Fall Out

by M. N. Grenside

  With a nod to Rizal, Haribon watched as the crane suspended the basket a few inches above the hole as if it hung from the hot air balloon it originally belonged to.

  “Cara, we are going to repeat history. Let’s see who deserves to survive.” With that, Haribon stretched out his arm to the basket and helped a nervous Cara aboard, climbing in after her.

  He bent down and picked up the handheld searchlight at his feet. He gave a thumbs-up to Rizal who engaged the crane’s gears. Haribon and Cara were lowered into the abyss where darkness and history swallowed them up.

  70

  THE CAVE, PAGSANJAN

  Jonathan’s forearm jerked tighter as Marcus tried to turn his head towards Mako. All he could do was swivel his eyes in her direction. She was walking towards them, a flashlight in her hand, his own dropped beam picking out a mixture of subdued fear and determination on her face. He hoped to God she wasn’t going to gamble her life against his bravery as she had at Nisten.

  “McConnell told you to execute Bill…” Marcus hissed, barely recognizing the sound coming from his restricted voice-box.

  “The man had to die,” Jonathan said simply.

  Suddenly a sound came from high above and stars appeared in the darkness. Jonathan twisted round and pushed the barrel even harder against Marcus’ temple.

  “Pick the light up Riley. Easy…,” he whispered into his captive’s ear. Jonathan’s grip slackened just enough to let the fingertips of Marcus’ right hand brush the stone floor until he found the flashlight.

  “Now shine it up there,” Jonathan said jerking Marcus’ body up toward where the sound was coming from.

  There was a grinding of gears as suddenly a blinding light caught him and Jonathan full square in the face. The two were picked out by the white spotlight from the balloon basket, like some double act in the middle of a bizarre circus performance.

  Marcus glimpsed Mako killing her flashlight and ducking out of sight behind a pile of rubble.

  “And so we come full circle. With those who know the secret of the cave returning either to be buried in it or released by it,” said Haribon’s distant voice.

  * * *

  Lorne watched as the basket descended into the hole. As the light faded with its descent, he slowly stood up from where he had jumped off the vehicle and walked toward the three men who were focused on guiding Haribon into the depths of the cave.

  While Rizal worked the levers of the crane, Datu and Joselito were bent over the hole watching the basket descend, Joselito’s outstretched arm guiding the ropes so that the basket remained in the center of the hole.

  “That’s it. Hold it,” Joselito said, raising his arm.

  Rizal pulled on one of the red gear levers that extended out of the control box by the cab door and the cable juddered to a halt.

  “Thanks for the lift, Rizal,” Lorne said quietly as he stepped into view. Rizal whipped round, pulling a pistol from his belt. Lorne raised his hands and continued walking towards them.

  “We have an agreement…” Lorne said, his arms raised.

  Datu turned to Rizal in astonishment only for Rizal to switch targets and point the gun back at him.

  “Stay put Datu. Joselito, search the Kano,” Rizal ordered.

  The young man ran over to Lorne, patting down his torso and legs.

  “Clean,” he said.

  “You are to wait here,” said Rizal to Lorne, “until they finish. Then he’s yours.” The men above the hole stood stock still.

  “What you done… who this man?” demanded Datu, concern and worry rising on his face as he looked down at Rizal. “You loco? No one betray Haribon…”

  * * *

  Inside the cave, Jonathan waved the pistol at the light and cocked the hammer.

  “I might be more scared if you had a balisong in your hand, Jonathan. But from that distance… and with that gun. No chance,” Haribon called down mockingly.

  “Then maybe start with an easier target?” suggested Jonathan, returning the gun to Marcus’ head.

  As the basket gently swung in the humid air of the cave, Cara stared at the drama being played out below her.

  “But, Marcus… he’s dead…” she said to Haribon, confusion in her voice.

  “Go ahead,” continued Haribon, ignoring her. “For all I know you two are working together. Never known you to fail at killing anyone, Jonathan.” Haribon paused as he looked at the scene lit up below him.

  “And if you really were mortal enemies, Mr. Riley, you should have shot that scheming little bastard when you had the chance, heh? Where’s the girl?”

  Mako peered out from behind a rock unsure of what to do, or who to believe.

  “Let the girl go,” shouted Marcus. “She’s not involved.”

  “Oh come now, Mr. Riley. Chivalry may be dead, but my brain cells are not. Her father stole from me, whether she knew it or not. I want my money back. She knows where it is.”

  “Take it. I don’t want it,” shot back Mako, coming out from her hiding place. “And you can even have that damned Buddha head people keep on about. In return I want that murdering bastard,” her beam flicking over to Jonathan’s face.

  Now it was Haribon’s turn to look puzzled.

  Suddenly there was a jolt and the basket began to swing erratically, Haribon’s large beam throwing wildly flickering shadows across the vaulted surfaces.

  “My God. What’s happening?” cried Cara as she grabbed one of the supporting ropes.

  Outside there was panic. With a reverberating metallic twang, the cable that Joselito had anchored around the finlike rock snapped. It flew across the ground, neatly slicing a deep cut into Datu’s left calf.

  Without its anchor, the truck juddered backwards towards the hole, the noise of the tires scrabbling over the loose stones and rocks drowning out Datu’s bellow of pain.

  Lorne and Joselito were galvanized into action. They scrambled to the skidding truck.

  “You did this?” Rizal yelled at Lorne from the cab in panic.

  “That wasn’t the deal I made. You know why I am here,” Lorne shouted back.

  The truck juddered again; the tires unable to grip the surface, the stones rolling like marbles under the tires.

  “Rizal,” cried Lorne, “Slacken the brake on the crane’s winch. Release some of the tension. Let the basket lower to the ground or this whole rig will tip into the hole and crush everyone.”

  The truck lurched again.

  “Do it now!” shouted Lorne, banging his fist on the side of the vehicle.

  Haribon was beginning to regret his flair for the theatrical. Come what may though, Jonathan was going to explain and confess to Louis and Stefan’s treachery. Then it would end.

  But what did the girl know? Why had she mentioned a Buddha head? What was all that about?

  The truck slipped relentlessly towards the open airshaft only shuddering to a halt as the rear wheels tumbled into the hole, the rough lip of the opening gouging the vehicle’s exhaust pipes. For a moment the nose tipped up and it looked as if the whole thing would be swallowed up by the gaping maw of the airshaft.

  “Done,” cried Rizal.

  Haribon looked up through the hole, hearing the grinding of cogs and the skidding of the tires. He understood what the men above needed to do if there was to be any chance of saving them. Cara pulled at Haribon’s sleeve as they swung wildly above the cavern floor.

  “If you had wanted to kill me, it’s one thing,” she said gritting her teeth in anger. “Even ending it here with Bill… But for all eternity with that piece of shit?” she cursed pointing at Jonathan.

  “Brace yourself,” Haribon said giving Cara a last look of assurance. He killed the light and the basket gave a jerk followed by a high-pitched whining as the cable unwound. The basket dropped into the darkness, the wire acting as a break against free-fall much as it had for Bill Baines during so many of his stunts.

  * * *

  The release of the tension worked and the truck’s n
ose crashed back to earth.

  Rizal jumped down from the truck and slid two distress flares into his belt. “This is really screwed up. Follow me,” he said to Lorne. “And Joselito, you stay here, look after Datu and if anyone climbs up that cable other than Haribon, shoot ‘em ,” he shouted as he disappeared down the craggy pathway to the rock’s base.

  * * *

  Marcus knew it was now or never. He threw his head back smashing it against the bridge of Jonathan’s nose, which broke with a sharp crack. He felt the grip weaken and quickly pulled away. As he killed his flashlight, he yelled at Mako. “Hide!”

  The cave went dark again, the rear of the truck plugging the cave roof and blocking out any flicker of light from the stars. Five people all fighting for their lives clung to the darkness as their only security.

  Mako fought to control her breathing. This could not possibly be going to anyone’s plan. She desperately wanted to call out to Marcus but was afraid her voice would give her away. The only thing worse than being on her own, was being in the darkness waiting to be caught by that assassin.

  Marcus needed to draw the killer’s attention and give Mako a chance to get further away. The floor was riddled with holes and he knew that at any time he could drop right through one and crash onto the twisted metal below. The safest thing to do was crawl, so he lay flat on the floor. No sooner was he down, than he felt something grab his ankle. There was no way Mako could be that close. Praying he was correct, he lashed out with his other foot, rolling to his left as he did. There was a man’s grunt as his heel drove into something. Good he thought, happy to hurt that son of a bitch any way he could; but a moment later his smile turned to a grimace as the top of his torso suddenly fell into nothing.

  He managed to fling out his right arm just in time to grab the edge of the hole. His upper body was pointing straight down; his right arm twisted at nearly vertical. Marcus’ fingertips were all that stopped him from diving headfirst into the void. With every muscle in his arm burning in protest, he managed to haul himself back from the brink.

  “Run if you like but I will find her,” hissed a voice.

  Marcus didn’t want to think what that bastard would do to Mako if he caught her. One man was trying to kill him, while another seemed only to threaten it. Consuela had said he was a powerful friend. Marcus needed an ally and choice was strictly limited. With one arm stretched out in front to feel for holes, he crawled over to where he judged the basket had crash-landed, hoping Haribon had been armed.

  * * *

  The slackening of the winch had saved both the truck and the people in the wicker basket. Cara and Haribon hit the ground at reduced speed with the padded interior absorbing much of the impact.

  Nevertheless the basket had tipped on its side, throwing Cara and Haribon onto the cave floor. Temporarily winded, Haribon had quickly come round, his weakened right arm throbbing, his forearm broken once again. He looked around but was unable to make out anything in the darkness. There was no sound from Cara, whose inert body he could feel next to him.

  His gun was no longer on him, lost somewhere in the darkness. All he could do was wait for help to arrive. The numbers were in his favor and so long as Jonathan didn’t grab Mako or Marcus as a hostage, the killer would not succeed. Haribon got as comfortable as possible. He was going nowhere.

  * * *

  Rizal scrambled the last few yards to the foot of the great rock followed closely by Lorne, who was deftly picking his way down. Rizal picked up the crowbar he had left there earlier and planted it under the rock at the entrance.

  “My associates are grateful for your cooperation,” Lorne said. Rizal nodded, hoping he had made the correct decision.

  Haribon’s plans so far had gone spectacularly wrong and there was no time to lose.

  * * *

  Jonathan reckoned he was close to where the basket had landed. A few more yards and he would have Haribon.

  Rizal and Lorne burst into the chamber and Rizal lit the flares, handing one to Lorne.

  Jonathan was up in a flash, darting behind rocks. Rizal raised his own pistol only to have it knocked from his grasp by Lorne.

  “That’s not what was agreed,” Lorne admonished him. He turned and strode purposely towards the back of the cave where he had glimpsed movement, side-stepping the gaping holes in the floor with stealth and agility, the flare held in front of him.

  Haribon felt a gun in the small of his back. “Up,” hissed Jonathan.

  Jonathan stood behind Haribon, his bloody nose at an awkward angle and gun nudging Haribon towards the exit. But Lorne was nearly on them by then.

  “Who the hell are you?” Jonathan asked him.

  “I come with the compliments of Tyler Gemmell,” he replied, still coming.

  A flash of recognition at the name and a sting of hurt pride hit Jonathan. However, he had now fixed things. He was back in control.

  “You can clean up the others,” said Jonathan dismissively. “Tell Mr. Gemmell there is no need on this one, the job is taken care of.” He came around in front of Haribon and placed the muzzle right between his former partner’s eyes.

  “You lose,” Jonathan whispered and pulled the trigger.

  Only yards from the two men, Marcus flinched as the hammer clicked against the dummy round.

  Jonathan stared at the gun in shock and pulled the trigger again. “A test. Marcus passed,” murmured Haribon. “You failed, Jonathan. You think I’d seriously put a live round in that gun?”

  Jonathan stared in shock. Lorne was still walking towards the two men. He slid his hand into his pocket twisted his torso slightly, withdrawing and raising the little pistol.

  Seeing the movement, Marcus leapt at Haribon, bringing him down behind cover. He needed him alive.

  Lorne ignored Marcus as his swing continued in a smooth arc. A hollow point bullet flew from the gun and exploded into Jonathan’s collarbone spinning him round for one complete pirouette.

  Jonathan’s entire shoulder seemed to peel away from his torso. Another shot rang out an instant later as a second round fragmented in the center of Jonathan’s chest, silencing him mid-scream.

  His body flew back across the floor, his eyes still wide open in shock, as he skidded towards a large circular opening in the floor. A second later there was a heavy crash as Jonathan’s corpse impacted with the rusting machinery below. A rusted spar poked out through his hip; his left elbow bent backwards at a vicious right angle. His body gave a final twitch.

  “I’m done,” said Lorne, breaking the shocked silence. “Whatever issues there are between the four of you have nothing to do with me or my associates.” He turned to Haribon. “Call this a gesture of good faith on behalf of my clients. Jonathan’s presence was a gesture of bad faith from Louis McConnell. We’ve both had enough of that man. If there’s no honor among thieves, there’s only death.”

  “Who told you I had Jonathan,” asked Haribon? Rizal looked nervously at the departing Lorne. “Who?” Haribon demanded.

  Lorne carried on walking, “The past told me, Mr. Guinto. I suggest we all concentrate on the future.” With that, Lorne ducked out through the exit into the cool evening air, heading back to the boat tethered at the riverbank below.

  Haribon eyed Marcus. Without saying a word, he got up and returned to Cara’s still form. He bent down and heard her moan. With his good arm he gently lifted her to her feet. She was bruised and had a gash on her forehead just below the hairline. As Haribon carefully walked her towards the exit, he turned to Rizal who still looked tense.

  “Thank you, Rizal. Loyalty is everything. Your daughter is safe. That man is certain you never warned me. You did the right thing. We look after our own. Now close this place up for good then come get us with the Jeep.”

  “How were you so sure that man wouldn’t harm you?” asked Rizal.

  “We are the opportunity, not the threat. I did my own checking on Tyler Gemmell and his associates. I suspect that they have had enough of Louis McConnell. T
hey just wanted to let me know who they were. Let’s just say Jonathan was in the wrong place at the right time.”

  But I suspect we haven’t heard the last of Tyler Gemmell, Haribon concluded to himself.

  71

  THE CAVE ENTRANCE, PAGSANJAN

  After rolling the boulder over the cave entrance, Rizal walked back up the incline to where Joselito had bandaged Datu’s wound. Datu glared at Rizal, “If anything happened to Haribon, I tear you apart my bare hands,” he threatened.

  “I don’t have time for this now,” interrupted Haribon. “It’s fine Datu. I knew.”

  Rizal climbed into the Jeep and with Joselito’s help, managed to pull the truck out of the crater. After they had lifted Datu into the passenger seat, Joselito drove the truck away with the injured man. Rizal drove the Jeep down to the cave entrance.

  * * *

  Still in shock, Marcus and Mako gave each other a reassuring embrace. Haribon sat opposite on a rock nursing his arm, his jacket thrown over Cara’s shoulders.

  “I didn’t want them to kill him,” Haribon said quietly.

  “I would have,” glared Mako. Cara nodded in agreement.

  “I meant Bill, not Jonathan,” Haribon replied.

  With his arms still around Mako, Marcus turned to Cara. “‘Our day will come’,” he said looking at her.

  Cara stared at him. “You mean today?” Marcus shook his head.

  “That’s what really killed Bill… Sam knew that. Jonathan’s jumpsuit proved it.”

  “What are you talking about?” asked Mako, confusion in her voice.