Samurai Game

by Christine Feehan

  "Be very careful," Ryland advised. "You bring your hand out of that jacket with anything but the package, you'll be the first to die."

  Ekabela let out his breath in a kind of angry rush, but his hand was very steady as he reached into his coat and withdrew a small, brown paper-wrapped object. He slowly extended his palm. The package was small, no bigger than five inches in length.

  "Please take that, Mr. Forbes, but be very careful," Sam advised. "You don't want to reach for a weapon and blow it at this stage of the game. That will get you both killed."

  Duncan Forbes's face twisted into a mask of anger. He stepped forward and took the package from Ekebela. "Now what?"

  "Open it and make certain it's what it's supposed to be," Sam instructed. He had stepped forward with Forbes as the man moved, knife tip still pressed tight against his kidney.

  Forbes didn't dare turn around, or look over his shoulder; instead he glared hard at Ryland. "This is absolutely preposterous. Both of you will be court-martialed for this."

  "Do what you have to do, sir. We're just following orders." Sam's voice came from behind him, low, close to his ear, and the blade never so much as trembled or moved from Forbes's kidney. "But you open that package now."

  Swearing, Duncan tore open the brown paper. Sam could see a large chunk of what looked like an uncut diamond. It was quite large and thick, maybe three inches in diameter. Keeping the knife pressed close to Duncan's kidney, he held out his palm. Duncan dropped the half-opened paper with the diamond into Sam's hand. He closed his fist around it and slid it inside his jacket.

  Package secure, sir. He used telepathy.

  Ryland gave the smallest of nods.

  Sam stepped even closer to Duncan Forbes. "Do you have a vehicle close, sir?" he whispered.

  Forbes nodded.

  "I suggest you run to it and get the hell out of here fast. This is going to get ugly." That was all the warning Forbes was going to get. Sam released Duncan and slowly backed away.

  Ryland drove his knife into the base of Ekabela's skull, severing the spine and killing him instantly. He held the body upright for an instant, his gaze drilling into Forbes.

  "Geez. Oh, God." Duncan backed away from him, turning white under his skin, sweat beading on his forehead. "You have no idea what you've done."

  Ryland's eyes met Sam's. Sam was very aware of the jungle around him, as if the world was still right, the sounds of the jungle, the constant shifting above their heads, the continual drone of the cicadas, the calls of the frogs, a cry of a monkey. His heart thundered in his ears.

  Ryland let Ekabela's body fall to the ground, and just as if he'd triggered a bomb, the world erupted into hell around them. Duncan Forbes turned and ran for his life. Bullets tore bark off trees and vines, hissing through the air and spitting bark and splinters at them. Ryland and Sam both fired an entire magazine on full automatic, bullets spraying the jungle, driving the soldiers away from them.

  Tucker, Kyle, and Gator had all gone to one knee and began to eliminate preselected targets. Simultaneously, Nico, Kadan, and Jonas on the hill in the over watch did the same. Smoke and red-hot streaks sizzled through the roar and shock of the guns, accompanied by high-pitched screams and explosions. Rock and wood chips rained down. Dirt flew around them as shrapnel hit everywhere.

  Sam could tell how close the bullets were by the various sounds they made. The snapping sound was ominous, three feet or closer. The scent of cordite from the gunpowder grew strong. The distinctive smell of burned composition "B" from the grenades was heavy in the air.

  Reloading. Bounding. Ryland called out telepathically to the others indicating he and Sam were moving and someone had to cover their targets.

  Sam and Ryland retreated five meters, reloading as they ran. At five meters they both went down to one knee to place covering fire--rapidly aimed shots--at the swarming army of angry soldiers, giving the other two teams a chance to pull back. Once in line, they naturally became two teams and began to alternate covering fire.

  The fighting was intense, an explosion of violence, and Sam just held on to one thing. He would go home to Azami. He was not buying it out here in the jungle.

  Reloading. Bounding. The words were repeated often as one team would retreat toward their destination while the other provided cover.

  The ragtag army didn't seem to have leadership, following in anger more than with any strategy. Clearly they felt they were a superior force, but they were scattered, not as well trained as the rebels Ekabela had had months earlier.

  All clear of the danger range? Ryland asked as they continued moving into the trap, drawing the rebels into the funnel.

  All members of both teams had to be a good twenty-five meters away from the first of the claymores.

  Clear, the men responded one by one, using the telepathic link Ryland formed.

  "Claymore," Kadan yelled as he detonated the first two antipersonnel mines.

  Simultaneously Jonas pulled the igniter rings. The claymores had a range of fifty yards. Anyone inside that sixty degree horizontal fan was going to die or wish they were dead. As the claymores went off, the team hightailed it out of the war zone, back toward the hide.

  Moving fast in their standard formation, cover and run, they made it past their second defense, the next line of claymores. Any combatants following would get caught in the next set of mines, and aside from taking out most of the rebels Ekabela had recruited, another devastating blow definitely would take the fight out of most that were left.

  At the hide, Team One recovered gear while Team Two stayed on guard. They switched, working fast in silence while Team Two retrieved the rest of their gear.

  We'll wait ten minutes and see if anyone was stupid enough to follow us, Ryland said, still using telepathy. He looked his men over. Anyone hurt?

  Gator nudged Jonas with his foot. Heard high wire here tripped over his big feet. He somersaulted down the hill this time.

  Fuck you, Gator, Jonas replied with a sheepish grin. What the hell is that bloody streak on your face? You try to kiss one of those guys?

  The jungle bit me, Gator quipped back.

  The relief of being alive crowded in while they did a quick inventory of body parts, hoping everything was still attached. Sam checked his gear, knowing they would be moving out fast, going somewhere a lot quieter before the next phase of their mission.

  Ten minutes, Ryland announced. Team One, gather all unused claymores. Team Two will cover. We go out in single file, four meters apart.

  They didn't want to give the enemy a large target, but it was more than that. If one person accidentally stepped on a pressure mine, no one else was going to take the blast.

  Kadan, you're on point.

  Kadan was a ghost, drifting in and out of shadows, up and down rocks, trees, any kind of terrain, never making a sound. He would be ten meters ahead, which would give the rest of them a chance if he came across the enemy. If he found anything, he would signal the rest of them to stop, move up on line quietly, or send Ryland up to investigate and make the decision which way to proceed.

  The smell of rotting vegetation and mildew grew as they went deeper into the jungle. The jungle could be as deadly as--or even deadlier than--the enemy they were hunting. Everything seemed to want to kill them--bugs, snakes, crocs, and caiman, as well as larger animals and even the trees and vines. Monkeys had a nasty habit of giving away position with their screams.

  The team kept their movements slow and deliberate, not wanting to stir up trouble while they slipped single file through miles of jungle. Kadan signaled Ryland when he found a good defensible position, and Ryland moved forward to consult.

  We regroup here, Ryland decided. We'll put phase two into operation from here.

  The men set up the base, took stock of supplies left, set their claymores, and posted guards while Sam made the call home.

  "Valhalla . . . Valhalla, Reaper One, do you copy?"

  "This is Valhalla . . ."

  Sam gave
his report as succinctly as possible. They were deeper into the rebel territory, and the chance of anyone listening was greater.

  "Phase one complete, Reapers One and Two standing." He informed them of their remaining supplies and what took place during the first part of the operation.

  "Copy that, Reaper Two. Phase two is a go."

  "Phase two is a go, Reaper Two out."

  Use hand signals or telepathy from here on out, Ryland commanded. We're deep in their territory now.

  Sam let out his breath and turned to look at the men he'd spent so much time with doing this exact same thing. They were a long way from home and had a long way to go before they were finished.

  Tucker winked at him. Hell of a way to make a living and you with all those brains. Never know it, would you?

  Sam couldn't argue with Tucker's assessment. Hunting bloodthirsty rebels in the middle of their territory didn't seem like a genius idea right then.

  Tucker snickered and took a swallow of water. Getting shot at is thirsty work.

  They rested for a few minutes and then Ryland gathered them close again. The rebel camp is here. He tapped the map. The compound is set in rows. Troop barracks are the first three on the north side of AO--area of operation. The command building with coms--communications--and the leaders' quarters is in the center. Vehicles and maintenance buildings are on the south side of the compound. Armine's house is thirteen klicks to the west.

  Ryland turned to Nico and Kadan. I want you to set up shop up here on this hill a hundred and fifty meters to the east side of Armine's house and take him out.

  Nico just looked at Ryland. He was a man of very few words, but his reputation was renowned. Kadan gave a short nod.

  Simultaneously, the rest of us will work in two man teams. Kyle, you and Jonas will make your way here to the munitions dump. Keep in mind that we need to use their mortar shells and explosives to our advantage.

  Gator nudged Sam. Kyle's all happy now. You know he likes to blow things up.

  Hell yeah, Kyle agreed. Doesn't everybody?

  As usual Ryland ignored the byplay. Sam, you're going to blow this shit up here. I want all enemy coms down. Take out the entire building. Use your ability to teleport, and get all the equipment in that building, I want the building gone completely along with everything in it. Get on the roof and wire their equipment if possible.

  Sam nodded, his stomach tightening. He was good at moving fast, but he would have to stay in one place to set explosives, and he'd be exposed on the roof.

  Gator, you've got this small group of vehicles. Tucker and I will take this group here. He waited for all of them to nod understanding before continuing. While pulling off the objective, we will place thermite grenades in the muzzle of each mortar tube. Any vehicles we don't have enough demo for we will place thermite on the engines.

  The term they used for demolitions was demo, and Ryland had fallen into the familiar pattern of speaking when working.

  Kyle looked pleased. Those things will burn straight through the whole engine.

  Ryland nodded. That's what we want. We'll daisy-chain using det cord.

  Daisy-chaining was a way of connecting several explosive devices by explosive cord to detonate off the same fuse so that they all blow at the same time.

  We want at least five minutes of time fuse so we can clear the objective and be gone before the thermite attracts too much attention. Once you have the demo set, you move back to ORP--objective, rally point. It's only a hundred meters from the objective, so noise and light discipline a must. If all goes according to plan, we are gone before they know we were ever here. At that point, we will make our way to the extraction point where the sniper team, Reaper Two at this point, will link up with us. From there we'll catch a ride with Task Force 160 to the USS Ronald Reagan at sea in the Atlantic. We good?

  Ryland always tacked that last on, and everyone had better damn well be good with his orders. Everyone nodded and he waved them to gear up. They moved out in single file again, edging closer to the compound. Nico and Kadan slipped into the jungle, heading for their hill overlooking Armine's quarters. Everyone else, in designated two man teams, drifted through the thick vines to work their way in close to be ready for the signal to go.

  Kadan's voice moved through their minds. Reaper One, this is Two.

  Ryland answered. Reaper Two, this is One.

  Kadan's voice was as calm as ever. Nothing ever seemed to shake him up. Two is in position, we have a good visual on Armine's house. As soon as the fucker pokes his head out, we'll take it off.

  Ryland replied. Happy hunting; once you've got him, get to the PZ.

  Roger that, Kadan acknowledged.

  Ryland gave the command they were all waiting for. Reaper One teams make ready. Go!

  Sam took off on his pre-chosen route. Sam had gone over and over it in his mind, studying the path he would take to the communications building. He knew every bit of cover possible to get to the building. He needed to get to a window and see inside the building to teleport into it. He had to have an actual destination. He had chosen his window ahead of time. The building sat smack in the middle of the rows of dilapidated huts, basically open. The north facing window appeared to have the most cover.

  He moved quickly, getting the sickening jar of his physical body parts trying to catch up with his spirit. He emerged right outside the window in a crouch. He had only seconds before one of the guards spotted him. He lifted his head cautiously to peer through the dirty, yellowed pane. He just needed a spot where he could teleport inside unseen.

  Two men sat at a small, rickety table, with a radio in between them. Maps were spread out along one wall. Papers were strewn around the room. In one corner, dirty dishes attracted flies. His heart dropped when he looked in the other corner. Two girls lay in a bloody heap--both were tied up and they stared at the two men with swollen, dazed, hate-filled eyes. Neither girl could have been more than fifteen, if that.

  Bile rose in his throat. He shoved down the anger. It wasn't as if this was the first time he'd seen such things. If he left them there, they were going to die in the ensuing explosions. If he tried to rescue them, he was putting not only himself but his entire team in added danger. Swearing under his breath, he made his decision. If one of them made a sound, he'd kill them both and then do his job. But if he could, he'd get them out of there.

  He took a breath, chose his spot, and moved with blurring, wrenching speed. He found himself in the corner, crouching behind a rusty water barrel, just a few feet from the girls. He made the smallest of movements, just enough to attract the nearest one's attention. He'd already planned his move if she screamed. He'd be across the room, slashing the two men's throats before he turned back to the girls. The compound had to be used to them screaming for a moment or two.

  He had one finger to his lips, but he didn't hold out much hope. He knew he looked like another monster raiding their farm, killing their families, and subjecting them to a life of abuse and rape. The girl nearest him turned her head, her eyes widening until she looked as if only the whites of her eyes were showing. He shook his head, keeping his finger over his lips.

  She swallowed hard and nodded, turning her head to press her lips against the other girl's ear. She whispered. The other girl jerked, her gaze jumping to him. Immediately she began to shake. For a moment time stood still while she battled for control. He willed her to be silent. She swallowed several times, and pressed her lips tightly together.

  Now, he had no choice at all. He had to get the women out when they ignited the thermite, not before. He couldn't risk the other members of his team. He took a breath and moved, a knife in each hand. He was on the men before either girl could blink. He slammed the two knives simultaneously into the base of their skulls, severing spinal cords and killing them. Neither man ever saw him. He knelt to plant charges on the radios and added a few more to the structural beams holding the hut up for good measure.

  Gator's voice came into his head. C
harges set, ready to drop thermite.

  Kyle was next. Charges set, ready to drop thermite.

  Sam sighed. Compromised. Cleaning up the mess. Go. I'll catch up.

  Not what I want to hear, Knight, Ryland snapped.

  Go. Get it done. I'm right behind you, Sam assured.

  Ryland answered. Charges set. Drop thermite and fall back to the ORP.

  Kadan's voice slipped into their heads. Reaper One, this is Reaper Two. Target neutralized with extreme prejudice. Reaper Two en route to PZ.

  Ryland answered him. Solid, copy, Reaper Two, Reaper One oscar mike--on the move.

  The thermite triggered and all hell broke loose. From his window, Sam could see the explosion killed one of the guards and brought the entire compound to life. Rebels flooded into the vehicle holding area, trying to figure out what was happening. The charges on the vehicles and those in the munitions dump detonated together, sending a giant clap of thunder reverberating through the jungle and shaking the earth.

  Sam slit the ropes binding the two girls fast, yanking the two of them to their feet, and indicating they had to leave fast, to stay behind him. He went out the door, triggering the thermite as he did, which only gave him two to four seconds. The two girls stayed close on his heels as the communications building lifted up off the ground. Wood, mud, and debris flew everywhere. Vehicles shattered. Munitions detonated, sending shrapnel in all directions. The flames, concussion, and flying chunks of white hot steel tore into flesh, searing many and leaving the few survivors too stunned to do anything. The two girls held hands, one moaning low and constantly, but they ran, barefoot, half naked, staying very close to Sam.

  Reaper One, this is lost Knight, oscar mike--on the move. Sam reported to Ryland.

  The GhostWalkers raced away from the war zone in two man teams. Sam used the cover of the chaos and mayhem of the explosions to make it into the trees. He stepped back to indicate the girls should run--and they did, in the direction opposite the one he wanted to go. He could only assume they had someone left to run to. He had to hightail it out of there before someone assumed leadership. He'd taken two steps when a bullet whistled past his ear and he heard it hit something solid. He dropped, spinning, just in time to see a rebel go down behind him.