“Where the other ones?” the old man asked, tossing the pistol out into the darkness.
Bennett gave him a confused look. “What other ones?”
The old man kicked Bennett’s knee from the side. Bennett cried out in pain as he tumbled to the ground. He knew immediately a ligament had been torn, effectively crippling him.
“You lie.”
Bennett rose up slightly, pain still searing up his leg. He debated whether to answer truthfully. But it would be silly to try to convince them that he was acting alone.
Finally, he wobbled to his feet and said, “We spread out to search the village, so I don’t know precisely where the others are.”
The commander looked back at one of the other men, apparently confused. The soldier uttered something that was likely a translation of what Bennet had said.
“That is the honest truth,” Bennett said.
The commander suddenly lowered his head and lifted a finger to his ear, apparently hearing something in his headset. He spoke for a couple of minutes then turned and barked an order at one of the other soldiers. The soldier turned off the light, plunging the area into darkness.
Seconds later, Bennett heard the sound of footsteps. He looked up to see three men approaching. Once they arrived, the flashlight was turned on again.
Someone spoke in American English. “What the…?”
Bennett stiffened at the sound of the voice. It was familiar, but yet the fog of the moment prevented him from recognizing who it was.
The commander turned toward the American speaker and said, “He not know where the others are. You kill him.”
“Look, that was not a part of our deal.”
Bennett’s blood froze. He realized who was speaking now. It couldn’t be true.
The Chinese commander grabbed the man by the shoulder and shoved him forward. A wave of shock passed through Bennett as he saw the face of his fellow soldier, confirming what his ears had already told him.
After a long moment of silence, Bennett asked, “What the heck is going on, Landon?”
Tocchet’s mouth trembled slightly as he spoke. “It wasn’t supposed to work like this, bro. I swear, I—”
“What wasn’t supposed to work like this?” Bennett shouted.
Tocchet’s eyes darted toward the Chinese commander. “They… they just wanted access to whatever it was we found down here. I—”
“Shut up,” Bennett said. “You disgust me.”
“I had no idea they were going to attack. I just figured… if there are aliens here, then why shouldn’t the world have access to that knowledge? It’s not like I was giving away state secrets.”
Bennett felt his own face flush with anger. “How much did they pay you? How much money are they giving you to betray your uniform?”
“It wasn’t just about the money!” Tocchet shouted. “I got cold feet, and then they threatened to harm Kate. That’s the honest—”
“Enough!” shouted the Chinese commander. He pointed a pistol at Tocchet. “I told you to shoot. If you don’t, then I shoot you.”
“Go ahead… do it, Landon,” Bennett hissed. After a long moment of silence, he continued. “I’ll die with pride, knowing I served my great country with distinction.”
Tocchet approached to within a few feet, his eyes moist with emotion. “Didn’t you hear me? They said they’d kill Kate. At that point I wanted out, but I couldn’t let my own wife die. It was Kate for some information… you would’ve done the same thing.”
“We could’ve helped you. No way they could’ve gotten to her had you sought help.”
Tocchet’s lip quivered slightly. “By that time I wasn’t thinking straight.”
“Shut up!” the Chinese commander screamed. “You have three seconds, or I kill you!”
Tocchet turned his head slightly and fixed his gaze on the commander. Bennett thought he saw a flicker of something in the soldier’s eyes.
“Do it,” Bennett said.
Finally, Tocchet took a couple of steps back. A tear ran down his cheek.
The commander waved his pistol at Tocchet. “One…”
Tocchet raised his gun. Bennett noticed the barrel was shaking slightly.
“Kill,” the commander said.
Tocchet looked at Bennett. It was a blank stare, devoid of any emotion.
“Okay,” Tocchet said, sliding his finger over the trigger.
Bennett closed his eyes and waited. His thought only of his boxer, Ava.
“Two!” the commander screamed.
The cough of several suppressed shots rang out. Bennett grit his teeth, but the pain never came. He heard bodies falling and a few grunts.
There were two more shots, then silence.
Bennett opened his eyes slowly. Tocchet stood a few feet away, a curl of smoke twisting out of the barrel of his gun. The Chinese soldiers were sprawled out on the ground around him.
After a long pause, Tocchet spoke without moving. “I… I was having financial problems. I never thought I could…”
“We all have our own demons,” Bennett said. “You don’t have to explain.”
Tocchet turned and faced Bennett. “Please tell Kate I did it for her.”
Bennett frowned.
Tocchet dropped the rifle then pulled a pistol out of his pocket, turning it at an odd angle.
“No!” Bennett shouted, lunging toward him.
But it was too late. Tocchet shoved the barrel in his mouth and pulled the trigger.
CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE
Osak slid the knife back into his loincloth then extended his hand.
Zane smiled at him.
The boy helped Zane rise to his feet. He staggered for a moment, still woozy from the blow to his head. Osak grabbed his arm to steady him.
“Good grief.” Zane looked over at the Chinese soldier, who was lying a few feet away. Even though he’d known the man was large, the distraction of the fight had prevented him from seeing how truly massive he was.
Osak pointed and said something Zane didn’t understand.
“I agree,” he replied facetiously. “He’s the biggest man I’ve ever seen too.”
Osak stepped over and pushed at the body with his foot, as if making sure he was truly dead.
Zane walked over to the boy and laid a hand on his shoulder. “Thank you.”
Osak met his gaze, and there seemed to be understanding in the boy’s eyes.
Zane looked at his watch then frowned. He was running late. Looking around, he realized he’d lost almost everything during the fight. His visor, his gun, his pack.
“Come.” Zane gestured for the boy to follow him.
Zane passed through the gate and returned to the street. He turned in every direction, but the fog and rock piles would make it almost impossible to find any of his belongings. As he started to walk off, his foot struck something, sending it skittering across the ground. He moved in the direction of the sound then crouched and patted the ground. Soon his fingers closed around the barrel of a pistol.
“At least I’ll have something.”
He stood. He could probably find his pack and rifle if he took the time, but time was the very thing he didn’t have.
He turned to Osak. “Follow me.”
Osak’s brow furrowed in confusion, but he fell in behind the operative.
Several minutes later, they arrived at the rendezvous point. Zane motioned for Osak to join him under the cover of a tree with low, overhanging branches. He didn’t want to take the chance of getting ambushed again.
Once they were hidden, Zane looked at Osak. “We wait for Brett, Bennett, and Jorge.”
“Jorge,” Osak said with a smile.
Zane turned back toward the street. Nothing moved. The only noise came from the jungle about a hundred yards away. It concerned him that none of the other three were here yet. Had they misunderstood his instructions? That didn’t seem possible. The radios had been functioning well when he’d given them, and they’d all agreed to meet back here in fifteen minutes.