Thorpe's Candle

THE DEATH OF MATT SKYLER

There were voices, panic-filled and desperate. Skyler could not hear them clearly, but he knew they were pleas for mercy. Feeling his way along a wall and around a corner, he saw a large room — the orange glow of a lantern lit a small area in the middle. He spotted the many containers of ore, each about the size of a 55-gallon oil drum, sitting on the far fringe of the dim pool of light — ready for their journey to South America. The Inuit workers were huddled together facing Skyler’s direction, their hands in the air. In between, with his back to Skyler, was Knebel. He held a machine pistol aimed at the Inuits — a pile of weapons at his feet.

Knebel raised his gun and took aim causing the Inuits’ cries to increase in volume and urgency. In the next instant, flame shot from the barrel as he emptied the clip.

Skyler watched the workers drop. Most appeared to be killed immediately, some squirming and twitching in their last death throes.

As quickly as the slaughter began, it was over. A heavy silence filled the empty space once the echoes of the machine pistol faded. Knebel pulled the clip from the gun and replaced it with a fresh one. Enveloped by a pale cloud of gunpowder smoke, he stood over the bodies, searching for any signs of life. With short bursts, he finished any victim still struggling to survive.

Suddenly, a flood of light swept across the outside of the building, streaming white light through cracks and broken windows. Knebel turned his attention to it and moved to stand beside the ore containers. He stared out a window toward the ocean.

With the South African distracted, Skyler came out of his concealment and covered the space between him and the pile of weapons. He grabbed a shotgun and then backed away into the darkness. Knebel returned to the middle of the room — a carryall bag lay beside the guns. He bent to pick it up, but froze.

“The inside of a glacier is a very cold place.” Skyler stepped from the shadows.

A momentary look of surprise flashed across Knebel’s face. But it faded back to an expression of disregard. “You’re more resourceful that I imagined.” He straightened — the gun at his side in one hand and the carryall in the other.

“And you are a ruthless murderer.” Skyler aimed the shotgun.

“This was strictly business — nothing personal.” Knebel smiled crookedly.

“Tell that to the families of those men.” Skyler nodded at the mangled heap of dead bodies.

“I’m a professional. I have a job to do and I do it.” Knebel glanced over his shoulder for an instant toward the containers, then back to Skyler. “I suggest you drop your weapon and surrender. You’ll never leave here alive if you don’t.”

“There is one other option.”

With a thud, the carryall hit the floor. As the South African pulled the barrel of the machine pistol into a firing position, Skyler’s shotgun boomed. The blast slammed into Knebel’s face, ripping it into torn flesh and splintered bone.

Knebel squeezed the trigger of the machine pistol sending a white-hot stream of bullets arcing into the air. The second blast of Skyler’s shotgun crushed Knebel’s head and his body dropped into a heap on the ground. With a final twitch, his muscles convulsed, then stilled.

Skyler stood over the body pointing the 12-gauge at the dead man — a trail of smoke snaked from the barrel. Knebel’s own mother wouldn’t recognize him, Skyler thought, looking at what was once a face. He was about to slip back into the shadows to find Gates when a voice called out.

“Don't move!” It was deep and authoritative, and filled the hollow emptiness of the old cannery.

Skyler stiffened and tightened his grip on the shotgun.

“Drop your gun,” the voice commanded.

It slipped from Skyler's hands and hit hard on the dirt floor.

“Put your arms up and turn around slowly.”

He did as he was told. In the dim light of the lantern, he saw five men dressed in naval-style uniforms, each aiming a weapon.

The leader stepped forward until he was only a few feet away. He glanced at the body on the floor — steaming blood still oozing from the wounds. Looking at Skyler again, he walked over to the bullet-riddled bodies of the Inuits. After a moment, he returned, this time his gun lowered. “So, Mr. Knebel. I got your message that you would be eliminating the Inuits as soon as we arrived, but who is this one?” He gestured to the body.

Hesitating only a second, Skyler said, “That's what's left of the Director of OceanQuest, Matt Skyler.”