Toys

Chapter 54

It took some wrestling to get the plane’s door closed. Seconds later though, we were off, streaking out across the vast expanse of the North Pacific-toward only Lucy knew precisely where, and why.

After a few hours of resting back in the cabin, I finally went up in the cockpit with her. “Now what happens?” I asked.

“More trouble, I’m afraid. The radar shows an interceptor craft, and it’s gaining on us. We’ve got maybe ten minutes before it catches up. They really don’t want you to get away, Hays.”

“Maybe Lizbeth just wants me back.”

“No offense, but I doubt that very much. You are a human, Hays. She’s High Elite, and I don’t mean that as a compliment. The two of you are oil and water.”

She gazed at me calmly, but we both had an idea of what was coming next. The interceptor was a smart-missile that would clamp onto our plane, cut a hole through the fuselage, and unleash a team of highly trained Elite commandos inside.

“We’re going to have to bail out,” she said. “You’ve used a Deathwish Suit before, haven’t you?”

“Unfortunately, yes,” I answered. “Deathwish Suit” was a pejorative nickname for superinsulated silicone uniforms with jet-propulsion packs and parachutes. They were designed for high-altitude bailouts, like this one would be. The jetpacks would last an hour, keeping you aloft, then you needed to pop the chute and hope for a pinpoint landing.

“Come in here and put one on,” she said. “I’m trying to contact friends in Russia who might help us. But it’s going to be down to the wire.”

“Just the way I like it,” I said.

“You’re such a liar.”

“Not me. Everybody else.”