.

  Ernest looks down at the man he shot, perfect head and heart shot. Looking at Victor’s sniper he smilingly comments, “Seems like you need shooting lessons, a leg and shoulder shot, ha ha ha.”

  “Maybe so, but mine can still talk and give some information,” Victor replies.

  “Who are you working for?” Victor asks, while pressing his pistol barrel against the bullet wound on the man’s leg.

  “Aaahhh, shit, is it not enough that you shot me?”

  Victor pulls the trigger, shooting the man again in the leg, slightly to the left of the previous wound, and then responds, “Feel like talking now?”

  “Go to hell!”

  “This is taking too long,” Victor replies, and then shoots the man in the chest. Ernest is shocked at what he sees. Shooting in action is normal for him, but shooting while interrogating is not.

  “What are you doing?” Ernest demands.

  “Having a conversation, feel free to chip in any time, his other leg is fine,” Victor replies calmly.

  “You will not succeed, killing me changes nothing, the plans will go ahead!” The man is breathing heavily, struggling to get the words out.

  “Well, we stopped you from killing the Pope didn’t we?” Ernest replies.

  “A minor setback, and of no importance. His death will come soon enough. We just wanted to get you both out of the way today and blame the killing of the Pope on you.”

  “Why? What do you hope to gain from his death? Tell me and I will make the pain go away.” Victor kneels down next to the man as he speaks, putting his pistol against the man’s head.

  “You think I am going to give up my leader and die like a coward? The hell with you, I will take the pain and die like a soldier!”

&n
bsp; The man is breathing heavily, blood coming out of his mouth with his words, his eyes starting to fade.

  “Leader, what leader? Maybe only a leader of a few misfits,” Victor replies.

  “You are a fool……. soon he will be in control of the country….. and…and then the world.” The man speaks his last words, forcing them out with all the energy he has, mustering only a whisper.

  “Darn, I wish we knew who he was working for.” Ernest is pacing around, scratching his head. “If you had not shot him in the chest we could have found out.”

  “We do know, and look who is talking. Mine lived longer than yours,” Victor replies, while searching the body for any identification, finding none.

  “How, who is he working for?” Ernest stops and looks confused at Victor.

  “You should learn to slow down and listen. He said leader.”

  “Yes and?” Ernest is still not getting Victor.

  “That means he is working for someone in the cabinet. I bet the Vice President.”

  “How did you come to that conclusion?”

  “If he worked for a private firm, it would be his employer, and if he worked for a military branch, it would be his commander.

  “However, by choosing the word leader, it means he is a political man, and not yet President for he will according to our dead friend here, soon be in control of the country. Thus, since he said country and not mother Russia or home country, we can deduce it is America he is talking about.”

  “You’re telling me that the Vice President is behind all of this? Impossible!” Ernest is furious at Victor for even suggesting there is a corrupt leader in the government.

  “Well, for the Vice President to become acting President, the current President has to die or disappear. So when your President suddenly goes under or no longer takes personal calls, you will know I was right.” Ernest turns around to make his way down to the Pope when something on the ground catches his attention. Slowly he bends down and picks it up.

  “There was a third shooter.”

  Victor walks over to Ernest and takes the shell casing.

  “This is a 7.62x53mmR shell casing, only the 7.62 TKIV 85 sniper rifle from Finland uses this ammo. I know of only one sniper that uses this rifle,” he comments. Looking at the sniper rifles on the ground he continues, “Both rifles are KNT-308 models, taking a 7.62x51mm round. I bet you this is the sniper that shot your friend.”