Lena suddenly looked at Cap and then at Ravenwood. “It isn’t a coincidence that the Sahiradin ship appeared in our solar system and fifty-five years later Earth was struck by asteroids, is it Ravenwood.”
Ravenwood leaned against the wall near the door and glanced at Kane, who raised his eyebrows and said, “You’ve told them this much, you might as well complete the picture.”
Ravenwood nodded his head. “I suppose you’re right.” He looked at Lena and said, “I strongly suspect the wounded Sahiradin ship which arrived in our solar system in the early 1970s did indeed use its remaining time to launch an attack against Earth. The Sahiradin have demonstrated they are capable of waging a campaign of extinction against a sentient species, and I see no reason why they would not have looked at Earth’s inhabitants from the same perspective. Murdering billions of people on this planet would be a mere footnote in their long history of atrocities.”
“Not just people,” said Lena, fixing her gaze on Ravenwood. “Descendants of the Alamani.”
Ravenwood returned her gaze. “Yes, descendants of the Alamani.” He looked at Logan. “Perhaps even the rarest of them.”
“And the asteroid impacts were a way of killing as many of us as possible in order to pave the way for a Sahiradin colony,” added Kane.
“Son of a bitch,” said Cap, sitting up and looking at Kane.
“So my grandfather worked side by side with a Sahiradin to adapt Sahiradin technology to human uses, and it was the same bastard who’d launched the asteroid attack on Earth,” said Logan in disbelief. “What is the Sahiradin getting out of helping the PRA? What’s his goal?”
“The mission has not changed for the Sahiradin,” said Ravenwood. “His goal is to prepare the way for the rest of the Sahiradin forces, and in order to do that he needs a ship with the ability to shift space.”
“And the Apollo Stone,” said Lena. She looked at Logan and Cap. “The Guardians think they’re getting a ship to fight their enemies here on Earth, but they’re actually playing right into the Sahiradin’s plan to wipe us all out.”
“The Sahiradin has misled your leaders,” said Ravenwood. “That is clear.”
“They’re not my leaders,” interjected Cap. “I resign my commission.”
Kane looked at Cap and said, “The Guardians know the Sahiradin wants the Apollo Stone, but they have fooled themselves into believing he simply wants to return home. They may have promised to help him in order to gain his assistance with building their war machine, but they would never actually let him go.”
“Why not?” asked Cap. “They might help him get back home in the belief the Sahiradin will help them with their plan to reunite the United States.”
“I doubt they’re that stupid,” said Kane.
“What if they think it’s a forgone conclusion that the Sahiradin will eventually get here and they are positioning themselves as their future allies?” said Lena.
“You think they’d rather be top dog on a conquered planet than resist the Sahiradin?” asked Logan.
Kane shook his head. “If they think that, then they are fools.”
“I would not dismiss it as a possibility,” said Ravenwood. “They may suffer under the delusion that the Sahiradin only mean to rule Earth, not annihilate us all.”
“Hell,” said Cap. “I don’t know about you guys, but I’m pretty damn pissed right now. We’ve been at war for over a hundred years and didn’t even know it.”
“Assuming it’s all true,” added Lena. “No offense, Ravenwood, but this is all just talk so far.”
Ravenwood nodded. “No offense. I understand it’s a lot to take in. But allow me to add one more wrinkle to this story. As already stated, Earth was an Alamani colony that the Sahiradin believed was abandoned long ago. Recall that for every colony, the Alamani built a gate, a khâl, which could generate a stabilized wormhole to another khâl. We must assume the ancient Alamani settlers followed their standard practice and created a khâl somewhere in our solar system. If this is correct, it does not function or the Sahiradin would have overrun us long ago. Therefore, I suspect the Sahiradin crash survivor does not intend to use the Blackhawk to immediately return to his kind. I think he may first try to repair the khâl to permit the Sahiradin to send as many ships through as they wish. Once through, they can shut it down and prevent their enemies from following because there are no other stones. The Lycians have captured the other twelve at various times in this conflict, and upon discovering they could not destroy them, propelled them one by one into a black hole.”
Logan was about to say something, but he went silent at the sound of a metallic clanking sound outside their compartment. The boxes were pulled to the side, but instead of Captain Larson two men entered the room.
“Come with us,” said one of them. “We’ve reached the meeting spot. The captain sent us to get you.”
Chapter 44
Logan looked at the two men who had come to retrieve them. One had a thick beard and short brown hair. The other was taller and had long blond hair.
“Captain Larson told us only he and Watts know we’re here,” said Logan. “Who are you two?”
“The captain sent us to get you,” said the bearded man. “He and Watts are being watched so he sent us. There’s no time to waste. The SPD officer will be down here in a few minutes.”
Logan looked at the others as he felt the ship begin to slow. “I don’t like it, but we can’t take the chance of being discovered by the SPD. Let’s go.”
They quickly gathered their weapons and followed the men up to the deck above. The blond-haired man cautioned for them to wait while he crept up to the next level. He looked down the ladder and waved them to follow. This was repeated several times until they were on the main deck. Logan looked out a window they passed by and saw it was a dark moonless night.
The two men led them down a long passage to a cabin door. They opened the door and motioned for Cap, who was in front of the group, to go in. Cap looked in and saw it was empty. He looked back, an expression of uncertainty on his face.
“Go in,” said the bearded man. “The captain will be here in a minute.”
Kane looked at the bearded man. “I don’t like it. And I don’t like you.”
Logan saw doubt flash across the sailors’ faces.
“Why are you so eager to get us into that room?” asked Kane.
Cap looked at the door handle and said, “I’ll bet it’s because the door to this room has a lock. The storage room we were in doesn’t.”
The sailors’ expressions quickly changed from doubt to anger. The blond one smashed Cap in the face with his elbow, knocking him to the floor. Then he pulled out a pistol. Ravenwood grabbed the pistol and struggled with the sailor to point the weapon away from the others.
The bearded sailor pulled out a long knife and lunged for Kane, who sidestepped the attack. He grabbed the man’s knife hand with his right and dislocated his elbow. The sailor cried out, but Kane slammed his head against the bulkhead, rendering him unconscious.
The blond sailor freed his pistol hand from Ravenwood’s grip and pointed it at him. Cap quickly got up from the floor and gave him three quick punches to the kidneys, knocking the wind out of him. The sailor collapsed to the ground, gasping for air. Kane smashed him in the face with the pummel of his dagger, stunning him.
They dragged the two men into the room. Cap located a key on the bearded sailor that fit the door and locked them inside.
“Let’s move,” said Kane as he picked the pistol up off the floor.
They trotted down the passage until they came to a door with a small window. Kane peered through it. Then he slowly opened the door and stepped into the chilly night air. They ran along a balcony until he came to a ladder. Logan looked toward the water and saw the soft red glow of the bridges of three nearby smaller ships. They descended a ladder and found themselves near Captain Larson. Logan looked up and saw a crane with a bulging cargo net ready to transfer goods from the Chipp
ewa to one of the three dark ships, which was quietly gliding toward them.
Captain Larson turned and saw them. He looked around to see if anyone was watching and quickly walked toward them. Kane drew his dagger, but the captain opened his hands to show he was unarmed.
“What are you doing here? It’s too soon,” said Larson, agitated. “I was not going to get you until all other business was complete.”
“I’ll tell you what we’re doing here,” said Kane through clenched teeth. “We’re getting off this damn boat right now. Your men tried to lock us up and when we declined their invitation, they tried to kill us.”
Larson looked surprised and frightened. “Something is wrong,” he whispered. He looked around and then up. He swore under his breath. Logan followed his gaze and saw a female SPD officer smiling down at them from two decks above.
Just then a white spotlight lanced through the darkness and they heard the sounds of engines revving. A voice boomed over the water. “All ships prepare to be boarded! Stop your engines! All ships prepare to be boarded!”
“Damn! A patrol cutter,” said Larson. He yelled at two nearby men. “Decker! Get up to the bridge and get us out of here. Vick, get behind that 50-caliber in case we need it.”
The two men ran to follow the captain’s orders but were soon fired on by the SPD officer from above. Kane fired two shots at her, forcing her to seek cover. Upon hearing the shots, the patrol cutter shined its light on the Chippewa. Logan heard a popping sound, which was immediately followed by a huge splash of water next to the freighter. The cutter’s explosive shell had fallen just short of the Chippewa’s port side.
The loudspeaker blared out another message as the cutter raced toward the group of ships. “That was the only warning shot you will receive! All ships stand down and prepare to be boarded!”
One of the smuggler ships engaged its engines and quickly shot forward. The cutter fired two explosive rounds, one of which hit its mark. A red and yellow ball of fire erupted in the middle of the hull where the ship was hit. Then Logan heard the tac-tac-tac of a heavy-caliber weapon coming from the damaged ship returning fire. The other two ships engaged their engines and began racing away.
Captain Larson looked at one of his crew and yelled, “Vick. Get on the 50-caliber and fire on those smugglers, but don’t hit anybody.”
He looked at Kane and the others. “Follow me.”
He raced toward the stern. As he ran, he yelled over his shoulder, “Do you know how to drive a boat?”
“Not really,” yelled Kane.
“I’m going to put you on a very fast boat. She can outrun the cutter, but those things can move too, so you’d better be a fast learner.”
When they reached the stern, Larson opened a small metal box attached to a wall. He pressed a button inside the box with his thumb. Then he ran toward the stern of the ship and looked over the guardrail at the water below. The others followed. A bottom-hinged door was opening just below them. When it had completely opened, two booms holding a ten-meter-long speedboat emerged from inside the ship.
“Nice GoFast boat,” said Cap.
Larson looked at Kane and said, “We’re sixty kilometers east of the Wisconsin shore, forty-three degrees latitude. Get out of here and don’t look back.” He handed him the boat key.
Kane hesitated, looking at the key with a furrowed brow.
Cap took the key from Kane’s hand. “I’ll drive.”
“Why aren’t you using this boat to escape?” asked Lena, looking at Larson. “Why are you giving it to us?”
“As a smuggler, I’m in trouble,” replied Larson. “As a traitor, I’m a dead man walking. I can explain away how you got on board, but only if I’m here to do it.”
Just then they heard a slug whistle through the air above their heads. The SPD officer was standing at the railing of the deck above them. Kane returned fire, causing her to duck inside an open door.
“But there’s one thing I need to take care of before we’re boarded,” said Larson. “Give me the gun.”
Kane handed him the weapon. “Thank you, and good luck.”
“Go,” said Larson. He started to run toward the door the SPD officer had disappeared into, but Kane caught his arm. He whispered something into the captain’s ear. He looked at Kane and nodded. Then he dashed away.
They climbed down a short ladder and jumped into the speedboat. When they were all in, Logan pressed a button on the front supporting arm, causing cables attached to the bow and stern to swiftly lower the boat down to the water, then Logan hit the release button and Cap started the engine. He took a few seconds to study the boat’s controls, then he pushed a lever to his right slightly forward and the GoFast slipped away from the Chippewa.
Logan felt nervous about their chances of getting away. How fast was this boat? Larson had said the cutter was fast. Would they be able to outrun it? More importantly, would they be able to outrun its guns? Logan felt the floor of the boat tremble as Cap revved the engines. He looked at Cap, who wore a wide grin on his face.
Cap looked around and said, “Sit your butts down, everyone.” He pushed the throttle forward and the speedboat surged ahead. The others gripped their seats and nearby gunwales as the speedboat shot over the big rolling waves of Lake Michigan.
Cap yelled to Kane over the screaming engine, “I’m headed due west, but tell me where we should be going.”
Kane carefully walked to Cap, holding onto anything solid his hands could find as the boat bounced over the waves. Cap pointed at the navigation screen. “Based on the location Larson gave us, I think we’re about here.”
Kane peered at the map screen. “There,” he said. “Windy Point. It’s in hostile territory, but we don’t dare land farther south. Chicago and the surrounding area are firmly in the grip of the PRA.”
“Why is Windy Point hostile territory if it’s not in the PRA?” yelled Cap.
“All of Wisconsin is Dellian territory, and they’re friendly to the PRA. The Guardians give them guns and food in exchange for the Dellians keeping the northern border secure. They’ll turn us over to the Guardians if they catch us. Or eat us.”
Cap gave Kane a wide-eyed look. “Eat us? Seriously?”
“Protein’s protein,” answered Kane with a grin.
A shell hit the water just in front of them, sending spray into their faces. Cap stayed on course. A second shell fell just to their starboard.
“Aren’t you going to swerve to dodge the shells?” asked Kane, a hint of concern in his voice.
“No,” said Cap. “Lake cutters can go forty-five knots, maximum. We’re going fifty-five.”
“Yeah, but their shells are going a hell of a lot faster than that,” yelled Lena after another shell sent spray into the air in front of them.
“They can’t lock on,” yelled Cap. “Our profile is too low for their radar. They’re shooting by line of sight.”
“Well they’re getting pretty damn close,” replied Kane.
“We just need to outrun their spotlight,” yelled Cap. “If they can’t see us they can’t hit us.”
After a couple more near misses, Cap looked back over his shoulder at the pursuing cutter. The spotlight was throwing much less light on them, so he swerved to port. The spotlight followed them and a shell landed ahead and to the side. He swerved to starboard ten seconds later and nothing happened. He looked back and saw the cutter had widened the beam of light in an attempt to locate them.
“They’ve lost us,” he said. “But I’m sure they’ve got a few helicopters coming up from Chicago to assist.”
Fifteen minutes later, they approached Windy Point, which formed a small bump in the Wisconsin shoreline. He guided the boat toward a group of trees that hung over the water in order to hide the boat under the branches. As soon as the hull touched the shore, everyone jumped out.
“I wish we could hide the boat better,” said Logan as he tied the stern line to a tree trunk.
“No time,” said Kane. “Rememb
er, Wisconsin is enemy territory. Keep your heads down and don’t make any unnecessary sound.”
“How long can we last on foot?” asked Lena. “The Mississippi is at least two hundred kilometers from here. We have no food, no water, and they’ll be scouring the area for us.”
“And don’t forget the cannibals,” said Cap.
Lena raised her eyebrow, “Cannibals? What cannibals?”
“When we were on the Chippewa I asked Captain Larson to send a coded signal,” said Kane. “We should have help waiting for us, but the rendezvous spot is a few hours’ march from here. We have to move quickly.”
“And what about the PRA helicopters with infrared scanners?” asked Lena.
“These woods are full of game,” said Kane. “Pretend to be a deer.” He slipped through the trees and the others followed.
It wasn’t long before they heard the sound of the cutter approaching the shoreline, but it traveled south. Soon after, they heard the sound of helicopters. “They’ll concentrate on locating the boat,” said Cap.
“That’s good,” said Logan.
“Not really. We were running at full speed for about thirty minutes, so that engine is damn warm. They’ll find it fast.”
“Shut up and keep moving,” whispered Kane. He had found a trail leading west and was following it at a trot. They reached a small clearing and Kane dropped to one knee. He looked up at the stars and then got back to his feet, slightly adjusting his course and going off the trail.
They traveled through the trees and brush for an hour before Kane stopped again. They all gathered around him, panting heavily. “Okay. Catch your breath.”
One minute later, Kane stood up. “Let’s go.”
“How much farther?” asked Cap as he got to his feet.
“Not sure. We’re headed the right way, but I’m not so familiar with these woods…” Kane stopped talking and signaled for the others to be quiet. He listened for a moment. The woods were perfectly silent. A bird chirped once and flew away.
The Navigator (The Apollo Stone Trilogy Book 1) Page 26