Order of the Black Sun Box Set 11

by Preston William Child

  “I really had no intention of killing Fitzgerald. I forgot he might even be here, to be honest. He was good to have to throw you off our scent but now...now that you know we exist...there's not all that much use for him now. This might have even been for the best.” The man spoke about shooting Galen like he was trying to figure out if he’d ordered the right food for lunch. “Notice how no one's rushing to help you, Galen. That's a bit pathetic, isn't it? You obviously weren't great at making friends.”

  The man lowered his gun and then took a step forward toward the group.

  “Now, Purdue,” the man held out his free hand. “Give me the bones back and we can continue this conversation.”

  Purdue glanced to his team. They all looked understandably uneasy considering the situation at hand. Purdue didn't think they’d have to deal with someone as dangerous as Julian Corvus anytime soon but this unnamed newcomer was on that same level. One move that annoyed him, and who knew who would drop next. They had to be very cautious with this—and more importantly, they needed to get away from this man.

  Purdue took a step forward with the bag of bones. The late, great, world conqueror jingled in his hands as he stepped toward the man. The man looked pleased by Purdue's surrender but Purdue really had no intention of giving over his prize—at least not the way that this man wanted.

  Purdue tightened his grip on the burlap sack and swung the bag as hard as he could. The bones inside jangled as they collided into the man's face. Purdue hoped that some of those bones were sharp enough to draw some blood. The man crashed onto his back, completely knocked off balance by the bag of bones. Genghis Khan had probably hurt a lot of people back in his day, but not quite like that. Purdue could have kept beating the man, but he knew that the man's cronies in the helicopter wouldn't sit back and watch. Escape was more important in this instance than trying to win a fight.

  The rest of the team all looked stunned by Purdue, and he motioned for them all to start running. There was a chance to get away if they could lose their pursuers through the mountains. There were cliffs and caves in the mountain range but also many areas thick with trees and woodlands. That would be their best bet to get out of sight, anywhere that they could hide from the helicopter that was no doubt already being prepared for pursuit.

  Purdue held the bag of bones in one hand and then heaved the wounded Galen up to his feet with the other. Purdue slung Galen's arm over his shoulder and the Irishman yelped in pain as he was being moved. It was probably better for him to stay lying down but that wasn't really an option. Purdue could have just left him behind—Galen certainly would have left him to die—but Purdue wasn't Galen. He didn't care how terrible Galen was. Purdue wasn't just going to abandon Galen as he was bleeding out. If there was a chance to save Galen’s life—as pathetic of a life as it was—then Purdue would take it.

  Everyone hurried as quickly as they could as they ran into a forested area, covered by a thick layer of branches and leaves, hoping it would be enough cover to lose the chopper, if only for a moment or two.

  “Who the hell...was that...?” Galen muttered beside Purdue as Purdue tried to go as fast as he could with the near-dead weight clinging to him. “That...bastard shot me.”

  The trees swayed as a sudden windstorm swept over them. They could hear the helicopter blades twirling through the sky as the aircraft moved over the forest. They all kept still and low, doing their best not to be seen by their pursuers.

  That man's voice rang out over the trees. It sounded like he was on a megaphone and the helicopter itself might have been rigged with speakers. “Not that I'm not having fun, but if you could all do me a favor and come on out, I’d really appreciate it! Otherwise, we're going to have to come storming in after you. That could be a lot of fun for us, but I imagine it will be a lot less enjoyable for you!”

  The message grew louder as he passed overhead and then grew feint as the helicopter soared over another part of the forest. It started doing circles, arching back around, and the man continued to deliver all of kinds of messages.

  “If you come out, I'll tell you my name. Doesn't that sound like a good deal to you, David Purdue?”

  “Don't make me turn this into Vietnam. We've got napalm stocked up in here. I don't mind setting this whole place on fire if it means flushing you out!”

  The man was circling above them like a bird of prey. They knew that the second he caught sight of them, he would dive bomb and snatch up their lives like they were nothing more than little mice. They were severely outgunned by that chopper. They wouldn't last long if they exposed themselves, but negotiations had reached a stalemate—and that deadlock would have to break one way or another.

  17

  THE FIVE-LEAF CLOVER

  Galen Fitzgerald wasn't looking good at all but still managed to weakly offer a suggestion beside Purdue. “Maybe...maybe it’d be best if you just gave up and give him the bones...call it a day?”

  “Right, like that would be enough to satiate him. I know his type. He’s the same class of bastard as Julian was. He'll still kill us all if we do that. Besides, you just want to see us lose, don't you?

  Galen managed a pained chuckle. He was looking worse and worse by the second. “You're not...you're not entirely wrong, Davy. I have to admit...it’d be nice to really see you lose...especially...especially if these are my last few moments on Earth. Hell...let's just consider it my...final request...”

  Purdue couldn't believe Galen was trying to pull that card. “I'm not doing that, so to hell with your last wishes. We'll find another way.”

  “It's your funeral then,” Galen said. “At least...at least I won't die alone then...I appreciate that. I knew we were friends...”

  “We're not friends.”

  “You keep telling yourself that. It's why you couldn't...couldn't bring yourself to let Dr. Gould kill me. I saw...I saw what happened just before that helicopter showed up. You were going to tell her to let me live...”

  Purdue had kind of hoped Galen hadn't seen that, but it had nothing to do with them being friends. It had more to do with Galen not wanting to get blood on their hands if they could avoid it. They’d neutralized Galen at the time. It might’ve been a bad decision, but it was the one Purdue had chosen.

  “See? We're too close of mates. We piss each other off now and then but in the end, we're practically brothers...”

  Now Galen was just getting ridiculous.

  “You’re definitely losing too much blood. It's starting to affect your brain.”

  The helicopter passed by overhead. Everyone looked so nervous, like they were stuck with no way out. That couldn't have been true. In Purdue's experience, there was always something that could be done. They just needed time to think of one.

  “Let's keep moving,” he suggested. “We'll figure something out, aye?”

  None of them looked like they shared his optimism. This was a new kind of opponent. ’He'd been practically invisible until that helicopter landed, stealthily influencing so much of this expedition without them realizing he was even there. How were they supposed to fight someone like that? It’d be especially hard now that he switched from sabotage to assault and had the firepower to kill them if he had the chance.

  Purdue ignored the worried expressions and motioned them forward. He still had to be at the back of the pack since he was dragging Galen at his side. Galen seemed like he was barely even trying to help him with their movement. Purdue would usually be annoyed by Galen moaning and groaning, but Purdue made an exception for the bullet in the Irishman's stomach. This was one time where he didn't blame Galen for grumbling . It was bad and they didn't exactly have the proper medical tools to tend to his injury, especially right now, running for their lives.

  They needed to get away from the helicopter, and lugging a wounded man was slowing them down. Part of Purdue wanted to just drop Galen like dead weight and leave that bastard behind, but Purdue just couldn't go through with that. He couldn't stand him, but Galen hadn't alway
s been an enemy. There was a time not long ago when Galen Fitzgerald was just an obnoxious colleague. And as much as Purdue didn't like him—especially after Galen's multiple attempts to kill him—Purdue didn't like seeing Galen had such a slow, and painful death.

  Purdue could feel Galen slowing down beside him. “Davy...put me...put me down...you bastard...put me down...”

  Purdue glanced to his left and saw Galen's head bowed low, his face a ghostly shade of white. He was fading quickly, only hanging on by the end of a very thin thread of life.

  Purdue gently lowered Galen down so he leaned against the trunk of a tree. Galen just sat there, pale and dazed, but hands cupping the hole in his belly. There was blood all over him. He looked up at Purdue with an expression that Purdue had never seen him make before—remorse.

  Galen coughed, but even his hack was weak and strained. “This is a wee bit of a problem that we find ourselves in, eh?” Galen licked some speckles of blood off of his lip. “Truth be told, it hurts...it hurts like hell...you ever have a bullet in your gut?”

  “I've taken a bullet or two in my day, aye,” Purdue exclaimed honestly. “Some blades, too. I've been run through by worse things than that bullet, though.” ”

  Galen smirked, like he took that as Purdue trying to be better than him. “And how...and how did you manage to keep on ticking? The cogs in my clock seem to be a bit broken, I'm afraid.”

  “Well, the Holy Grail saved me once.”

  That wasn't a great memory for Purdue. He'd spent most of it on the verge of death and only been saved thanks to the efforts of his friends and that blessed cup. It was one of the closer calls when it came to the end of his mortal life.

  “You wouldn't happen to have that in your bag, would you?”

  “I'm afraid not.”

  “I'll make do with a Guinness then.”

  “Sorry,” Purdue couldn't help but smile a little. “I'm not carrying one of those around either. I prefer sobriety when I'm doing something important like this.”

  Galen balked. “That's part of what made you such a goddamn bore, Davy.” Galen looked down and his eyes seemed to be struggling to even look at his surroundings. “Aw, well, you wouldn't have given me it either way, would you?”

  “Of course I would’ve.”

  Galen looked genuinely surprised. He bit back whatever little jabs that he was about to say. There were no cheeky or pithy retorts from him for once. He was utterly taken aback by that. Maybe Purdue was finally getting through to Galen about the truth? But just in case he wasn't, he decided to spell it out for him.

  “I'm not the piece of shit that you seem to have painted me as in your head. I'm not trying to ruin your life or your career or any of the other crap you have accused me of. I never was, you loon.”

  Galen managed a blood-filled smile. “Perhaps I was a wee bit dramatic? But you’re a stubborn, smug bastard, you know that?”

  “Look who’s talking?”

  Galen winced and his breathing slowed.

  “I'm going to tell you something, Davy. I don't tell people this. I never have, but if I'm really going to die in this shit place, I might as well say as much as I can, eh? So here it is.” Galen paused for a moment, like he was reconsidering his decision, but then he pressed on. “I’ve always tried to find four leaf clovers on my property before I'd go travel. It didn't matter where I was going, I always just wanted to have a little bit of luck on my side, you understand? Am I a stereotypical Irishman for doing such a thing? Aye. I may be. But...” Galen groaned and the muscles in his face flinched. “But the last time I did it...it was right before I followed you to Mongolia.” Galen's voice grew quieter and weaker with word that left his mouth. “I didn't find any four leaves that morning. Not a single one.”

  It was a bit of a pathetic story, but that usually wouldn't affect Purdue much. However, seeing someone who was usually so full of himself like Galen in such a vulnerable place somehow made it very difficult to hear.

  Purdue shook his head but presented a smile. “So you should’ve realized that this wasn't ever going to be a lucky trip for you then.”

  Galen gave a pained giggle.

  “That's the thing, Davy. I didn't find a four leaf clover...but I found one with five leaves. Five! It was the first time ever...tell me...tell me, what the hell does a five leaf clover even mean? What kind of fortune am I...am I supposed to get from five leaves?”

  “I'm not sure,” Purdue said truthfully. He tried to look positive but he could practically see the life escaping through every pore of Galen's body. “But given your current situation, I don't think it meant anything good.”

  “Evidently not.”

  Galen looked sadder than Purdue had ever seen him. Purdue was so used to seeing the Irishman either look so smug and proud of himself, or red-faced and furious with anger. Seeing him look so full of regret and sorrow was strange. It hardly even looked like Galen Fitzgerald at all anymore.

  “It looks like...” Galen struggled to speak and his eyes froze in their sockets, his gaze fixated on Purdue. “Looks like you won in the end, Davy.”

  That cheeky, petty, and envious light behind the Irishman's eyes extinguished. Galen's lifeless stare remained on Purdue. His attention was drawn on Purdue just as it had always been, trying so hard to be him, or to surpass him.

  In another life, one where Galen wasn't narcissistic, violent, and annoying, the two rich men might have even been friends. They had similar interest and worked in similar circles but their personalities were far too distinct from one another. They were always going to have clashed in those conditions, and they had many times.

  Mostly, Purdue felt pity for the man. Galen had wasted so much of his life trying to prove himself to everyone else, even going to such hostile lengths to do it. Had he been less insecure and more comfortable with who he was, he may not have ever ended up in such a bad situation. If he’d spent less time blaming others for his misfortune, maybe there could have been a chance for him?

  “Purdue.”

  He drew his attention away from the corpse against the tree and found Nina standing nearby, having apparently come back to check on him. She looked from him to the dead body beside him and her eyes grew wide but he could see the conflict on her face. There was no real sadness there.

  “Is he...?”

  “Gone,” Purdue said, gently brushing his hand over Galen's face to close his eye lids. “Aye.”

  Nina didn't look at all upset, and he couldn't blame her. Galen had been a part of the Black Sun when they’d held her prisoner for months. According to her, he hadn't just gone along with it like some bystander, but Galen had relished every moment of her imprisonment. She wouldn't be shedding any tears for someone like that, and neither would Purdue.

  Although he and Galen had shared a brief moment of peace and understanding at the end, Galen wasn’t a friend. His attempts to kill Purdue wouldn't just suddenly be forgotten or not matter. No, he wouldn't mourn Galen Fitzgerald just like he wouldn't mourn Oniel. They were bad guys and threats to Purdue's life. They probably deserved the horrible ends that they got.

  Purdue could hear helicopter blades over the trees coming back in their general direction. Nina heard it too and stared up with worry. That man was getting closer.

  Purdue looked at Galen's body and considered trying to cart him out of there on his back, but there was no way he could do that. He was already carrying one dead man. A fresh carcass was going to be a lot heavier than the literal bag of bones that used to be Genghis Khan.

  The only choice was to leave Galen behind. Purdue gave his old wannabe-rival one last look. At least, he had died in a relatively peaceful place. Given the dangerous life Galen lived and the bad company he kept, he could’ve died cut into little pieces or blown up. He may have gone out bloody, but he was relatively whole.

  Purdue picked up Galen's cane and then Purdue and Nina started running in the direction that the others went. They rushed through the forest until Purdue spied Riley, Augus
t, and Yusuke up ahead, waving them forward. When they reached the team, Purdue made sure to take a quick moment to speak with August. Even with potential death flying over their heads, it was important to repair some of the damage Purdue’s paranoia had caused. And he didn't want August to become another Galen, bitter and angry with him over differences.

  While the others got ready to keep moving, Purdue led the giant man aside to have a private conversation. August looked at him with a mixture of worry, confusion, and with a bit of an 'I told you so' kind of face. And it was true, August had indeed told Purdue so.

  “August...I was wrong for all of the utter shit I threw at you. Nonsense accusations...and all I did was make myself look like an ass.”

  “You've always been an ass,” Nina interrupted. Obviously, their conversation wasn't quite as private as Purdue hoped it was.

  “That may be so,” Purdue said over to her before lowering his volume and speaking directly to August again. “But I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions without more evidence. It was just...it's just been hard figuring out what's what since taking over the Black Sun.”

  “No worries,” August muttered with a shrug of his broad shoulders. “It was just what those people up there in that chopper wanted. They wanted to see how we would all react.”

  “Aye,” Purdue said, glancing up through the trees. “All of those bastards flying around must have had a real good laugh watching me. I'm sure I put on quite the show for them.”

  “I'm just glad I'm not prime suspect number one anymore.”

  “Case closed,” Purdue confirmed with some embarrassment. “I won't doubt you again.”

  “Good,” August said, offering his hand. When Purdue took it, he squeezed Purdue's hand hard and continued. “If the day comes that I do betray you, I'll do it in a much more awesome way than any of that. Believe me, I wouldn't be slitting open old men in their sleep.”