The Eden Prophecy

CHAPTER 40

Danielle stared at the man on the ground. Hawker had blown a hole in the man’s hand and he now clutched it, writhing in agony. A black pistol lay on the ground beside him.

“I thought you were going to kill him,” Danielle said, sounding relieved.

Hawker turned to her and the look on his face froze her heart.

“I am going to kill him,” Hawker said. “But not before he tells me where they’re taking her.”

The scanner on Danielle’s belt began to squawk again. She could hear the words, enough to make out that they were saying something about Americans near the swamp.

“You’re going to have to do it somewhere else,” she said.

Hawker seemed to know that. He’d already slung Danielle’s rifle over his shoulder and was bending down to pick up the injured man.

Danielle helped, using a strip of cloth to bandage the man’s hand and then tying his wrists with another strip.

Hawker threw the man over his shoulder and carried him down the slope. Danielle ran ahead, climbing aboard the airboat with Keegan and breaking out extra ammunition.

She saw Hawker wade into the water and toss the man on board like a sack of flour before climbing on himself.

“Let’s go,” she said.

Keegan gunned the throttle and spun the wheel. The airboat turned and raced out across the swamp.