The Secret Cardinal

37

After Yin’s mass, the Night Stalkers completed flight prep on the BATs while the team members still clad in civilian clothes changed for the trip across the border. The children, much to Kilkenny’s discomfort, huddled around the doorway of the yurt, peeking in with rapt fascination as he changed. He further entertained them by demonstrating the chameleonlike characteristics of his SEALskin suit, changing from a solid dark gray to camouflage stripes.

‘Having fun?’ Tao asked, drawn into the yurt by the children’s laughter.

‘They are. At least my striptease was only PG, or I would have had to post a guard.’

‘Or charge admission.’

‘I can’t think of anyone who would pay to see me naked. How’s your suit?’

Tao did a slow spin, allowing Kilkenny to view her at all angles. The sleek nanotech fabric wrapped her lithe curves like a second skin.

‘It’s a good fit,’ Tao replied.

‘That’s an understatement. I bet the tailor who put that outfit together never worked with a set of measurements quite like yours. Slip on a pair of stiletto heels and you’d be set for a late night of after-hours clubbing.’

Tao glowered at Kilkenny. ‘You first.’

Bishop Yin appeared in the doorway looking puzzled, his suit bunched up in places around his light frame and Ke Li’s cross dangling from his neck.

‘Have I put on this uniform correctly?’ Yin asked.

‘There’s really only one way to wear it,’ Kilkenny said as he looked over Yin’s suit. ‘Unfortunately, it’s not a one-size-fits-all, and I guessed a little too big for you. I apologize if it’s uncomfortable, but it will keep you warm.’

‘Then I will be fine.’

‘We’ll find you a good tailor once we’re out of China,’ Kilkenny promised. ‘Your cross might be a problem when we’re airborne. Would you like me to stow it for you?’

Yin placed a protective hand over the symbol of his faith. ‘No, I wish to wear it.’

‘Then let’s get it inside your suit so it won’t bat around in the wind.’

Tao loosened Yin’s collar and carefully slipped the cross inside. It barely telegraphed through the loose fabric covering Yin’s torso. Tao placed a reassuring hand on his chest over the shrouded symbol.

‘That should protect it,’ Tao said.

The Bishop folded his hands over hers, ‘And it will protect us, my child.’

Outside, they heard the sound of hoofbeats racing toward the encampment.

‘Stay with him,’ Kilkenny said as he unholstered his pistol and slipped through the doorway.

The hoofbeats stopped abruptly, replaced with orders shouted harshly in Chinese. The horses whinnied and snorted, sounding winded from the ride. In the darkness beyond the halo of campfire light, Kilkenny saw movement in the shadows. The forms of two men with their arms clasped behind their heads grew more distinct. They were Asians and dressed in civilian clothing. Gates and four warriors followed closely behind, weapons trained on the unexpected arrivals.

Recognizing the two men, the patriarch of the clan rushed toward them, his hands waving frantically in the air.

‘You catching any of that?’ Kilkenny called out.

‘The head man just vouched for these guys,’ Chow answered. ‘That good enough for us?’

Kilkenny holstered his pistol. ‘Yeah, cut ’em loose.’

Weapons were lowered, and Chow informed the men of their release. The patriarch escorted them to the fire and ordered others to fetch water for the riders. Both men were caked in dust from a hard ride, their horses frothy around the muzzle. The men brightened when Yin and Tao emerged from the yurt. After they had drunk their fill, the patriarch questioned them. The exchange flowed quickly, with the men talking rapidly.

‘What are they saying?’ Kilkenny asked Tao softly.

‘Apparently we got out of Chifeng just in time. The whole city is locked down — no one going in or out. The local police with army backup are running house-to-house searches. Phones, TV, radio — all shut down. Curfews. They’ve imposed martial law as part of their effort to apprehend a group of very dangerous criminals who escaped from the prison.’

‘That would be us,’ Kilkenny said.

‘Before the lines were cut,’ Tao continued, ‘they received word that all border crossings are closed. Also, you and I and the Bishop are the latest additions to Mongolia’s Most Wanted.’

‘Would they really arrest us?’ Kilkenny asked.

‘If the Chinese asked them to, yes,’ Tao replied. ‘When you’re landlocked between two very powerful neighbors, you learn to get along.’

‘Is there a problem?’ Yin asked.

‘Yes,’ Tao replied. ‘We planned to go north and take you out through Mongolia, but that way is now closed to us.’

‘Which means we go to Plan B,’ Kilkenny added.

‘Plan B?’ Yin questioned, unfamiliar with the phrase.

‘Our second choice,’ Kilkenny explained. ‘It’s a much longer flight, but it should still work.’

‘A longer flight,’ Yin repeated, a childlike twinkle in his eyes. ‘Having never flown before, I think I would like that.’

‘Then I hope you find our BATs comfortable, because we’ll be spending a few nights in them.’

Tao motioned for Kilkenny to quiet down as she tried to glean more news from the riders. The patriarch nodded his head gravely and looked at Kilkenny and Yin.

‘What is it?’ Kilkenny asked.

‘Helicopter searches. They’re looking for camps like this one, any place where we could have found refuge. And they’re arresting suspected Roman Catholics.’

‘Then we’re out of here,’ Kilkenny decided. He looked at Gates and the team. ‘Time to saddle up. We need to put some distance between these kind folks and ourselves. Roxanne, please express our sincere thanks to our host and to these brave gentlemen for this information. They may have just saved Bishop Yin’s life.’

‘Permit me,’ Yin said.

Starting with the patriarch, Yin bowed deeply to each of the men and offered what Kilkenny could only imagine was a glowing tribute at the end of which he blessed them, then all who dwelled in the house of their host.

‘I don’t know what he just said,’ Kilkenny whispered to Tao, ‘but clearly the man can work a room.’

‘You have no idea.’ She also was moved by Yin’s eloquence.

Kilkenny showed Yin how to don the balaclava and adjust his helmet. Tao slipped into the rear seat of the BAT piloted by Han and held her hand out for Yin. As the Bishop carefully climbed aboard, Kilkenny took the co-pilot’s seat.

‘Team Comms on,’ Kilkenny said clearly, activating the short-range receivers in the rest of the teams’ helmets. ‘Listen up, people. Our Mongolian egress is a no-go, so we are switching to Flight Plan Marco Polo.’

One after another, the three Night Stalkers confirmed Plan Marco Polo and tried to load the coordinates into their navigation computers.

‘Uh, Nolan?’ Han called out. ‘Our NAVCOM is negative on Plan Marco Polo.’

‘That’s because we’re going to make it up as we go along. I have a few tentative waypoints roughed in that I’ll upload to you once we’re airborne. For now, just head west.’

‘Why do you call your plan Marco Polo?’ Yin asked.

‘He was the most famous Westerner to travel the Silk Road. Since he successfully returned to Italy from China, I find him inspirational.’

As Kilkenny spoke, the pilots warmed up the engines and completed their preflight checks.

‘Those who traveled the Silk Road did so mostly by day,’ Yin offered, ‘but I recall one group who made the journey west traveling only at night. They were guided by a star.’

Kilkenny laughed. ‘Then you will be very pleased to know that we will be guided by a constellation of twenty-four stars. They’re not as bright as the one that guided the magi, but ours are accurate to within a few centimeters.’

‘Twenty-four is eight threes — a very lucky number.’

‘I can take a hint. People, Plan Marco Polo is now Plan Magi.’

One by one, the three BATs lifted off and quickly gained speed.

Yin craned his head back, watching the nomad’s camp disappear behind them. Tao noticed that his hand pressed tightly to his chest.

‘Are you all right?’

‘I am fine,’ Yin replied.

‘Terry,’ Kilkenny said to the pilot, ‘once things settle down, I’d like to get a little time behind the stick and brush up my piloting skills. We have a lot of flying ahead of us.’

‘When we’re over a nice flat stretch of nothing, I’ll run you through a refresher course.’

After flying several hours under a clear, moonless sky, Kilkenny watched the grasslands gradually succumb to the Gobi Desert. He was piloting the aircraft, and behind him Tao slept and Yin stared out with rapt fascination at the stars. Han busied himself with checking various systems while keeping an eye on Kilkenny to verify that he was on course to the next waypoint.

‘Anybody out there sniffing around for us?’ Kilkenny asked.

‘No, but when my kids are this quiet, I get nervous,’ Han replied. ‘You got any?’

‘Any what?’

‘Children. I have two boys and a girl — all under six. My house is a zoo. Those kids back there really latched onto you, so I figured you must have some of your own.’

Kilkenny thought for a moment before replying. ‘My son was to be born on the first of November. He died with my wife in August.’

‘I’m sorry,’ Han said empathetically, imagining Kilkenny’s loss.

Kilkenny shrugged. ‘Look, I’m going to let Rome know what we’re up to. If you need me, just send a ping or rap on the side of my helmet.’

‘Roger that,’ Han replied meekly.

‘Comms off,’ Kilkenny said, disconnecting his link to the rest of his team. ‘Satellite uplink on.’

Yin turned his attention from the stars to the man seated in front of him and prayed for his rescuer.