by S. S. Segran
Dominique stepped into the gulch to take a look. “So they know where we were and somehow shepherded us toward a trap without physically seeing us? How?”
“They might have another drone,” Kody said resignedly, “and probably kept it out of audible range.”
“I am so done with this!” Mariah raged. “Every time we think we have the upper hand, they keep coming back like Kody’s gas problems!”
“I resemble that remark!” Kody spat. “And by the way, that hasn’t happened in years.”
“Cork it, Pepé Le Pew.”
“We can use this place to our advantage,” Aari ventured, ignoring the two. “I’m sure we can. Like… the mud. If we cover ourselves with it, we’ll be invisible to the drone.”
“Only until our bodies warm the mud,” Marshall said. “But I like where you’re going with this.”
“Those boulders to the left there,” Aari said, “near the pool at the far corner of the gully. Good for cover. And there’s a great vantage point up on the ledge, to the right of the waterfall.”
“Are you suggesting we use their trap against them?” Tegan asked.
Aari only answered with a devious grin. Marshall took stock of the dead end, then nodded. “If we plan this right, we might just be able to do this.”
* * *
“That’s it.” Marshall dumped their backpacks into some nearby shrubbery. “If Reyor’s men do have a drone with infrared sensors, it’ll look like everyone but Mariah and Tegan have disappeared.”
Tegan inspected the group as they stood in the gulch, ensuring that the Sentries and the boys were properly covered head-to-toe in mud. “Looks good. Now, you guys vamoose while Mariah and I become the perfect bait.”
“Of course the women do all the work,” Mariah quipped.
Marshall and the boys started to stutter but were shooed away. Leaving the girls and Dominique in the gully, they went to the entrance where the ends of the rock wall tapered. With Aari leading, Marshall helped Kody scramble up the right-hand incline. They moved between trees and bushes until they reached the ledge beside the waterfall, the vantage point providing the visibility needed for their plan to succeed.
As they lay prone, Marshall said, “Don’t forget. At the speed that Domi moves, the mud might slide off of her and she’ll reappear on the drone’s sensors. Aari—”
“I’ll keep my eyes on her at all times,” the teenager promised.
“Kody?”
“I’ve got some strength back,” Kody said. “And my abilities seem to be holding up. I should be good for a while more.”
Twenty feet below them, Mariah and Tegan darted to the boulders near the foot of the waterfall, both yelling when they nearly slipped into a deep hole behind the rocks. Ooh, that was too close, Marshall thought. Way ahead of the girls, Dominique positioned herself beside the stream at the center of the gully and Aari diverted the light around her, rendering her invisible. They waited for their hunters to appear. It didn’t take long.
Twelve men emerged from the tree line, Tanzanian mercenaries led by a tattooed giant, their weapons trained. Marshall felt Tegan reach out telepathically. You see them? she asked.
Clear as day, he said. Hajjar’s leading. Guess Ajajdif decided to hang back at the resort.
What kind of weapons are they carrying?
Looks like SMGs—submachine guns. Good for close quarter combat. I think I see other guns in their holsters. Tranquilizers for you guys, probably. If Phoenix provided them, they could be using fast-acting drugs.
Best not to find out.
Exactly. And you two chipmunks need to stop poking your heads around the boulders or they’ll see you!
At the mouth of the gulch, Hajjar used hand signals to order two men to climb each incline to the top of the rock wall. As the pairs moved out, he looked down at the electronic tablet he held, then pointed directly at where Dominique stood—or rather, past her at the cluster of boulders where the girls hid.
“They look confused,” Kody said. “And Hajjar has definitely got to be using a drone.”
The hulk of a man dropped back, letting the remaining eight mercenaries split evenly on either side of the stream. In both groups, the two men in the middle readied tranquilizer guns while the other two kept their SMGs.
Without taking his eyes off them, Marshall asked, “You ready, Aari?”
“Yup,” came the reply.
Marshall reached out to Dominique. Showtime.
The first mercenary suddenly choked as his shirt collar scrunched. His feet hung off the earth like something had lifted him, then his head jerked back and lolled limply as if he’d been punched. As he dropped to the ground, the rest of the men looked back at Hajjar.
Kody wiggled closer to the brink of the ledge. “Hajjar’s surprised, but he also looks like he knows something.”
Within two seconds of the first man’s defeat, the pair of mercenaries with tranquilizer guns found their weapons swinging toward each other. Before they could pull back, their triggers squeezed. Both fell, darts sticking from their stomachs.
The last man standing on Dominique’s side of the gulch bellowed in Swahili and unleashed his weapon. The others prepared to join in but Hajjar shouted at them to stop. The mercenary firing his weapon had his gun ripped from his hands and the butt slammed into his head. He dropped to his knees and was struck again. The second he was down, one of the four men on the other side of the stream yelled out and the rest started shooting.
“It’s not a spirit!” Hajjar boomed. “It’s one of them! Our targets!”
Beside Marshall and Aari, Kody chuckled. “The looks on these guys’ faces, man. I think they’re starting to wonder what they got themselves into.” He slowly stiffened. “Oh, no.”
“What?” Aari asked.
“There’s blood on the ground. And the mercs just spotted it.”
Dominique’s voice sounded in Marshall’s head, breathless from panic. Marshall, Marshall, they got me. Too many bullets flying. I couldn’t get away fast enough.
Where are you hit? he asked, hoping he sounded calm.
My… my thigh.
Did it go clean through?
No.
Marshall watched, mind racing, as the ring of blood grew. This was not how the plan was supposed to go. Domi, you need to put pressure on it. Hang tight. We’ll get you out of there.
Marshall, they see the blood. They’re moving toward me.
The mercenaries had waded halfway across the stream. From the other side of the gulch, Marshall heard Hajjar’s firm command to hold their fire. To Aari, the Sentry said, “As long as they don’t know who it is, they won’t shoot to kill. Don’t lose your hold on Domi.”
Dominique’s voice was in his head again, pleading. Oh, God, it hurts so much to move.
He tried to form a response but his mind went blank when he saw Hajjar whip out his tranquilizer gun and level it. Then, a powerful, shrill whistle came from above.
A crowned eagle soared over the mercenaries. It tucked its six-foot wingspan and dive-bombed Hajjar, talons raking the giant’s arm until crimson trailed over his tattoos. The brownish-black bird yanked the gun away from the man’s weakened grip and flew to Dominique’s position. As the other mercenaries fired at the winged attacker, the eagle released the weapon.
Nice one, Tegan! Marshall said.
Thanks! she replied. I enjoy being a menace!
When Hajjar saw the gun rise from the ground, seemingly out of its own volition, he jumped into the stream. The dart flew past, hitting one of the mercenaries. He dropped like a fly.
The gun only had one round! Dominique cried.
They have to be loaded each time, Marshall said. I know it hurts, Domi, but can you move toward the incline behind you?
I’ll try!
The three men kept firing at the eagle as it maneuvered around them. Out of the corner of his eye, Marshall saw the immense spherical boulder on the lip of the rock wall tilt over the side and roll down, gaining momentu
m. At the sound of the approaching threat, the mercenary closest to the danger yelled a warning. He made a jump to safety but was too slow. The boulder rumbled over him, crushing one of his legs. He brayed, the sound amplified by the gulley. His two comrades tried to get the boulder off him but Hajjar shouted, “Worry about him later!”
Was that your handiwork, Mariah? Marshall asked.
You betcha, she said. Although gravity did most of it.
The eagle circled around, grabbed the pinned man’s submachine gun and flew toward the waterfall. The two pairs of mercenaries on both flanks of the rock wall fired at it, their bullets crisscrossing but never hitting the mark. Marshall looked up as the raptor approached, and scrambled out of the way as the gun was dropped where he had just laid.
Delivery for probably the only person here who knows how to use this, Tegan said.
You’re a wonder, Tegan. Marshall picked up the futuristic-looking gun, feeling the weight of it in his hands, then thought to himself, Never seen this before… Maybe Phoenix’s armaments or defense subsidiary supplied them? At least the poor shmuck reloaded before his leg got crushed.
Out loud, the Sentry asked, “Kody, you got a headcount?”
“Six down, three in the gulch, two coming up the rock wall on our right, and two more on the left but I’ve lost sight of them,” Kody reported. “And my thermal vision is completely gone now. Also, just heard Hajjar on his radio telling the guys on the right flank of the wall to check out the heat signatures behind the boulders. And… oh. He just told the other two in the gulch to tranquilize Domi.”
Marshall made sure the selector switch on the gun was set to fully automatic and that the suppressor was screwed on properly, then said, “You guys stay low. I’m gonna cross over to the other side of the waterfall so when I start shooting, that’ll give away my position and hopefully not yours.”
Keeping low, he rock-hopped across the water and crouched down. Scooping mud off various parts of his body, he packed it against his ears into makeshift earmuffs, then looked down the gun’s sights. He tapped the trigger in short bursts, feeling the rapid recoil against his shoulder. Hajjar and the two mercenaries dodged behind the boulder that had their now-unconscious comrade pinned.
Tegan, two guys are coming up my right, Marshall said. They’re looking for you and Mariah but now they’ll come for me too. Can you take them out?
In response, the eagle swooped over his head. He stole glances at it as he kept suppressive fire on the men behind the boulder, keeping them away from Dominique. The raptor grabbed one of the mercenaries by the shoulders and dragged him toward the edge of the rock wall. The man, hysterical, tried to pull away. Unable to gain purchase, his feet left the safety of the ground but as he fell, he grabbed the eagle, pulling it down with him. The eagle screeched, wings flapping laboriously. It scratched the man’s face and he let go, falling the rest of the way and landing in the bushes. He didn’t get up.
Tegan couldn’t get to the second man in time. Marshall fired the last of his ammo and in the next breath, turned and hurled the gun at the mercenary ten feet away from him. The man reflexively dodged and Marshall used the diversion to tackle him. As they tussled, a dart slipped out of the mercenary’s pouch. Marshall snatched it up and jabbed it into his opponent’s chest, then pushed off.
He was torn. The boys wouldn’t be able to defend themselves if he left; Kody was weak and Aari had to focus on giving Dominique cover. But a ghost from the past haunted him; Gwen’s failing voice as she lay dying echoed in his ear. She’d been shot trying to rescue the girls from their abductors a few months before. Marshall had been too far behind her to save her. And Dominique’s tears when he’d explained what had happened to her cousin…
No.
He wouldn’t lose Dominique too.
Gathering up the mercenary’s SMG and additional magazines, Marshall made his way along the rock wall. He peppered the mercenaries’ boulder with occasional shots but knew he wouldn’t last long. If this was Hollywood, I’d never run out of ammo, he griped. To Tegan, he thought, There are two mercs unaccounted for on the left flank. Make sure they don’t get to Kody or Aari.
On it, she replied.
Marshall reached out to Dominique. I’m coming for you, Domi. I think I know where you are.
The blood would be a good indicator, she told him.
You’re in pain. Stop being sarcastic.
I think I learned it from the Chosen Ones.
Marshall trekked down the wall’s incline and went prone behind a few knee-high rocks. Dominique was at least a dozen feet straight ahead, and he was down to his last magazine. It wouldn’t last him half a minute. Can you drag yourself closer? he asked.
I-I’m trying.
Tegan knocked on Marshall’s thoughts. I’m still searching for the two mercs but the boys are safe.
Good. Keep at it. I’m gonna get Domi.
What? Not on your own, you’re not.
The eagle’s silhouette blocked out the sun as it flew toward the mouth of the gulch. Marshall waited for it to swoop over the mercenaries, readying himself to run into the open. But when he glanced at the growing pool of blood, the space near it started to shimmer—and Dominique became visible.
They stared at each other, terror slashed on their faces when they realized he could see her. Marshall’s head snapped up toward the ledge by the waterfall. Instead of mud-covered teenagers, two muscular mercenaries stood in their place. The Sentry cried out as they threw limp forms over their shoulders and hurried out of sight.
Tegan! he blasted. They got the boys! You need to help them!
I can’t leave you!
Yes you can! I got this! Get our boys!
Marshall bolted out, firing at Hajjar and his men, keeping his bursts short to conserve ammunition. As he neared Dominique, he held his hand out and she grabbed it. He dragged her by her arm toward the rocks, hearing her groans of pain in the quiet between bursts of gunfire.
He pulled her to safety and saw the eagle nearing the boys’ last location, then looked at Dominique as they lay behind the rocks, both of them covered in mud. An apology brimmed in her gray eyes. He shook his head. “Not your fault,” he murmured.
As he kept suppressive fire on the mercenaries, Mariah spoke in his head. The guys you’re fighting are distracted. I think I can step out of cover and deal with them. Okay?
I just ran out of ammo. Do it. But stay close to your cover.
Alright. I’ve got an idea but it’s gonna give me a ginormous headache.
The massive boulder the mercenaries hid behind started to vibrate, slowly at first. It rose into the air as if a giant hand had picked it up. It wobbled precariously over the mercenaries’ heads. The crouching men scattered, staring up at the boulder incredulously. It hung, suspended high in the air for several moments, then dropped. The earth shook as though a god had struck it.
The mercenaries flinched and one by one their guns were torn away, lobbed over the rock wall behind them. Marshall saw his break. He scrambled toward the stream where the mercenaries Dominique had rendered unconscious lay. He picked up one of the submachine guns, aiming at the now-unarmed men. He hesitated, finger twitching on the trigger. Then he threw the weapon aside, picked up two tranquilizer guns and shot the remaining Tanzanians in the gulch. He didn’t wait to watch them drop and fished around for another dart.
A shot rang from afar and a scream came from behind the boulder where the girls hid. Marshall looked up just as the crowned eagle above the rock wall plummeted. One wing worked to keep itself in the air but it crashed to the ground.
Tegan! What happened?
The teenager’s voice was shaky. One of the mercs shot the eagle in the wing. It hurt… it hurt so much. I had to let go of the mind-link. Marshall could feel her working to steel herself. Then she said, Mariah and I are going after the boys.
Be careful, you two.
We will.
Marshall found a dart, sensing movement ahead. Hajjar charged over the
stream toward him. Marshall fought with the tranquilizer gun as it refused to load properly. Get in, dammit!
He jumped out of the way but Hajjar clipped his hand, knocking the gun out of reach. The giant was too close to the mercenaries’ guns for Marshall’s liking. The Sentry flicked out his tactical switchblade. As he wiped the filth off his face, a disconcertingly pleasant smile grew on Hajjar’s lips and his black irises glinted. The dark, jagged scar from his forehead to his chin complimented his eyes. When he spoke, his voice was deep, cavernous.
“Well, hello again, hero.”
Marshall said nothing.
Hajjar’s gaze darted to the guns a few feet away, then back to the Sentry. “I nearly ended you in New Mexico during the summer. Remember that? I’ve been looking forward to meeting you again ever since.”
“As have I.” Marshall flung his blade and it embedded itself into the hulk’s bulletproof vest. Hajjar tutted, looking down as he pulled the knife out. “For a former Marine, I thought you’d know better.”
A fist to his meaty throat sent him stumbling back. Marshall, his arm extended, smirked. “I do.”
He struck out with his foot, catching the giant in the stomach, followed by a deft uppercut. He knew brute force wouldn’t work with Hajjar, his assumption confirmed when the man socked him in the face. Marshall shrank back. Gonna have a pretty black-and-blue soon. Need to play smart. And keep him away from the guns.
Marshall moved on his toes, increasing distance every time the giant came in for a strike.
“I see what you’re doing, hero,” Hajjar rumbled, “but I promise, you’ll wear yourself out before you do me.”
The Sentry hopped farther back, closer to the guns. When Hajjar followed, Marshall sprang upward and grabbed the giant around the neck. Locking his arms, he used his momentum to flip himself over the bigger man’s head. He pulled Hajjar down with him, making the ground quake with their combined impact. Hajjar, short of breath, struggled to get up but wasn’t fast enough. Marshall swung on top of him, winding his arm back to deliver a knockout blow, but was thrown clear off when Hajjar bucked.
