Iris Johansen - Everlasting

As Kira fell into pace beside Paulo she glanced curiously at the long, snout-nosed weapon he was carrying. “What a weird-looking gun. Was that what you were going to blast us with, Paulo?”

He nodded. “It would have been quite a blast,” he said cheerfully. “It's a flamethrower.”

Her eyes widened. “You go hunting with a flamethrower?”

“No, his friends go hunting with flamethrowers.” Paulo's head jerked back to indicate Sandor. “Isn't that right, Karpathan?”

“You've run into my men in the hills,” Sandor said grimly. “I'll tear a strip off them for losing those weapons.”

“They didn't lose them. I confiscated them. They're not bad, those soldiers of yours. Very quiet, very fast, very disciplined.” He grinned. “Too bad they are not Gypsies. Then they would be perfect.”

They reached the rear of the cave and Zack slipped through the twisting, narrow opening that was hidden by an overhanging rock. “It's all right,” he called. “The cave's empty.” He was striding quickly toward the front entrance. “I left Perry, Fontaine, and four men standing guard at Perry's helicopter a short distance from here, but I noticed you landed closer, Kira. We'll use that one. I'll tell Fontaine to get his men into the helicopter and prepare to take off. I'll be right back.”

Five minutes later Kira was at the controls of the helicopter and Paulo and Sandor were seated and ready to take off. She had started the engine and the rotors were whirring, but there was still no Zack.

“There has to be trouble. Surely he should be back by now.” Kira's hand tightened on the stick as cold terror shook her. “I'm going after him.”

“I'll go.” Sandor opened the door of the helicopter.

Shots! A deadly rat-a-tat from the direction of the woods into which Zack had disappeared.

Paulo muttered a low curse and jumped to the ground, the flamethrower ready in his hands.

Then Kira saw Perry's helicopter suddenly rise sluggishly above the trees, gaining altitude with reckless swiftness. The gunfire escalated in intensity.

“The soldiers must have heard their helicopter and closed in just before it took off,” Sandor said. “That means they'll be streaming all over the place in a second. Where the hell is Damon?”

Oh, dear God, she prayed, don't let him get shot. She wouldn't be able to bear it if anything happened to Zack. “Well, I'm not going to wait any longer to find out. I'm going after him.” Her voice was tense and ragged as she fumbled at the handle of the door. “I won't let him stay out there alone. They're shooting , dammit.”

The shots were coming closer. She suddenly saw Zack break clear of the shrubbery at the edge of the clearing and streak toward them! He wasn't hurt. She was so relieved that she felt a little dizzy.

“How close are they?” Paulo shouted.

“Too close,” Zack said curtly. “An entire company of them. They're right on my heels.”

Paulo's grin glittered in the darkness. “Well, let us see if we can't discourage them.”

He lifted the flamethrower and swept it in a wide arc across the shrubs and the trees that bordered the clearing, and then brought it back again. A whoosh, an explosion, and then the woods were aflame! The flames curled and soared, forming a wall of fire that writhed as if it were a living entity in the darkness. Kira could hear startled voices shouting in frustration beyond that barrier of flame.

“Let's see them get through that,” Paulo said with satisfaction as he shouldered the weapon.

“I'm glad you didn't become trigger-happy in that passage,” Sandor said dryly. “That's a very effective weapon.”

“Too easy,” Paulo said with a shrug. “No challenge. Anyone can win with this.” He turned to Zack, who was now climbing into the helicopter. “Isn't that right, Zack? Besides, who wants to destroy all those beautiful trees?”

“Get into the helicopter, Paulo. Sorry there's no more fun to be had tonight. Lift off, Kira.” Zack dropped into the seat beside her. His hand covered Kira's on the stick. “Are you all right?”

Was she all right? He was the one who had been dodging bullets. She nodded jerkily. “I will be as soon as we get out of here.” The helicopter lifted, hovered, and then straightened out as it gained altitude. There was a sudden barrage of artillery fire as the helicopter became visible over the flames, but then they were out of range.

“Where are we going?” she asked, glancing at Zack.

“The encampment, first. We'll just have to take one thing at a time.”

She nodded and turned the helicopter toward the north. She could still see the spiraling clouds of black smoke and the blazing inferno of the woods below. It was a macabre contrast to the gently winking lights of the turreted palace that had once been her home. Then she could no longer see either the woods or the palace as the helicopter sped out of Belajo toward safety.

When they landed in the glade at the encampment, the brilliant beams of the helicopter lights revealed Marna standing patiently, her head thrown back, looking up at them.

Paulo jumped out as soon as the ignition was turned off. “I will go and explain matters and try to smooth the path. Marna will not be pleased that you let Kira walk into that situation at the palace, Zack.”

“Let?” Kira asked pointedly.

Zack smiled. “Sorry, love, no offense meant. We know that it would have taken a battalion to stop you.” He watched Paulo crossing the glade toward Marna. “However, have you noticed that Marna does resemble a battalion on the march at times?”

He turned to Sandor. “What's next for you? Will you go with us to Switzerland?”

Sandor shook his head. “I'll join my men in the hills as quickly as possible. Naldona will be sending emissaries to try to pull the fringe factions loyal to me into his camp, and sending strike forces to the core groups to destroy them before they're aware of the split between us.” His expression was grave. “You know that it won't be safe for Marna and her people in the hills. It's not going to be either pleasant or safe for anyone in Tamrovia for a long time.”

“War?” Kira asked.

He nodded somberly, making a violent motion with his hand. “I'd almost rather have Stefan back than have Tamrovia go through this hell.”

“Where is Stefan? You said he was safe, but you didn't tell me what's happened to him.”

“I had an inkling from reports I'd received that Naldona was going to try to make an example of the royal family. Before he reached the palace I took Stefan prisoner myself and had two of my men smuggle him out of Belajo. They should be in Sedikhan by now. I told my men to deliver Stefan to Lance Rubinoff. Hopefully, your brother Lance will be able to convince him not to try to reenter Tamrovia at once.” He shrugged. “After a day or so there won't be any question of his coming back. Naldona will have announced the takeover.” Sandor's lips tightened. “And I will have launched the first offensive against Naldona's new regime. Stefan will know it will be suicide to come back.”

“Poor Stefan,” Kira said softly. “I know you said he was a dinosaur and I believe that's true. But the pomp and circumstance of being king is all he's ever known and enjoyed.”

“Perhaps he'll be forced to develop into something more now,” Zack said quietly. “And if not, deposed kings have a great social cachet in society. There's a certain tragic romanticism about them. He'll probably have just as many sycophants around him as he did in Tamrovia.” He turned to Sandor. “I'll fly you to your base now, if you like. You obviously want to join your men immediately.”

Sandor nodded. “It's urgent that I do so. It's not very far from here. It shouldn't take you more than an hour to get there and back.” He hesitated. “Don't linger here for more than five or six hours at the most. Everyone knows about Kira's association with Marna and her tribe. Naldona will have troops out interrogating and scouring the countryside for the caravans. The Gypsies should break camp and move farther up into the hills, and the two of you should get out of the country before all hell breaks loose.”