Chapter 6
Dobby watched as Mila fell asleep instantly. On the edge of the clearing, Vance was muttering and swearing. Dobby suspected he’d get pulled aside to deal with Vance’s complaints after they were back in Australia. Not that he cared. The man was a selfish, privileged git, and not worth his time.
He’d been glad to hear Mila give him the serving he deserved, but he hated hearing the pain in her voice. Had she loved him?
Surely she hadn’t been fooled by him. But perhaps he could be charming when he wanted something.
“She’s a tough cookie,” Axle murmured. “Her arm had to be hurting, but she didn’t say a thing about it.”
“She was more concerned about Hawk,” Dobby agreed. Someone she’d only just met. It took a certain type of person to put strangers before herself. He felt drawn to her, but instead of moving closer, he stepped away. “I’m going to check the road.”
Axle nodded as he made himself comfortable near Hawk, but between the road and the others.
Dobby crept through the jungle. Joker and Radar would have made sure they left no sign of them stopping there, but Dobby wanted to check. And he wanted to scope the surroundings, ensure there wasn’t a rice field or houses near where they were camped.
He took his time watching the road to see if any survivors were leaving town and that people weren’t returning to investigate things. He understood Mila’s desire to stay and help. They’d be lucky if any buildings were left standing by the time the sun rose.
But he also had to keep to his mission, even if it had gone completely pear-shaped.
The insects had returned to chirping and a few birds squawked. The thick, rich scent of plants and decay filled his nose, a far more pleasant scent than back at the village.
Agus worried him and he didn’t want Mila anywhere near him. If they were lucky, he’d stay holed up in his house until after they’d left the island, but he wouldn’t count on that.
He’d keep her away from Vance as much as he could, too. Radar had told him what had happened. Dobby wouldn’t let her be forced into anything.
Not that she seemed likely to give in to Vance.
Satisfied the road was clear and there was no sign they had been there, he circled the camp, creeping through the jungle listening for noises that shouldn’t be there. He couldn’t hear anyone speaking, or see any lights, which was good.
In the distance a macaque called and received an answering response. A few birds screeched, and a mosquito buzzed annoyingly close to his head. He swatted at it.
Shifting down the hill, he found a gap in the trees which allowed him to view the ocean. Another wave rolled in, but it didn’t appear like it was too big. He made note of the time.
From his estimate they were maybe a bay around from where they’d arrived. He sighed. He should have first sent Radar and Joker to scout for the zod in case by some stroke of luck it had survived intact.
But there was no fighting an enormous wave and the jungle was difficult enough to navigate through when it wasn’t full of broken trees and debris.
The zod could wait, at least until they had a definite extraction time.
He stared down at the ocean. The water was littered with rubbish for almost a kilometre.
Even if they found a boat, it would be slow going through the debris.
As he stared at the water, he relived the moments the tsunami hit.
The way the wave had knocked Mila from her feet and buried her. Its onslaught as it caught up with Hawk and he disappeared from view.
The sudden knowledge it would be a miracle if either of them survived.
And he’d been helpless to stop it.
He shuddered and shoved it into a box to deal with later. Hawk and Mila had both survived. By Christmas they’d all be sitting around, having a beer and talking about the mission and laughing about what a douche bag Vance had been.
As long as Vance didn’t decide he was better off with Agus.
Another wave rolled in and he checked the time. Yep. Thirty minutes. The crash of the wave against the shore reached him and he shivered. He shouldn’t be able to hear any waves from this distance.
So definitely still tsunami waves.
He continued his round and when he was satisfied there was no one in the vicinity, he returned.
The camp was quiet. He gave Axle the all-clear signal. Axle gestured him over. Hawk was sleeping and Axle moved towards him.
“I’m worried,” he murmured. “Hawk might have internal bleeding. He needs surgery as soon as possible.”
Shit. “Can you do anything for him?”
He shook his head. “It would be good to get some more pain medication for him and a hard stretcher so he’s not jiggled about when we move him.”
The only place they would get that was in the village. His gut clenched. “We need to get to the medical centre and discover what’s left of it.”
Axle nodded.
“Write me a list of what you need.” They couldn’t afford to wait for the all clear to be given.
“You can’t go alone.”
Dobby shrugged. It would be a couple of hours before Joker and Radar returned. “You need to stay with Hawk. It’s thirty minutes between waves.”
Axle frowned but nodded.
Yeah, Dobby didn’t want to go back into the village if the waves hadn’t stopped, but he would if it would save Hawk’s life.
It was his fault Hawk was injured.
He ignored the tightening in his chest.
It was doable as long as he could navigate around the remaining buildings.
The rumble of an engine drew his attention.
It was too soon for Radar and Joker to be back unless they’d run into trouble. He crept towards the road, staying far enough back to ensure he wasn’t seen.
The car was coming from the mountain. It slowed as it approached, flashed the headlights twice and then cut them.
Dobby slid his night vision goggles on and confirmed it was the black four-wheel drive. He stepped out, waved and Radar brought the car to a stop.
Radar wound down his window. “There are too many people awake in the village. We explored a little beyond it but there’s a landslide blocking the road.”
Which meant the other villages were cut off from them unless they found a boat, or trekked through the jungle.
“What should we do with the car?”
“Leave it there. We still need it.” With the car, they’d reach the main village in only a few minutes.
From there they might have to go on foot if the roads were blocked, which was highly likely.
Another five minutes to reach the medical centre.
Five to ten minutes to find the things they needed – if the centre was still standing – and another five to get back to the car.
Twenty-five minutes. That’s what he needed between the waves.
He exhaled. Mila could tell him the location of the medical centre. “This way.” He led the men back to camp.
He’d leave Axle and Radar with Hawk, Vance and Mila, and take Joker with him. Joker would have time to get to the beach where they’d left the boat and confirm whether it was still there.
But even if it was, getting out without hitting any debris would be difficult.
There was still so much that could go wrong with this damn mission.
And all for a selfish spoilt brat who would rather fake his kidnapping than work for a living.
He hated not being able to refuse a mission when it was something like this.
Dobby exhaled. No point dwelling on it. He still had to get his team and two civilians out of here safely.
Dobby went straight to Axle. “You’ve got my list?”
Axle handed it to him, shining a torch on it. “These few things or the closest you can get to them,” he said. “The rest is nice to have.”
Dobby nodded, recognising everything from his medic training. “Waves are thirty minutes apart. I’ll take Joker with me. Radar can keep contacting base. I just need Mila to tell me where the centre is.”
“Or was,” Axle pointed out.
Though it was a real possibility, it wasn’t one he wanted to consider right now.
He crouched down to wake Mila. She was curled up, almost in the foetal position and lines creased her forehead. She wasn’t relaxed in her sleep. He stroked her arm. “Mila, wake up.”
Her eyes flashed open, and she jolted and then groaned.
“You’re safe. It’s Dobby.”
She forced a smile onto her face. “Yeah. Sorry. My whole body aches.”
Though concerned, he wanted to make her smile. “You think today’s bad, wait until tomorrow,” he joked.
She grimaced. “Thanks.” She glanced around. “Are we going?”
“Not yet. I need to head to town. Where’s the medical centre?”
“One street back from the beach, about two-thirds of the way along towards Agus’s house.” She sat up. “I can show you.”
“No, you stay here. I’ll find it.”
She frowned. “If buildings have moved, I should be able to figure out where they’ve gone.”
She had a point, but, “The all clear hasn’t been given. I have to get in and out between the waves.”
She stiffened and glanced over at Hawk. “It’s bad?”
“He might have internal bleeding. Axle needs a few things.”
She stood. “Then I’m coming. It will be quicker if I’m your guide.”
The woman had guts. She had to be aching all over and terrified, but her help would be invaluable. “All right. Let me get Joker.” He checked the time. They’d wait until the next wave rolled in and then go.
He explained the plan and Radar sat up. “You three go to the car. I’ll radio when the wave hits and you’ll have a head start.”
Good idea. “Thanks.”
Dobby glanced at Vance who hadn’t stirred during any of their discussion. Dobby leaned down to Radar. “Keep an eye on him. He might not be sleeping.” And though there was nowhere for him to go, he was stupid enough to try something.
When he turned, Joker was already piggybacking Mila.
Dobby pushed down the jealousy that he didn’t have her smooth legs wrapped around his waist.
He’d find her some shoes at the village.
Dobby drove them closer to town while Joker checked the comms.
“Wave’s coming in now,” Radar reported.
Dobby stopped at the closest point to where Joker needed to get out which was also just beyond the highest water mark.