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Devil's Island Page 5
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A man that she assumed was their leader stepped forward. He stood in front of them for a minute, assessing their situation, his mouth twisted into a harsh smile. From a sheath on his right hip he withdrew a knife.
“I’m Valance,” he said, his black eyes merciless, his face harsh. “You’re inside a very large cave system. Can you hear that?”
Mai, surprised, cocked her head to the left. She’d been too focused on her situation to think about anything else until now but there . . . very faint . . . was a deep rumbling sound.
“Volcano,” Valance said. “Oh, don’t worry. It’s not active, but it’s damn close. It’s not going to erupt any time soon. It’s never properly erupted. But you will find on your way through these tunnels that some of those old tubes still carry molten lava.”
Mai finished off her bottle of water, saying nothing.
“There’s one way out of this cave system.” He pointed to a tunnel that vanished deeper into the mountain. “Through there. You four will run. We will track you and then kill you. I’ll give you a five-minute head start.”
He paused, letting it sink in. Mai couldn’t help but glance at Luther and then look over at Karin and Dino. Everyone understood; they just didn’t know why.
“You brought us all this way just to hunt us?” Mai said. “There are caves in Europe too. Even the odd volcano.”
“Not our choice.” Valance shrugged. “That decision was made between the Blood King and the Devil. Quite a pair, those two. Nutty as a squirrel’s birthday cake and as deadly as Sarin. But hey, as soon as we made the right financial offer they were hugely accommodating. Can’t say fairer than that.”
“Financial offer?” Mai shook her head, not understanding.
Valance ran the blade of his knife over rock, sharpening its edge. “It’s a game. A competition. Fourteen mercenaries and four civilians against the great Mai Kitano and Luther . . .” He paused, thinking. “Do you even have a second name, bro?”
“Fuck you.”
“Really? I bet that gives you fond memories of your school days. So . . . we get you two and also the two rookies to play with.” He laughed at Karin and Dino. “We will have the guns, but I will allow you knives and a pack of supplies. I’ll also let you keep the flak jackets you rolled in with. We could be down here for some time. The passage there—” he nodded toward it “—meanders for miles. It has junctions, dead ends, death traps. We have added several surprises of our own . . .” The assemblage giggled. “But eventually it does emerge at the top of the mountain. If you can make it that far. By that time though . . . you or all of us will be dead.”
“You paid the Devil for this?” Mai hissed. “You’re all mad.”
“Yeah, yeah, we sold our souls. When we catch you we will kill you. That’s all you really need to know.”
“Who are these four civilians?” Karin asked. “Have you abducted and forced them too?”
Valance laughed. “You’re kidding me, right? They’re the reason we’re all here. No, they’re four rich white hunters. They’ve paid for the privilege to hunt you, with us watching their backs.”
In a terrible way, it made sense. Mai grimaced and then caught Valance’s eye. “You know you’re all gonna die, don’t you?”
The man continued scraping his knife. “I would expect nothing less from you.” He made a quick signal and a backpack was thrown at Mai’s feet. Then Valance twirled his finger at the captives, asking them to turn around.
“Guns,” he said.
Fourteen mercs came forward, their weapons aimed.
“When I cut you free, don’t attack,” he said. “I want to kill you in the tunnels where it’s more of a fair fight, not here.” He snipped their bonds.
Mai rubbed her wrists and reached for the backpack, checking its contents. There was more water, energy bars, a first-aid kit, and several other items she didn’t have time to check. Without asking she passed the others an energy bar and tucked into hers. She drank more water.
Valance tapped a rock with his knife. “Ready?”
His men threw them large military blades with serrated edges along the top. To their credit, these were serious weapons.
“One last thing,” Valance said, looking more serious. “This island blows to kingdom come in twenty-four hours.” He checked his watch. “Mark.”
Everyone pressed a button on their watches.
“I’d say a distance of three miles would be adequate,” he went on. “If you have the energy left to swim that far.”
Valance laughed. His men smiled. The civilians with their large guns stared at Mai with an intense hatred.
“Best get moving,” Valance said. “Your time starts now.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
The small jet flew out of thick cloud and dipped toward the sea. Drake and the others were ready to jump. It was a military jet, equipped with a special cargo hold from which they could perform a low altitude parachute jump.
When the doors opened the team leaped out. Drake plummeted hard toward the roiling sea, pulled at his ripcord and, as always, felt a moment’s relief when it unraveled without a hitch. The whole team sounded off that all was okay. Eight-strong, they flew at the bright blue seas, cutting away from their chutes at the last minute. They sliced into the ocean feet first, waiting for the momentum to slow before kicking their legs and heading back up to the surface.
Then they bobbed for a while, scouting the coast.
Ahead, nothing moved. Drake saw the hook of land that Hawkins had recommended. It took some effort with the weight they carried, but he trod water, scanning the high cliffs rising above. Nothing stirred in the early morning.
“Let’s go.”
They struck out at a steady pace. Every member of the team was fully loaded, packing enough weapons and ammo to end a war. Other supplies were strapped to their backs, and items for day and night work. Hopefully, they hadn’t left anything to chance.
Drake reached the headland first and swam around it into a narrow cove that was sheltered from the sea. The water was shallower here and he found himself wading forward, still studying the cliff face ahead. With this being the western side of the island and the cliffs rising so high it was still gloomy and cold, everything wrapped with the last vestiges of shadow.
Drake waded onto a beach and removed his face mask. It shouldn’t be needed again. An amphibian aircraft was on standby from the nearest island and there were many boats at anchor near the castle that they might be able to utilize.
From out of nowhere, a figure appeared to his left, rising and attacking in one swift move. Drake was barely able to catch a downward swing on the material of his heavy jacket, deflecting the huge knife blade away from his skin. He was vaguely aware of other bodies attacking from left and right, emerging from the waves.
What the hell were they doing—fishing?
Struggling in the undertow, he staggered to the right. The attacker was on him in a second. Drake twisted his upper body, throwing the man off. Water splashed. Heavy waves crashed over them. He caught his first real glimpse of his adversary as they faced off. The man had a thick head of hair that hung in limp hanks, brown eyes and a beard. Sores pitted the side of his mouth and nose. Even from here Drake could tell he was largely unwashed.
The knife thrust forward. Drake was ready now, twisting and catching the wrist above the handle. He jerked hard, snapping bone. The man grunted. The knife fell into the waves. Drake pressed his advantage, but another breaker rolled past and forced him sideways. The man disappeared momentarily, then came up spluttering.
Drake righted himself and glanced toward the deeper ocean. The waves would never stop coming but he had a short window now. He leapt, forcing his enemy’s head down and removing his own knife from its sheath around his waist. Quickly, he stabbed three times, felt the life force leave his aggressor, and let the body float.
Drake turned. Finally, he could see what else was going on. There were only two other attackers. It was the surprise of their as
sault that had upset the team. But only momentarily. Alicia and Molokai were dispatching one man whilst Dahl held another under the rushing water, foam spinning in a little whirlpool where his arm breached the waves. The next large wave broke over them. Drake fell to his knees, spluttering. When he looked up, Dahl was already stalking to shore, having finished with his man. The rest of the SPEAR team followed.
“I’ve had better welcomes,” Alicia gasped, catching her breath.
“I’m surprised,” Kenzie said. “You being you.”
“Piss off, I didn’t see you helping.”
“I knew Molokai could handle it.”
“I was helping Molokai.”
“Yeah, but despite that I knew he could still handle it.”
Drake tuned them out as he caught his breath and stared up at the black craggy cliff face before them.
“Not my forte,” Kinimaka grunted from behind. “If men were meant to climb mountains they’d have a spring-loaded cams instead of fingers.”
“Hawaiian proverb?” Hayden asked.
“My proverb.”
“One brisk climb and we’re up,” Dahl said. “From the terrain image we saw before we jumped, I think this range drops into a small valley, and then we have another shorter range to cross before it all evens out into valleys and fields.”
“Don’t forget the Marauders,” Kenzie said, squeezing salt water out of her hair. “The mountains are their territory.”
Drake was happy they’d been given some extra peace of mind with the satellite image. “Everything we saw relates to the map Hawkins gave us,” he said. “It’s accurate. We can explore with confidence.”
By now the others had joined them. Molokai and Alicia came last, the blonde having trouble with her flippers and cursing them to hell and back.
“Not like you to take your time shedding clothes,” Drake noted.
“That’s because, in the bedroom, I’m not used to taking off fucking flippers.”
“Well, maybe you can work on that.” He grinned and turned away.
Dahl had already spied the easiest and safest route up the cliff. “See.” He traced it in the air with his finger. “It’s not direct but there are ledges and resting points. Plenty of crevices. Follow me.”
They fell into line as Dahl approached the base. At that moment a loud crack sounded, and a bullet whizzed off the rock near his shoulder.
Drake fell to the floor, staring up into the rocks. The problem was they all looked the same—black granite. The briefest of movements allowed him to pinpoint their enemy.
“Two o clock,” he said into the comms. “About fifty feet up.”
“Why’d they only take a pot shot?” Dallas wondered.
“Sentries,” Kenzie speculated. “In my experience they’re always sluggish. They get used to nothing ever happening.”
“Maybe . . .”
Drake raised his most accurate weapon, a fourth generation M16 that could be equipped with enough accessories to confuse even the most seasoned soldier. Drake’s sported lasers and tactical lights and should be good for target practice.
He sighted in on the rocks where he’d seen movement. He didn’t want to fire before a good opportunity arose. The others had hit the dirt around him. Dahl pressed himself against the rock face.
A head popped up, rifle following. Drake opened fire. He saw a gout of blood through the sights, and then the head fell away. It was followed by another. Bullets were loosed. They slammed into the sand and the rocks, fired without direction and seemingly in a panic. Drake thought he saw a radio antennae close to a man’s left ear a moment before he opened fire.
“Good shot,” Molokai said.
The second man flew back into the rock face before slithering out of his hidey hole and down the cliff. Dead, he fell in a jumbled mess, landing on the beach with a loud slap. Hayden dashed over to make sure the man was dead.
“Up,” Dahl said.
Taking care, they started up the rock face. Handholds were good and plentiful so they didn’t need to attach cams, but Dahl hammered several in anyway, to help those less experienced than him. With Molokai’s help he threaded ropes between several of them so those below could match the leader’s pace. Time was of the essence if they were to cross the island and save their friends.
Drake took it a step at a time, move by move. He tested every handhold, every surface. The last thing he wanted was to take a nose dive at one hundred feet, sandy surface or not.
They stopped momentarily to check on the men they’d killed, searching for a radio. Dahl didn’t find one, but did come up with a cellphone.
“Interesting. There’s electricity here. And not just at the castle.”
He guessed it made sense. If the legends were true, the Devil had initially invited these men to live on the island. They would have sources of electricity, running water and other essential needs.
After a brief rest they continued up the rock face. Drake’s gloves helped protect his fingers, but the strain grew. At his back he could sense and hear the sea, pounding relentlessly at the coastline; he could feel gusts of wind as they tried to pluck him off his narrow perch. But he could also feel a rising heat, the higher they climbed, a brightening of the day.
They were climbing into sunlight.
And onto Devil’s Island.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Up and over the top, they went. Eight soldiers seeking to rescue their friends in one of the most inhospitable places on the planet. Drake went over third, trusting that Dahl’s and Molokai’s lack of warning was a good thing.
It was.
A flat surface extended to a boulder field ahead, beyond which Drake saw a wide stretch of rocky ground and then another set of cliffs. These towered above and would have to be climbed straight away. On the plus side, they looked as painless to navigate as the ones they’d just climbed.
Dahl and Molokai ranged out, heads down, checking the area. Drake waited until Hayden and Kinimaka joined him and then moved forward. A rising sun warmed both them and the landscape. It spread spectacularly across the eastern horizon, a layered bank of reds and yellows that slowly illuminated the land. Drake kept his eyes peeled to the scenery, checking for the slightest movement.
“Remember,” Dahl said. “They’re not soldiers, but they are hardened criminals, engaged in this kind of covert warfare for years. Don’t underestimate them.”
Drake checked the compass that was strapped to his right wrist. East was dead ahead.
“Don’t be premature,” Alicia whispered at his side. “We gotta climb those bastards yet.” She pointed at the cliff face.
“I’ve never been premature in my life, Alicia. You should know that.”
She looked at him. “Really? There was that one time in Casablanca . . .”
Drake shook his head quickly. “I’ve never been to Casablanca.”
“That wasn’t you? Oh, well, he looked like you.”
Drake wasn’t sure whether to be annoyed or grateful and decided not to respond. They were in the boulder field now and among good cover. The eight-strong team picked its way through the scattered stones, ranging to left and right, moving ahead with guns held ready. Barely a sound was made. Ahead, there was a slight gap in the cliff, a serrated, uneven hole through which they could see down to a small patch of the island beyond.
Drake saw a deep valley and a wide forest, more mountains and a winding river. Already, he could see different climate zones at work here, and wondered how many there might be on this small island. He knew the Big Island in Hawaii was spectacular in that the tiny lump of rock contained eight out of the world’s thirteen climate zones, which meant you could experience the verdant fern forests of Puna, the rugged lava plains of Kona, the mists of Waimea Canyon and the snowy heights of Mauna Kea in a matter of hours. He could see pieces of that through the gap in the mountain. Recalling the map, he imagined the wilderness to the far southeast might be divided by a canyon and they already knew there was a stagnant volcano to t
he northeast.
“This place would make a pretty good tourist trap,” he commented as they walked. “Once you’ve removed all the murderers and savages.”
“And the Devil,” Kenzie reminded him.
“Yeah, and a shitload of mercenaries,” Alicia said.
“Is that the official term for a group of mercs?” Dallas asked. “I didn’t know that.”
Alicia looked over. “As soon as we get a spare minute, we need to talk about you. We don’t know you, and Kenzie here can’t be trusted with her judgment.”
“Okay—” Dallas started to agree.
“Me!” Kenzie hissed, her voice low. “You’re not exactly renowned for making good choices, bitch.”
“It’s fine,” Dallas interjected, trying to stem the altercation. “I get it. You’re a world-class, tight-knit group, able, and forced to rely on one another to stay alive. I understand why you wouldn’t trust a newcomer straight away.”
“It’s not just that,” Drake said, thinking of those that were no longer here. “We don’t want to get you killed, mate.”
“You’re with the bitch on this?” Kenzie drove her words at him.
“Let me ask you, how well do you know Dallas? He could be a spy. It’s happened before.”
Kenzie looked between Drake and Dallas, and then at Alicia. Disbelief then wariness entered her gaze. She was well aware of the Blood King’s nefarious methods, his long-term plans, his ability to wait. A new light came into her eyes as she stared at Dallas.
“We could throw him off the next cliff if you like.”
Alicia shifted around a rock. “Now you’re talking.”
Drake threw his arms around Dallas’ shoulders. “They’re joking,” he said. “For now. You did show up at an opportune time and we really do need to have a chat, but let’s wait until the days and nights are easier, hey mate?”