The Oracle (Fargo Adventures #11) - Clive Cussler Page 0,75
road,” Sam said, “they’re armed with AK-47s.”
“I think the group we ran into were cattle rustlers. They were guarding a large herd. We’ll do a flyby and you can see for yourself.” He looked over at his copilot. “We better get moving before this weather takes a turn for the worse.”
Sam nodded, then turned toward Okoro, noticing his gaze was fixed out the window. “Remi will keep them safe.”
Okoro said nothing.
Sam looked out his own window, praying they’d find them soon.
The helicopter banked to the right, heading northeast, following in the general direction of the meandering creek that Sam and Okoro had seen on their first search. Eventually, it was lost in the thick growth. The pilot ascended, hovering high over the southern portion of the park. Lightning arced across the gray sky. “Up ahead, at the end of the valley,” the copilot said. “See the cattle?”
One of the soldiers riding in the back handed Sam a pair of binoculars. Thunder rumbled as he looked out the window, seeing a thick forest and glimpses of the rocky banks of the tributary through the trees. A long grassy meadow stretched along the bottom of the valley. At the far end, he could just make out the steep cliffs jutting up from the valley floor into the forest. When he focused on the base of the cliffs, he saw the white cows. “Definitely a large herd down there.”
“The herdsmen were the ones who shot at us.”
“What are the chances our kidnappers are doing double duty as cattle rustlers?” Sam asked.
“If they’re dressed like Fulani herdsmen, we’ve found our guys.”
“You’re sure they were shooting at you?”
“No doubt.”
Disheartened, Sam handed the binoculars to Okoro as the helicopter continued in that direction. He took a look and returned the glasses to Sam, saying, “A week ago, a herd was stolen by armed Fulani. It would probably take them that long to get all the way out here.”
The aircraft, caught in a sudden gust, shifted violently. The copilot looked back at Sam. “Hate to say it. Turbulence is picking up. We’re going to have to turn around. Wait for the squall to pass. Soon as we can get back out, we’ll do so.”
The helicopter passed high over the Fulani cattle. Sam, not willing to lose one second of possible search time, focused his binoculars, seeing the armed gunmen who were tracking them with their rifles as they flew overhead. The helicopter banked away and Sam swept the binoculars across the cliffs, catching movement about midway down. “I see something.”
The pilot hovered as best he could, allowing Sam to focus.
The soldier sitting next to him looked through his own pair of binoculars. “Cat.”
It took Sam a moment to make out the reddish brown fur of the African gold cat. Smaller than a cheetah, it blended into the cliff face—so much so that he was sure that wasn’t what caught his attention. But when he looked higher up, searching, a blinding flash of lightning, followed by a torrential downpour, impeded his view.
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
Evil knows where evil sleeps.
– AFRICAN PROVERB –
The rain beat against the windows of Makao’s apartment while he waited for word on the hostages. He and his crew had driven five and a half hours straight back to Jalingo after the debacle at the school but had heard nothing since. Every minute that passed, Makao saw his profit slipping away. Anxious, he called Pili’s phone, but it went straight to voice mail. Again.
He looked over at Jimi, who’d fallen asleep on the sofa, while his other two men had crashed on the floor next to him. They didn’t seem bothered. Must be nice. He was too keyed up to sleep, though he’d been the one who drove all night to get there.
“Call, already,” he said, pacing. He looked over at the phone, stolen from that Amal woman, wondering if Fargo suspected anything when he’d called last night about the ransom.
Of course he did. Which made it all the more important to find those missing hostages.
When Tarek first hired Makao, he’d mentioned very little about the Fargos other than to say they’d be an easy mark. After a bit of quick research, Makao had thought the same. He knew better now. He also knew they were too rich and well known for law enforcement to look the other way. If Makao’s men didn’t find the hostages, not only was he going to lose his share of the ransom, he was going to have to relocate yet again.