‘Long story, dear heart.’ She pushed him gently back and handed him the pistol. ‘For political reasons, as you’re the only good guy around with a Blue Card, I need you to do unto others. They’re outside.’
He followed her onto the verandah. Three surgeons were flat on the drive, flies already crawling on their faces. There were three more alive, huddled on the ground — Vanqua, Murchison and a third man.
Murchison cradled a shattered arm. Blood trickled between his fingers. Vanqua looked unharmed but stunned. The third man rocked with pain, hugging his shredded thigh and knee.
Cain stood in his underpants, blood running down his chin, the classic double-action pistol a familiar tool in his hand. He looked back inquiringly at Rhonda.
She nodded. ‘The three, if you don’t mind.’
He cocked the hammer and walked two paces from the group, aimed at the surgeon he didn’t know, put a single 9mm round through his brain. Flecks splattered Murchison’s shoulder.
As the man toppled he turned the gun on Murchison. ‘For Rehana.’ He shot him in the balls. As Murchison sagged forward, grabbing his crotch, Cain plugged him in the top of the head.
Vanqua, next in line, raised his hand in front of the gun, called to Rhonda, ‘How did you do this?’
‘If we can duplicate world leaders, why not department heads? We had your measure long before you knew.’
‘That woman was a duplicate?’
‘A brave one. She bought me time. Now certain governments have seen reason and I’ve blackmailed people, pulled strings. Department D never shut down. You only thought it had.’
He stared at the slit-eyed troopers. ‘And where did you scrape up this circus?’
‘CIA contra deal.’
‘So much for edicts. What did you give them?’
‘Stern.’
‘You sick deviate. You destroyed the human race — for this?’
‘Is your arse cleaner? What about your motive?’
‘You still don’t know?’ His look of hatred. ‘My sister. You corrupted her.’
Rhonda’s eyes slowly widened.
Cain didn’t understand.
A terrible sorrow contorted the surgeon’s face. His voice when it came was agonised. ‘See it now?’
‘You’re… Etta’s brother?’
‘You pervert. I damn… you… to… Hell.’
Rhonda’s face crumpled and she half turned away. ‘My God.’
‘She killed herself — because she had principles. And what she did with you revolted her.’
‘Bull. She was so desperately young she just didn’t give herself time to come to terms with her own…’
‘Perverted bitch. She killed herself from shame.’
Rhonda grimaced. ‘You’d never understand.’ She nodded to Cain.
He couldn’t know all that was between them and didn’t much care. He said, ‘This is for Hunt.’ He shot Vanqua cleanly, walked clear.
The squad called the chopper in and the ungainly Sea King landed in his back paddock and shut down. While the troopers unfurled body bags, cleaned the site and loaded the evidence, he sat on the verandah with Rhonda and talked it through. Her expression was almost tragic and she seemed drained by some sadness beyond tears. Eventually, in a low, flat voice, she tried to convince him to return. ‘I’m back running the whole catastrophe. Rebuilding’s the problem. We’ve lost so many people. There’s no Pat any more. I need you, Ray.’
‘I’m thrilled for you. But no.’
‘Please come back. I can’t run the fucking world by myself.’
‘I’ve had it, Ron. Been years in the front line. I’m not a killing machine. Too old and wrecked now. After this last lot, I’m junk.’
‘Things got so grim, there was no way to back you up. As for Karen…’
‘You should have seen her. She was fantastic at the end.’
‘Don’t.’ She screwed up her face.
‘We couldn’t have made it without her. And she thought you were wonderful — like all of us do. She cared for you, Ron.’
‘Don’t, love. Please.’ She turned her head away. ‘Been an… absolute bugger of a day.’
The troop commander was at the bottom of the steps. ‘Area cleaned. Cleared for departure, ma’am. Your call.’
They stood up but Rhonda didn’t go, immobilised by some inner anguish. She glared at the weathered floor planks, yanked a skirt-fold from her rump, muttered, ‘Most dangerous thing in the world.’
Cain glanced at the puzzled squad commander, turned back to the woman, said gently, ‘Ronnie. Better disappear this outfit before the town arrives.’
A tight-lipped nod.
He took her arm and walked her around the back of the house. Her inner turmoil was so great she let him lead her like a child.
She gave him a ferocious rib-cracking hug, then lumbered toward the waiting chopper.
He called, ‘Dentists forever.’
She waved but didn’t turn around.
EPILOGUE
Cain’s health has improved but he still limps. The cache of weapons is unused. He still potters around the property for part of the year, watches the sunset from the verandah, sometimes recalling those who died.
Mostly he travels — expensively, extensively. His relationships come and go.
Rhonda’s brazen smoodging got him back to Beta part-time where he remains stubbornly emeritus and is regarded by the staff as a god. He’s helped arrange several strategic deaths and substitutions in world leaders, has befriended Princess Di, is sad she won’t see her children again. EXIT Alpha has been recommissioned but he hasn’t gone back down.
Rhonda is still cryptic about Stern but Cain suspects the scientist developed a mass-sterilisation virus which the CIA is keeping in reserve.
He’s considered publishing the pope’s manuscript and sending copies to the Vatican. While he frets over what to do with it, he does his best to live as John taught.
Often he remembers the ice — the light, space, solitude, silence — the tumultuous events that are a legend at EXIT now.
His future? Each breath is enough.
An exile only has today.
GLOSSARY
7 °Clifton: Address of the fortress-like Bhutto family residence in Karachi at the time of the story.
AC plasma: A high-resolution flat-panel display screen.
AKR: Carbine version of the Russian AK–47 assault rifle — a stubby sub-machine-gun.
ANARE: Australian national Antarctic research expeditions.
Anhedonia: Inability to enjoy oneself.
APU: Auxiliary power unit. Used to drive aircraft systems when main engines are shut down.
AR–80: Assault rifle made in Singapore.
ARA: Airborne radar approach.
ASAP: As soon as possible.
AVIOX: Oxygen equipment.
AWAC: Airborne warning and control system.
Balclass="underline" Aircraft carrier’s optical landing system. The Fresnel lens emits a light-beam that tells the pilot whether his approach is high or low.
BDA9: Belgian-made automatic pistol.
Bingo: The predetermined amount of fuel needed to return to the place of origin at the same speed. Exceed that fuel level and there is not enough fuel to return and land at the take-off point. On a carrier, landing may require three passes and fuel budgeting is critical.
Bivvy bag: An outdoor sleeping bag.
Blizz line: Hand-lines provided as guidance between buildings or areas in Antarctica, for use during blizzards. A blizzard is classified as a wind greater than 35 knots.