Aztec Gold

THIRTY SIX

The roof exploded, the blast firing blocks and wreckage in a wave off the far side. Flames spurted at the skies and ignited the nearby trees. Solomon and his closest men vanished in a blaze of fire and a deadly surge of rubble, their side of the roof completely collapsing.

Alicia discarded the RPG as Jeeps started up and sped after them. She shouted at Healey to hold the vehicle as straight as he could and picked up her machine gun.

Russo slid to her side. Together they kicked the tailgate off its hinges.

Healey picked up speed as he smashed through the gates. Chain-link fencing swarmed to the sides and rolled wire coiled above the roof of the vehicle. Metal struts bent and shattered. The Jeep bounced across a double-dip, momentarily out of control but quickly reined in by the young soldier. As the last obstacle tore around the Jeep’s hood and a heavy crossbeam soared away, Healey swerved them back onto the main track, heading between the first trees of the forest.

Alicia lay half on her back, alongside Russo, watching the pursuing Jeeps speed ever closer. She smiled when Russo held out a hand.

“Pleasure working with you, Myles.”

“Likewise, Russo.”

As one, they opened fire, their bullets strafing the first Jeep, making it veer madly to the side. Its wheels rode up a rise at the side of the track, sending it up and over, suddenly landing on its roof, smashing and scraping into the surrounding trees.

Instantly, a second Jeep took its place.

Men leaned out of the windows, firing madly, crazily. Alicia and Russo climbed to their knees, machine guns pouring bullets off the back of the Jeep. A tire blew on the chasing vehicle, sent it spinning to the side.

A third took its place.

“Shit, how many more do they have?”

Healey flung the truck around the meandering track, upsetting both Alicia and Russo’s aim more often than not, shouting sorry but assuring them they’d rather be on the track than off it. Alicia fell into Russo more than once, and he into her, but the pair silently agreed to speak nothing of it. Bullets clattered against the rusted side of their truck as one of their assailants scored a lucky hit. The Jeep at their rear came in close, its occupants’ faces visible through the dirty glass that separated them.

Healey swerved hard. The pursuing truck didn’t stand a chance. It plowed on through the forest, hitting trees and plummeting down a vertical slope. Alicia moaned as a fourth vehicle took its place.

“Last clip.” She rammed the mag home.

“Make ‘em count.”

Caitlyn’s voice hollered at them through the comms. “Y junction ahead. Take the right-hand fork.”

Healey listened as Russo relayed the information, but missed the turn because of the hard camber.

“Idiot!” Caitlyn cried. “There’s another fork three minutes ahead. Go left there, for fuck’s sake.”

“Jesus,” Alicia murmured, firing again. “It’s like having an abusive satnav in my head.”

“I wish it was in mine!” Healey cried.

“Yeah, I bet you do.” Alicia listened to Caitlyn’s highly-strung voice, knowing at least half the nerves were due to Healey’s predicament.

Healey made the turn this time, pitching them back on track. Alicia stood up in the rear of the Jeep, keeping her footing amongst the rusting metal ledges that made up its bed, and squeezed her trigger. Instantly, their pursuer’s windshield shattered and blood fountained into the air as both driver and passenger died. With nobody to give it momentum the Jeep came to a standstill, a blockage to those still behind.

As one more tried to squeeze by, Alicia lobbed her final grenade at it. The explosion took out the front end, leaving it a twisted mass of metal and iron, innards smoldering. The road was now well and truly blocked.

Healey threw their vehicle from corner to corner, allowing the tires to slew around the bends, drifting from one to the next. The young man even appeared to be enjoying himself.

“I guess they didn’t hurt you then.” Alicia bent through the window at the back of the cab.

“Nah. Told them exactly what you’d do to ‘em if they did.”

“Good boy.” Alicia grinned. “Now you’re learning.”

Healey chanced a look at her. “You said… you said you had Caitlyn in your head?”

Alicia sighed heavily and took out the implant. “Here you go. Keep it clean.” She turned to Russo.

“I guess tonight we’re soldiers and we’ll get drunk together.”

“That we will,” Russo agreed. “Because we’re still alive.”

Alicia grinned. “Cheers to that.”