Rogue Angel - Polar Quest Part 40

Don leaned in from the backseat. "How many guys do you think Zach will have with him?"

"I don't know. We know he already has two with him. I suppose it depends on what he has planned and how close they can get to the coast."

Hawk glanced at her. "You're convinced it's a ship, right?"

"How could it be anything else this time of year?" she asked.

"Yeah, you're right. I just had a strange feeling, that's all."

Annja nodded. "I've had a few of those."

ZACH KEYED the microphone. "Okay, we should be there soon." the microphone. "Okay, we should be there soon."

Mitch's voice came back. "How long once we're there before we can expect our pickup?"

"The rendezvous is set for just over an hour from now. We'll have to wait it out. We made better time than I thought."

"I don't like waiting," Mitch said.

"Neither do I, but we don't have any choice. This was the best I could do given everything we had to accomplish back at that camp."

"And they'll be there, right?"

Zach sighed. "Yes, Mitch, they'll be there. Offer people a lot of money, and you'd be surprised what they're willing to do for you."

"As long as they show. We're dead if these guys aren't there to pick us up."

"They will be," Zack said. He looked out of the wind-shield. The sky seemed to be brightening a little. "I think it's going to be a great day."

THE S SNO-CAT JERKED and changed direction. Annja studied the map and hoped she was right to follow her instincts. Stop doubting yourself, she thought. They'd be on Zach soon enough and then that would be that. She expected him not to survive their next meeting. and changed direction. Annja studied the map and hoped she was right to follow her instincts. Stop doubting yourself, she thought. They'd be on Zach soon enough and then that would be that. She expected him not to survive their next meeting.

She hated that realization. She'd known him for a long time. But his refusal to give up his quest had angered her. Possession of the generator was a dangerous and evil thing, and Zach had embraced it.

He didn't care about what was right anymore.

The next time they met would be in battle.

Annja glanced around the cramped cabin of the Sno-Cat. She knew what she had to do. She just hoped Hawk and his men were up to the challenge.

"Look," Hawk said, breaking into Annja's thoughts. "The GPS is signaling that we're approaching our destination."

"What does that mean?" Don asked.

Annja felt her adrenaline starting to flow. "It means," she said, "that they're out here somewhere."

ZACH CLAMBERED OUT of the cab of the Sno-Cat and stretched his legs. It felt marvelous to be able to move again after that long drive. Mitch and Chuck joined him from across the way. of the cab of the Sno-Cat and stretched his legs. It felt marvelous to be able to move again after that long drive. Mitch and Chuck joined him from across the way.

Mitch shielded his eyes and looked at the sky overhead. "You were right-it looks like it might be a good day, huh?"

"I think so," Zach agreed.

"How long once we get aboard before you can contact the potential buyers?"

Zach smiled. "Our auction will be held while we're on board. I've got a secure communications system set up, and we'll have the luxury of reclining and drinking our champagne while they all try to outbid each other. I expect it will be a marvelous feeling knowing that with each pa.s.sing minute we'll be exponentially richer."

Mitch smiled. "If we had gla.s.ses, I'd toast you right now."

Zach nodded. "Well, let's get this done and then we can toast each other for the rest of our lives."

ANNJA FELT her heart beating faster. "We must be close." her heart beating faster. "We must be close."

In the backseat, Tony and Don chambered rounds into their pistols. The metallic slides clicked into place and Annja realized how strange it felt to be riding into battle. She'd never get used to it, she decided. Something about knowing you were a few moments away from possibly killing another human being never felt like the right thing to do to her.

But she learned that sometimes it was the only way.

"There," Hawk said. "I see them."

Annja followed his direction and just a few miles away across the icy plain, she could make out the two Sno-Cats.

"You guys ready?" she asked.

"Absolutely."

"Then let's do this."

40.

"Who the h.e.l.l is that?"

Zach spun and frowned. "It's not our rendezvous, that's for d.a.m.ned sure."

Mitch pulled out his pistol and chambered a round. "Well, then, it's someone who isn't going to be happy they stumbled across us."

Chuck pulled a pistol, as well. "There's no way anyone stumbled on us. Somehow they found us." He turned to Zach. "How did this happen? Did you give us up? Not too keen on splitting the money with us, you cheap b.a.s.t.a.r.d?"

"You think I let them know where we were going? Don't be ridiculous! I've got more to lose on this than either of you and there's no way I'd ever sell us out." How had they found them? he wondered. And who were they?

"Yeah, well, if I find out you sold us out, I'm going to take a lot of pleasure in killing you," Chuck said menacingly.

"Enough of this," Mitch said. "Set up a cross fire. Chuck, get on the other side. As they come toward us, we'll press them with fire and see if we can't stop them."

Chuck grumbled but moved into position. Zach watched the two men maneuver and eased himself back. He had a pistol under his parka but didn't really want to use it unless he absolutely had to.

He looked at the approaching Sno-Cat. Who was it? And how in the world had they found them?

"DID YOU SEE THAT?"

Hawk nodded. "They'll flank us on either side, hoping to catch us in a cross fire. They can direct fire and disable the cat, hopefully kill us before we can climb out."

"Right," Tony said. "Well, we know how to deal with that. Slow down."

Annja looked back. "What are you going to do?"

Don smiled. "Jump out and flank the flankers. No sense letting them have all the fun."

Annja nodded. "Be careful, guys."

Tony glanced at Don. "I'll take the right."

"Roger that. See you on the other side."

"I can't slow it down too much or they'll see the action," Hawk said. "I'm going to stutter-step it and then change direction to draw their eyes away from where you guys are."

"We're ready," Tony said.

"Stand by," Hawk said.

Annja clutched her seat as Hawk suddenly jerked the wheel and turned the Sno-Cat to the right. As he did, Tony opened his door and fell out. Hawk then jerked the cat left and Don did the same.

Hawk straightened the vehicle and then started aiming it in on a slight angle.

Behind them in the snow, Tony and Don were completely exposed. But Annja hoped they could maneuver and get an edge over Zach's men.

"WHAT THE h.e.l.l WAS THAT?"

Mitch frowned. "Maybe they skidded on a patch of ice."

Chuck shook his head. "I don't like it."

Zach pointed. "It's coming straight on us now, so whatever, right?"

"It's angling," Mitch said. "It might be trying to disrupt our positioning." He called out to Chuck. "Keep an eye on the ground it just left. I've got a bad feeling about this."

Zach fidgeted with his own pistol. He decided he might need it after all. "You think they've got something planned?" he called out.

"If I knew I was about to confront an enemy, I'd certainly make it my business to have a plan. Wouldn't you?" Mitch said.

"I guess."

"All right, then. How about this? You take over watching Chuck's flank. Shoot anyone who comes at us from that direction. I'll handle this side, and Chuck will make sure we don't get ambushed."

Zach looked at his pistol and sighed. "All right."

HAWK FROWNED. "Is that Zach I see? Looks like he's armed."

Annja nodded. "I guess there was no way he was going to give up without a fight. Makes me a little sad, though."

"You guys were close," Hawk said.

"I thought we were. Friends only, but you know, you've got that trust level there. And now I find out he was lying the whole time."

"Maybe not the whole time," Hawk said. "But he sure did when it counted, huh?"

"Yeah," Annja said sadly.

Hawk rested his pistol on his lap. "This is going to get messy real quick. I don't have an extra gun for you."

"I don't need one," Annja said.

Hawk looked surprised. "Oh? You have another sword tucked away somewhere like the one you hid in the tunnel?"

Annja laughed. "That would be nice, wouldn't it?"

Hawk gripped his pistol. "Well, let's make sure you don't get hurt doing this job, huh?"