The Seven Seals of Egypt

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Drake couldn’t tear his eyes from the screen.

It showed the final two bikes, the ones that had remained near the ramp. The riders remained in place but their passengers had climbed down. Now, a man was taking a live video of those passengers and the bombs that were strapped to their waists underneath their thick jackets.

“Choice is yours,” the merc said. “But make it quick.”

Drake restrained a desire to lash out. Alicia couldn’t. She moved fast, but Dahl was ready. His right arm came out as she moved, encircling the top of her chest and holding her back.

“Don’t.”

Alicia fought, but Dahl held on. Smyth was also walking forward, hatred and hellfire plastered across his face. Mai stepped in front of him, pushed him backward, and caught a swipe of his arm. She twisted it back, stopping the soldier in his tracks. Kinimaka was red-faced, puffing, but unable to say a single word.

Crouch caught the merc’s attention. “Just stay calm. There’s no need for violence. What exactly do you want from us?”

“You come now. All of you. Right now. No more talking. Or the first bomber goes in.”

Drake let his Glock fall, dangling below his hand. Dahl did the same. The team stood down. Perhaps it was all a bluff, but the probability was that it wasn’t. Better Intel would have been great, but for now they were flying blind.

“You looked like tourists once. Do it again. Walk with us.”

Under the intense heat the SPEAR team walked alongside the bikes. Soon they joined the others, passenger-less now since they had joined the crowd. The initial appearance of the bikers seemed to have been taken as a prank. Tourists were laughing again and taking pictures, though Drake saw no evidence of locals.

“What’s this about? Who are you?”

“No questions. No answers. You will find out what they want when we get there.”

Drake glanced at Dahl. What they want?

“They’re mercs,” Dahl said. “Basically slaves.”

Drake nodded. He hated that they’d been forced into capitulation by a horrific but ingenious plan of attack. Nobody hurt, not even close. But the bombers were still back there, and the authorities, judging by distant sirens, seemed to have their hands full with something else.

Presently they reached the parking area and were joined by all the bikes, minus the two bombers. Drake cast his eyes over the powerful machines, ticking in the heat. A gray van was indicated and its rear doors thrown open.

“Get in,” the leader said.

“You’re really gonna regret this,” Kenzie said.

“Crap,” Alicia said between gritted teeth. “I normally don’t get into the back of a van like this. Not without first being treated to a glass of Lambrusco.”

The team climbed up and sat around the dirty, gritty floor. A moment before the rear doors were slammed shut the lead merc made another appearance.

“So you know, bombers will remain in place until we reach destination. Understand?”

Drake nodded. The doors closed.

“Shit,” Alicia said. “It’s like a bloody oven in here.”

“Don’t worry,” Drake patted her leg, “we can treat this as a reconnaissance mission. Let’s get some valuable info.”

“Don’t touch me.” Alicia swatted his hand away. “You’re all sweaty.”

“I thought you liked that.”

“Not this kind of sweat.”

“Oh, there are different kinds?”

“Damn right there are.”

Drake stared around. The others all sat in repose, resting, conserving their energy and wondering where they’d end up, and who might confront them. It wouldn’t be Luther, Drake was sure. But another player. A big player.

“Well,” Kinimaka said to make conversation. “I guess this is the first team sauna.”

Drake found it interesting that they hadn’t been stripped of weapons or even searched. The threat of a man wearing a bomb-suit was enough. They were free to talk, plan, execute.

“What do we think this is all about?” he asked.

“I’ve been thinking that too,” Crouch said. “Unfortunately, there are a dozen possibilities. The US government, looking for you. Old enemies of any one of us. It could be linked to the FrameHub situation. A rival team. More likely though, it has something to do with the seven seals.”

“Wouldn’t they have waited until we found the fourth clue?” Mai asked.

“Yes, they would. That’s another thing bothering me.”

The van bounced and rattled its way toward an unknown destination, the team holding on as best they could. Several times it slowed, but then sped up again, and soon the sounds of the city were left behind. It felt like they were out in the middle of nowhere — not a single sound outside the truck could be heard.

“They’re taking us into the desert,” Hayden said.

“No good ever came out of a forced trip to the desert,” Kenzie said. “Believe me, I know.”

Dahl shifted beside her. “Do you know any of these guys?”

“Me? Why? You think they might be relic smugglers?”

The Swede shrugged. “Good place for it.”

“I don’t recognize anyone, but if I do — you’ll be the first to know.”

“I am sorry, Kenzie,” Dahl said into the silence. “I know how hard you’re trying to leave that life behind.”

“It’s like… kicking a drug habit. Losing that sense of intense danger, excitement, satisfaction. It’s like losing a whole part of yourself that you love.”

“Hey, we’re not exactly the Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band,” Drake grumbled.

Kenzie nodded and smiled. “Of course, I know. The danger though…” She clicked her tongue. “It’s different. Very different. It calls me. It wants me. And, if I’m being honest, sometimes I want it all back.”

“I know this sounds unlikely, but I know what she means,” Alicia said quietly. “Being on the other side for a while — it has an effect you can’t shake off. It calls. Always.”

Kenzie gave Alicia a grateful look and then huddled down. Drake had thought she’d already kicked the bad habit. What did she need to get past it? Listening to them, it seemed that Alicia, Kenzie’s arch-enemy, might even be able to help.

At last, the van slowed and then came to an abrupt stop, throwing both Yorgi and Smyth, who had been standing, to their knees. Men started shouting, many men, and some came running around to the back of the van.

The sound of weapons priming was loud and ominous.

“You come quietly,” the merc leader shouted again. “We have many men and bomber still in Luxor. You hear?”

Drake shouted a compliant reply.

The back doors opened. Drake saw darker skies, full of sunset and glaring lights illuminating a rough paddock, bordered by a fence. At least a dozen men had weapons trained on them.

The merc leader grinned. “Now. You come with us.”