Chapter 31 #2
He didn’t know how well equipped the rebels were, but he was willing to bet it was nothing like the army’s arsenal.
“What was that?” she asked.
“Abu-al-Rashid making a bold statement. There’s going to be hell to pay now.”
“Do you think they’ll come after us?”
“Yeah.” There was no doubt about that. “Once they realize you’re gone. They have a chopper, remember?”
“Oh, shit. How are we going to outrun them in that?”
“We’re not.” He set his jaw determinedly. “We’re going to find some cover. Do you remember the map we looked at?”
“Yes.” She sat up now that they were clear of the base.
“Wasn’t there some sort of farming structure nearby? I seem to recall seeing it on the map.”
There was a pause as Hannah filtered through the filing cabinet in her brain.
“Yes, there was. You’re right. It was a grain facility, I think. It must be approximately two miles west of here.
“Right.” He swung the wheel and headed on a westward bearing. “I’m going to head for that. It will give us some cover from an air assault.”
They bounced over the grueling landscape, keeping to their bearing until the grain handling facility came into view. It was hard to miss. The steel corrugated silos shone like reflective mirrors in the stark sunlight. It looked completely out of place in the otherwise barren desert.
“What’s that behind the silos?” asked Hannah, pointing into the distance.
“It looks like a warehouse,” he said, gunning it across the hard sand. It had large open garage doors and was perfect for hiding a vehicle.
They were nearly there when Tom heard the familiar throb of the helicopter.
Hannah cried, “Oh, no. They’ve found us.”
“Must have followed our dust trail,” he gritted out. “We may as well have left a line of breadcrumbs.”
He drove into the warehouse and cut the engine. With the double doors wide open, the occupants of the helicopter would be able to see right in.
“Should we try to hide it?” she asked.
“No point. They know we’re in here.” The warehouse was a storage facility for farm and industry equipment, but it was all neatly lined up at the rear.
“Let’s go.” Tom jumped out of the vehicle. Hannah followed, pale and disoriented. “Here’s a side door.” He tried it, but it was locked. With a mighty heave, he threw his shoulder against it, and it burst open.
The helicopter was approaching fast.
They ran toward the silos. The silver containers were so bright they had to squint against the reflection. They zigzagged around the first two and ducked in between the third and fourth. At several hundred metric tons each, they were fat and bulky and offered a good degree of cover.
“Surely they can see us overhead,” Hannah said.
“Not with the glare. They’ll assume we’re still in the warehouse.”
They crouched down under the curvature of the silo, their backs flush against the warm steel, and waited for the chopper to land. Except it didn’t.
Tom felt Hannah start as the pilot opened fire on the warehouse. The noise reverberated off the structures around them, obscenely loud. They watched as the warehouse splintered and cracked under the bombardment.
Then the SUV exploded, bursting into flames. A portion of the roof collapsed, and all the windows shattered.
Hannah gripped his hand as the helicopter lowered itself menacingly until it was in line with the open garage door. Orange sparks flew from the front two automatic guns as the aircraft opened fire once again, this time aiming inside the warehouse.
“They’re taking no prisoners,” Tom muttered. The SUV was a burned-out wreck, while the warehouse looked like a category-five tornado had hit it.
“Thank God we aren’t still in there,” Hannah whispered.
Having depleted its arsenal, the chopper swung around, pausing in midair.
“Stay low,” he hissed. “Don’t move a muscle.” She crouched down farther and held her breath. The chopper hesitated for a moment before swooping down for a closer look.
Tom could see Anwar in the passenger seat. He was scanning the ground through a pair of binoculars. Would the glare be enough to mask their figures from the air?
Eventually, after what seemed like an eternity, the chopper regained altitude.
Tom exhaled. “We’re in the clear.”
It circled the complex once more, before heading off in a northerly direction. Neither of them moved until it was a tiny black speck in the cobalt blue sky.
Hannah surprised him by bursting into tears, but he knew it was just the release of tension. The last few hours had been extreme. It would have tested even the hardiest soldier.
He held her in his arms and stroked her hair. “It’s okay. We’re safe now. They’re gone.”
She nodded into his shoulder. “I’m sorry,” she muttered, already composing herself. “I can’t help it. I was so scared.”
“I know. It’s okay. I’ve got you.”
And he did. Somehow, they’d got through it unscathed. He’d nearly lost her at the army base, but luck had been on their side, and again here. He felt a little shaken himself, if he was honest.
“Tom. . .” She glanced up at him, her eyes wet with tears. His heart lurched, just a little bit.
“Shh. . . Now’s not the time. I’ve still got to get you off this island. We’ve lost precious time, and the clock is ticking. We’ve got to stay focused.”
She let out a shaky breath. “Of course.”
He released her and got to his feet. “You stay here. I’m going to have a quick look around. There might be something here we can use.”
She didn’t reply, so he left her sitting against the silo and headed towards a dusty field. Along the edge sat some rusty pieces of machinery.
He inspected them, but there was nothing of use. Then he saw a shed in the far corner of the field. It looked abandoned, like everything else around here.
The door was locked, so he kicked it in. When the dust settled, he broke into a grin.
Wheeling the items back to Hannah, he said, “Fancy going for a cycle?”