Nighthawk

46

Joe Zavala had been taken down to the rock-strewn beach. His hands were bound with a zip tie, and while his feet were free, his boots and socks had been taken away to make it more difficult and painful should he try to escape or fight.

Paul sat on Joe’s left, tied and bound in a similar fashion. Emma was on his right, also restrained. Though many thoughts were competing for Joe’s attention, Kurt’s death was not at the top of the list. Joe had heard the words, felt the pain they carried and then locked the thought away in some distant corner of his mind. After so many risky adventures together, both of them knew a day like this might arrive. In Joe’s position, Kurt would have done the same.

“We’re going to get out of here,” Joe said. “I’m not sure how, but we’re going to break free.”

“And then what?” Emma asked.

“Depends on the manner of our escape,” Joe said. “If we can get to the Air-Crane, we’ll fly. If not, we go on foot or by boat on the river. There are rapids downstream, but we could navigate them in the Zodiac.”

“They have to slip up at some point,” Paul said.

“They will,” Joe assured him. “Until then save your strength and do everything you can to lull them into thinking they’ve won.”

“It’s not about us,” Emma said. “I know you want to escape, but there’s a far bigger danger here.”

“One we can’t prevent without first getting free. You can’t give up,” Joe urged.

“Getting free will require fighting,” she explained. “Most likely, shooting. All within a stone’s throw of the frozen supply of mixed-state matter. One stray bullet could set off the disaster. If it means preventing that, I’m fine giving up.”

One of Urco’s men came out of the tall grass, where he’d probably been listening. His approach killed off any further conversation. He moved in behind Emma, cut her loose and stood back. “Come with me,” he said. “Urco wants your help.”

Emma stood and was led away. Joe sensed she was close to despondency, but then she didn’t know there was still hope. She hadn’t been privy to Kurt’s backup plan. He had wanted it that way. And now, seeing how much power Urco had over her, and how deeply the fear of a disaster had clutched at her heart, Joe was glad he’d kept the secret. He could imagine Emma telling Urco what she knew all in the interest of preventing a catastrophe.

As Emma and the guard left, Joe glanced at Paul.

Paul nodded. He was ready. Joe was ready, too; he’d already been working the zip tie back and forth, twisting his wrists this way and that, in order to weaken the plastic. Before long, it would be weak enough to snap.

Then Joe would rest, waiting for the sound of a rifle firing from somewhere high in the rocks.

Gamay would take out several of their captors before the men knew what hit them. Joe and Paul would spring into action at the same moment and, with a little luck, the tide would be turned.