Mercenary s-5

by Duncan Falconer

  Stratton tried to smile politely. But there was something about Steel that he just did not like and the more the man talked, the stronger his hostile feelings became. He could not believe Steel was so thick-skinned that he did not know when people were uncomfortable around him.

  ‘So. How they been treatin’ you?’ Steel glanced only briefly at Stratton as he asked him the question. ‘How’s the training comin’ along? I thought you’d be done and gone two days ago.’

  ‘Stratton’s lucky to be alive,’ Victor said.

  ‘Come again?’ Steel asked. He looked worried but there was no way of knowing if his expression was genuine.

  ‘A box of your weapons was booby-trapped. Two of my men are dead, one may not make it and another is seriously hurt.’

  ‘I don’t believe it!’ Steel exclaimed. ‘When’d this happen?’

  ‘Yesterday,’ Victor said.

  ‘Holy cow. You okay?’ Steel asked Stratton, scrutinising him in case he had missed any obvious physical injury.

  ‘I’ll be fine.’

  ‘You said booby-trapped. How?’

  ‘Classic grenade set-up,’ Stratton explained.

  ‘You’re shittin’ me. Do we know who did it?’

  Victor shook his head.

  ‘Did we lose everything?’

  ‘We still have sixty per cent of what you sent us.’

  ‘Wow,’ Steel muttered, getting up to take a turn around the room and looking as if the news had sickened him.

  Stratton watched him, wondering if any of his reactions were genuine. He looked like a ham actor who was doing an unusually fine job. It was hard to tell since he did not know Steel well enough. But the display of concern seemed out of character.

  The door at the end of the room opened and Sebastian stepped through, together with Louisa.

  ‘Colonel Steel,’ Sebastian said. ‘Good to see you again.’

  Steel turned on the charm. ‘Sebastian.’ He walked over and gave the rebel leader a bear hug. ‘It’s good to see you too. You’re looking great. Hey, I just heard about the explosion yesterday. That’s crazy. We’ve never had anything like that before. Are we looking at government infiltration or something else?’

  Sebastian turned away and sat in his chair. ‘Sit. Please.’

  Steel sat opposite him.

  ‘It was probably inevitable that something like this would happen,’ Sebastian said. ‘I’m surprised it did not happen sooner—’

  ‘Wait a minute,’ Steel interrupted. ‘Sebastian. Excuse me, but I need to be clear on one thing first. Was this internal politics or not?’

  ‘I don’t know. It’s possible.’

  ‘Hector?’

  ‘I would not point a finger at anyone right now,’ Sebastian said.

  Steel sat back and stared thoughtfully at the older man, his thoughts appearing to run in several directions. ‘I wanna summarise where we are right now. Do you mind? I need to get my bearings back about all this. You’ve got problems. That means the rebellion’s got problems. There’s a power struggle going on. It looks to me as if you’re being isolated. Would you say that was fair?’

  ‘I would not argue with that assessment. But it lacks depth.’

  ‘I know. Sorry. I’m just trying to synopsise it. Before we can come up with a strategy we have to be sure of the ground and the threat. Look, I’ll be honest. I knew a lot about these issues before I got here. It’s part of the reason I’m here. I didn’t know about the attack, though, the booby trap. But it falls in with the symptoms.’

  The others were all watching Steel without interrupting him. He was an assertive, overpowering individual, but it wasn’t just that. Any implied or open criticism of what he had to say would simply provoke a diatribe in which he would insist that his personal support and that of his country was the key to the rebellion’s success and that therefore whatever he said was gospel. To be spared that tedious rhetoric people tended not to question him. Yet there was no denying that he did provide substantial aid and political leverage and so he could not be ignored. An air of suspicion hung about him like a mist, nonetheless.

  ‘Can I throw a theory out there?’ Steel asked.

  Sebastian gestured to him to go ahead.

  ‘Okay. This is classic. You know it, I’m sure. It’s how I see it, anyway. You have five powers, all supposedly equal, your five brigades. They remain even, more or less, because of that balance, that equality. So how do you get rid of one of them, for whatever reason? Say you don’t like a particular commander any more. Doesn’t matter why. He doesn’t like you, you disagree on policy - whatever. This strategy goes back to the Wars of the Roses and beyond. How do you get rid of him without the others punishing you for stepping out of line? The answer’s simple. You need them on your side against him. To achieve that you get them to fear him. One way to do that is to make him stronger than you and the others. It’s difficult for him to resist as well. I mean, everyone wants to be top dog. But it upsets the balance. And what happens? The others turn on him. They band together in order to be able to destroy the one who’s become the strongest. And the one secretly manipulating everything, well, he gets what he wants, which is to get rid of him. I think that’s what’s happening here. Someone made you a threat to the others. And now they are banding together to bring you down.’ ‘Hector?’ Victor muttered.

  ‘If the cap fits,’ Steel said, sitting back and looking pleased with himself.

  Sebastian, Louisa and Stratton sat silently watching Steel.

  ‘Look, it’s just a theory,’ Steel said, taking a bite of food. ‘I’m full of ’em.’

  ‘I take it you have solutions for your theories?’ Louisa asked.

  ‘Yeah, I got solutions. But usually the more difficult the situation the more difficult the solution.’

  A quiet descended on the room.

  Steel interpreted it as despondency. ‘Hey, don’t let it get you down, guys. My money’s on you. Has been since day one and I’m not about to change. None of those other commanders can pull this rebellion off. That includes Hector.’

  Sebastian’s curiosity was piqued. ‘How would you disrupt this plan to isolate me?’

  ‘Well, I personally believe the concept of five equal brigades was flawed anyway,’ Steel said, getting into it. ‘I’m a soldier and, as you know, direct. They’re not equal. Honeros has half the men Hector does. I don’t trust Bajero. Sandina, well, he’ll go along with whoever has the loudest voice. My point is that there needs to be a stronger brigade for the others to follow and look up to. Don’t forget, it’s the voices of the men in those other brigades that rule, not the brigade commanders. So if they want to isolate you, let ’em. But take advantage of the moment and let’s go do something big. Shit, you got the weapons. You’re halfway there. Your toys are bigger’n theirs. Use ’em.’

  ‘You’re talking about an independent attack?’ Victor asked.

  ‘Course I’m talking about an independent attack. It’s not the first time you’ve carried out your own ops, is it?’

  ‘No, but we always consult with each other.’

  ‘Then this time you don’t tell ’em until it’s over. Upset the apple cart. Send a message to Hector. Wreck his little parley with Neravista. Remind them all who you are. The voices in the brigades will speak and their leaders’ll have no choice but to join you.’

  No one said anything, until Sebastian asked, ‘You have something in mind?’

  ‘I sure do.’

  ‘Something you already had in mind before you came here?’ Sebastian added.

  ‘Yep. Look, Sebastian. I came here to tell you it’s time to turn up the volume. This rebellion has gone stagnant. It’s dragging its feet. I’ll be blunt. You got to get this horsey moving along or else. My people need to know you’re the one to back. They want to see some returns on their investment.’

  ‘Or you’ll invest elsewhere.’

  ‘This is a high-stakes game, Sebastian. Frankly, my administration is losing confidence in you. O
ur next presidential campaign starts in a few months. We’ve got a lotta open boxes lying around the Oval Office. We need to close some of ’em up and put ’em away. This is one of ’em. And it ain’t just us. Your neighbours are also getting tired of it. They want to see some stability or at least the possibility of it - and soon. If you can’t offer it they’ll look to someone who can. It’s that time.’

  ‘You mean they’ll look to Hector?’ Victor asked.

  ‘No way,’ Steel said in a tone that suggested the scientist was completely on the wrong track. ‘Neravista.’

  Louisa and Victor looked concerned.

  ‘What did you think, guys?’ Steel asked as if they were all naive. ‘That this could go on for ever? That’s Neravista’s strategy. He knows all he has to do is drag this out, make you guys look like a bunch of terrorists screwing up the country and your supporters will eventually move on.You won’t last long without them. You’ll never win, that’s for sure. It’s time to make a noise. A big one. Tell everyone you’re here and you intend to win.’

  Sebastian looked lost in thought but it was obvious that Steel was getting through to him.Victor and Louisa watched him, also inclining in favour of the American despite their personal doubts about the man. He was making sense.

  ‘What did you have in mind?’ Sebastian asked eventually.

  Like a storyteller, Steel held them in suspense while he gathered his thoughts. ‘How would you like to take out Neravista’s brother, Chemora? He’s head of the special police, right? Chemora has the blood of thousands of your countrymen, including women and children, on his hands. Everyone knows he’s a lowlife. No one will miss him . . . except Neravista, of course. What could be better?’

  Victor watched Sebastian, who had not reacted. ‘He never leaves the capital,’ he said. ‘The city falls under Hector’s brigade, anyway. We have logistical difficulties in mounting operations in large urban areas.’

  ‘What if he was planning a trip into the countryside in a couple of days? What if you knew his destination and precisely where you could hit him? Would you be interested?’

  Sebastian took his time answering.Victor had a drink and lit up another cigar. The storm was getting worse outside and a gust blew open a window and almost extinguished the hurricane lamps, plunging the room into near-darkness. Louisa closed the window and the lamps flickered back to life.

  ‘Yes,’ Sebastian said finally.

  Steel smiled. ‘Give me some room here,’ he said.

  With help from Louisa and Victor they cleared much of the table. Steel opened his bag, took out several maps as well as a collection of satellite photographs and brought a lamp closer to illuminate it all. ‘What I’m about to tell you doesn’t leave this room,’ he said sombrely.

  Stratton remained where he was. He wondered why Steel had made him a part of this secret meeting but reckoned there was good reason. He would no doubt learn soon enough what that reason was.

  ‘Now . . . here’s your camp here. The army is planning an operation in this western region here. What’s that, fifty, fifty-five kilometres?’ Steel said, moving his finger across the map. ‘They know the area is vital for food to your brigades. They’re gonna cleanse it, of food as well as people. That means rounding up hundreds of farmers, villagers - anyone who they suspect of supplying the rebels with food - destroying farms, crops, livestock, you name it. He’s gonna switch off that area.

  ‘Chemora plans to set up an interrogation centre somewhere here. Now you guys know his MO better than I do. First he likes to go out and collect a couple dozen people of any age and gender and hang ’em by their necks along the route to the interrogation centre. It’s what the sick bastard calls psychological softening. By the time his victims have walked the line of dead men, women and children they’re about ready to spill the beans on anybody.’

  Louisa was disgusted at the very thought of it.

  Steel produced the satellite photographs. ‘I asked my people to shoot these a couple days ago.’

  Sebastian leaned forward to take a closer look at them. Victor moved to where he could see the photos better. Louisa preferred to watch from where she was at the end of the table. Stratton watched Steel.

  ‘The army has already established base camps here, here and here,’ Steel continued. ‘They’re setting up a cordon around Chemora’s interrogation centre which we believe will be in these huts and tents here. As far as Chemora is concerned he’s heading into a secure zone. You guys don’t normally operate this far west. There are a couple of choice locations to ambush him. My favourite is this bridge here.You take out Chemora, you not only score a major point in this rebellion by getting rid of one of the most evil bastards in it, you save the lives of hundreds of your people. Neravista will have to postpone the operation without his brother, or even cancel it.’

  ‘There will be reprisals,’ Victor said.

  ‘You get into a fight, you don’t hold off striking your opponent for fear of getting struck back. That’s why you’re there. Move the people out of that area after you’ve hit it,’ Steel suggested, standing upright and putting his hands on his substantial hips. ‘If that don’t earn you the respect of the other brigades I’ll eat this map.’

  Sebastian got to his feet and walked slowly around the table, sunk in thought. ‘An ambush like that would require a lot of people,’ he mused.

  ‘Not at all. You have claymore mines and rockets. You could do this with a handful of men.’

  ‘What about the ordnance? The rest of it could be booby-trapped too,’ Victor said.

  ‘What do you reckon?’ Steel asked Stratton who was sitting quietly. ‘You said it was a grende. Someone had to put their hand in to pull out the pin and close the lid. All you need to do is the reverse.’

  ‘Jesus,’ Victor exclaimed softly at the thought. ‘But even if we were to learn how to blow up that bridge, could we do it?’

  The smell of the lure that Steel was using to entice the rebels was beginning to stifle Stratton.

  ‘Nope. But he can. There’s your man right there,’ Steel said. ‘Stratton’ll do it for you. Won’t you, boy? You’ll help out.’

  Steel and Stratton locked stares.

  ‘When I heard you were still here I put in a call to your boss. I was curious to know whether you were up to a little action or not. Was I surprised when I took a look at your résumé! You people’ve got a regular action superstar here. Stratton’s quite the one-man army.’

  Stratton could see more complications with the operation than anyone else in the room. Steel was probably aware of some, but he was not the type to give a damn anyway. He was too independent for Stratton’s liking. The main issue for Stratton was his status as a British military operative. He had been permitted to deliver weapons to the rebels and to teach them how to use them. If anything went wrong within those parameters - if, say, he were to be captured while entering or leaving the country, even if his mandate were exposed - the diplomatic hurdles that he and his employers would have to jump over would be manageable. It would be no worse than being caught selling arms to the enemy of another country, something that might not be welcome to the politicians but would be within the bounds of diplomatic acceptability. However, for Stratton to become physically involved in a conflict, to provide military expertise in order for one side in what was essentially a civil war to achieve a notable success, was definitely not acceptable. Stratton would be screwed if he got caught. If the Neravistas wanted to hang him the British government wouldn’t be able to do much about it. Steel had to know that much and the fact that he had not first discussed it in private with Stratton and then made it clear to everyone else who was involved made him even more of a louse.

  Steel waited for an answer.

  Stratton got to his feet. The cold expression on his face said enough. ‘Thanks for supper,’ he said to the others as he strode to the door and walked out into the rain.

  Steel watched the door close behind him. ‘I didn’t have Stratton pegged as a prima don
na,’ he said.

  ‘Isn’t that unfair?’ Louisa said. ‘It sounds like a dangerous operation.’

  ‘Oh, Stratton ain’t afraid of any operation. Not that guy. This is a walk in the park for someone like him. It’s me that he has a problem with. He’s got his feathers ruffled. I wasn’t exactly cordial to him when we first met. I was busy, had a lot on my mind. Truth is I didn’t know a whole lot about him then. Let him cool off. He’ll come around.’

  ‘He’s leaving in the morning,’ Victor said.

  Steel collected his maps and photographs and put them back into his bag. ‘Let’s wait and see.’

  ‘If he won’t do it, is there any other way we can?’ Victor asked.

  ‘Let’s talk about that later,’ the American said. He picked up his poncho and hat and left the cabin.

  Sebastian got to his feet.

  ‘If we could, would we do it?’ Victor asked him.

  ‘Kill Chemora?’ Sebastian said, his expression reflecting revulsion at the mention of the man’s name. ‘I’d drive a stake through his black heart as soon as look at him.’ He headed for his room, pausing at the door to look back at Victor. ‘What do you think of Stratton?’

  ‘I think he is honourable.’ Victor shrugged. ‘But he has his own path. He said it isn’t his fight.’

  ‘It wasn’t his booby trap either but he went back into the burning wood to get those men,’ Louisa said.

  ‘His mind rules his heart,’ Victor said. ‘He’s brave, of course, but he would have calculated the odds on his survival before going into that fire.’

  ‘I don’t agree with you,’ Louisa said.

  Sebastian left them alone, closing the door to his room behind him.

  ‘One day you’re trying to kill Stratton and the next you look as if . . . well, you’re different with him,’ Victor said.

  Louisa went back to clearing up the table. ‘I was wrong about him, that’s all.’

  Victor went to the front door and looked back at her, a smirk on his face. ‘I’m still French, you know.’ He winked and walked outside.

  Stratton sat stripping his pistol and placing the parts on the dining table. Water dripped from the roof of the cabin into several pans he had placed on the floor. The door opened, the draught almost blowing out the candles on the table as Steel hurried in to get out of the weather.