Running Dark

38

EMMA STARED AT THE KAISER FRANZ AS IT PLOWED THROUGH THE water. It seemed like a large, slow elephant compared to the quick rabbits that chased it. They’d been following the pirates for two hours on radar, trying to keep their distance in order to be able to surprise them when the time came. During that interval Emma watched the tiny green dots converge on a larger dot that represented the Kaiser Franz.

Hassim had laid out the plan as they did. “We’ll stay behind until it becomes necessary to reveal ourselves.”

Stark, however, was not playing ball. “Do you mean to say that we’re deliberately following them?”

Hassim turned his dark eyes on Stark. “They intend to hijack the cruise ship that Ms. Caldridge needs to board. We will attack them as they do so.”

Stark sat down abruptly. He turned to Emma. “Did you know that this would happen?”

She nodded. “I did.”

He looked incredulous. “You mean to tell me that you intend to insert yourself into this situation?”

Emma nodded again.

“My God, you’re as crazy as the rest of them.”

It was Hassim who cut short Stark’s complaints. “I’m sorry to inform you, but most of the world exists in a realm of constant life-or-death struggle. You Americans enjoy a relatively peaceful existence, compared.”

Stark put up a hand. “An existence that I’m more than willing to go back to, thank you very much.”

Hassim snorted. “Then you should have thought twice before you flew your private jet into Africa to sell your products.”

Stark looked pissed. “What are you saying? That because Price sells vaccines, heart medications, and HIV drugs in the Third World we deserve to be caught up in the maelstrom? Those medications save thousands of lives. I shouldn’t have mine taken because I provide them.”

But Hassim would not back down. “I’m saying that if you want the benefits of selling the drugs here, then you must accept the risks.” He turned the boat toward the pirates. “They’re close now. Let’s reveal ourselves.” He opened the throttle, and the small craft moved forward even faster. “There’s a rocket launcher in the under-seat storage. Pull it out.”

Emma lifted the seat cushion. There, nestled in the cabinet, was an RPG. She maneuvered it out of the space, lowered the seat, and placed it on the cushions. She pulled out the grenades and started to assemble one.

“Could you please show Mr. Stark how to shoot it in case we need to switch weapons?”

Emma checked out Stark’s response. While it was clear that he was dumbfounded by the circumstances in which he found himself, he visibly gathered himself up and nodded to her. She wanted to sigh in relief at that. She needed him present and willing to assist if they were going to survive this thing. She showed him the launcher. As she talked him through the operation, Hassim added some additional instruction.

“Be sure to watch your back blast, both of you. I did not have the time to weld a cover on it.”

“Back blast?” Stark said.

Emma showed him the rear of the tube. “The exhaust shoots out of the back with a powerful force. It can fry anyone too close to it. You need to look behind you to ensure it’s clear before firing. Also, it leaves a visible vapor trail, which has the unfortunate consequence of revealing one’s position in the dark.”

“Have you fired one of these?” Stark said.

“Yes.”

Stark stilled, watching her. Just as she began to feel uncomfortable, he turned his attention back to the rocket.

Emma heard an alarm in the distance. A barely audible voice chanted a warning. The next warning, though, came through loud and clear. A recorded voice spoke in English and echoed over the water. “Warning! Do not approach. Leave the area immediately.”

Stark turned to Hassim. “Do these guys understand English?”

Hassim pursed his lips. “Probably not. But they should be bright enough to figure out that the cruise liner does not wish to be boarded.”

Out of nowhere came the blast of the most excruciating noise Emma had ever heard in her life. Stark yelled in response, holding his ears and lowering his head. There was another, cracking sound, and the pirates began to split up.

“They’re going to attack from all sides,” Stark said.

Hassim grimaced. “We’re moving as fast as this engine will allow. Get ready, we’ll be in firing range soon.”

Emma held on to a side rail, her assault weapon at the ready, as she watched the Kaiser Franz loom larger. She could see movement on the upper outside decks. One man in a white uniform stood on the highest level. He appeared to be staring at them with binoculars. Another man, slender and dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, stood with him. A frisson of recognition ran down her spine as she gazed at the second man. Despite the fact that she was too far away to make out any features, she knew, without a doubt, that it was Sumner.