Alfred went to turn the large rifle at the police helicopter. The Koala loitered just above and behind him, the thunder of the warm air Alfred had used for camouflage, had masked the sound of the rotor blades approaching. He wrenched at the rifle but the soft support he had used to secure it was still pinned in place, desperately he pulled at the pin to remove it and allow a shot at the chopper behind him. He drew his handgun with his free hand, at this range he could not disable the aircraft, but could either kill or wound the crew.
The NYPD Sniper and pilot realised the assassin’s intention, the aircraft swung around for another shot, the sniper fired again, hitting Alfred in the throat.
The rifle fell limp against his body, still resting on the soft support that had allowed him to take the long shot, his sidearm falling into the vent below. His blood blew up as a red mist in the night air.
The jamming device only had a ten minute battery life due to its size, when it failed the DSS agents got the call from the Koala informing them the assassin was dead.
They did not relax, but got aboard the damaged helicopter, still covering the principal, prepared to tolerate a little cold air on the short trip to JFK. Uncotto thanked the protection team as the helicopter flew away at high speed, they responded with a polite drop of the nose. Within twenty minutes he was at JFK and making his way towards his waiting flight, the carnage and destruction left in Manhattan was not his concern now.
THIRTY SIX
Briggs found the self-destruct sequence active, he announced over the intercom system to evacuate immediately, that The General had betrayed them. Some had believed him and run out without hesitation, grabbing any belongings as they passed. Many disbelieved, they would soon discover how sadly mistaken they were.
The end came quickly, but with enough time for the occupants of the base to realise Briggs was telling the truth. All the doors locked, and heat resistant seals expanded in the borders of the doors, securing every remaining occupant in the room. Many people feared the worst, and the intercom system was still operational, transmitting their pleas to the souls that had heeded Briggs warning and fled.
No one could do anything.
After five minutes the screams increased to a primal level, the animalistic calls of the doomed, gas nozzles in the ceiling began to hiss, the occupants suspecting nerve gas. The reality was worse, it was butane gas, and after less than a minute it was ignited. There was no electrical fire the power had been cut a minute before, to ensure there were no accidental ignitions. The rooms being in complete darkness increased the terror, Mastasson had completely betrayed his people in pursuit of his goal.
The combination of the atmospheric oxygen, the gas and flammable objects created an unstoppable inferno. The screams of the victims were brief but lingered in the ears and minds of the survivors; the tortured resonant sound of death. Intake vents opened to let air in to feed the fire and increased its intensity, the beast roared on its food. Extract vents allowed the masses of smoke to exit, allowing fresh breath for the monster. Briggs knew that bodies and souls were drifting away in that dark plume that bleed into the sky above the island.
There were no dramatic explosions, no huge blasts of flying debris, just an efficient incineration of all his years of work, and people who supported it. The only blessing was the chemical and biological labs, the safety protocols ensuring all samples completely destroyed and contained. Even though Briggs had lost so much and so many, he had saved the world from at least one more atrocity.
The seaplane banked and reduced altitude, skimming the caps of waves, approaching the Panama coast, Briggs satellite phone came back online. He had timed his escape almost perfectly, all personnel and equipment he could salvage intact. He had beaten Mastasson so far, now he hoped Thorpe would finish the job.
Mastasson had refuelled on a freighter off the coast, filling his external tanks to allow him to reach Ecuador, linger and exit at his leisure. He could not use his satellite phone, but was desperate to inform Enzi of the change in situation following Jacob’s intrusion.
Enzi had rendezvoused with the three inshore boats at the estuary of Rio Cayapaya, where he had been attacked yesterday. He transferred from the small seaplane, and the boats rapidly accelerated up river, ignoring any protests from the more sedate and considerate locals. Unexpectedly Enzi‘s backup radio came to life, ‘Enzi this is The General.’
Enzi responded, clearing the interference with a little adjustment, ‘Why are you using this frequency General, it is not secure?’
‘Just listen there is no time. Jacob is coming to you and he has the artefacts.’
‘Jacob? Why and how does he have the artefacts?’
‘This is not an episode of Jeopardy Enzi, just secure the complex.’
‘We will be there shortly, and I will do that. What about Jacob?’
‘He will no doubt be heading either to his camp, or to the complex. Stop him and secure the amulets.’
‘How would you like me to stop him?’
‘Just kill him!’
‘I only have twenty locals, plus the five soldiers Colonel Briggs gave me.’
‘Five soldiers?’
‘Yes, four soldiers and a Sergeant Thorpe. He said you knew?’
‘Thorpe? Send the soldiers out first to ensure the area is clear, they can be cannon fodder if there is a trap.’
‘You suspect a trap?.’
‘With Jacob I suspect everything and trust nothing.’
‘What about Colonel Briggs, why would he send men without telling you?’
‘It does not matter, Briggs and everyone on the island are ashes now. If the Americans have not bombed the base, the self-destruct sequence I set has destroyed it.’
‘And the money and other essentials? What of them?’
‘Oh they are perfectly safe with me, you know I always carry insurance Enzi.’
Jones listened carefully from the cabin near Enzi, he also liked insurance.
‘Is Laurent with you? We may need him.’
‘Yes he is here, a little extra help if I need it.’
‘How far away are you?’
‘About one and a half hours at most, where can I land?’
‘There is a clearing to the north, land there it is only a short walk to us.’
‘Why can I not land on the complex?’
‘Too exposed and there is some kind of magnetic field, sent our compasses crazy last time I was there.’
‘Okay, make sure that area is clear for me.’
‘Jones will look after it. Out.’
Enzi was still annoyed at being Mastasson’s lackey, but was prepared to tolerate it a little longer to achieve his needs. He was not concerned at sending the soldiers to their deaths, he had done so before many times, as long as he survived he did not care the cost. This trait he shared with Mastasson, it was what bonded them, their desire to succeed at any cost except their own.
The area was unexpectedly deserted, Enzi ordering the boats to stop while he inspected with binoculars. There was no sign of life, his soldiers were not so complacent, scanning the area for snipers or other threats.
‘You have nothing to fear here gentleman, they are long gone.’ He nodded to Jones who emptied a clip into the buildings and walkways, no response except screams from displaced monkeys and birds in the trees.
‘You see no one here, but I am informed that we may have company at the complex. I want you to secure it as follows.’
He instructed Jones on the groups of men and how to disperse them to effectively control the area, based on information received from Laurent back on the island.