Клайв Касслер - Typhoon Fury

The helicopter passed without slowing.

They all sat back in relief, but it was short-lived. The feed from the drone, which was still circling the compound, showed a frenzy of activity as gunmen poured out of the buildings fully armed and piled into four of the five Humvees, including the ones equipped with machine guns.

Two of them sped off on down the driveway leading into the jungle while the other two raced toward the front gate.

“Smart,” Eddie said appreciatively. “The chopper pilot kept going so we wouldn’t know they had spotted us. Good thing they didn’t realize we’re watching them.” He started the PIG and threw it into reverse.

“There must be another exit from the compound onto this road,” Juan said. “They’re trying to catch us in a pincer move. I’ll recall the drone. Eddie, get us out of here.”

Eddie punched the gas, and they shot backward.

Before he could set the drone to return to the PIG, its camera showed six people in white lab coats being roughly removed from the main building by the two remaining guards. They looked around in bewilderment at the suddenly empty compound.

“Who are they?” Beth asked.

“I don’t know,” Juan said. “But they don’t look like they’re there willingly.”

One of the guards shouted at the lead man, who turned and threw something at him. It exploded in a gush of flame, and the guard dropped his weapon as he ran amok trying to extinguish the white-hot fire.

Two more of the people in lab coats tossed objects at the second captor. Both of the makeshift grenades exploded. The guard rolled to the ground in an attempt to put out the flames, but he still held on to his assault rifle. Despite being ablaze, he picked off one of the captives. The man who had thrown the first grenade snatched up the dropped gun and killed the armed guard with a sustained barrage. The remaining guard, still on fire, ran at him like a madman before being taken down.

Beth gasped at the carnage and said, “Are they trying to escape because of us?”

“They must be desperate,” Juan said and glanced at Eddie, who nodded, knowing what Juan already had in mind.

The man who’d instigated the jailbreak sprinted to one of the smaller buildings and emerged seconds later triumphantly holding an item in his hand. It had to be the keys to the last Humvee because the four other captives ran for it and got in. Soon, the Humvee was driving at high speed toward the main gate.

“We might get away,” Raven said, “but if those people run into the other Humvees, they’re going to be wiped out.”

“I know,” Juan said as he heard the rotors of the helicopter returning to direct the coming ambush. “That’s why we’re going to help them.”

19

Ocampo’s hands were shaking as they gripped the wheel of the speeding Humvee. He couldn’t see the compound entrance through the trees, but he knew it wasn’t far.

“Where did they all go?” said Maria Santos from the passenger seat, her voice trembling. The three other scientists in the back were silent with fear.

“I don’t know,” Ocampo replied, “but it looked like they were in a hurry.”

Maria choked down a sob. “Paul’s dead.”

Ocampo couldn’t shake the sight of the chemist’s lifeless body riddled with bullets. “But we’re alive.”

“For how long? If they catch us, they’ll kill us.”

“They would have killed us eventually anyway.”

“How do you know they’re not waiting for us up ahead?”

“I don’t. But this is the fastest way out.”

When they rounded the next bend, Ocampo stood on the brakes, and their vehicle skidded to a stop. Two Humvees, one with a mounted machine gun, were positioned ahead of them just outside the gate as if they were waiting for something farther up the road. Guards were crouched behind the doors, their weapons at the ready.

“What are they doing?” Maria said.

“It looks like an ambush,” Ocampo replied.

“But there should be two more Humvees. I counted five this morning.”

“We’ll have to take the chance that they’re not farther ahead.”

None of the guards seemed alarmed by their presence. One of them even waved for their Humvee to come closer.

Ocampo gunned the engine.

“What are you doing?”

“They don’t realize it’s us. They think we’re the other guards from the compound.”

“They won’t for long.”

“Right. Which is why you should all get down. We’re going to try to get by them before they recognize us.”

He jammed his foot on the accelerator, and the Humvee shot down the road.

“You don’t have enough room to get by!” Maria cried out.

Ocampo’s heart raced as they rocketed forward. “We’ll make room. Hang on!”

He heard seat belts click while he drew his own across his chest.

The guard who had waved at them was now motioning for Ocampo to slow down. Only too late did he recognize the face looking back at him.

Ocampo tried to thread his vehicle between the compound gate and the Humvee without the machine gun, but there wasn’t enough room. The left side of the Humvee scraped along the gate while the right side smashed into the back of the other Humvee.

Two of the guards went flying when their Humvee was tossed into the other one. The rest of the guards dived for cover at the unexpected impact.

The wheel was torn from Ocampo’s hands as it spun. The Humvee plunged into a ditch and then back out as it bounced onto the dirt road.

No vehicles were in front of them.

Ocampo regained his senses and took off down the road, but something was wrong. The steering wheel was trying to yank itself to the right, and he couldn’t build any speed.

Either the impact with the other Humvee or the drop into the ditch had damaged the suspension. There was no way they could outrun the other Humvees now.

Assault rifles cracked behind them, and bullets splattered the rear of the vehicle.

“Get down!” he yelled, then screamed when one of the rounds pierced his right arm on its way through the windshield.

With just one good arm, he couldn’t hold the wheel straight any longer. The Humvee veered right and crashed into a tree.

For a moment, Ocampo was dazed by the impact. He came around only when Maria shook his shoulder, sending a fresh jolt of agony down his arm.

“The trees!” she yelled. “Our only chance is to try to lose them in the jungle.”

The dense foliage seemed impenetrable, but Ocampo wasn’t giving up if she wasn’t. He unbuckled himself and threw the door open. Holding his injured arm, he got out as quickly as he could.

They never had a chance to run. The guards’ damaged Humvee roared toward them, assault rifles pointing out the windows.

The other scientists all stopped and put up their hands. Ocampo didn’t even bother.

The Humvee swerved as it came to a halt. The guards jumped out, but they didn’t fire. They must have known how important the scientists were to Locsin’s goal of finding the formula for Typhoon.

“Down on the ground!” one of the guards yelled.

The other chemists complied, but Ocampo remained standing. He knew this was the end. He’d either die now or when Locsin realized he’d caused the others to mutiny. But he wouldn’t go back to work for Locsin.

“I said get down!”

Ocampo simply stared at him.

A moment’s hesitation crossed the guard’s face, but his anger at Ocampo not following his orders overcame any fear of what his boss might do later. He raised his rifle and pointed it at Ocampo’s head.

Ocampo closed his eyes, waiting for death.

He was shocked to hear an explosion. He thought everything would simply go dark, that he’d be dead long before he could hear a shot.