Line of Control

FORTY

Brett August and William Musicant had begun moving southward along the plateau. A fierce, cold wind was blowing toward them as the air cooled and the thermal currents stopped rising. The men had to put their goggles back on to keep their eyes from tearing as they worked their way toward the ledge some four hundred meters ahead. According to the NRO, that was the northern artery of the same ledge the Pakistani cell was traveling on.

The colonel halted when the TAC-SAT beeped. He crouched and picked up the receiver. It was Bob Herbert. The intelligence chief instructed the men to wait where they were.

"What's going on?" August asked.

"There's a chance the cell may have divided," Herbert informed him. "The group that's coming toward you may be bait to draw the Indian soldiers to the northwest."

"That would make sense," August said.

"Yes, but we don't want you to be caught in the middle of that," Herbert said. "There's also a chance that there may have been a struggle of some kind. We just don't know. We want you to proceed to a forward point that you can defend and then wait there."

"Understood," August said. The point where the plateau narrowed would be ideal for that.

"Paul has asked Stephen Viens to have a look around the area northeast of the plateau," Herbert went on. "We have reason to believe the rest of the cell may be headed that way."

"That's where Mike went down," August said.

"I know," Herbert said. "Paul's thinking is if we can locate Mike he can help us find the branch cell—"

A firm, low, intermittent beep began to sound in a pocket of August's equipment vest.

"Bob, hold on!" August interrupted. "I've got an incoming point-to-point radio transmission."

"Careful, Brett," Herbert said.

The colonel set the phone down. He plucked his radio from the equipment vest and punched it on. He would not let himself hope that it was a Striker. More likely it was someone who'd found one of the radios or an Indian army communications officer cutting into their frequency.

"Atom," August said. That was the code name he had selected. It was derived from the first initial of his last name. The Strikers used code names when they were uncertain about the origin of a call. If any of them were taken prisoner and forced to communicate they would use a backup code name based on the initial of their first name.

"Atom, it's Reptile," the caller said.

August did not feel the wind or the cold. The world that had felt so dead suddenly had a faint pulse.

"Are you okay?" August asked.

"Yeah," Rodgers replied. "But I'm the only one. You?"

"Midnight and I are fine," he replied. As he was speaking, August pulled the area map from a vest pocket. These were specially marked with coded grids. He laid it on the ground and stepped on one end while he held the other. "Do you have your map?" August asked.

"Getting it now," Rodgers said. "I'm at 37–49."

"Three-seven-four-nine," August repeated. "I copy that. Are you secure at that location?"

"I seem to be," Rodgers replied.

"Very good," August said. "I'm going to relay that information home. We may have new instructions."

"Understood," Rodgers said.

Colonel August set the radio on the map and picked up the TAC-SAT receiver. As he did he gave Musicant a thumbs-up. The medic smiled tightly. But at least it was a smile.

"Bob, it was Mike," August said. "He's safe in the valley, about three miles from the foot of the glacier."

"Thank you, Lord," Herbert said. "Other survivors?"

"Negative," August told him.

"I see. All right, Colonel," Herbert said. "Set up your perimeter, hang tight, and tell Mike to do the same. I'll pass the update to Paul."

"Bob, keep in mind that there is some very rough terrain out here and it's going to get dark and cold pretty fast," August said. "If we're going to send Mike on any search-and-recon missions, he's only got another forty minutes or so of visibility."

"I'm aware of the situation," Herbert said. "Tell him to get a good look at the landscape. We'll get back to you ASAP."

August hung up the TAC-SAT and briefed Rodgers. The general was his usual stoic self.

"I'll be okay down here," Rodgers replied. "If I have to move north it's a pretty straight shot to the glacier. I'll just follow the river."

"Good. Is your suit intact?" August asked.

"Yes," Rodgers replied. "There's only one thing I need. It's probably the same thing you need."

"What's that?" August asked.

Rodgers replied, "To find whoever sold us out and make them regret it."