R Patterson - The Shadow Hunter

Another five minutes ticked by and he wondered how much longer he needed to remain there. The wind howled through the trees overhead, the freezing temperatures starting to eat away at the feeling in the tips of his fingers and toes.

With no binoculars to scan the horizon, he began to wonder if he’d missed the team. One wrong number in a string of coordinates could mean the difference in being off by ten miles or more. He thought of Alex and John Daniel and what would become of them if something happened. Alex would likely land on her feet. She was as smart and talented as she was beautiful, lacking in none of those department. But John Daniel needed his father, someone to show him how to be a man in the world. And Hawk cringed at the thought of anyone else taking over that role for him.

Two more minutes elapsed before he noticed a glint on the waves. He looked around to see if there were any fishing vessels entering or exiting the harbor that could’ve caused the light. But he didn’t see any movement on the water. Aside from commercial fishermen or military vessels, no ships were allowed in or out of the Sonbong harbor after sunset.

Hawk looked again as he noticed the light again before it went dark.

That has to be them.

He kept his eyes transfixed on the area, waiting for someone to emerge from the surface. Another minute went by, then two. Still nothing.

Hawk sighed and shook his head in frustration. He decided to get up and stretch his legs, but when he did, he felt a firm hand on his shoulder.

“Don’t move another muscle,” the man said in English.

Hawk froze. “It’s about time.”

The man walked in front of Hawk, a weapon trained on him. “Brady Hawk?”

“Are you cavalry?” Hawk asked with a wry grin.

“It sure seems that way, doesn’t it?”

The man dropped his gun and offered his hand. “I’m Commander Wilson, and these are Lieutenants Jackson and Finch. Big Earv also told me to say hello.”

Hawk furrowed his brow. “Big Earv brought you guys here?”

“This was a voluntary mission, totally off the books,” Wilson said, handing a gun to Hawk. “It was all we could do to scrounge up three of us to go, so Big Earv is running the Russian shrimping boat ten miles off shore. He’ll be ready to help extract us when it’s time to go.”

Hawk thanked Wilson for the weapon and then caught the team up to speed while they buried their scuba gear.

“Just how exactly do you intend to get the codes back?” Wilson asked. “I imagine the North Koreans have made several copies for safe keeping by now.”

“Of course they have,” Hawk said. “But what good are the codes on nuclear weapons that don’t work?”

“So you want to sabotage the missiles?” Finch asked.

Hawk nodded. “At this point, that’s our only option. And from what I understand, there were only two codes that the Russians were giving them.”

“Those bastard commies,” Jackson said. “They just want to start a war and then sit back and watch it all burn.”

“Let’s just make sure that doesn’t happen,” Wilson said. “So how do you see this going down?”

“If we’re going to get out of here alive, we need to be as discreet as possible,” Hawk said. “The harbor is teeming with guards. More arrived this morning, signaling that North Korea must be close to unleashing the weapon on the U.S. I don’t think we can delay this operation at all.”

“Fine with me,” Jackson said. “The quicker we get out of here, the better.”

“I think we all feel that way,” Finch said.

Hawk offered a thin smile. “I know I am. But before we get back, we’ve got plenty of work to do. So, here’s what I’ve got. I stole a van earlier tonight and switched out the plates. I doubt anyone will even notice it’s gone, so we should have until the morning before that will raise any suspicion. I also have one uniform, which is enough since I’m the only one who’ll be entering the area patrolled around the pier.”

“So what’s your plan of attack?” Wilson asked.

“I’ll tell you on the way.”

Hawk motioned for the team to follow him to the vehicle. However, just as they arrived at the van, he heard a stick snap in the distance.

“Everybody freeze.”

All the men drew their weapons and moved around the side of a large rock, using it for cover. Another minute passed before any of the men said anything. Hawk was starting to question if he’d actually heard anything or if the sleep deprivation—and the events of the last seventy-two hours—had made him paranoid. He had more than his fair share of reasons to be on edge.

“Maybe it was nothing,” Jackson said.

Hawk closed his eyes and listened. He was certain someone else was in the woods, though he couldn’t be sure if it was a hostile. He shook his head.

“What?” Wilson asked.

“I don’t know, but I think someone is out there,” Hawk said.

“Could just be a couple of teenagers looking for a place to hook up,” Jackson suggested. “This place is isolated enough that it’d make a great spot.”

“I doubt it,” Hawk said. “I’ve been here for hours and haven’t heard even the slightest engine sound other than a few trawlers trying to beat the dusk curfew. Teenagers aren’t that quiet either.”

“American teenagers aren’t,” Finch said. “But maybe they are in North Korea.”

“Let’s stay here for a few minutes more, just to be sure,” Wilson whispered.

Satisfied that no one was there, the team stepped out into the open and headed toward Hawk’s van, first Wilson followed by Finch and Jackson. Hawk brought up the rear.

Before they knew what was going on, Wilson crumpled to the forest floor. Finch fell face forward on top of his commander. Jackson almost bowled Hawk over as he scrambled for cover. The two men moved through the darkness and took up a new position.

“Do you have any infrared goggles?” Hawk asked. “Because now would be a great time to use them.”

Jackson reached into his ruck sack and pulled out a pair, using them to scan the area.

“Anything?” Hawk asked in a hushed tone.

Jackson shook his head subtly. A bullet pinged off the rock, sending both men diving to the ground for cover.

“Was anyone following you?” Hawk asked, putting out his hand for the binoculars.

“No,” Jackson said, handing them to Hawk. “We were miles away from everyone. I don’t think anyone would’ve been able to follow us underwater.”

“Well, somebody knew where you were headed and sent a greeting party.”

“They’re not very friendly,” Jackson said.

Another bullet whizzed overhead, taking a few branches with it.

“We need to split up,” Hawk said. “Sticking together makes it easy for them to pin us down, whoever they are.”

“Roger that.”

Hawk stayed low, crouching as he moved around, utilizing the trees for cover. He snatched Wilson’s ruck sack off his back and kept moving. With Hawk’s eyes adjusted to the darkness, he could make out a faint silhouette of Jackson darting away in the opposite direction.

When Hawk identified a good spot for a blind, he pulled out the binoculars and surveyed the area. He noticed a group of six seals, huddled together to undoubtedly plot their next move.

Hawk realized he wouldn’t have a better chance than this to take them all out. He grabbed a grenade from Wilson’s pack and hurled it in the direction of the men. One of the men shouted as the device exploded, sending shrapnel hurling in every direction. Hawk watched everyone scatter, except for two men, who laid facedown and appeared lifeless.

Hawk had reduced the deficit, but he was still in trouble being outnumbered two to one.

At least it isn’t three to one anymore.