Friday did. As soon as the button was depressed the voices began to come in more clearly. Other zones were checking in. There was also a blip on the small green directional map. The signal was coming from the northwest. Friday switched back to internal communications.
"We'd better check it out," Friday said.
"It cannot be a Pakistani search party," Nazir said. "They would not communicate on this frequency."
"I know," Friday replied. "The line of control isn't far from here. I'm worried that it could be an Indian unit moving in."
"A sweep coming down through different zones," Nazir said. "That would be a standard search-and-rescue maneuver. Should we do a flyover?"
"Why?" Friday asked.
"They may have intelligence on the cell's location that we do not," Nazir said. "The direction they are headed may tell us something."
"No," Friday said. He continued to look out the window. "I don't want to waste the time or fuel."
"What do we do if they contact us?" Nazir asked. "Radar at the line of control may pick us up as we near the end of the range. They may ask us to help with the search."
"We'll tell them we're on routine reconnaissance and were about to turn back to Kargil," Friday said.
Apu stuck his small, strong hand through the opening. He tapped Friday on the shoulder. "Is everything all right?" he yelled.
Friday nodded. Just then, about one hundred feet below, he saw snow billowing from under an overhang.
"Hold!" Friday barked at Nazir.
The helicopter slowed and hovered. Ron Friday leaned toward the side. The puffs of snow were concentrated in a small area and inching toward the north. They could be caused by an animal picking its way across the cliff or they could be the result of a wind funnel. It was impossible to tell because of the overhang. The sun was behind the top of the peak and unable to throw shadows behind or in front of the region.
"Do you see that?" Friday asked.
Nazir nodded.
"Take her down and away slowly," Friday said.
The chopper simultaneously began to descend and angle away from the cliff. As the target peak filled less and less of the window, the vastness of the range loomed behind it. The layers upon layers of brownish-purple mountains were a spectacular sight. Snow covered the peaks and Friday could actually see it falling on some of the nearer mountains, off-white sheets like stage scrims. The sun cut a rainbow through one of the storm centers. It was a massive arc, more brilliant than any Friday had ever seen. Though Friday did not have time to enjoy the view, it made him feel for a moment like a god.
They dropped nearly one hundred feet. As they did, three people came into view. They were slightly more than two hundred feet away. The three were walking close together. Each one was wearing dark, heavy clothing and carrying a backpack and weapon. They did not stop or look over at the helicopter until the rotor wash stirred the snow on the ledge beneath their feet. Given the parka tops they were wearing and the low rumble of the wind, Friday was not surprised they did not hear the chopper.
"Is Nanda there?" Apu asked.
Friday could not tell who the three people were. He was disappointed to see that only three of them had gotten this far. Unless—
"Take us back up and head north!" he shouted.
Captain Nazir pulled the U-shaped wheel toward him and the chopper rose. As it did, the tail rotor and starboard side of the cargo area were struck by short, hard blows. Friday could not hear them but he could feel the craft shudder. He could also see the thin shafts of white daylight appear suddenly in the bottom half of the cargo bay.
"What is it?" Nazir yelled.
"They think we are the enemy!" Apu shouted.
"It's a setup!" Friday snarled. "They broke into two groups!"
The chopper wobbled and Friday could hear the portside tail rotor clanging. The weapon fire from the stern had obviously damaged the blades. If they had not pulled up when they did the chopper would probably be plunging tail first into the rocky, mist-shrouded valleys below. As it was, Captain Nazir was having trouble keeping the Ka-25 steady and moving forward, much less gaining altitude. A moment later the chopper stopped climbing altogether.
"I'm losing her!" Nazir said. "And we're leaking fuel."
Friday looked at the gauge and swore. They had already off-loaded whatever gear they were carrying in the back. The only thing left was the fixed-winch. There was no extra weight they could push out. There probably was not time to get rid of it in any case.
Friday looked out the window as the chopper began to shudder violently. The rainbow vanished as the sun's angle changed. He no longer felt like a god but like a grade-A sucker. Of all the damn tricks to fall for. A freaking sleight of hand, a sucker punch. The operative studies the unthreatening team while a backup unit, either hidden or on another side, tears you a new exit.
"You're going to have to set us down anywhere you can!" Friday said urgently.
"I'm looking for a spot," Nazir said. "I don't see one."
A sudden fist of wind turned them nearly forty-five degrees so they were facing the cliff. A second burst of gunfire, this time from the group in front, tore at the undercarriage. The chopper lurched and dropped. They were at the top of a valley. Friday could not see what was below them because of a thick mist. But he did not want to go down there. He did not want to lose the cell and he did not want to be here when the nukes went off.
"I've got to go down while we still have power for a controlled landing," Nazir said.
"Not yet," Friday said. He unbuckled his seatbelt. "Apu, back up."
"What are you going to do?" Nazir asked.
"I'm going to crawl into the back," Friday said. "Do you have forward and aft mobility?"
"Limited," he said. "One of the tail rotors is still working."
"All right," Friday said. "If you can turn the stern toward the peak, Apu and I might be able to use the winch line to rappel to one of the ledges."
"In this wind?" Nazir exclaimed. "You'll be blown off!"
"The wind is blowing southeast, toward the cliff." Friday said. "That should help us."
"It could also smash you into the rocks—"
"We'll have to risk that!" Friday told Nazir. "I've got to reach the cell and tell them about the soldiers ahead."
"Even if you can get to the ledge, they'll gun you down," Nazir said.
"I'll send the old man out first," Friday said. "Nanda may recognize her grandfather's coat. Or they may see us as potential hostages. In any case, that might get them to hold their fire." Friday pulled out his switchblade and cut out the seatbelt. When the strap was free, Friday detached the radio and handed it to Apu. "With luck I'll be able to raise Striker. I'll tell them where we are and approximately where you set down. Striker will help us get to Pakistan and the Himalayan patrol can come and get you. You can tell them you were running independent recon but didn't find the cell."
Nazir did not look convinced. But there was no time to debate the plan and he did as Ron Friday asked. With his feet braced against the floor, his hands tight around the controls, Nazir carefully turned the chopper around and began edging it toward the cliff. As he did, Friday disconnected the communications jack but kept his helmet on. Then he swung through the hatchway between the seats.
"What is happening?" Apu asked. His flesh was paler than usual. Unlike the heated cockpit the cargo bay was damn cold.
"We're bailing," Friday said as he used the seatbelt to create a bandolierlike harness for Apu.
"I don't understand," Apu said.
"Just hang on," Friday said as he fastened the belt in front and then led the farmer to the winch. It was difficult to stand in the bumping cargo bay so they crawled to the rear of the hold. The line was quarter-inch-diameter nylon wound around an aluminum spool. They remained on their knees as Friday unfastened the hook end from the eyelet on the floor.