Christine pulled her arm away. “You’re not helping.” She folded her arms across her chest and gazed into the pouring rain.
Kalinin offered Harrison a faint smile, which Harrison returned.
Stone hurried toward Harrison, dropping into a crouch. “We got company. North end.”
Harrison donned his jacket and helmet, then took his M4 carbine and headed toward one end of the crevice while the other SEALs grabbed their gear and weapons. Stone and Harrison stopped beside Brown at the north end, then the three men pulled back. After conferring with Harrison, Stone moved back down the ledge, updating everyone.
“About twenty Russians below, maybe more. Can’t tell through the rain. They’ve spotted the cutout in the cliff and three men are on their way up. We can’t take a stand here. They’d radio in reinforcements before we could eliminate them. We’re moving out.” Stone pointed to the other end of the ledge, where Stigers was standing watch.
The ledge ahead narrowed to three feet, wide enough for passage in single file only. Her eyes shot to Kalinin and his swollen ankle.
“I will manage,” he said.
He didn’t have a choice. He’d have to power through the pain until they reached more favorable ground where a SEAL could assist.
Christine grabbed her backpack, then followed the SEALs as they made their way toward Stigers. Rodrigues helped Kalinin to his feet as Harrison issued orders into his headset. Stone took the lead while Christine and Kalinin were placed in the center of the column, Christine in front. While they waited, she turned back toward Harrison and Brown. The two SEALs had their M4s raised to the firing position. Each man squeezed off several rounds, then hustled toward the single-file formation.
Harrison placed himself between Christine and Kalinin, while Brown took up the rear. Harrison spoke into his headset and Stone moved forward, followed by the others. After the single-file column exited the crevice, Harrison directed Brown, “Use a thumper. Close the passage.”
Brown pulled a grenade launcher from its holster, then fired a round into the far end of the ledge. The cliff shook from the explosion, partially filling the passage with rubble. Brown fired two more grenades, blocking the route completely. Another order from Harrison and the column moved forward on the narrow path, snaking slowly along the cliff. Kalinin limped along, his slow progress setting the pace.
The rain came down in cascading torrents, hitting Christine and the cliff walls at an angle, accompanied by gusting winds whipping through the gorge. They continued along the winding cliff face, with the ledge narrowing to only two feet. The path eventually widened again, but the ground transitioned from hard rock to loose gravel, sloping down toward a precipitous drop. She peered over the path’s edge at the swollen river two hundred feet below. The water rushing through the ravine crashed against the rocks along the way, creating a white mist blanketing the river.
Several of the SEALs ahead lost their footing momentarily before steadying themselves, and the trail gradually deteriorated with each person’s transit. Christine continued on, following closely behind Rodrigues when the path beneath her gave way. She tried to catch herself, but both feet slipped through the loose gravel, and she slid toward the cliff edge.
Harrison lunged toward her, grabbing her arm. But his hand slipped down her wet forearm as she fell, until his grip held at her wrist. Christine’s weight and momentum were too much, however, and she pulled Harrison toward the cliff edge.
Mendelson dodged past Kalinin and grabbed Harrison’s left boot. He dug his feet into the trail, halting Harrison and Christine’s momentum. Harrison’s lower body rested on the sloping cliff while his upper body hung over the edge. Christine dangled in midair, two hundred feet above the raging river.
In his effort to reach Harrison, Mendelson had knocked Kalinin off balance. His weight ended up on the wrong leg and he lost his footing as well. Kalinin slid down the steep path toward the cliff edge.
Harrison grabbed Kalinin’s wrist with his other hand as he slipped off the mountainside, and the Russian swung in the air beside Christine. With Harrison holding both of them, he began sliding down the mountainside; Mendelson’s footing was giving way.
Rodrigues joined in, grabbing Harrison’s other boot, halting his descent. But Rodrigues and Mendelson were dangerously close to the trail edge. A few more inches and all three SEALs, along with Christine and Kalinin, would plummet over the cliff. Christine looked down and the mist parted for a second, revealing the river surging through the ravine far below.
Stigers and Brown joined in, helping Mendelson and Rodrigues gain better footing before grabbing on to Harrison’s legs. With four men pulling, Harrison inched upward. But they had three more feet to go before Christine and Kalinin would be within reach of another SEAL.
The downpour continued, the rainwater running down Harrison’s arms and over their hands. As he inched slowly upward, his grip on Christine began to slip, her hand sliding through his. Harrison clamped down even harder, almost crushing the bones in her hand. Then his hold on Kalinin began to slip. Harrison yelled into his headset, urging the four SEALs above to pull faster. His rate of ascension increased, but Christine and Kalinin were still two feet away from help.
Her hand slipped even farther, as did Kalinin’s. As the rain streamed down Harrison’s face, falling toward her, Christine saw the panic in his eyes. It was a look she’d never seen from him in the thirty-plus years she’d known him.
Harrison would have to choose between them. He could save either Kalinin or the woman he had loved for most of his life.
If there was one thing Christine was certain of, it was that Harrison would save her.
Then he let go.
Of her.
Christine’s shock was overcome by fear as she fell toward the jagged rocks two hundred feet below.
58
KRASNODAR KRAI, RUSSIA
Kalinin watched Christine disappear into the heavy rain and mist as Harrison grabbed him with both hands. As the two men inched upward, hauled by the other four SEALs, Kalinin listened for a splash, praying Christine hit the water instead of the rocks. But he heard nothing above the roar of the turbulent water. Kalinin saw the anguish on Harrison’s face after he released Christine. Then the SEAL closed his eyes for a moment. When they opened, a cold, hard look settled over him and he aimed his gaze at Kalinin.
Slowly, Harrison and Kalinin were pulled back onto the path. The five SEALs and Kalinin rested on the narrow path, sitting with their backs against the cliff, while Stone, Rosenberry, and Maydwell stood watch. Harrison stared into the rain, and no one said a word while they waited for his order to continue. Kalinin’s thoughts went to Christine. Even if she survived the fall, she’d be swept through boulder-filled rapids, her body smashed against the rocks. Finally, Harrison stood and gestured forward. Stone began moving again, and the eight SEALs and Kalinin snaked slowly along the cliff face.
Ten minutes later, they reached a break in the cliff, offering a passage west through the mountains. They turned and ascended a ravine, which led to a grassy plateau. The SEAL formation spread out, with Kalinin in the middle. Mendelson assisted the Russian president, wrapping one of Kalinin’s arms around his shoulders. Harrison took the lead while Stone moved to Kalinin’s other side. They traversed the plain, then descended toward the sea. The rain began to ease and Kalinin heard the faint beat of helicopter rotors every few minutes passing by in the distance, growing gradually louder each time before dissipating.
The SEALs scanned the forest and the skies as they advanced, and visibility improved as the rain eased. The formation suddenly dropped into the foliage, with Mendelson pulling Kalinin down with him.