“And what is that?”
“An extra Candle. An assault on this island will result in the destruction of one of your major cities.”
Skyler glanced at Candice. This was not good news. The lab was set up to manufacture additional Candles for sale to terrorists around the globe. But because of the lack of korium before finding the Arctic Air Cargo shipment, he never anticipated there was an additional device already in existence. Escandoza was right. If he threated the U.S. with an attack, the President would never risk a loss of life. There would have to be a different way to stop this madman.
Skyler saw the rim of the cenote come into view. Seconds later, he and Candice stood at the lip of the sacrificial well.
“I’m sorry it must come to this,” Escandoza said, “but someone has to always pay a price. You two now, and your friend Gates when he realizes you are no more.” He motioned to the guard to secure their ankles with the leg irons.
That was when the jungle started shaking. A rapid, thunderous drumming grew into a roar.
“Earthquake?” Candice asked Skyler.
“No,” he said. “The cavalry.”
Candice screamed as Castillo reached out and pushed her into the cenote. A second later, she pushed Skyler.
STOP AND BOARD
General Cho awoke with a start from a deep sleep. He sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bunk in the cramped cabin below decks. Something was wrong. The Sunan had stopped. No engine vibration, no rolling on the ocean swells, no motion at all — just silence. He stood, slipped his feet into his shoes and grabbed a shirt. He had slept in his pants. Pushing open the cabin door, he looked in both directions along the narrow passage before moving to the stairs leading topside.
He emerged into a blazing morning sun over a calm sea. Shielding his eyes from the glare, he looked toward the stern. Where were his men? Why wasn’t the ship underway? With no one in sight, he moved toward the bow. Rounding the wheelhouse superstructure, he froze at the sight of his soldiers gathered on the forward deck in a tight grouping with their hands behind their heads. Then he saw the imposing form of a warship a hundred or so meters off the port bow.
“Good morning, General.”
Cho turned to see a man in uniform step forward. Behind the officer, a group of armed U.S. Marines kept watch over the Korean soldiers.
“I’m Commander Thomas Marshall of the United States Navy and that is the guided missile destroyer USS Lassen. You have been stopped and boarded under the direct orders of the President. You and your men are to surrender immediately. You will be taken on board the Lassen and transported to the holding facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. There you will be held until formal charges are made. Your ship will be handed over to the United States Coast Guard as evidence. Any questions?”
“I’m in the service of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. I have diplomatic immunity. You have no right to detain me.”
“You should have thought of that before you threatened the safety and security of the United States.” The commander motioned and two Marines took Cho into custody.
The sun heated Cho’s face as he felt a Marine secure his hands behind him with flexicuffs. He was assisted down a set of stairs on the side of the freighter to a motor launch. From his seat Cho watched the Lassen grow larger until it dominated his view. It was then that he realized other warships were nearby. He sucked in his breath knowing he would be a failure in the eyes of the General Secretary. His family dishonored. Even if he somehow gained his freedom from the Americans, there would be no going back to his home, his country. He felt suddenly alone surrounded by an unfriendly sea. He knew there was only one honorable thing left to do. He shot from his seat and dove over the gunwale into the dark Caribbean. Kicking with all his strength, he aimed his body straight down into the depths. After ten meters, he blew out his breath, sucked seawater into his lungs and sank into oblivion.
HEAT SIGNATURE
“Try to turn around.” Skyler treaded water beside Candice. When she did, he maneuvered so he could untie the rope binding her wrists, thankful there was not enough time for the guard to apply the leg irons. Once free, she did the same for him. They swam to the wall of the cenote and grabbed onto the ledge where he had slept the night before. “Are you okay?”
“I will be when I get my hands on that bitch that pushed me in.”
“Maybe you’ll get your chance. First, we’ve got to get out of here.”
Skyler started searching for the strongest vines. As he did, the well echoed with the sound of a loud whoosh. A rocket shot across the sky above the canopy followed immediately by a Cobra gunship. “The attack on the island has started.”
“What about Escandoza’s threat?” Candice asked.
“He’s just crazy enough.” Skyler found and tested a thick vine. “This one should do.”
The thumping of another helicopter filled the well — it sounded close by and didn’t seem to be moving. In less than a minute, a rope appeared and dangled down the wall followed by the familiar, booming voice. “You gonna stay down there all morning?”
“Is that Mickey?” Candice asked.
“The one and only.” He took the end of the rope and looped it under Candice’s arms. “Hold on tight,” he said and gave her a kiss. “I’ll be right behind you.” Then he swam to the middle of the cenote and signaled Gates to pull her up.
Soon the rope was thrown back down. This time, Skyler didn’t wait to be pulled up, but instead used it to climb out. At the top, he took Candice into his arms and held her tight. Then he turned to his brother from a different mother. “How did you find us?”
“We knew where you were since last night from your heat signature.” Gates pointed skyward. “Drone.” They had to shout over the sound of the Seahawk hovering nearby. “Figured you were the only one that could wind up getting himself trapped in a sacrificial well.”
“Thank you, my friend. Now let’s get this party started.” Skyler led Candice to where the cables from the Seahawk hung down in the clearing. Soon, the three, along with two Army Rangers, were skimming across the top of the jungle canopy toward columns of black smoke rising from the direction of the korium lab compound. The battle had been quick and destructive. Numerous bodies lay scattered about.
As the helicopter maneuvered in for a landing on the beach, Skyler saw a line of men being marched to waiting motor launches — Escandoza’s men along with sailors from the Tiger Shark guarded by Rangers.
“Where are they taking them?” Skyler asked.
“Out to the Iwo Jima about eight kilometers to the east,” Gates replied.
As they stepped out onto the sand, Candice started running toward the line of prisoners. “There she is!”
“Oh shit.” Skyler took off after her with Gates right behind.
Teresa Castillo walked near the end of the line, her hands secured behind her. When she saw Candice charging toward her she froze with a shocked expression.
“You tried to kill us!” Candice screamed and came to a halt a few inches from her face.
The guards and prisoners stopped and turned to watch.
“How did you—”
“Escape?” Before Castillo could brace herself, Candice slapped her so hard that the woman lost her balance and dropped to the ground. A couple of Escandoza’s men reacted with whoops and whistles as if they wanted to see more. Apparently, Castillo was not so popular with everyone in Escandoza’s organization.
Skyler grabbed Candice and pulled her away, but not before she yelled, “That’s just the beginning of what’s in store for you in prison.”