by Alex Lukeman
"He'll have to slow down for the curve. Let me know when he's close."
"Not long," Elizabeth said. "Less than two minutes."
"Any other vehicles coming?"
Elizabeth looked at the live image. The highway was clear, except for the dark shape of Rao's Jaguar speeding along the road toward the curve.
"Negative. Nothing either way."
Nick drove onto the highway and blocked it. They got out of the van.
"What if he doesn't stop?" Selena asked.
"He has to or he'll turn that fancy car into scrap metal."
They heard the sound of the Jaguar's engine approaching, a deep, throaty sound.
"Here he comes," Nick said. "Get out of sight. I'll pretend I'm fixing a flat."
Inside the Jaguar, Rao was floating on Krivi's pills. The car's expensive sound system played soft music, counterpoint to the steady purr of the powerful engine. Rao loved his car, the fine leather, the polished wood accents. It was a joy to drive, fast and responsive. Now that it was owned and built in India, driving a Jaguar had become a matter of national pride as well as status.
Rao had the transmission in manual mode. He liked the feeling of controlling the shifts instead of letting the computer do it for him. He geared down as the curve approached and crested the rise. A blue van blocked most of the highway. At the rear of the truck a man knelt by the tire. He looked up and waved at Rao to stop.
As Rao hit the brakes, his mind registered alarm. A white man. He looked familiar. Then Rao remembered where he'd seen him.
In a file in his office.
Carter!
Rao shifted down, whipped the wheel over and punched the accelerator. The rear end skidded toward the van, then he was off the highway onto the hard packed earth of the field. The low-slung car bottomed out in a cloud of red dust, fishtailing and scraping. Rao spun the wheel again and was back on the road and moving away. He shifted up and floored it.
"Shit!" Nick yelled. He pulled out his pistol and fired half a dozen rounds at the Jaguar as it sped away. In seconds, it was a speck in the distance.
"That went well," Selena said.
CHAPTER 56
Rao's heart pounded against his ribs. The pleasant calm of the pills had vanished. His hands shook as he gripped the steering wheel. He could feel vibration in the wheel that hadn't been there before. It sounded like something had come loose underneath. The ride felt harsh. He looked at the gauges. He was doing over 200 kph. Except for the vibration and a loud exhaust, everything seemed normal. The van and the curve vanished in his rear view mirror.
Then he laughed. He hadn't felt alive like this since Afghanistan. It made him realize how dull he'd become, how he missed the edginess that made life interesting. It had slipped away, somewhere in that office high above Lodhi Road. What had Krivi said that day in the cafe?
"What have you got to lose?"
The answer was simple. Nothing. Nothing to lose. It didn't matter whether or not he succeeded in what he planned to do. He'd be dead soon, anyway. What mattered now was the game, the freedom that came from knowing his death was certain.
What was Carter doing there? How had the Project found him? Why? They couldn't know what he was planning. A road sign flashed by. He was a half hour out of Srinagar.
He analyzed the situation. They wanted to kidnap me. If they were willing to go to extreme lengths like that, it meant time was running out. He reached down to touch the stone, wrapped in cloth in his jacket pocket. It felt warm under his fingers.
His secure phone chirped. Rao looked at the screen. It was Prakash Khanna. Khanna was in New Delhi, at RAW headquarters.
"Yes."
"Ashok, what's happened?"
"What do you mean?"
"Security has been in your office, tearing everything apart. You're to be arrested and held for investigation. The Secretary himself was in here, looking pissed. He asked me if I knew anything about the riot at the mosque."
Rao tensed, the fine, high sense of freedom gone in an instant. His body buzzed, as though filled with electricity.
"What did you tell him?"
"What could I tell him? Nothing. They're waiting for you to show up, here or at your apartment."
"Where are you now?"
"Outside headquarters. I didn't want to call you from inside the building. "
"Don't do anything," Rao said. "Deny everything. In a short time it won't matter." Rao paused. "You've been a good friend, Prakash."
"Ashok..."
Rao clicked off.
They must have learned I set up the riot, he thought. Or they could have found out the truth about Manila. That would explain why Carter was waiting.
The more he thought about it, the more Rao was convinced that was what had happened. It changed everything. He had to act now, before the security forces closed in on him. Returning the Eye to the temple would have to wait. There was no more time.
He felt the hard shape of the card with the missile launch codes in his jacket pocket. There was one missile site in Kashmir, not far from Srinagar. It was armed with Agni III intermediate range missiles, exactly what Rao needed. Agni III carried a 20 kiloton warhead. It had a range of 4000 kilometers, overkill for nearby Islamabad.
It will be on them before they can respond, Rao thought. I'll have Ijay meet me in Srinagar and fly me to the site.
Rao knew that General Chatterjee, the commander of India's missile forces, had scheduled a surprise inspection at the site today. He'd call Chatterjee. Tell him he was coming to talk with him about something of vital importance to India's security.
Like Rao, Chatterjee was a nationalist who hated Pakistan. Rao thought it was even possible he'd cooperate in the launch, but it didn't matter. If Chatterjee and the security detachment on site resisted, Ijay and his men would take care of it. With the card and codes he didn't need Chatterjee. Once the missile was in the air, the end of Pakistan was a forgone conclusion.
He reached for the pill bottle and decided to take two more. He swallowed them down and called Ijay.
"We have a problem."
"Sir."
"Is the helicopter ready yet?"
"We're just finishing up. We'll be in the air in a few minutes."
"I ran into some trouble. Consider yourself on high alert. Meet me at the field in Srinagar," Rao said.
"Yes, sir. When will you be there?"
"Half an hour. General Chatterjee is on an inspection trip at one of the launch sites. We're going to pay him a visit. Get moving." Rao broke off the call.
He thought about Lakshmi and Arjuna, his wife and son. Karma that he'd met her, karma that Arjuna had been born, karma that they'd died. Karma was unavoidable. Whatever karmic debt he incurred because of what he was going to do, it meant nothing compared to avenging their deaths.
It wasn't far now to the airfield where Ijay would be waiting.
Lakshmi, my love, Rao thought, soon I'll make them pay.
CHAPTER 57
Rao's call to Khanna was captured by Stephanie's program. When Rao was done talking, Elizabeth called Nick.
"Cobra's been on his phone," she said. "Put Selena on."
Selena listened to the conversations. "In the first call, Cobra's talking to a man at RAW headquarters named Prakash," she said. "Prakash told him security is waiting to arrest him if he shows up. The second call was to Ijay. Cobra is meeting him back in Srinagar and he wants to fly to a missile site. He said General Chatterjee would be there on an inspection tour."
"Chatterjee is in charge of India's nuclear missile forces," Elizabeth said. "Why would Rao go to a missile site? I don't like the sound of that."
"He can't do much without the launch codes," Nick said.
"Chatterjee has those," Elizabeth said, "but only the prime minister can authorize a launch."
Nick laughed. It sounded harsh over the comm link. "In a perfect world, sure. It's bullshit. What happens if the prime minister is dead?"
"Then Chatterjee could launch."
>
Elizabeth shivered and her skin got little bumps. Her father used to say it happened when a goose walked over your grave.
"You see where this is going," Nick said. "Cobra has set up a war. We know he hates Pakistan. He knows he's blown. He's going to amp things up and launch a missile before they shut him down."
"He'd need Chatterjee to do it."
"He'll have Ijay there with his men. He can force Chatterjee to cooperate. Why else would he suddenly want to go to a missile site?"
Elizabeth's left eye twitched. She could feel a headache lurking. Her intuition began sounding alarms.
"You may be right. You have to intercept him," she said.
In India, Nick slowed for a bored looking white cow with long ears standing in the road. No one seemed to pay attention to a cow in the middle of traffic. They just detoured around it. Nick did the same. The cow looked at them as they went by.
"We don't know where he's going," Nick said.
"I can track Cobra's phone," Elizabeth said. "You've got to get a helicopter and go after them."
Nick thought of Akron, Langley's aging agent with the cowboy hat. "Langley's guy here has a chopper. Get Hood to light a fire under him and have him fueled up and ready to go."
"I'm going to warn the president," Elizabeth said, "but I don't think there's much he can do. If you're right and Cobra is going to try and launch, there isn't a lot of time. You're all we've got. You have to stop him."
"Yeah, sure. Out." Nick broke off the connection. "You all heard that," he said.
"Just another day at the office," Lamont said. "Where's our cowboy friend got his bird?"
"I don't know," Nick said. "Selena, call him. Find out where he's got the chopper stashed. If he hasn't heard from Hood, he will. He's number 3 on speed dial."
He handed her his phone. She called. Akron picked up.
"Yeah."
"This is Selena. We met the other day. Remember me?"
"Darlin', how could I forget? What can I do for you, Sweet Pea?"
Selena had the phone on speaker.
"Sweet Pea?" Lamont said. "Is this guy for real?"
"I heard that," Akron said. "What do you want?"
"Sounds like you haven't talked to the DCI yet," Selena said. Her voice was flat.
"Why would I? He doesn't talk to peons like me."
"You're about to get a call from him," Selena said. "Get your ass in gear and get your helicopter ready for us, now. We need to know where it is. We'll meet you there."
Nick smiled. Selena didn't get called Sweet Pea every day. He suspected it was a first. "Darlin'" would have been enough to piss her off.
"Whoa, don't get riled up," Akron said. Lamont shook his head. "Hold on, I got another call. Call me back in five." He disconnected.
"That will be Hood," Nick said, "Sweet Pea."
"Don't start," she said.
Nick pulled over. "No point in going farther into the city until we know where he's got his chopper."
His phone signaled a call.
"Carter."
"Guess you got some clout," Akron said. "Sorry I pissed off the lady."
"Lady?" Selena said.
"Don't make it worse," Nick said. "Where's the field?"
Akron gave directions. "Where are we going?" he said.
"I don't know yet. Just get the engine warmed up."
"We going in hot?"
"You could say that," Nick said.
CHAPTER 58
Akron's directions took them to a grassy field outside the city surrounded by a rusted chain link fence. A metal hangar with a white roof was the only building. A weathered wooden tower with an orange windsock stood at the far end of the field. A large sign next to the gate advertised sightseeing tours and special excursions. It listed a phone number. The helicopter was parked on a concrete pad in front of the hangar.
"Where the hell did he get that?" Nick asked. "An Army-Navy surplus store?"
"That bird's gotta be fifty years old," Lamont said.
"What are you talking about?" Selena asked.
"That's a Huey," Nick said. "An old one. You can see where the U.S. markings are painted out."
"I'll bet it's left over from Vietnam," Lamont said. "Be about right for this guy. It's what he flew over there."
The Huey was painted olive drab and had seen better days. The big side cargo doors were open. A row of seats had been fitted inside for sightseers but they didn't appear comfortable or like they belonged there. The bird still had the military look. The only things missing were M60s mounted at the doors.
Akron came out of the hangar. His cowboy hat was gone. In its place was an olive green radio helmet. He wore faded green fatigues with his name stenciled in black on the breast pocket, combat boots and aviator style sunglasses. Nick hadn't seen that style of uniform for years.
"You sure about this?" Lamont said. "He looks like he thinks it's 1968."
"We don't have a choice," Nick said. "We need him."
"Afternoon," Akron said. "Nice day for a tour."
"You really get sightseers?" Nick asked, pointing at the sign.
"Oh, yeah. Not many, but some. Enough to pay for gas."
"How come they let you run a business here?"
"It's a long story. A couple of people owed me favors. A little grease from the Agency didn't hurt either."
"The Indians know you're an agent?" Selena asked.
"Nope. They think I'm a crazy ex-pat with money. Long as I don't make trouble, they leave me alone. It's a pretty tolerant place here, or at least it used to be. That's changing, though. I'm thinking of getting out, going back to the States. Do some hunting and fishing."
While they were talking, they'd drifted over to the helicopter.
"What did you fly in Vietnam?" Nick said.
"Hueys, just like this. Sharks."
"Sharks?" Selena looked confused.
"What we called the gunships," Akron said. "The transports were Dolphins."
He patted the side of the craft. "She's a good bird. Where are we going?"
"I don't know yet," Nick said. "Let me make a call."
Harker answered. "Great minds, Nick. I was about to call you."
"You know where we're going yet?"
"Cobra took off ten minutes ago. We're tracking him now. There's only one site in Kashmir, near a place called Pahalgam."
"Where's Pahalgam?"
Akron heard him. He said, "I know where it is. It's southeast of here. Lots of old temples, health resorts, mountains and rivers."
"They keep a half dozen missiles and their launchers in a tunnel complex there," Elizabeth said. "It's got to be where he's going."
"Send the coordinates."
"On the way," Elizabeth said.
Nick's phone chirped.
"Got it."
"I talked with Rice. He's going to do what he can but I don't think it will be in time to help."
"Any rules of engagement?"
"Just stop him," Elizabeth said. "However you can." She disconnected.
Nick looked at Akron. "You got any weapons?"
Akron smiled. "I figured you might ask. Follow me."
He led them into the hangar. The back was partitioned off for living quarters. Akron went into what passed for a living room and pulled up a faded oriental rug, exposing a trap door in the concrete floor.
"Give me a hand," he said.
They pulled up the heavy door. A narrow ladder led below. Akron picked up a flashlight and started down.
"Wait there," he said. "There isn't a lot of room down here."
They heard him moving crates aside.
"Here you go," he said. He handed up an M-16, then two more, then belts weighted down with loaded 30 round magazines. He handed up a Colt Model 1911 .45 in a leather holster.
"That one's for me," he said.
Akron climbed up and turned off the flash. They closed the trap door and put the rug back in place.
Akron gestured at the M-16 Selena held. "You
know how to use that, Sweet Pea?"
Selena started to move toward him. Nick put his hand on her arm.
"Hey Akron?" he said.
"Yeah?"
"Sweet Pea here can shoot rings around you with one hand and kick your ass while she's doing it. So knock off the sexist bullshit, okay?"
"Sorry," he said. He didn't look sorry. "Old habit. I just wanted to know."
They checked out the rifles. Clean and oiled, in good shape. They inserted the magazines. Akron belted on the holster and .45.
Nick said, "Let's get going."
CHAPTER 59
Ijay's helicopter set down on a broad, flat area where the launchers would stage in time of war. A helicopter with army markings was parked to one side. Rao had radioed ahead. General Chatterjee was expecting him.
The entrance to the tunnel was a thirty foot square opening carved into the side of a mountain. The complex was located in a forest of evergreens and surrounded by high, snow-capped peaks. A road to the site continued past the tunnel to an ancient Hindu temple set a mile away on a green hillside. The temple was in ruins, destroyed centuries before by one of the Muslim rulers.
For Rao, the ruins were one more reminder of how Islam desecrated everything he held sacred. He shook out two more of Krivi's pills and swallowed them. He felt full of energy, light, invincible.
The steel doors to the tunnel stood open. Waiting just inside was the first of six mobile transporters. The camouflaged, phallic shape of an Agni III ICBM lay flat along the trailer, waiting to be raised into position. The missile was about forty feet long and six feet around. The nose cone tapered to a rounded point and was painted black. The body of the missile was white. The Indian flag was painted on the side.
Agni III had been designed to provide long range counter-strike capability. It was powered by a two stage, solid fuel rocket that drove it to a speed of over 5km a second. Guidance was provided by a sophisticated inertial navigation system. The twenty kiloton warhead was roughly the size of the bombs that had destroyed Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It was set to detonate five kilometers above ground.
