The Oracle (Fargo Adventures #11) - Clive Cussler Page 0,80

information from his contacts.”

Sam called Rube’s number. “Hope I’m not disturbing you?”

“Nothing that can’t wait,” Rube said. “I figured you’d be out searching or I would’ve called earlier.”

“Weather break,” he said. “About that truck left behind?”

“Hold on.” A few seconds later, he was back on the line. “Sorry. Had to clear the office.” Sam heard him shuffling through papers. “The truck belongs to a Pili somebody-or-other. I’ve got the file here somewhere. He’s got an extensive criminal history in Taraba State.”

“What sort of history?”

“Mostly robbery. No connection to these Kalu brothers.”

“What about this Makao?”

“If it’s Makao Oni, he’s wanted out of Lagos State after the police tied his gang to a string of murders about a year ago. That, at least, gives Taraba State a place to start searching now that they believe there’s a connection to Pili. They’re gathering intel on his known associates in hopes of finding out where they might be hiding out. Hold on . . .” A few minutes of silence followed before he was back on. “I’ve got a couple of fires here to put out. Just know that the guards and search team are yours until they round up everyone involved. They’re committed to bringing everyone home and making sure the school is safe. I’ll get back to you if I hear anything else.”

“Thanks, Rube.”

Sam disconnected and immediately called Selma, this time on video, deciding she looked as tired as he felt. In her fifties, her short hair worn in spikes, she looked at him over her dark-rimmed glasses, which she wore on a chain around her neck.

“Anything new on your end?” he asked.

“Nothing related to the kidnappers,” she said. “I do have a bit of information on that village where you think Nasha’s uncle lives. There was an article that came out a little over a year ago, about an attack by Boko Haram, which fits the time line of when you think she was brought to Jalingo. Whether or not her uncle survived is unknown. The article isn’t too detailed, other than mentioning that after the terrorists burned down half the village, the military was brought in to roust them from the area.”

“That’s a start. Soon as we find them, we’ll follow up.”

Wendy walked in a couple of minutes later. “Dinner’s ready.”

Though Sam wasn’t the least bit hungry, he knew he needed to eat. If the weather prevented them from doing an air search, he was going out again on foot.

CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT

Do not follow a person who is running away.

– KENYAN PROVERB –

As soon as it was light, though it was still raining, Remi led the girls out onto the ledge. The path continued between two massive boulders twice as high as the others, flanking either side of the trail. The flat-topped rocks created a natural overhang that gave some protection from the rain. Remi had the girls wait there while she continued on a short distance to see if the Fulani were still waiting below. Heading down through the meadow and then up the other side would save significant time. When she climbed out far enough to see into the valley, she realized that avenue of egress was no longer an option. The river was rapidly encroaching across the meadow, the current too strong to cross. Their only choice was to continue onward and upward.

Back when Wendy and Pete had first proposed the school, Remi recalled them telling her about the location they’d found, an isolated plateau that would protect the compound from any flooding during the rainy season. Out here in the wilderness, what might flood was anyone’s guess, especially considering the nonstop rain.

She returned to the girls, looking at the overhang and the rivulets of water coming down from the mountain above. They couldn’t depend on the search team finding them in time. If they didn’t get off that cliff, they’d soon be standing in a waterfall.

The higher they climbed, the more she regretted her decision. The realization she’d made a terrible mistake came too late. What had been tiny rivulets earlier were turning into wide swaths ripping down the cliff. The path they were following was now inches deep in water. “We need to go back,” Remi said.

“Where?” Amal asked.

“What was that?” one of the girls asked.

Remi heard shouting from the path below. They’d run right into the kidnappers.

Amal stared in horror. In the few seconds they’d stood there, the growing runoff turned brown, then thickened, as water and dirt rushed down from the mountainside, turning the