Dawn of Defiance
Page 40
With the rising of the early morning sun both micro light aircraft took to the sky leaving the dusty ground behind. They climbed slowly to one hundred meters and made their way towards the border. Once they approached the boarder they dropped altitude to around thirty meters from the ground. Kate who flew with Riaan wash not enjoying the experience as she was afraid of heights, Nicole on the other hand flew with her experienced uncle who lead the way. As always, blood ties came first.
Flying as low as they could they hugged the desert terrain. It was bitterly cold but the excitement and adrenaline helped to keep them warm. The constant hum of the engines and the tugging of the wind on the wings, kept all at a heightened state of awareness.
Kate began to relax, her thoughts had wondered ahead of the trip and what to expect. But honestly she had no idea what was going to happen. She had acquired an unanswered faith she could explain. Least she wouldn’t be bored anymore.
The last message she received was from Nathan's father who informed her that the USA government would offer political asylum to anyone who assisted one of their citizens. But without Nicole, Nathan would never leave. Anyway, there was no proof that he was still alive and the USA would need facts to back it up. It was their mission to confirm his identity before the transfer to Staaldraad, which undoubtedly would be his doom. Time was running out.
Verneukpan stood out from the surrounding landscape like an immense blister of white sand. As an old dried salt pan, it had been used numerous times for the testing of high speed vehicles, so naturally it made the perfect landing strip. Both micro lights circled around into the wind to make a perfect landing, side by side.
Once the dust had settled, and the engines switch off, everyone got out and stretched their weary legs.
Kate however stood alone and at a distant from the other.
She knew that her battle had just begun, as all her old enemies would now be after her blood once more.
It was so peaceful, only the sound of a gentle breeze to soother her troubled mind.
She had not forgotten Kazak; how could she when it was he who sent Dimitri to kidnap her in the first place. But that seemed secondary to Steenkamp who would unleash hell against them if he knew where they stood right now. She would never be safe again, not in Cape Town or anywhere in South Africa. Steenkamp would still have agents searching for them, but hopefully his attention will be on other targets for now.
At the edge of the salt pan Kate first noticed a white cloud of dust.
Everyone turned to stare as it got bigger and bigger.
Then from out of the cloud they could make out a few dots, perhaps a dozen or two riders.
With no time the distinctive sound confirmed their suspicions.
Johan Kruger remained mesmerized, memories of his youth came flooding back.
He had not told them everything, especially about their ride back to Cape Town.
Nicole edged closer to her uncle who put his arm around her.
"Oh my God, that’s not what I think it is?" Kate asked.
“Yes I’m afraid it is.” Johan said as the bikers descended upon them at high speed.
Now totally engulfed in a dust cloud, the bikers began to circle around, enclosing the circle tighter and tighter.
Kate and Nicole stood side by side watching the bikers who looked back at them, some had a hunger for violence in their eyes .
They began to slow down yet they continued to rev their engines louder and louder until the sound became unbearable.
Kate covered her ears when all of a sudden a rider put his fist in the air and they all focused onto him.
His back helmet had five red stars painted above the visor.
He is probably the leader, Kate thought to herself.
A symbol of his rank no doubt.
Then when he opened his fist they cut their engines.
The two groups now stared at each other, the one vastly out numbered.
Silence, except for the hot desert breeze hung over them.
"Sergeant Fucking Kruger," was heard from a man now getting off his bike.
Johan smiled and moved forward leaving Nicole standing alone to greet his old friend.
"Marcus, I thought you would be dead by now!" Johan replied as the two men collided in a bear hug.
Both men were big, well over six foot, but Marcus had an aura of danger about him that would intimidated most men.
His bald scalp had a tribal tattoo, which only accentuated his menacing look.
Completely surrounded by a gang of thirty five bikers dressed in denims and leathers, Kate felt perfectly safe in a strange kind of way.
Johan and Marcus after exchanging pleasantries walked away to get some privacy while the rest of the bikers dismounted and congregated around the two brightly coloured micro-lights.
Riaan somehow became the chief aviation mechanic, explaining the working of the aircraft to the interested bikers.
Two of them got into a heated scuffle but soon stopped when they saw Marcus return.
They knew they would be dealt with later.
All eyes were now focused on Marcus as he went over with Johan to meet Nicole.
"Hi, I'm Marcus," he said quickly, before Johan could do any introductions.
I believe this fat fuck is your uncle”
Nicole was in two minds how to respond, but she held out her hand anyway.
“Are you going to help us” She asked.
He smiled and nodded his head.
“I guess that’s why we’re here!”
Marcus then turned to face Kate.
She could always sum up a man within a few seconds, or so she thought.
But with him, she was without words.
Instead Kate gazed into his deep blue eyes and extended her hand.
"Hi, I'm Kate!" She said in her British accent.
"Yes, we all know who you are; everyone does!"
He stared at her in awe.
"I have eight hundred and sixty men at arms, and we have no love for the Government.”
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The End