The Oracle (Fargo Adventures #11) - Clive Cussler Page 0,48
might have only seconds, she said, “Do you remember how to send a picture on a phone?”
She did. “Amal showed me. The button with the little white cloud. And then I press the camera button.”
“Good. I dropped my phone somewhere in the shed. If you find it, I need you to send a message to Sam. But you have to unlock the phone first.”
“How?”
“You’ll see the numbers when you press the round button at the bottom. Seven-one-two-two.”
“Seven-one-two-two.”
“When the screen comes up, take a photo and send it to Sam.”
“How do I find his number?”
“Unless someone else texted me, it should be the top number on the messages.”
“What do I say?”
“Help. Do you think you can do that?”
She nodded.
“Good girl. If he calls, tell him they have men watching down near the farm.” From the corner of her eye, she saw Zara look over at her in alarm, tears clouding her eyes. “He needs to know.”
“Okay.”
“And no matter what happens, don’t let them see you. I want you to hide.”
Nasha looked at the other girls, then Remi, her chest rising in defiance. “No. I won’t. I might be just a girl, but I want to fight.” She lifted her chin, daring Remi to refuse her.
Remi searched the girl’s determined face, knowing without a doubt that if she didn’t give the girl some direction, Nasha would engage the enemy on her own. She seemed to fear nothing, which was what worried Remi. If she turned into a mini rogue agent, doing whatever she wanted, chances were good she might be caught. Far better to keep her safe so that if all else failed she could warn Sam. “You can help, if you promise to do exactly what I say. If it’s too dangerous, you have to hide.”
“I promise.”
The other girls looked from Remi to Nasha, their eyes filled with uncertainty. Remi outlined her plan, starting with her pack hidden beneath the towels between the hampers. Nasha listened intently, nodding, as Remi told her what she wanted done. “If you can’t get to my pack, don’t worry. What’s more important is the road spikes we found. They’re in a box in the shed.”
“I know where they are.”
“Good. You’ll have to get the box out without them seeing or hearing. Maybe the girls and I can create a distraction.”
“Like the boys do when we pickpocket?”
“Just like that. If we can’t make one, you need to wait. I’m going to try to get us moved to the office. That will be closest to the truck and the keys. There’s a window in the office bathroom.” Remi, about to tell her that the window should be open, glanced over at Makao, shocked to see him looking their direction.
His eyes locked on hers and he drew his gun, then stalked across the courtyard toward them.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
An army of sheep led by a lion can defeat an army of lions led by a sheep.
– GHANAIAN PROVERB –
Within seconds he stood in front of them, pointing his weapon at Remi’s chest. “There are twenty trays and food in the cafeteria, waiting to be served. Where is everyone?”
“I told you. Gone. Some of the kids were sick. We were worried it might be contagious, so we did an emergency evacuation. They won’t be back.”
“The food—”
“You’re welcome to wait, but it’ll be a long one.”
Makao started to turn away when he seemed to notice Nasha for the first time. He scrutinized her for several interminable seconds, his gaze narrowing, when two of his men appeared from the back of the compound.
“The place is deserted,” one of them said. “But there’s a huge pile of dirt behind that building.” He pointed toward the supply shed. “We can’t figure out where it came from.”
Scarface looked at Remi for an explanation. “Well?”
“Honestly, I have no idea,” she replied, grateful his attention was no longer on Nasha. “I’ve only been here a few days. But I’d assume it’s topsoil from the firebreak around the school.” She nodded toward the garden area. “They’ve been using it in the planters.”
She hoped he’d believe the partial lie. The area outside the fence was plowed regularly as a firebreak to separate the forest from the school, but it was clearly contaminated with grass and weeds—which easily could be seen if they walked outside the courtyard for a closer look.
He seemed to buy it. Her relief was short-lived when his interest focused on the shed. “And why is that building round? Different from the others?”