The Ajax Protocol

CHAPTER 20

Newhouse was waiting for them outside the motel at 0600. They climbed into his red Toyota and fifteen minutes later stood looking at the helicopter. It was red and silver with blue stripes. The tail rotor was enclosed in a circular part of the fuselage under the vertical stabilizer.

"Slick bird," Ronnie said. "Sure beats the ones we used in the 'Stan."

"This is an Eco-Star 130," Newhouse said. "Seats seven, including me. It's got great visibility and good range We can average about 150 for cruising speed. It's quick and it's quiet. The tourists and hunters love it. So do I. Hop in."

There were four seats in the back. Ronnie loaded the packs and climbed in. Nick and Selena sat in front. Newhouse had the leftmost seat in front of a wide instrument panel.

The seats were covered in tan leather, padded and comfortable. The cabin was completely encased in Plexiglas, giving everyone a broad view. Newhouse fired up. The vibration was minimal as the blades began turning, the sound levels bearable.

"Buckle up," Newhouse said. "You've got individual headsets. Go ahead and put them on." He adjusted his and began talking to the tower while he flipped switches and watched his gauges.

They lifted away from the pad and swept out over Fairbanks. The raw beauty of Alaska stretched away in all directions. Nick looked south.

"What's that river?" he asked.

"The Tanana. It's a tributary of the Yukon."

The helicopter banked and headed north. A snow-capped mountain range dominated the distance. Newhouse pointed.

"Those are the White Mountains, right by the Yukon. That's where we're headed."

"Is that the Pipeline?" Selena said. She pointed down at a silver-gray line snaking over the landscape.

"Yep. Pumps around six or seven hundred thousand barrels a day. It keeps springing leaks, idiots shoot at it, the environmentalists want to shut it down, terrorists want to sabotage it. I guess you know how controversial the project was. It's still a big deal years after they built it."

The panorama of wild Alaska passed below, a natural paradise. Meadows dotted with lakes, wildflowers and streams mixed with thick forests of spruce and hemlock. In the distance, the sun reflected from snow covered peaks lining the horizon. There was wildlife everywhere. Once, the sound of the rotors sent a herd of moose scattering across a meadow. They saw a bear and her cubs.

A little less than an hour later they were over Circle. It didn't look any different than the satellite photo. The airstrip looked old and neglected.

"Used to be a wild place in the old days," Newhouse said. "Supplies for the mining camps came up the river and got unloaded here. All gone, now."

Nick consulted his GPS. "You know where you want to set us down?"

"Yeah, there's a flat meadow about a day from where you want to go. I bring hunters there sometimes. It's a good base camp."

"What do they hunt?" Selena said.

"Grizzly, mostly. Moose. You need a permit and you'd better know what you're doing. This isn't the season, right now. You won't run into any hunters."

"I'm not worried about running into hunters. It's the bears I worry about."

"Don't bother them and they probably won't bother you," Newhouse said. "They keep to themselves and they don't like people much."

"That's comforting," Selena said. "Especially the part about probably not bothering us."

Newhouse laughed. Five minutes later, the clearing appeared below. He brought the helicopter in with practiced ease and set it down in the field. He sat and watched them unload while the engine idled. Nick came over to him.

"We shouldn't be more than a couple of days. I'll call you when we're ready to go back." He held up his sat phone. "We'll meet you here or where we're going. Either way, I'll let you know."

"Keep your head down. Don't let the bears eat your lady friend."

"I think they probably ought to be afraid of her," Nick said, "not the other way around. Have a good flight back."

He stepped away from the helicopter. The turbine wound up and the bird rose into the air. They watched it go. The sounds of the Alaskan wilderness replaced the whine of the turbine and the beat of the rotors. There was a rustle of wind in the trees. The air was clean and smelled of the forest.

They were alone.

"Spray for bugs," Nick said. "They'll be on us soon." They sprayed the exposed parts of their bodies.

"Better give Selena a heads up," Ronnie said. "About the wilderness."

"What about the wilderness?"

"It looks like we're just walking through a park but it's not what it appears to be. Sam wasn't kidding about the bears. Most of the animals won't bother us but the bears are no joke. A big grizzly can go over 1000 pounds and twice as high as a man when he stands on his hind legs. When they get going, they're hard to stop. This time of year there's plenty of food, so I don't think we'll have any trouble unless we surprise one. The rangers want you to make a lot of noise as you walk to warn off the wildlife but we can't do that. So keep an eye out. Stick close."

Nick turned on his GPS. "That way," he said. "As much as possible, we'll stay under the trees, just in case someone's looking."

They shouldered the packs and set off.

Once inside the forest, there was little movement of air. It was hot. Selena was sweating within minutes. She walked behind Nick while Ronnie brought up the rear. She was wearing one of the new armored vests over her shirt. It was hot and uncomfortable and rubbed against her skin. She could see a dark patch of moisture spreading out from under Nick's vest as he sweated. The ground underfoot was uneven and treacherous. Sometimes they seemed to climb, sometimes move downhill. She knew her legs would let her know about it later.

Tiny black flies found them. The bug spray helped but it didn't keep them away. The insects swarmed around her. When they bit, it was a sharp pain like a needle stick. Afterward, the bite itched.

"Beautiful from the air," Selena said, "but this is something Dante might have dreamed up."

"Can't be helped," Nick said. "At least no one is shooting at us."

Selena almost said not yet but held her tongue. It wasn't something to joke about. She'd never been on a mission yet when someone didn't shoot at her. The MP-5 chafing her shoulder and the heavy pistol on her thigh were reminders she wasn't here to take in the scenery.

By the time they made camp that night in a hollow of rocks, Selena ached all over. With the darkness came cold that hinted of the Arctic ice not far away. She wished they could start a fire, but they couldn't risk being spotted. They ate a cold meal.

"Selena, you take first watch. I don't think anyone knows we're out here except the animals, but I don't believe in taking chances. Ronnie, you next. I'll do the last one. I figure we're about an hour from the objective," Nick said. "We'll leave at first light."

"Look," Selena said.

A green curtain of light swept and shimmered and filled the northern sky.

"Aurora Borealis. The Northern Lights," Nick said. "That's something."

They watched the display. After about twenty minutes, it faded.

"Get some sleep," Nick said. "Long day at the office tomorrow."