Chapter 46
Arctic
Crash Site
Anywhere else on the high seas, a distant black stain on the horizon might have seemed innocuous. Here, for Kasey, it was nothing less than the coming of the Apocalypse.
Her first clue that the situation was degrading had been the young Russian sailor with the handheld radio. He’d received a call that seemed urgent, and while Kasey couldn’t hear the conversation, the man had immediately slapped his partner on the shoulder, and they’d rushed outside.
Kasey waited a few beats, then cautiously followed. Outside, she saw one of the men pointing into the distance. And just like that, her fears were confirmed. A trail of black smoke billowed on the horizon, a brutish silhouette below. The Chinese were coming. Coming for Chen and Sky Fire.
Probably for her as well.
She hurried back inside and found Chen sitting on the floor near the forward galley.
“What’s going on?” he asked, having noticed the commotion.
She bent down and said in a forceful whisper, “We have to go… now!”
He stared at her blankly, not understanding. “Go? Go where?”
In a move that would have impressed any drill sergeant, she reached down, hauled him to his feet, and ushered him toward the back.
They ended up near the crevice where Sky Fire was hidden.
Kasey retrieved the backpack she’d prepared from the big pile of debris.
She shrugged it over one shoulder and said, “The Chinese icebreaker Langley told us about—it’s on the way. We can’t be here when it arrives.”
“What do you propose?”
“You can walk, right?”
“A little, yes. You’re saying that we should… walk out into this storm?”
“The storm is letting up, and we have warm clothes.”
“Where would we go? There is nothing but ice for hundreds of miles.”
Kasey tried to think of a good reply, something convincing and logical. Nothing came to mind. She’d been gaming this scenario for hours but always hit the same dead end. There was nowhere to go. There was only ice and wind and frigid water. But staying here was tantamount to surrender, or worse.
“We’ll figure something out,” she said.
Sharpe came up the aisle and joined in. “What’s up?”
Kasey told him about the approaching icebreaker. “We’ve got ten, maybe fifteen minutes. Dr. Chen and I are going to make a run for it.”
She saw his thoughts stutter. He was hitting the same practical roadblocks Chen had, seeing the Arctic as an insurmountable obstacle.
But then a steely calm overtook him. The way it probably did when, back in the day, Sharpe had spotted an enemy fighter on his wingman’s tail.
Instead of asking questions, instead of telling her it was hopeless, he said, “How can I help?”
Kasey was stunned by the relief those four words brought. And also by her reflexive response. “You could come with us.”
Sharpe hesitated. “I can’t just leave these people.”
“They’ll be okay. The Chinese are only after us, and the Russians are here to take credit for a rescue. The survivors will be taken care of either way.”
She could see his struggle. A responsibility to his passengers versus duty to country.
“Actually,” he said, “it might be better if I stay behind. I could help you get clear. The Russians will eventually figure out you’re missing, and the Chinese are going to come looking for you no matter what. If we’re lucky, I can run cover for you with both of them.”
Kasey thought about it and nodded. It was a valid point. “All right. Any time you can buy us would be appreciated.”
Chen said, “We should update Langley first.”
It was another good thought. Proactive and helpful. Both men were stepping up their games. She said, “You’re right, the agency has to get moving on an alternate plan to get us out of here.”
“What about the guards?”
“They’re both outside, on the right side of the fuselage. Go to the opposite side and set up Sky Fire. I’ll keep an eye on them.”
Chen unsteadily bent down to retrieve the black case.
As he did, Sharpe pulled Kasey aside and asked, “Are you sure he’s up to walking out of here?”
“Not really. But I don’t see any choice. If we can make a mile, maybe two, we’ll have some separation. The ice has a fair amount of snow on it, but with this wind our tracks should get covered quickly.”
“Okay, but humor me. You make a mile or maybe two… then what? If his leg gives out and he can’t walk anymore, that’s a death sentence out there.”
Not having an answer, Kasey simply shot him a hard look. “One crisis at a time.”
“What’s in the backpack?”
“Some supplies. Food, water, heating packs.”
“The food and water will freeze.”
She looked at him plaintively.
“Sorry, I’m not trying to be a downer. I just want to get everyone out of here alive.” He glanced toward the entrance. “You should take the rifle.”
Kasey didn’t know if he was thinking about the polar bear or the Chinese. “I’m going to be hauling a lot and Chen might need help walking. But yeah, it’s probably a good idea.”
“How will you handle those leads Captain Khurtin mentioned? Chances are, you’re going to come across more than a few.”
“I was thinking about that as well. Chen and I are just going to have to keep moving, even if it’s not in a straight line.”
“All right. Let me know when you’re good to go. I’ll figure out a way to distract our two minders.”
“You know what, Sharpe? You’re not half bad at this. If you’re ever in the market for a career change, I’ll put in a good word for you with the agency.”
“From a pilot who just crashed his airplane to spook. Seems like a totally natural transition.”
Kasey couldn’t contain her smile.
He smiled back.
“Thanks,” she said.
“For what?”
“For giving me a moment to think about something besides life in a Chinese prison or being mauled by a polar bear.”
“You’re welcome.”
A crackle from the radio outside interrupted. Kasey heard one of the sailors acknowledging instructions.
“I’ve got some prep work I need to take care of,” she said.
Sharpe pulled a box of ammo for the rifle from his pocket and zipped it into her backpack. “I think we both do.”