by Martin Cox
‘Hold on,’ he said with a smile and thrust the throttle downwards, the front end rearing like a wild stallion as the 320 rear horses sprang into life.
The remaining members of Blue Company and Jack’s entourage stood in the courtyard surrounding Maddox. The unit were attempting to make Maddox talk, but with no prevail.
‘You’ll never find him. And she’s as good as dead,’ Maddox answered, a proud smirk on his face. Alex had updated Jack on the situation. Jack had to see Grimlock for himself. They all stood in the distance of the swinging corpse, considering their options.
‘So far this mission hasn’t been entirely successful,’ Alex said. ‘Can’t bring back Grimlock, although I’m sure we’ll have to somehow. Sperafico has once again eluded us, and it looked as if you would have done ok escaping without us. But we did find your groups kit in the armoury.’ It was at that moment that a valuable piece of information passed through their earpieces.
‘Apparently H.M.S Pursuit have been monitoring the coastline and a small boat has been spotted leaving this area, one driver and a passenger. They’re headed south.’ Alex said, responding to the message. Jack was about to respond when he stopped to listen to the faint sound of a familiar helicopter approaching.
‘Everyone make themselves scarce,’ he ordered. It was a minute later that a helicopter appeared overhead hovering for a moment before touching down in the courtyard. Jack couldn’t believe his luck. The pilot switched off the engine to the MD520 and jumped out of the cockpit. He casually made his way over to the forts buildings, slowing as he approached. He had a concerned look upon his face.
‘He’s going to leave,’ Jack whispered to Alex ‘were going to have to take him out.’ Jack was right, noticing the lack of people, the pilot had become a little unsure and hastily retreated back to the helicopter. As he reached the door, Jack fired his rifle grazing the side of his stomach where a bullet would do least damage. The chubby man slumped to the ground with shock holding his side, inspecting his bloody hand. Despite the severe shock, the man attempted to stand and continued his return to the helicopter. Alex ordered four of his unit to apprehend the wounded pilot. From out of nowhere they restrained him and dragged him off into the fort. Jack ran to the 520, Alex following him.
‘This is the only way we can get her back. Get the team to make their way back to our boats and get Pursuit’s RIBS to pick everybody else up, we’ll need some personnel to retrieve the bodies. I’m going after Sperafico and Anjo.’
‘Well, I’m coming too,’ Alex insisted, ‘you’re not having all the fun.’ They both jumped on board the helicopter and Jack started it up. Alex gave out his orders as the rotors picked up speed.
Once airborne, they headed south in pursuit of Sperafico.
‘Haven’t forgotten how then Jack?’ Alex shouted with a grin. The helicopter hugged the coastline picking up speed. In minutes they had the Stingray in sight. Jack took the 520 lower, approaching fast behind Sperafico’s boat. Sperafico turned and picked up his gun.
‘If you have to shoot, aim for the dude,’ Jack told Alex. Alex had no faith in the accuracy of the onboard guns and opted for his own. With the helicopter steady, he fired his handgun at the boat. The bullets hit the driver’s console causing Sperafico to steer hard to the left. The boat zigzagged. Alex couldn’t get a steady shot. Anjo was slipping from side to side, finding it hard to hold on. Sperafico turned the wheel sharply again, turning the boat around, continuously meandering, attempting to lose the helicopter. Jack followed him as if they were attached with a concealed cable. The boat turned again, the front end viciously hitting a wake. The jolt caused Anjo to fall overboard. The boat was now at full throttle again. Anjo, still attached to the handrail with the mooring rope, was being violently dragged through the water. She found it hard to breath, gasping for a small amount of air at a time. The rope around her wrist was tearing at her skin. She grabbed hold of it to relieve the pain. She had seen people water ski barefoot before so she tried to stand, but it was no use. Alex jumped in the back of the helicopter, frantically throwing equipment everywhere.
‘What are you looking for?’ Jack shouted.
‘I was hoping to find a rope ladder, they must have one,’ Alex replied. ‘Take me down, we have to save her.’
‘I hope you know what you’re doing,’ Jack said, pushing the controls forward.
‘I’ll release her and then you finish him’. Alex shouted, as he opened the door and stepped onto the skid, holding on as tight as he could. Sperafico turned, firing at the helicopter. Anjo continued to fight for her life, swallowing more and more water, the harsh, wet rope cutting further into her bleeding wrist. Firing his gun and driving at the same time limited Sperafico’s movements. Jack moved the helicopter closer. Alex shut the door and hung on tight. Bullets hit the helicopter one after another. Jack was now close enough. Alex made the jump. He landed at the rear of the boat with an awkward thud. He pulled a knife from his boot and started to cut the rope. It was thicker than he hoped. Sperafico turned and held out his gun. He smiled a devilish smile as he squeezed the trigger. The knife had finally cut through. Alex grabbed the rope and jumped. He grimaced in pain as he launched himself into the water, a bullet passing through the flesh of his right thigh. Sperafico threw down his gun and pushed the throttle forward in the hope of escape. Jack followed. Alex surfaced but there was no sign of Anjo. He took a deep breath and followed the rope down beneath the surface. She wasn’t far under and he kicked as hard as could to bring her to the surface. Jack caught up with Sperafico, his hands poised on the triggers of the mounted machine guns. He fired. Bullets filled the air, all landing in and around Sperafico. Sperafico silently slumped on the steering wheel, causing the boat to turn slightly to the right, heading for the rock-lined coast. Jack turned the 520 around heading back to Alex and Anjo. Alex had resuscitated Anjo and was now frantically treading water as she came around. She coughed, bringing up seawater. She stared her hero in the face, confused as to who he was.
‘Hi, I’m Alex, you must be Anjo, I’ll be your rescuer today.’ Anjo said nothing, but smiled appreciatively. She jumped as she heard the explosion in the distance. Looking across to the coastline they saw a ball of fire, florescent against the fading light.
‘Jack?’ she gasped.
‘No. Sperafico. That’s Jack,’ he said, pointing to the approaching helicopter. Jack flew overhead and lowered the helicopter as best he could, the skids dipping in the ocean. The sun had almost disappeared, the sky becoming black. Alex grabbed a skid and dragged Anjo through the rough water placing her hands on the cold metal.
‘You have to support yourself,’ he shouted.
‘I can’t,’ she replied, her eyes closing as her fatigued body became weaker.
‘It’s hold on or die and I know what you would prefer.’ Jack held a steady position, the rotor blades producing a deafening, cold wind making the climb into the fuselage even more difficult. Anjo wrapped her arms around the skid and held on. Her arm was severely bruised but not broken. Alex was satisfied with her grip and hauled himself upwards. Standing straight he held on to the door of the helicopter. He swung the door open, squatting down, reaching for Anjo. The pain in his thigh was intensifying. His hand grabbed her good arm. She held on the best that she could. Alex was in pain but urged himself on, pulling Anjo upwards. Her hand stretched out, her fingers clawing, trying to reach the fuselage entrance. She made it, gripping tightly to the harsh metal. They were both safe. Alex pulled Anjo up and secured her into the seat and shut the door. Jack gained altitude, banked right and headed back up the coast.
‘Are you both ok?’ Jack asked.
‘I’m fine. A little hole in my thigh, but I think I’ll be fine,’ Alex replied. Anjo doesn’t look too good though.
‘Just shaken, that’s all. I’ll be fine in a while,’ she shivered, closing her eyes in exhaustion. There was a dusty brown jacket in the back of the helicopter, probably from the pilot that dropped it off.
‘Take
off your top and we’ll get you warmer,’ Alex said.
‘Thank you. How is my family?’ she shivered, removing her top. Alex looked away, turning back as she finished closing the zip.
‘They are fine, the rest of Alex’s unit is taking them back to the boats,’ Jack answered.
‘I thought I’d never see you again,’ Anjo said slowly, tiredness controlling her.
‘Never under estimate a couple of professional lunatics,’ Alex said smiling, ‘I think you should try and save your energy and get some sleep.’ Alex pulled out his sat phone.
‘Luckily these are waterproof,’ he said, as he called ahead for a bearing to meet H.M.S Pursuit. The RIBs were already on their way to collect Blue Company and the rest of Anjo’s family. Alex gave Jack a bearing and the distance.
‘We won’t have enough fuel,’ Jack told him.
‘We’ll probably have to ditch this anyway. There isn’t room to land it on Pursuit. Their lynx will be taking up all the room.’
‘We’ll drop Anjo off where we left the Jeeps and get the rest of her family to meet her there. They can take her back home. She’ll be better off there. We can catch a ride back to Pursuit in the RIBs.’ Alex pulled out his sat phone again and gave the new orders.
‘Wait,’ Jack said ‘it will be dark, get them to meet us in a small port approximately three miles down the coast and don’t forget to ask them to bring some dry clothes for you both.’
‘Yes, mummy,’ Alex said, sarcastically.
Jack landed the helicopter on an area of baron land not far from the Jeeps. He switched off the engine and they all abandoned the helicopter.
‘Do you have the keys?’ Alex asked, shivering slightly, the temperature dropping.
‘We left them in the water tanks,’ Jack answered. They retrieved the keys and jumped in the Jeeps, Alex taking one on his own, following Jack and Anjo. They made their way to the tracks that would take them along the coast. They turned on their full beams, the night creeping in. They reached the port, parking the vehicles next to each other and got out. It was quiet. Two men were fishing from some nearby rocks, their lanterns swinging in the gentle breeze. There were three small boats in the dock. Across the dock, sheltered by three large trees, was a small shack selling fishing equipment and also serving drinks and snacks. It would be a few minutes until the boats would be back. It was just what they needed.
‘Does anyone have any money?’ Alex asked. Jack shook his head.
‘I have some in the Jeep,’ Anjo said.
‘I like her, Jack, she’s prepared.’ Anjo turned and felt about in the torn seat lining pulling out two twenty Reais notes. They made their way over to the shack.
‘I am sorry about your friends, they should not have died for my cause,’ Anjo said, with condolence.
‘They died helping get rid of scum,’ Alex replied, checking his leg once again, ‘they will not be forgotten’.
‘Don’t forget, it was my cause too, they came partly because of me.’
‘We came to collect Colonel Grimlock, don’t forget that,’ Alex interjected. They reached the shack. Anjo asked the bearded man for three coffees.
‘What would you like us to do with Fernando,’ Jack asked Anjo, ‘He’s probably still a little unsteady on his feet, so you won’t have much bother with him.’
‘He has disgraced my family. He will not be welcome in our home. You should have killed him. His fate is no concern of mine.’
‘In a way he probably saved us from getting shot. Being taken in as a prisoner was better than the uncertainty of what may have happened attempting to enter the fort, with all their security, they would have seen us coming.’
‘If he hadn’t betrayed us, I probably wouldn’t have been dragged through the water on the back of a speedboat. I will think about it.’ The man passed them their coffees. They took one each, sipping the hot liquid, all three enjoying the warmth as it slid down. Alex attempted to lighten the mood.
‘So Anjo, that means angel right. I hope my guardian angel is as pretty as you.’
‘Thank you,’ Anjo replied. Jack shook his head in disbelief.
They were still sipping coffee and munching on chocolate when the boats turned up. The powerful spotlights of the RIBs lit up the dockside and launching ramp. Anjo’s family disembarked from their boat, as the sailors from H.M.S Pursuit hitched them securely to the pilings. Anjo ran to her family. They hugged as a group, pleased to see one another.
‘We are so glad to see you, Anjo’ said her cousins, hugging her tight.
‘It was a crazy plan, but your vengeance has finished, I hope you can finally get on with your life and enjoy it,’ Paulo said.
‘It will take a little longer to sink in. I still can not believe he is dead.’ Maddox was left in the other boat, secured at his wrists and ankles, along with the pilot from the 520, an armed guard standing over them. Fernando was allowed to step off. His hands were bound in front of him with black plasticuffs. Anjo and her family turned and stared at him. He gazed across at the family he betrayed, an unremitting look of guilt in his tearful eyes.
‘How would you feel if he suddenly jumped into the water or tried to shoot himself? Jack asked, from behind them. ‘I am sure you would try and stop him.’ There was a moment of silence before Paulo spoke.
‘Can he have his hands released?’ Alex nodded to the guard standing next to him. The man pulled out a small knife and cut him free.
‘Let the pilot go as well,’ Alex ordered. The pilot jumped swiftly off the boat and ran up the dirt road, heading off into the black of the night. Fernando walked slowly to his family.
‘I know sorry isn’t enough. I acted in fear of my life over my family. That makes me a selfish person. I hope you can forgive me. I will make it up to you for as long as I live.’
‘I’m sure I speak for everyone when I say I cannot forgive you today. Only time can assist that,’ Anjo said. Alex came over with a small cardboard box full of cups of hot coffee. He distributed them around to everybody and limped over to Jack.
‘She’s quite something isn’t she?’ Alex said, taking a sip from his second cup of coffee, now in a dry uniform.
‘I know what you’re thinking,’ Jack replied, ‘it would never work. Besides she needs her family now and to start enjoying life at home without the fear of Sperafico.’
‘I guess you’re right, I’ll give her time.’
‘How is your leg?’ Jack asked.
‘Just a flesh wound and with the pain killers it’s merely an annoying scratch. After they had drunk their coffee, Anjo and her family made their way over to the Jeeps.
‘Are you sure you’ll all be ok?’ Jack asked.
‘We’ll be fine, Paulo knows the way back, I think we can do it in two and a half hours. Thank you for everything,’ she said, embracing him and kissing him on the cheek. ‘I hope this isn’t the last we will see of you.’
‘I’ll be back and I’ll almost definitely be bringing someone along with me.’
‘That would be me,’ Alex blurted, ‘I was hoping I could come back and visit as well.’
‘You are also very welcome,’ she said, hugging him and kissing him on the cheek. Anjo climbed aboard the Jeep and settled in, wrapping herself in the blankets that the H.M.S Pursuit crew had brought with them. Jack shook the hands of the rest of the family and wished them well, even Fernando. Jack and Alex stood silently as the Jeeps drove off into the night, onto the tree lined road and disappearing into the dark jungle night.
CHAPTER 12
Jack and Alex wandered back to the boats. Blue company were waiting on board, divided up between the two RIBs, along with the four sailors from Pursuit. They clambered on board and sat next to Maddox. In front of them were three long, black body bags.
‘Just to keep you reminded, eh,’ Jack said to Maddox.
‘Hey, I was just doing what I was paid to do,’ Maddox insisted.
‘I thought that was to protect Sperafico, didn’t do a very good job. It won’t
look good on your C.V.’ Alex said, as the RIBs powered out of the port and in to open water.
It was a relief for them to be back on board H.M.S Pursuit. Blue company were taken to the sleeping quarters where they could shower and get a good night’s sleep. The captain approached Jack and Alex.
‘Welcome back, sorry for the loss of your men, lieutenant.’
‘Thank you, Sir,’ Alex replied.
‘You may have the use of my quarters for the evening as we are currently observing a small fishing vessel. It was seen acting suspiciously yesterday. We think it might be the boat we’ve been waiting for. We are working closely with the American Coastguard. They have informed us that it is on route, probably for the coast of Africa. Just as you take care of one smuggler, along comes another.’
‘Is there anything we can do to help?’ Alex asked.
‘I think you need your rest,’ the Captain replied. A sailor escorted Jack and Alex to the Captain’s quarters. Each of them showered, put on clean uniforms and sat back, relaxing in the comfort of the captain’s bunk. There was a moment’s silence.
‘Can you finally put Sarah to rest?’ Alex asked. Jack pouted his bottom lip in thought.
‘I did this all in revenge for Sarah’s death. I killed those two in Italy and it felt good and I can’t tell you how good it felt to fire those bullets into Sperafico. I am sorry though for the loss of those two men.’
‘We were there to recover Grimlock, who would know it would get that nasty?’
‘I think a change of career is on the cards, I probably don’t have a job to go back to anyway.’
‘I doubt that,’ Alex said, sliding slowly off his bunk. ‘C’mon, let’s see if we can’t rustle up a couple of glasses of something warm, with ice,’ he smiled. ‘We have a long trip home and I think we need the rest. Tomorrow is the start of a new beginning.’
Jack woke at early dawn. H.M.S Pursuit was on the move. The Lynx helicopter’s blades were at full power and it was about to take off. Jack quickly dressed and made his way to the bridge. It was a hive of activity. He stood back, not wanting to interfere. Alex joined him and stood next to him.
