The Last Bazaar

CHAPTER TEN

They came down through the low clouds, choppering in to around three-quarters of their journey’s end. They figured the bazaar would have close-in security as well as several outposts dotted around to build up a more long-reaching picture, so they would start from afar, but not so far that it would take hours to traverse a narrow, meandering river. They all wore their backpacks and carried an excess of weapons and thick rubber boots to help with the rainforest’s saturation levels. They left the chopper and approached the bank of a river where two large skiffs sat waiting, fishermen close by. Payment was made, the gas tanks filled, and then the team were putting out into the middle of the river. The sun was a haphazard affair, visible on occasion but always dappled and seldom welcome. The heat was like nothing Drake had experienced before.

It was late afternoon on the day before the bazaar was due to start. The team had chosen to depart today to allow all of the players time to depart and ensure Ramses’ security teams would have their hands full. They were hoping to determine its location tonight and do a proper scout tomorrow. Drake soon became bored of the twisting river and its earthy banks overhung with wide-leafed branches, every square foot seemingly teeming with life. The air smelled marshy, one moment offering the scent of fresh greenery, the next the stench of decay. The two fishermen piloted the long skiffs with skill, grins rarely off their faces. Hours passed, and soon a perennial darkness started to fall. Two natives watched them from a flattened bank as they passed, nets clasped in their hands.

Alicia perched beside Drake. “This is the life, eh?”

Drake gave a low whistle. “Despite your recent life change, I just know that’s a lie. Who you gonna piss off out here, Myles? A baboon?”

“Are you saying I live to upset everyone?”

“Nope. It just comes natural.”

“Ah, well, speaking of baboons, have you heard from your tiny girlfriend?”

Drake paused as movement inside the jungle caught his eye, but it was only a passing monkey. “Nothing meaningful. I think Mai is a little lost.”

“Any chance we’ll be seeing her soon?”

“Why? Missing the provocation?”

“Nah. The Sprite’s no match for me.”

“I’m not too sure, Alicia. No doubt Grace will have a say in that.”

“Did I hear a touch of bitterness there?”

Drake rolled his neck to ease the tension in his shoulders. “If you did I’m sorry. Grace deserves all the Mai-time she can get.”

Alicia smiled at that. “And the world moves on.”

The skiffs negotiated their way along the river, fanned by a blissful breeze. Drake dug into his rations and drank water. By the time the fishermen pulled onto a sandy slope and beached the craft it was full dark and the team were working by torch light. Dahl had kept hold of the GPS and assured them that the site of the bazaar was but a few miles of heavy slog away.

“This is a good place to stop,” he affirmed.

“We’re putting an awful lot of faith in a crooked official,” Lauren said.

“It’s a good lead,” Hayden said. “You know as well as I do the enhanced satellite pictures show heavy disturbance in the area and unknown comings and goings. And the Mingaloa cartel that held sway over the area haven’t been heard from in months. The CIA thought they’d been absorbed by the Cinigan family.”

“Ramses annihilated them,” Kinimaka said, not without a hint of satisfaction.

“Maybe. Or maybe they’re working for him now. It doesn’t matter. The world’s worst mass murderers are all about to arrive at the same place at the same time.”

“And we’re walking right into the middle of them.” Alicia grinned.

Drake waved the two fisherman off and watched as Dahl and Smyth set about the tents. The ground here was soft and damp but no worse than anywhere else in the jungle and perhaps a little safer nearer the river. Kinimaka offered to take first watch and Yorgi went with him. Lauren sat down on the bank and Hayden radioed in their progress. Drake knew this wasn’t the ideal scenario — preferably the tents would have been pitched before all light left the world, but the team were experts and he expected not a guy rope to be out of place. He moved off and kicked around for some dry tinder, then brought it back to camp.

“Figured we could afford a small fire,” he said.

“I hope that’s insect free.” Alicia eyed the wood pile.

“I wouldn’t worry. You’re probably sitting on worse.”

The blonde rose in a hurry, dusting herself off. “Right then, I’ll help with the tents. At least that way we’ll get a ground sheet between me and their tiny teeth.”

“Don’t forget the suckers…” Drake laughed as she moved off.

In less than twenty minutes the team were done with their chores and gathered for the night. They sat by the bank, in silence, watching the quiet waters flow by. Of course, there could never be silence in a place like this — the jungle was alive with sound from those that crept to those that climbed and prowled.

Drake leaned in close to Alicia. “So, how are you finding it?”

“The creepy-crawlies? I’ll let you know when I see one of the little buggers.”

“No. I meant the… new you. How are you finding it?”

Alicia inhaled. “Well, it’s a battle if you must know, Drakey. Every minute. Like a bloody tug of war and no oily, hard bodied men on either side. And now I find myself stuck in the middle of a jungle with seven other rebels and not a minute of privacy.”

Drake considered that. “Gives you more time to accept it.”

“Oh, thanks, wise one. That really helps.” Alicia drained her bottle of water. “You should go into religion.”

“Nah. Couldn’t do with all the fighting and feuding,” he said a little ironically.

Alicia shook her head. “Says a man who’s here now nursing bruises that haven’t healed from the last battle.”

“Bruises?” Drake winced. “More like raw scrapes from sliding down that friggin’ cliff and onto the galleon. Dahl’s bloody fault.”

“Maybe. But you can’t deny it was the best ride in North America.”

“Steady on. You haven’t ridden everything in North America. Have you?”

Alicia caught his eye. “Are we talking flumes, coasters, that sort of thing? Or things that wear Levis?” Her eyebrows rose suggestively.

Drake looked up in despair. “Part of you will never change, Alicia.”

“Thank God for that.”

“In any case,” he went on. “Most of the bruises I have were inflicted by you.”

Alicia smiled sweetly. “You’re very welcome.”

Drake nodded as if he’d been expecting the reaction. “Once we end this maybe… we could take a break.” The pause and its significance was not lost on Alicia.

Her eyes bored into his. “Are you asking me to go away with you?”

“Well, Dahl keeps banging on about taking a family Caribbean vacation.”

“And you want to go with him?”

“No! I’m saying we also deserve a break. Stop busting my balls.”

Alicia didn’t let up. “Let me get this straight. You, Drake, Matt Drake, want to take me — the Tasmanian Devil — on a short break.” She shook her head. “Fuuuck.”

Drake frowned. “What’s wrong with that?”

“It’s weird. That’s all. Just weird.”

And despite himself Drake knew exactly what she meant. Their life was not the life of people that zipped off for short breaks to European hotels. Dahl could get away with it because he had a family and a totally separate life with them. But Drake? Alicia?

“I do know what you mean,” he said. “What the hell would we do with four days in Paris?”

“We wouldn’t go to Paris,” Alicia said. “Not us. If we went any-fucking-where it would involve a big room, a big bed and room service.”

Drake understood of course, and looked down. His relationship with Mai was barely cool, but it was over. She had made that perfectly clear. And now, with Alicia turning over a new leaf she was also uncovering a new possibility.

The jungle teemed around them. As a contrast to the more recent missions this was about as far as they could get. The next few days weren’t going to be easy. Drake took some time to acknowledge each member of the team, from those on watch to young Yorgi and Lauren Fox, the newest members who had earned their stripes. Dahl caught his gaze and smiled faintly as if accepting that the Yorkshireman was probably dreaming about being as good as the Swede, or maybe a step behind. Drake felt several moments of peace and happy acceptance. Even here, even tonight on the eve of what would surely be utter madness, his family were all around him, each man and woman content with their place in life. The watch changed and two more of the team headed into the darkness. A steady downpour then sent them all scurrying for manmade fabric cover, two to a tent and struggling to get comfortable. Rain drummed down for over an hour, drenching the forest and lending it life. Drake found it relatively easy to drift off, then woke himself up with a sudden feeling of satisfaction at that very thought. The years out of the service hadn’t turned him soft.

With a smile on his face he fell asleep.