Lucifer's Fire

by Richard Turner

  It was all strictly business to her.

  She said to Gray, “I’m going to check on my treasure. You and four of my men can stay here and guard the way out. I’ll take two of my men with me. If we’re not back in ten minutes, come in after us.”

  “Whatever,” mumbled Gray. He was just too tired to care anymore. If today were his last day in Liberia, he would be ecstatic. Seras and her diamonds could go to hell for all he cared now.

  Seras saw that the blond-haired man in charge of her close-protection detail was dead. She didn’t know who he was, as she had never bothered to learn his name.

  “Let’s go,” said Seras to a black-haired man with a scar running down the side of his thick neck.

  “Yes, ma’am,” replied the man. He called over a muscular African-American. “James, take charge while I’m gone.”

  “Got it,” replied the black mercenary.

  The black-haired man accompanied Seras inside the tunnel entrance. The last person in was a slender, baldheaded man.

  Quickly, silently, the remainder of Seras’ men took up positions covering the tunnel.

  Gray was nearing exhaustion. He wasn’t sure what would give out first, his body or his spirit. He was about to take a seat on the ground when he heard the sound of a helicopter’s rotor blades approaching.

  He looked skyward and was surprised to see Seras’ Augusta helicopter flying just above the top of the trees. He didn’t recall Seras asking for it to be flown here, but then again, he was getting used to her not keeping him in the loop regarding her decisions. Gray decided to ignore the incoming helicopter. He sat down on the ground and then lay back until he was looking up at the cloudless sky.

  Fatigue washed over him. He closed his eyes for a moment and took the opportunity to rest.

  It would be short-lived.

  Grace felt her heart drop when she entered the cavern and saw Chang sitting next to the treasure. His face was pale. Blood covered his lips. He sat there, grimacing in pain. Until that moment, she hadn’t realized how much she really cared about the man. He had taken her under his wing after she was released from prison for killing a man who had raped and killed her sister. Grace had learned a new and deadly profession. She came to respect and admire the man who now lay dying right in front of her.

  “Hold on,” called out Grace, “I’m coming over to you.”

  She ignored the dead bodies of her comrades lying on the cold, rocky floor of the cavern. Grace ran over and quickly crossed over the rope to the far side and Chang.

  She rushed over to his side and checked his wounds. “What happened?” asked Grace.

  “Ambush,” said Mitchell, stepping out from the shadows his pistol aimed at Grace’s head.

  Slowly taking her assault rifle from her shoulder, Grace handed it up to Mitchell. All the while, her eyes never left Chang.

  “He’s got a broken leg and several broken ribs,” said Mitchell.

  “By the look of his shallow breathing, I suspect that he may have severe internal injuries as well,” said Grace. She didn’t care that Mitchell had a gun on her. She wasn’t going to fight him, not while Chang needed her help.

  The sudden, sharp sound of automatic gunfire from above echoed down into the cavern.

  “Company’s here,” said Mitchell.

  Grace did not hear Mitchell’s words. She sat down on the rocky floor, wrapped her arms around Chang and pulled him close to her. If he was going to die in the next few minutes, then so would she.

  The fight above lasted for a couple of minutes and then died down. Mitchell knew that whatever had happened on the surface was over.

  He knew it could only mean that Seras was coming for the treasure.

  Mitchell moved back into the dark, he put his pistol away and took hold of Grace’s assault rifle. He checked that it was loaded and rested the rifle down against the rock he was hiding beside and took aim.

  A few minutes later, Seras and her two bodyguards stepped out into the cavern. The macabre sight of two men impaled on booby traps and others lying on the floor riddled with gold coins greeted them.

  The black-haired man shone his light over across the river at the treasure. He brought his rifle up to fire when he saw Grace sitting there quietly rocking back and forth with Chang in her arms.

  “Don’t,” ordered Seras. “I want to know what happened here.”

  With the black-haired man in the lead, they crossed over the river.

  The two mercenaries took up position covering Chang and Grace. They stood there quietly while Seras ignored Chang and walked slowly toward the object of her desire.

  Seras’ heart was beating like a drum in her chest. At her feet was more wealth than she ever could have imagined. She flipped open the first chest she saw and let out a delighted squeal when she pulled out a white diamond the size of a golf ball. She dropped it and picked up a large pink diamond. She twirled it in her hand as she shone her flashlight at it. She was enthralled by its clarity and purity. It was easily worth ten to twelve million dollars.

  Seras smiled as she walked over to her bodyguards. When she turned her attention to Grace, Seras felt a pang of jealousy. Here was a woman who could love something more that herself.

  “I don’t know either of you. My name is Caroline Seras. What happened here?”

  Grace looked up through tear-filled eyes. “He’s hurt; he needs help.”

  “I don’t care,” replied Seras bluntly. “Tell me what happened and I’ll make sure that you both die painlessly.”

  Grace shook her head and gently kissed Chang’s cold forehead.

  “Shoot the man first,” said Seras to the slender guard.

  The killer stepped forward to get a better shot.

  A loud, sharp crack filled the cavern as Mitchell’s rifle fired.

  With a bloody hole blown straight through the side of his head, the bodyguard fell face-first to the ground.

  Mitchell brought his weapons’ sights on to the black-haired guard. He pulled the trigger, nothing happened. There was a round jammed in the breach.

  Mitchell had less than a second to act before the black-haired man found his hiding place.

  With a blood-curdling cry on his lips, Mitchell charged forward. Like a wraith rising from the depths of hell, Mitchell emerged out of the dark. He struck the guard in his stomach with his shoulder, picking the man up off his feet. Mitchell wrapped his arms around his opponent pulling the man into him as he dove to the rocky ground.

  With a loud moan on his lips, the guard landed with his back on the hard floor. His rifle flew from his hands and slid away into the dark.

  Mitchell let go of the man, got up on his knees, balled up his fists, and then sent them flying into his opponent’s face. Blow after blow struck the man.

  After a few seconds, a normal man would have passed out from the brutal beating, but the black-haired man, a veteran boxer, simply rolled with the punches. He waited for Mitchell to tire a little. The man reached up, grabbed hold of Mitchell’s right hand and then squeezed it tight.

  The pain shooting out from Mitchell’s trapped fist was excruciating. It was like being held in a vice that was being slowly closed on his hand.

  With a bloody sneer on his face, the guard slowly got to his feet, bringing Mitchell along with him. With a lightning-fast move, the man sent his free right hand flying into Mitchell’s side.

  Agonizing, white-hot pain shot from Mitchell’s side as his kidney was mercilessly pummeled. He fought to keep from blacking out. Mitchel shot out his right foot, aiming for his opponent’s knee.

  The mercenary saw the momentary glance downward from Mitchell’s eyes. He knew what was coming and deftly sidestepped aside. The blow toward his knee met nothing but air. The thug let go of Mitchell’s right hand. He mockingly smiled and then raised his hands up in the classic boxer’s pose. He stepped back slightly and waved at Mitchell to come at him.

  Gray heard the helicopter come into land. Opening his weary eyes, he sat up and looked ov
er at the helicopter. He was taken aback when he saw that there was a woman sitting behind the helicopter’s controls.

  His suspicions grew when he saw Jackson.

  With a smile on his face, Jackson waved to him from the co-pilot’s seat.

  Gray rolled over and struggled up onto his tired feet. He began to run at the men guarding the tunnel. He was about to call out a warning when a felt a sudden sharp pain in his chest. He looked down and saw blood beginning to soak his shirt. A second later, his knees turned to jelly. Unable to stand anymore, Gray tumbled to the ground. His vision quickly narrowed. He was surprised that he felt no pain. The last thing his mind thought before he died was, why didn’t I hear the shot that killed me?

  From a tree overlooking the field, a shape slowly moved. Looking over the scope of his silenced sniper rifle, Yuri Uvarov smiled to himself. He may not have been as good as a shot as Cardinal, but he was good enough.

  Jackson climbed out of Seras’ helicopter and strode to the tunnel entrance. His AK was slung over his shoulder. He could count four men with their weapons trained on him.

  He stopped ten meters from the men and smiled. “Boys, I don’t want to have a fight with you. Hell, I might have even served with some of you when you still had a conscience. So here’s what I’m going to do for you: You can stay here and die when the company of Marines arrives in the next five minutes, or you can take one of those Rovers parked over by the jungle and try to make a run for it. I honestly don’t care what you do. It’s your call, but don’t forget, gents: The clock is ticking.”

  It took the men less than five seconds to make up their minds. Running as fast as their legs could carry them, they ran for the closest Rover. They started it, quickly swung it around, and then drove it straight for the red-dirt road. Thirty seconds later, they were gone from view.

  “I didn’t know the Marines were coming,” said Yuri into Jackson’s earpiece.

  “They’re not,” replied Jackson. “I made it up when I saw there were only four of them.”

  “Good one,” said Yuri, snickering.

  “Yuri, get down here and protect Miss Giap while I go see how Ryan’s doing.”

  With blood pouring from a cut above his left eye and from his battered and swollen lips, Mitchell staggered back slightly. His body screamed at him. It seemed there wasn’t a place on his body that didn’t hurt.

  “Come on, ya pussy,” said the black-haired man, taunting Mitchell.

  Mitchell took a deep breath to focus his mind and remembered his pistol. Quickly reaching behind his back, he swore when he felt an empty holster. His pistol had fallen out when he tackled the guard.

  With a grin on his face, the black-haired man stepped forward and waved for Mitchell to rejoin the fight. He was tiring of the fight. He wanted to put down Mitchell as fast as he could. Pulling back his arm, he sent his right fist flying straight at Mitchell’s jaw. At the last second, Mitchell turned his head slightly. Instead of a knockout blow he had been planning, the man’s fist slid along Mitchell’s sweat- and blood-covered face.

  Something inside Mitchell’s mind fired. If he was going to survive another minute, he had to do something, and fast. Reacting to his opponent’s outstretched arm, Mitchell pivoted on his hips, ducked down slightly, and then sent his right fist as hard as he could into the man’s unprotected side. With a satisfying thud, Mitchell’s fist struck home.

  Pain flashed through his adversary’s body. With a moan, the black-haired man stepped back from the sudden and unexpected attack. He lashed out with his foot and swept Mitchell’s feet out from under him.

  Mitchell landed hard on his back. He saw bright white stars flash in front of his eyes. He was close to blacking out. Painfully rolling over on his side, he tried to get up on his feet.

  “Don’t move,” threatened the man. His chest rose up and down as he sucked in much-needed oxygen. In his hand was Mitchell’s lost pistol.

  Mitchell swore. He dejectedly sat down on the cold, hard ground and looked up into the face of his opponent. It was bloodied and bruised. Mitchell was sure that his wasn’t any better.

  “Shoot him and let’s get what we came for,” said Seras to the guard.

  The man’s eyes hardened as he brought up the pistol to fire.

  Mitchell brought up a hand. “Wait a second, this isn’t everything. There’s more treasure hidden farther back in the cave.”

  “Hold on,” ordered Seras to the thug.

  She walked over in front of Mitchell. “Where is the other cache of treasure hidden?”

  “Back there,” he said, pointing over his shoulder into the dark.

  “Where exactly?” said Seras irritably.

  “It’s easier if I show you.”

  “Why would you do that?”

  “If I show you, will you let me leave here alive?”

  Seras smiled, showing her pearl-white teeth. To Mitchell, she looked like a shark about to devour its next meal.

  “Of course, Mister Mitchell, you have my word,” said Seras.

  Mitchell knew she was lying, but he needed to play for time. With pain shooting from every joint, he got up on unsteady feet. Out of the corner of his eye Mitchell saw a dark blur moving in the shadows on the other side of the cavern.

  “I am not known for my patience, Mister Mitchell. Show me the treasure, or I will have you shot,” warned Seras.

  Mitchell slowly raised his hands in mock surrender.

  Suddenly, a sharp crack filled the cavern.

  Mitchell flinched.

  He wasn’t hit. Mitchell looked over at the guard and saw a shocked look of disbelief on the man’s face. A second later, he fell face-first onto the floor of the cavern, dead.

  “That’s two you owe me,” called out Jackson as he walked out of the shadows on the on the other side of the cavern.

  Mitchell waved over at Jackson. It hurt just to wave. He felt as if he had just been put through a meat grinder. One thing was for sure, He had never been so relieved to see his friend.

  “Stay there, we’re coming to you,” called out Mitchell as he gingerly bent down and picked up his pistol.

  He walked over and pushed Seras aside. He looked down and saw that Grace was crying. He was surprised that he felt bad for her. Gently placing his hand on her shoulder, he said, “Come on, it’s time for us to go.”

  Grace looked up and fixed her gaze on Seras. Softly laying Chang’s lifeless body on the ground, Grace stood, her body burning with anger and hate. Seras had foolishly threatened to kill her and Chang.

  Mitchell saw the angry look in Grace’s eyes and tried reaching over to stop her, but was a fraction of a second too late.

  With a loud scream, Grace charged at Seras. She wrapped her arms around her and kept running straight for the fast-flowing river. A second later, both women flew over the side and into the cold, black water.

  Mitchell ran to the river’s edge and tried to grab hold of the women before they disappeared forever in the dark.

  With her arms wrapped tightly around Seras, Grace wasn’t going to take Mitchell’s hand.

  With a horrid look of absolute terror in her eyes, Seras vanished from sight.

  Mitchell slowly stood up and looked over at Jackson. His friend’s look of disbelief said it all.

  Ten minutes later, Mitchell and Jackson stood in the open field, taking long deep breaths of fresh air into their lungs.

  “I wanted her alive,” said Mitchell.

  “Which one?” asked Jackson.

  “Seras. Someone has to pay for all of this.”

  “I think drowning in the dark is a fairly horrible way to go,” said Jackson, placing a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Come on, Ryan. We’ve done all we can. Let’s get out of here.”

  They walked over to the helicopter and found Yuri having an animated discussion with an Asian woman he had never laid eyes on before.

  “Ryan, please help me. The pretty Vietnamese girl will not let me fly the helicopter back to the dig site,” compla
ined Yuri.

  “Uh, she’s from Texas,” corrected Jackson. “And you know what they say: Don’t mess with Texas.”

  “Well, I’m still flying co-pilot.”

  Mitchell smiled at Yuri and said, “Do you still have the remote?”

  “Da,” replied Yuri, digging out a remote detonator from a pocket on his Hawaiian shirt.

  “What’s that for?” asked Jackson.

  “This,” said Mitchell, pressing a large red button on the remote.

  A second later, a muffled boom sounded, followed by a much larger explosion as the area around the tunnel entrance exploded. Rigged to collapse the tunnel, the hill buckled in on itself. Tons of dirt and rock slid down the face of the hill, sealing the tunnel entrance.

  “If I didn’t come out of there before anyone carrying any of the treasure, Yuri was under orders to press the remote,” explained Mitchell to Jackson.

  “What if Yuri had inadvertently pressed the button when he was climbing in and out of a tree?” said Jackson.

  “I never thought that far,” said Mitchell honestly. He felt the adrenaline begin to drain from his system and became quite tired. His tired muscles and the wounds he had sustained fighting Seras’ goon all conspired to make his body ache all over.

  “Yuri, before we go, please call Cardinal, tell him that we are on our way back to him,” said Jackson. “I don’t want anyone to get the wrong idea and accidentally shoot us down.”

  Mitchell climbed into the back of the comfortable helicopter. He dropped his aching frame into one of the leather chairs, buckled his seatbelt, and looked out the window at the jungle. So many people had died, and in the end, the treasure still remained hidden under tons of rock and dirt. He closed his eyes. Mitchell never felt the helicopter begin to lift off the ground. Fast asleep, his snores serenaded Jackson all the way back to the dig site.

  Twenty minutes later, Jackson happily got out of the back of the helicopter and left Mitchell strapped into his seat, still fast asleep.

  Cardinal and Sam greeted him and told him that General O’Reilly had just called them to let them know that a company of Marines was being flown from the capital to help secure the site and to assist in the evacuation of the American and Liberian nationals from the site.