by Sid K
“Tell me that,” Sthykar said. “I wouldn’t understand deep, technical details anyhow. But I am a trained mechanical engineer, so I understand the basic principles of science and mechanics.”
“Well, hurricanes and massive storms are created due to large temperature and pressure differences,” Jalant began. “The winds sweep in from the high to the low pressure area, swirls around, the hot air rises up, the cold air is sucked in, clouds form above when the hot air cools and it rains hard. Normally it happens over the oceans in warm water areas and the hurricanes lose steam when they hit the land. But these storm-machines allow for hurricanes and storms to be formed over the land, provided that it is near the ocean so to allow for sufficient water vapors, moisture, in the air. I believe we are close to the ocean from here.”
“Ocean is not next door to this town, but you could say that the coast is not far.”
“That is sufficient,” Jalant said. “These machines use electromagnetic waves to direct heat over some part of the atmosphere rapidly and intensely. This creates the pressure differential and the winds start moving around furiously to even out the pressure. If there is enough moisture present, it will rain torrentially as well and you have a man-made, machine-made hurricane on your hands.”
“I suppose that is correct. I learned some about atmospheric phenomenon as it relates to the operations of the airplanes, but my knowledge there is limited.”
“Mine, too. This is too complicated; although creating an artificial storm might be possible, controlling or directing it is probably beyond anyone’s knowledge.”
“Big question is, how did these people get their hands on this knowledge?”
“These Ranxians got some of that research through espionage,” Jalant said, “But even if they had acquired all of it, it would have done them no good. Neither your country’s nor Imperial research was anywhere near completion. That is where we came in: weather scientists from different countries. They kidnapped us. They lured me and a few of my Karaln fellow scientists by giving us free plane tickets and hotel rooms to a conference in the Ranx Nation where they just grabbed us and shoved us into cars. They got rest of the scientists with similar methods. Then they made us work in captivity till we had finally delivered.”
“Delivered the storm weapon?” Sthykar asked.
“It is ready,” the scientist nodded grimly.
* * *
A tall, lanky man knocked on the doors of the office of the SPASI Chief Yucker located on the topmost floor of the building. Chief Detective Avyk Wyt was the head of the Spying and Counter-Spying Department of SPASI. He was in his late forty’s, still had a head full of hair with one strand coming over his forehead, chiseled cheek bones and a long face.
“Come on in,” Yucker said from inside the office. “I kept the door open.”
“You wanted to see me, Chief Yucker,” Avyk said, pushing in the door and walking to the desk where Yucker was seated. Yucker got up when Avyk approached him. Yucker was a man in his fifties, a broad, stocky man with a large chest as well as a big stomach, Yucker kept his hair all combed back, his face was broad and his chins on sides had started to sag, but just slightly; however the most noticeable feature about him were his large, round piercing eyes.
“What are you working on in your division right now?” Yucker asked.
“Nothing in particular, usual investigations and research.”
“Great! Because I am giving you a case that has become our top priority now.”
“Number one priority?” Avyk asked startled. “What has happened?”
“A Constellar was kidnapped, and Sayett’s team was hit with an armed attack,” Yucker replied.
“Sayett?” Avyk’s alarm was evident.
“He is alright,” Yucker said. “Sadly, his guards died. He believes there is a spy in his team.”
Yucker then informed him about the bank robberies and the case Sayett was assigned, and handed over a file. He also told him what Sayett had said on the phone.
“How certain is Sayett of this Eye of Ranx man being the spy?” Avyk asked.
“That’s his prime suspect, but we need to smoke out the spy whoever he is and fast,” Yucker said. “That is why I am giving this to you.”
“That’s our specialty,” Avyk said.
“I want you to personally supervise this operation. Grab your best detectives and put them on it. But I need discretion here. You will be secretly investigating Sayett’s team; I don’t want to create bad feelings inside the SPASI between the detectives of the different divisions.”
“Just for this reason, we have created methods to identify spies and infiltrators in our ranks without rubbing anyone the wrong way,” Avyk said., “But to keep my investigation absolutely secret and discreet I need your orders to prevent anyone else in the SPASI from intruding on my team.”
“You have it. If you have problem with anyone, call me and I will give them direct orders on the phone.”
“Wonderful,” Avyk said. “I am going to go grab my boys right away.”
Yucker sat back satisfied as Avyk walked out the door and down to the floor of his division to get his team ready.
* * *
Sthykar and Jalant heard the roar of the car engines at some distance while they leaned against a bristly wall of the maze. The cars drove on the road in the middle of the maze connecting the tower to the gate.
“There they go,” Sthykar said. “But I saw no road on the outside of this compound.”
“I don’t know about that,” Jalant said. “But when they brought me here, they drove on the open grass just outside the walls.”
“That would connect to the road just east of this property,” Sthykar said. “I think I hear distinct sounds...multiple cars.”
“I can’t tell that,” Jalant said surprised.
“Now they are stopping,” Sthykar said. They heard a faint noise of the huge, steel gate opening and the cars accelerating out of there followed once again by the closing of the gate with a louder thud.
“Now is our time,” Sthykar said. “Walk behind me closely and silently.”
“Will do,” Jalant replied.
“And don’t speak unless spoken to,” Sthykar said. “Tug my shirt if you see somebody or something.”
Sthykar then put his pistol back into his belt and took his ATR rifle from his shoulder. There were going to be four guards on the openings, presumably with the Ranx rifles, thus he needed more firepower now. He also flicked off his radio to avoid an inadvertent noise alerting someone in the vicinity.
Sthykar slowly traced his route back towards the outer wall, the scientist closely followed him. Sthykar did not know what to think of the information the scientist had just told him, but seeing the shady goings on here, he could tell something sinister was definitely cooking. He had to get a message to the army as fast as possible.
After a few minutes, Sthykar suddenly stopped. The opening was just around the corner, but more importantly he could hear voices. Sthykar got down on his knees and slowly peeked around the corner of the maze wall. Four Ranxian guard stood just inside the opening. Two of them had their rifle stocks resting on the ground; the third had not even taken his rifle from his shoulder. Only one of them was holding his rifle in his hand with his fingers near the trigger. They were talking, yawning and laughing; apparently they did not think one scientist and a pistol with a single bullet was much danger. And they were not wrong as far as they knew, but what they did not know was that Colonel Sthykar was there as well.
Sthykar slowly turned towards the scientist and put his finger on his mouth, and then held up his hand to indicate to the scientist to keep quiet and stand still. Then he turned around and slowly raised his rifle to his shoulder while still kneeling on one knee. He first aimed at the man who had his rifle in his hands—the one who could return fire the fastest. The distance between Sthykar and his target was approximately fifty to seventy meters.
Sthykar fired and the first guard was hit in t
he chest and knocked flat on the ground. Sthykar slightly turned his rifle and fired two more shots into the two guards standing to his right. They fell to the left and to the right respectively. The last guard did not even bother to take his rifle from his shoulder, but ran towards the maze exit. Sthykar quickly switched his rifle to ‘full auto’ and let loose a hail of bullets and the running man was hit just as he was about to exit to the side of the maze wall. He fell backwards on the tall bush and slowly tumbled down. Sthykar and the scientist quickly ran to the guards.
“You took out four of them in less than ten seconds!” The scientist rubbed his mouth with his palm. “Unbelievable.”
“Less than five. I told you to keep quiet,” Sthykar said. “But never mind; at the tower they must have heard my shots in the silence of the night. Pick up one of their radios.”
The scientist grabbed a hand radio from the belt of one of the dead guards.
“Follow me and fast,” Sthykar said. “They will be coming here.”
“Where are we going?” the scientist asked. Sthykar was already moving at a brisk pace and the man tried to keep up.
“Just stay with me,” Sthykar said. He reached the wall and then started westward along the side of the wall.
“Damn, they gunned him down,” Boss Hantex jumped as soon as they heard the multiple shots. He was standing with Corporal Montex outside the front door of the tower, putting together a team of the Ranx soldiers who were coming up from the underground barracks, yawning and scratching their heads.
“Must have opened up on him on sight,” Montex said. He took his personal radio from his belt and asked, “Alright, which one of you shot him?”
“Not us,” said one voice followed by two others and then silence.
“Must be the team at northeastern opening,” Hantex said after a while, “Why aren’t they calling in?”
“Northeastern team,” Montex said. “Did you shoot the escapee? Answer me, damn it.”
Sthykar and Jalant had stopped at the particular spot along the wall where Sthykar had come in. He was tying the rope to the grappling hook when the Ranx guard’s radio the scientist held came alive with loud chatter.
“What is the damn radio saying,” Sthykar asked.
“That’s corporal Montex’s voice,” Jalant said. “I think he wants to know who shot me?”
Sthykar laughed and the scientist chuckled as well.
“Tell him we did, otherwise they will be onto us.” Sthykar said.
“My voice will give me away,” Jalant protested.
“Not on the radio, it won’t. Just say ‘we did’ and that’s that.”
Jalant took the radio. His hands started shaking and he looked at Sthykar who nodded. Jalant pushed the button for ‘send’ and said, “We did” in the Ranxian language. Then he quickly pressed the ‘send’ button once again to cut off any further transmission.
“Ha Ha,” Sthykar laughed. “Let them wonder.” Sthykar grabbed the radio from the startled scientist’s and then threw it over the wall and barbwire into the forest.
“Who said that?” Montex said on the radio. “Was that the team at northeastern opening?”
“Who else could be?” Hantex said. “Looks like you won’t have to wander in that damn maze at night after all. You boys can go back to sleep,” he said to the now smiling soldiers who had been sullenly getting ready; they were pleased with this development.
“Wait,” Montex said. “They are not saying anything else. What is going on there?”
“Does it matter,” Hantex asked. “Maybe they are digging him up right then and there.”
“I am going there myself, and taking these soldiers with me.”
“Suit yourself,” Hantex said without a care, “But I am going to sleep.”
As the boss walked back in the tower, Montex took the soldiers and started down the road in the middle of the maze towards the gate.
Sthykar threw the grappling hook over the top of the wall and verified its grip by tugging on the rope.
“You first,” he said to Jalant.
“I don’t know how,” Jalant shrugged.
“Just try. Grab the rope and walk up the wall.”
Jalant tried that a couple of times, but both times he nearly fell on his back and Sthykar had to steady him.
“Damn it, I am going to have to carry you.” Sthykar shook his head. “Alright, now grab my shoulders and hold strong, if you fall, I am not coming back down for you.”
Jalant grabbed Sthykar’s shoulders with both of his hands; Sthykar then took hold of the rope and started climbing. Climbing alone was very easy for a mountain warrior like himself; but having the scientist on his back was no different than having a big carrying bag. Sthykar climbed rapidly, albeit slower than he had done on his own, and he stopped just near the top ledge.
“This wall has electrified barbwires,” Sthykar said. “I cut the lower wire out here while getting in. You grab that ledge, pull yourself up and lay on your stomach. Do not raise your head. Then slide back and I will do likewise.”
“How will I do that?” Jalant asked almost panicking. “How will I pull myself up?”
“Now, now,” Sthykar said, “You better do it and do it fast because if the guards come, I am pulling up and rolling on the ledge with you on top. Your back will be ripped by the barbwire and you will get a shock from the live wire.”
“Alright, I will do it,” Jalant said fearfully. He slowly removed his right hand from Sthykar’s shoulder, lurched forward and grabbed the ledge. Then he did likewise with his left hand. He tried to pull himself up, gritting his teeth, but he was only moving slowly.
Sthykar realized the man’s hands did not have enough strength and he could fall down anytime. Sthykar twisted the rope around his left hand then with his right hand grabbed the back of Jalant’s shirt and shoved him onto the ledge.
“Thank you,” Jalant said, panting for breath.
“Alright now, slide back, but don’t raise your head.”
Sthykar pulled himself up on the ledge on his stomach, and then turned around flat on his back. He looked up at the second barbwire and the star filled sky beyond as he took a deep sigh of relief. He had made it back out. Sthykar threw the steel grappling hook down some distance away from them.
“What now?” Jalant asked.
“We jump.”
“Why can’t we climb down? This is too high.”
“And carry you again on my back,” Sthykar laughed. “Man, what did you do when you were a boy? Had your head in your school books all day? Never ran around climbing and jumping? Well, I am out of here. You have until I find my hook down there, then I am gone. You can sleep here if you want.”
Before Jalant could say anything, Sthykar tumbled over and jumped down, landing on his feet. Right away he started searching for his hook. Jalant took deep breaths for a few moments and then in a state of high anxiety, he rolled himself over and grasped for the ledge with his hands as he fell down with a panicked shout, landed on his heels, lost his balance and fell backwards.
Sthykar laughed, grabbed Jalant’s shoulder and pulled him to his feet while Jalant was holding his back with both of his hands.
“That really hurt,” he said, and then asked, “Did you find your hook?”
“Before you tumbled over and fell like a baboon from a tree,” Sthykar laughed. “But I wasn’t going to abandon you.”
Jalant was still straightening himself out, feeling his aches and pains with his hands and stretching his back.
“No time to waste,” Sthykar said. “Some friends of mine are at a distance in the woods as back up. Follow me and don’t get lost.”
Sthykar and Jalant rushed to the woods and then started making their way through the forest.
At this time Montex and his soldiers had reached the front of the maze, and the two guards on the front gate walked up to them.
“What is going on, Corporal?” they asked. “We heard shots.”
“You two go back to th
e gate,” Montex yelled. Then Montex and his team turned right and walked along the side of the maze till they came upon the opening. Montex stepped on a dead guard, pulled himself back and exclaimed, “how the fuck does a pencilhead shoot four guards with one bullet?”
* * *
Chief Detective Avyk Wyt knocked on the door of the SPASI Chief Yucker a couple of times. The chief’s secretary was putting some files in the cabinet with her back to him. She turned around after hearing the knocks.
“Oh, Detective Avyk— I thought you were Yucker,” she said. “He has gone to get some coffee.”
“Just tell him I was here,” Avyk said to the secretary.
“Sure. Wait, look...” She pointed to the outer door of the office.
“I am here,” Yucker said holding a large coffee cup in his right hand and a newspaper in his left. He held up the newspaper to Avyk, “I managed to find Southstar Daily News; wanted to see if the local newspapers had found out about the ambush.”
“Did they?” Avyk asked. “Let me hold that for you.”
“Fortunately not,” Yucker handed Avyk the newspaper, took out a key from his pocket and opened the door.
“I found our man,” Avyk said with a smile.
“Tell me about it.” They walked inside Yucker’s office and Yucker put down his coffee cup on his table. Avyk placed the newspaper on one corner and stood facing Yucker.
“It is Lenax Tanx, our guest from the Eye of Ranx,” Avyk said. “Since you told me that Sayett suspected him the most, I thought why not start with him before I move to investigate our own detectives on Sayett’s team. So I had a couple of my sharp detectives strike up a talk with senior detective Zurryvk, who is Lenax’s personal host and helping him get around. Now hear this, Chief; the night Sayett told his team about his plans for the raid, Zurryvk took Lenax out to dinner at Holryth’s Hoghouse and was going to drop him off at the guesthouse we gave him. But just after dinner Lenax walked to the pay phone and made a call to his family back at Ranx—or that is what he told Zurryvk.”