The Oracle (Fargo Adventures #11) - Clive Cussler Page 0,43
watched the reflection of the two men looking around the dorm. Both carried pistols, one with an AK-47 slung across his back.
“Nobody here,” the first said.
The second man looked toward the bathroom, a pale jagged scar on his face cutting from his cheekbone to his jaw. “In there.”
The two walked over, their booted feet scuffing across the wooden floor. Remi slid down as far as she could, moving her finger from the trigger guard onto the trigger. She had nine rounds, one in the chamber, eight in the magazine. She could easily take both men, but the others were bound to start firing at anything and everything. Not willing to risk the girls’ lives, she lowered her weapon, kept watching the men’s reflections, knowing that if they glanced in the right direction, they’d see her.
But neither man looked her way. Instead, they focused on the showers and toilets, pulling back the curtains and pushing open the door of each stall.
“Empty,” Scarface said. They turned, the other man brushing against the hamper as he stepped through the doorway.
Relieved, Remi leaned back against the wall, watching their reflection as they strode across the dorm and out the door. Another man joined them, saying, “Nothing. They’re all gone.”
Scarface turned around, looked into the seemingly empty dorm. For a moment, Remi thought he’d seen her, but then he turned away. She caught sight of him in the mirror, his smile sending a chill down her spine. “Burn the place to the ground.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Be a mountain or lean on one.
– AFRICAN PROVERB –
You two,” Remi heard Makao call out. “Get the gasoline.”
Hoping the man was bluffing, Remi remained where she was between the two hampers, until she heard a sobbed whisper from the right. “I’m scared.”
“Shhh,” came a second voice to her left.
Relief swept through her. “Amal?”
“Yes.”
“Thank goodness. How many?” Remi asked.
“Five of us. I . . . I had one of my spells. The girls heard the gunshot and were afraid to leave the dorm.”
“They’re safe.”
“What if they burn—”
“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.” Remi stood, peering out far enough to see two men walk past the open doorway. When she saw their gasoline cans, she realized she had no choice but to give herself up. “Don’t come out unless I tell you.”
Holstering her gun in the hidden panel of her pack, she shoved it against the wall and dropped a couple of towels over it. She stepped from the bathroom and quietly crossed the dorm, her hands raised above her shoulders as she walked out the door. She counted eight men, each armed with a pistol at the hip and an AK-47, the majority of which were aimed at the various doors of the buildings.
“I’m unarmed,” she said as they turned, aiming at her.
That the men didn’t fire the moment they saw her gave her some hope that they were under orders to take everyone alive.
Which meant they weren’t terrorists bent on killing girls who were being educated.
That did not, however, rule out terrorists bent on kidnapping girls who were being educated.
One of them patted her waist, looking for a holster. “Nothing.”
Scarface held her gaze, then looked past her through the doorway. “What’s your name?”
“Remi,” she said. “Remi Fargo.”
“Where is everyone, Remi Fargo?”
“I’m alone.”
“Then you won’t care if we burn down each building? Starting with this one?”
Remi said nothing, still hoping he was bluffing. He flicked his head. The two men holding the gasoline cans started splashing fuel on the wainscot at opposite corners of the dorm.
“Stop,” she said.
Makao’s smile turned triumphant. “Call them.”
“They’re just children. No need for guns.”
He studied her for a moment, then said something in another language, one she didn’t understand. They lowered their weapons. He pointed his gun at her. “If anything happens, you’ll be the first to die.”
She nodded and moved away from the door, drawing his aim toward her and away from the girls. “Amal,” she called. “Bring the girls out. Keep your hands up and they won’t shoot.”
The massive hampers creaked as the girls climbed out. A moment later, Amal led them to the threshold, hesitating at the sight of the armed men.
“Over here,” Remi said, holding out her hand. They refused to move. The looks on their faces broke her heart.
This was supposed to be their safe haven.
She had failed them.
Makao eyed the girls, then turned toward Remi, his gaze boring into her. “Where are the rest? All the others?”
“We’re the only ones here. Everyone else left this morning. To Jalingo.”