‘I don’t want anyone to have the fucking stuff,’ Chase replied. ‘And Natalia doesn’t either.’
Lock shook his head. ‘What she wants doesn’t really matter. This is way too important to leave up to civilians. Or their consciences.’
Hoyt put down a radio. ‘They’re on their way, five minutes out.’ He gestured towards the track leading north.
‘Good. When they arrive, send them after her — I doubt she’ll have gotten far.’
‘What about these two?’ The tall mercenary moved his AK-47 back to Chase and Castille.
Lock thought for a moment. ‘Make use of them. Chase, you’re going to call her back here.’
‘The only thing I’m going to call is you, a twat,’ Chase replied defiantly. Despite the danger of the situation, Castille couldn’t help but smile.
Hoyt stalked back to the group, gun raised. ‘Watch your fuckin’ mouth.’
‘You’ll call for her, Chase,’ said Lock. ‘Because if you don’t, I’ll shoot your friend.’ He aimed the Glock at Castille. ‘Just because I wear a suit rather than a uniform, don’t think I won’t do it.’
Chase eyed Sullivan’s body. ‘I don’t,’ he growled.
‘Good. You’ve got ten seconds.’
‘Edward, don’t do it,’ Castille said — though with fear in his voice.
Chase looked up at Lock and Hoyt, adrenalin driving away the pain. He was certain they intended to kill him and Castille whether or not he did what Lock asked. But from his current position, there was nothing he could do except make a futile attempt to tackle one of them, which would get him shot before he’d covered even half the distance…
It was either that or watch Castille die, then wait for a bullet of his own. He was not going to surrender Natalia to them, no matter what.
‘Five seconds.’
He shared a brief glance with Castille, communicating his intentions in an instant: fight to the end. The Belgian understood, also preparing to move.
‘Four. Three.’
Chase tensed—
‘Don’t shoot! Please, don’t hurt them!’
All heads snapped round at the sound of Natalia’s voice. ‘No, run!’ Chase cried as she emerged from the bushes — only to freeze as he saw what she was holding.
The landmine was balanced precariously on her outstretched left hand. The detonator had been screwed back into position, and the wire removed from the safety pin hole. Her right hand was held palm down just above the trigger’s rusted prongs.
The three mercenaries all regarded the weapon with alarm. ‘Is it live?’ Castille asked cautiously as the young woman moved towards them.
‘It was when I took the detonator out,’ Chase replied, grim-faced.
‘But the detonator is now back in.’
‘Yeah, I noticed!’
Lock was more interested in Natalia than in what she was holding. ‘I told you she wouldn’t go far. Natalia, if you want your friends to live, you’ll do exactly what I tell you.’
‘Let them go,’ she replied, voice trembling. ‘Or I use this.’
He moved his gaze to her hands. ‘What is that? A landmine?’
‘Hell yeah, it’s a landmine,’ Hoyt muttered. ‘It’s a goddamn Bouncing Betty!’
Concern finally crossed Lock’s face as he registered the other American’s nervousness. ‘How dangerous is it?’
‘It’ll kill us all if it goes off.’
Lock stiffened. Natalia stepped closer. ‘Don’t move,’ she ordered. ‘Drop your guns or I will blow us all up.’
‘Put it down or I’ll shoot them,’ he countered.
She lowered her right hand until the prongs touched her skin. ‘I’ll do it, I will do it! Let them go!’
‘You won’t kill yourself. Or them.’ Lock relaxed slightly, smugness creeping into his expression. ‘I may not be your father, but I still know a lot about you. You’re a peacenik — you wouldn’t kill anyone. You couldn’t.’
‘You do not know me at all,’ she said. Though her voice was still shaky, Chase recognised the same resolve behind it as when she told him of her hatred for weapons of war. ‘I know why you want to use me — you, and the Russians. You want to start Serafim Volkov’s work again. Yes, I know all about him,’ she added on seeing Lock’s surprise, ‘and what he did to my grandmother, and my mother — and to me. I will not let you do that!’
Lock’s response was to move the Glock away from Castille, aiming at her legs. ‘Put it down, Natalia, or I’ll put you down.’
‘Don’t!’ said Hoyt. ‘If she drops it, it’ll go off!’ His boss hesitated.
‘You think that because I believe in peace, I am a coward?’ Natalia went on, stopping ten feet from the four men. ‘You are wrong. I will not allow you to use me to make a weapon. I already know that I will not live to be old, because of my grandfather’s experiments — but I would rather die to save lives than in pain in a hospital bed.’
‘You’d be killing Chase and his friend too,’ Lock said.
‘We’re fine with that,’ said Chase. Castille raised a forefinger, about to express his own opinion to the contrary, but the Englishman continued: ‘If it stops you arseholes from getting your hands on a bioweapon, then it’s worth it. So if you don’t drop your guns… then Natalia, blow us up.’ He gave her a look to assure her he was serious, then turned back to Lock. ‘You’ve got ten seconds.’
The American’s gun was still pointed at Natalia, but was no longer rock-steady. ‘Hoyt!’ said Lock. ‘Do something!’
‘Do what?’ protested the mercenary. ‘If that mine blows, we’re all dead!’
‘It might be a dud!’
‘You wanna bet your life on that?’ To Lock’s dismay, Hoyt cautiously lowered his AK-47 to the ground.
Chase smiled coldly at Lock. ‘Four. Three…’
‘God damn it!’ Lock spat. He dropped the Glock.
‘Smart lad,’ said Chase, standing and collecting the fallen gun. Castille did the same with the AK, gesturing for Hoyt to back away. ‘Natalia, stay still until we’ve dealt with these two.’
‘Okay,’ she said, the tremor returning to her voice.
‘Edward, we have to get out of here,’ Castille said. He glanced towards the northern track. There was not yet any indication of approaching vehicles, but the river’s noise masked out other sounds.
‘We’ll take the jeep,’ said Chase, quickly checking the Glock before pointing it at its former owner. They would have to go south; a risk, as it took them back in the direction of the Russian camp, but it would be preferable to running head-on into a truck full of what he expected to be well-armed mercenaries. He waved for Lock to join Hoyt. ‘You two dickheads, get your hands up and move back. Now!’ The two Americans reluctantly obeyed.
Castille climbed into the Land Cruiser and started the engine. Chase went to the young German. ‘Okay, Natalia, I’ll take the mine. Move your hand off the top, it’s okay.’
Both her hands shook as she offered the weapon to him. He splayed his left fingers, palm up, and carefully took its weight. She gasped in relief as it finally left her grip. ‘Okay, get in the jeep,’ he ordered. She hurried to the Toyota.
Chase kept the gun trained on Hoyt and Lock as he backed off the wooden deck. Natalia got into the front passenger seat; he went to the open tailgate.
Castille regarded the Bouncing Betty with disbelief. ‘Why are you bringing that?’
‘I’m not bringing it, I’m using it!’ The sound of another engine, approaching quickly from the north, had just reached the Englishman. He crouched and put the landmine in one of the muddy ruts, then jumped into the back of the Land Cruiser and yanked the tailgate shut. ‘Okay, go!’