The Last Odyssey (Sigma Force #15) - James Rollins Page 0,134

as Hunayn described.”

Seichan felt safe enough to loosen Aggie’s chokehold. The monkey protested with sharp eeks. But she shushed him and massaged his back, something that always comforted little Jack when distressed. It seemed to work here, too.

Maria noted her attempt to calm Aggie and held out her arms. “Do you want me to take him?”

Seichan shifted away. “I got him.”

Maria nodded, showing no offense.

Gray, though, looked at her with a raised eyebrow.

Seichan ignored him, feeling no need to explain herself. Maybe her desire to keep Aggie with her was born out of some maternal instinct, some hormone-driven mechanism that had control of her actions, as if she were as much an automaton as those figures back there. But Seichan knew it wasn’t that. If Aggie hadn’t come in time, if Charlie hadn’t sent him, they might all be dead. To honor that, she intended to protect the macaque, to return Aggie to his foster mother—that is, if the captain was still alive.

Which was a big if.

42

June 26, 7:30 P.M. WEST

High Atlas Mountains, Morocco

Charlie crouched at the edge of the forest. She clutched her pistol between both palms, as if in prayer. She certainly needed God’s protection. But as the old adage goes, God helps those who help themselves. And that was the plan.

Charlie hoped to help herself.

“Be careful,” Elena whispered next to her.

Charlie nodded. That’s also the plan. She stared across the open meadow to the helicopter resting in the green grass and scrub bushes. She had no idea how to fly such an aircraft, but that was not why she had come here. For the past twenty minutes, she had led Elena north through the dense forest. If nothing else, they had shaken the armed giant, Kadir, from their trail.

At least for now.

But Charlie could not count on that luck lasting forever, especially if the armed force should return from their cave exploration and scour these woods. With only two rounds left in her pistol, her plan was to arm up, then continue north into the mountains. She would’ve preferred to head south toward the distant Sous, but that path was trickier, the way blocked by the stream where she had beached her boat.

The better route was north anyway. The forest grew thicker in the higher mountains, offering more places to hide. Plus she knew one of the two helicopters had landed up here.

She stared over at the aircraft abandoned in the meadow. She needed to reach it, check it for weapons, maybe a radio, then continue onward. Still, she waited a full three minutes, watching for any sign of movement. A dry north wind waved the grass, adding to her anxiety. Finally, she knew enough was enough.

Gotta take the chance.

“Stay hidden,” Charlie warned Elena.

Elena nodded and shifted deeper into the shadows.

Charlie straightened from her crouch and ran low across the meadow, skirting rocks and bushes. Her eyes strained for any threat. But there were no signs of motion near the helicopter. Focused over there, she missed it.

Elena did not and shouted from her hiding place. “On your left!”

Charlie trusted her enough to leap headlong and roll through the tall grass. Gunfire blasted from the direction of the river; rounds shredded the grass above her. She caught a glimpse of a giant figure rising from behind a mossy boulder on the riverbank. Kadir must have gone straight up the channel, anticipating her actions. Charlie’s more cautious approach had given the bastard plenty of time to set up this ambush.

Reaching an outcropping of rock, she hid behind it.

What now?

She had one moment to think as the giant fired toward where Elena had shouted, likely knowing Charlie offered no threat. Even with a fully loaded pistol, what could she do?

And I only have the two rounds.

She stared over to the helicopter, to the extra tanks of fuel on its undercarriage. She again raised the pistol between her palms.

Just have my back, dear Lord.

Popping out of hiding, she aimed for those tanks and fired. If nothing else, her aim proved true. She noted the spark by the fuel intake cap, heard the ping above the pistol crack. Then she turned and ran like hell for the forest. Unlike Hollywood movies, there was no fiery explosion behind her. She knew there wouldn’t be. She had been around enough engines and motors her whole life.

But as she had hoped, someone else had been watching too many movies. From the corner of her eye, she saw Kadir duck behind his boulder after her showy