The Clinic

by Ray Carole

  What he did see was a truck moving between buildings. This sent an initial wave of suspicion across him though he disregarded it when the vehicle went static, just making out a body moving in to a building.

  What he saw next was exactly what he had been painstakingly searching for.

  Initially he could make out a number of Hercules C130 carriers probably belonging to the US military, as he couldn’t make out the markings. Turning his attention to the right of them, trying to work out where the runway was, he clocked a lone aircraft about a kilometre from them.

  ‘Ilyushin you beauty,’ he whispered, before concentrating on taking Gerry’s lead ahead for signals on how to react.

  With no fences or barriers surrounding the airfield Gerry drove directly at the Ilyushin.

  Checking that WHITEOUT was behind him he continued towards the airframe. Only 400 metres away, he could already see that the tailgate was down. He could even make out the thick fuel pipe that was now pumping fuel into the wings from the nearby tanker. This bodes well, he thought.

  Closing in to 50 metres he spotted the loadmaster standing at the tailgate, the man looked directly at him before crossing both his arms aloft his head. This universal hand signal meant stop.

  Stopping 20 metres away the loadmaster came over to him, probably wanting to guide him on so the truck wouldn’t damage the fragile shell of the aircraft. Gerry wound his window down to receive his instructions checking his wing mirror briefly to see that WHITEOUT was still only a few metres behind him. ‘Hi there,’ Gerry said breezily to the overweight Russian loadie that had also dropped them off a few days before. After the last few hours the Russians were the last people on the planet that Gerry wanted to converse with but he managed to remain pleasant with a false smile. A little ironic they were here to rescue them from their fellow countrymen he thought, but what they don’t know…

  ‘Hello,’ was the response from the Russian loadmaster who was wearing the same stupid hat with massive furry dog-ears hanging down.

  It was obvious to Gerry he was on edge, his eyes told the story. Full of suspicion and an eagerness to get on with the job that was unnatural to a guy who was massively overweight and underworked.

  Quickly demonstrating left and right hand signals, Gerry gave him the nod.

  ‘Okay my friend,’ Gerry said interrupting him knowing they needed to get a move on. The Russian nodded and turned to slowly make his way back to the ramp. Gerry watched him leave and then scanned the area for other potential threats. He clocked the fuelling truck, it had two men working, one with the hose connector at the starboard wing, the other at the controls just behind the truck’s cab. They seemed busy enough.

  A third man was at the rear looking right back at him, standing next to a red Toyota pick-up. Wearing a massive red South Pole station jacket and a stupid hat similar to the one the loadmaster was wearing, he maintained his gaze.

  What is he looking at? Gerry tried not to make eye contact.

  The man then looked at the second truck.

  Who the hell is he, logistics? Administration? For the station? His mind started to drive at 100mph.

  The man adjusted his hat against the wind and started walking over.

  Fuck, he must be looking at the bullet holes or the shattered windscreen of WHITEOUT’ s truck.

  Gerry grabbed and clenched his pistol with his left hand and placed it inside his huge down jacket. Gritting his teeth to suppress the pain of the gunshot wound to his right shoulder, he waited for the adrenalin charging through his body to cancel out some of the pain. He could see WHITEOUT also watching the man making his move towards them and hoped he had his M4 at the ready to blast them out of this situation if necessary.

  No one else from the station was close by, just the refuelling guys. If it came to it, all three would be given the good news then put on the plane. What difference would three more stiffs make in this predicament?

  As Gerry was looking in the mirror he saw WHITEOUT nodding his head slightly confirming to Gerry that he was ready if needed.

  Only a few metres away the man closed in on Gerry’s truck. Pretending to be playing about with the Sat-Nav unit Gerry avoided looking at him, as though he hadn’t noticed him at all.

  Leaning over toward the passenger side, back toward the window Gerry heard two knocks on the window.

  Just ignore him, he said to himself.

  Another couple but no voice.

  Then the knocks turned into a dull sharp stamp of the fist.

  ‘For fuck’s sake,’ Gerry whispered to himself.

  Still feeling the pistol underneath his leg Gerry knew he had to turn and face the music, it could be innocent but it certainly wasn’t a ‘Can I see your driver’s license please Sir?’

  Windows slightly misted, Gerry covertly gripped the pistol tighter whilst looking at the figure on the other side of the window. Hood done up and ski goggles on Gerry took a moment. Locating the trigger guard he began to slide the pistol from inside his jacket, looking at the side view mirror he then pressed the electric window button.

  As he felt the bitter cold chill sweep into the cabin he turned and faced his next victim. If this guy asked him to get out it would pose problems as the pistol was under his leg, trying to hide it quickly could be tricky, but it wasn’t a problem, he would put a hole in his head.

  Gerry confidently said, ‘Hello mate, how’s it going?’

  Waiting for the response there was a slight pause.

  Slightly uncomfortable, Gerry wasn’t happy. The figure remained silent and glanced at the second wagon.

  Then the figure looked back. About to speak he breathed out producing a cloud of mist as his warm breath hit the -20 air.

  ‘I hope that’s WHITEOUT in that truck you fucker.’

  Gerry’s heart rate went from 200 beats per minute in an instant to 60.

  ‘Sully, what the fuck? I was planning to blow your head off 30 seconds ago you nutter,’ Gerry motioning his head downwards, drawing Sully’s eyes to the Glock clasped in his hand, ready to rock. He relaxed instantly, wincing from the pain to his shoulder.

  ‘How are we looking Gerry?’ Business-like and wanting an update.

  Releasing the pistol from his right hand Gerry immediately felt the absent pain return as the adrenalin wore off. He summed up his brief to Sully:

  ‘WHITEOUT is not injured, I am however and lucky to be here. He is obviously confused and pissed off but workable I think. I haven’t had anytime to fill him in with details, you can risk that one later. Everyone else is dead in the trailers. I’ve been shot in the right shoulder so thanks again. How about you Sully? Any injuries, blunt trauma or problems you want to discuss?’

  His sarcasm was covering deep-seated anger as he recalled Sully’s last request that had led him to four murders; Sean’s had been the worst, however quick, it still felt like a complete betrayal.

  ‘I am a little bit cold, but don’t worry about me.’ Gerry rolled his eyes. ‘Right, drive on and meet Roman. Tell him everyone’s staying put in the trucks as something critical is going on and they’re using the IT systems. Inform him to hurry the fuck right up, with that, add you’ll be back in the truck with the guys. He knows where he’s going so don’t discuss that. Clear?’

  ‘I thought as much Sully. You flying with us?’ An obvious question but Gerry thought to ask it.

  ‘Not this time Gerry.’

  ‘What’s going on, why not?’

  ‘Right. Once you get back to the trucks after you see Roman, my Toyota will be at the tailgate. I have the manifest for him to sign. They think I am with ALE, not you guys. When I walk past your trucks to go to the cockpit you two need to get out of your trucks and get into the back of mine. I will grab the loadmaster so he will be with me, once Roman signs the manifest I will get in the truck and we will fuck off
. Clear?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Make sure the refuelers do not see you get in the Toyota as I have no idea who they are. You speak to WHITEOUT when I’m doing the manifest.’

  ‘Okay.’

  ‘Get the trucks on now.’

  Sully walked back to his Toyota.

  Gerry checked his mirror instantly for Decker’s reaction and saw him visibly relax into his seat as the potential incident obviously passed without any dramas.

  Gerry slowly manoeuvred up the tailgate under the instructions of the loadmaster. As he entered the shell of the aircraft he was relieved to see a huge amount of stores piled up in front of him, creating a break between the seating area and more importantly the cockpit, hopefully making their exit to Sully’s Toyota easier without prying eyes.

  Hitting the brakes on the loadmaster’s signal he cut the engine.

  From behind the stores another engineer came walking through and immediately started anchoring the truck down with the ratchet straps.

  Pretending to play about with the laptop Gerry stayed in the truck waiting for WHITEOUT to drive on. He kept the ignition on so the climate control pumped out hot air to steam the windows up and aid the cover plan.

  Noticing his plan take effect he opened the door and climbed out clumsily protecting his left shoulder. Looking over at WHITEOUT who’d had his truck secured, he quickly walked over to his truck and gestured for him to wind his window down.

  ‘Get the heating pumping out Harry to fog your windows up I am off to see Roman up at the cockpit. Stay put I will be back soon enough.’ Turning around and walking past the other crew, then through the tight gap on the right starboard side he disappeared.

  Decker sat tight, watching, the hairs on his neck started to rise, what the fuck was just about to happen? Instinct told him that there was a crucial part of the plan that he hadn’t been informed of. Rage started to boil inside him and his hands clenched onto the steering wheel tightly. What the fuck had just happened with that guy who spoke to Gerry through the window, the guy I just looked at seconds ago?

  Battling his latest bout of anger knowing the web of lies continued, he had to wait for a sign to react.

  He knew he had to sit tight and play this out however Gerry wanted it, he was still at his mercy and he fucking hated it. Why had he asked him to keep the climate control heating running on full power?

  Four minutes later Decker was beginning to feel as though he was cooking slowly with the heating on at this level. Fortunately he saw Gerry moving quickly towards him.

  Winding down his window again he started to give him a quick heads-up.

  ‘Okay we don’t have much time. When that guy who spoke to me with the red jacket walks past us we have to get into the red Toyota. He will get the attention of the loadmaster and take him with him, as he has the flight manifest. Our only problem is not being seen getting off the aircraft by the fat guy or the two refuelling men.

  ‘I suggest you go first; I will look out for the fat guy. The refuelling truck should be out of sight so no problems there. No time for questions Harry, you clear?’

  Sighing Decker rolled his eyes back and took it as yet another twist to this fucked-up trip.

  ‘Yeah, sure just give me the nod and I’ll jump out and jump in.’

  ‘Good, right here he comes,’ Gerry seeing Sully walk up the ramp with the loadmaster.

  Walking straight past them and moving towards the gap Gerry watched the loadmaster disappear with Sully. Quickly looking over to see that the fat guy didn’t start to walk this way Gerry knew it was clear.

  Gerry gave WHITEOUT the signal by nodding his head towards the Toyota.

  He watched WHITEOUT spring out, careful not to slam the door, and watched him walk down to the Toyota. Checking his right side for the refuellers he could only make out the bottom of the tanker.

  So far, so good.

  Gerry gave the gap area a final check, happy that it was still clear he made a swift move towards the Toyota and joined WHITEOUT crouched down in the back.

  Not daring to take a peep they both lay in silence.

  A few minutes passed before the driver door opened and Sully joined them. Did WHITEOUT know who he was? Gerry wondered as they hadn’t been introduced yet.

  Before he could say anything, WHITEOUT quickly started talking.

  ‘The trucks, they’re not locked as we left the ignition on for the heaters to mist the windows. We either risk the trucks being unlocked and the windows staying misted to disguise us, or we risk the loadmaster opening the trucks if he wants us for some reason.’

  As quickly as he got in, Sully jumped straight out of the Toyota and walked back up the ramp.

  Gerry and Decker remained silent. Sully could tell him when he was good and ready Gerry surmised.

  Scaling the Ilyushin, Sully quickly opened the door to Decker’s truck, ripped the keys out and hit the fob to lock, the lights as expected, flashed twice.

  Moving straight to Gerry’s truck he did the same then quickly walked off towards the tailgate before stopping again. Swivelling round he walked back to the trailer.

  As he did, the loadmaster returned, probably coming to take up the tailgate Sully suspected, shit.

  Placing his clipboard up against the trailer door window Sully started to mimic writing something on the manifest, feeling the gaze of the loadmaster still looking at him.

  Sully looked up and gave him a nod and a smile.

  The loadmaster, still only metres away, started to get the control unit prepared that operated the hydraulic tailgate.

  As Sully mimicked fucking about with the clipboard with one hand, he was desperately trying to find the key to physically lock the trailer door, as the fob wasn’t doing it.

  With one hand he fumbled through the two sets of keys already losing count of which are which.

  Each bundle had three keys on them.

  Catching a glimpse of the loadmaster walking behind him before moving outside the tailgate for a final clearance check, Sully made a rushed effort to locate the right key.

  Second key nothing.

  Fuck it, is the door fucked?

  Grabbing another key and hoping this was the one he forced it into the keyhole.

  Come on you little beauty don’t fuck this up for us.

  Making an effort to turn the key right he felt no resistance, it moved freely.

  Get in there.

  The door locked.

  Turning around he quickly flicked through the papers on his manifest for a few seconds, gave a nod to the loadmaster who was just returning, then walked off the tailgate.

  As he walked off he noticed the fuel truck was just pulling away. ‘In the nick of time then.’

  The hydraulic system kicked in and the audible sound of the tailgate lifting echoed behind him as he reached the truck. He turned to see the loadmaster from the waist up. Giving him a wave Sully got in the Toyota.

  As he sat down he let out a massive sigh of relief.

  ‘Fucking hell. Talk about last-minute requests, anything else guys? Anyone left any personal belongings on board?

  He put the Toyota in first and drove off.

  As he looked in the rear-view mirror the Ilyushin was now starting to taxi, the tailgate almost closed, just the loadmaster’s head was now visible with his earphones on.

  Turning his focus towards his drive towards the main buildings Sully couldn’t help but maintain a grin on his face knowing that The Clinic was now exactly where it needed to be.

  Finally he could give the brief he had been waiting to give for nearly fourteen long months now. Unable to see Decker’s face hidden behind his seat, he noted a slight tension in his chest of anxiety about the company he was now keeping. He dissolved it from his mind, planted his foot firmly d
own on the gas and blasted across the ice eager for the next stage to begin.

  Chapter 41

  Driving towards a small hangar on the far side of the airfield Sully noted the Ilyushin taxiing down the runway in his rear-view mirror. Snow starting to fall again he realised that his next planned move needed to be slick. Getting caught in the incoming front that was fast gaining momentum would be costly.

  Grinding the handbrake on he got out with the guys still laying flat in the back.

  He rolled up a set of metal doors. Jumping back in the truck he drove another ten metres forwards, cut the engine then jumped out. Raising his arms to pull the rollers down, Ilyushin was primed for take-off. No doubt Roman was in a blind panic checking the last few dials on the snow-covered runway. Pausing to acknowledge the one-way destination they were heading to, he gave a saluting gesture, with absolutely no compassion attached to it.

  Slamming the roller doors shut he rolled back his heavy-duty hood exposing a fresh face that hid the anxiety that lay beneath it. Pulling the passenger door open he spoke:

  ‘Okay, get out guys we’re safe here.’

  Decker rose slowly, reaching for the opposite door to Gerry. Not acknowledging Gerry’s groans this was all about getting out smoothly and getting the upper hand. Knowing the other guy was front left of the truck gave Decker a blind spot to prime himself.

  Standing up on the offside of the truck and blind to the guy who was now bent over helping Gerry, he quickly whipped his pistol out, ready. He quickly and quietly moved around the truck without causing suspicion.

  They were both aware of his approach as they both calmly stood up. Decker kept his weapon trained on the nameless guy who still had his back to him. He could see his pistol on his hip. Neither man pulled the spaghetti western stunt of turning and shooting from the hip with his own pistol, instead they both sensed that they needed to face the music from the sheer silence. The unidentified guy turned around slowly first.

  Weapon up on aim ready to punch holes into them fast if they started getting twitchy, Decker felt his face turn white with shock, nanoseconds before the gradual build-up of rage sees the red mist heading to explosion point, a point he was happy to be experiencing again.