would have his radio turned down, assuming that he was still hunting. “Reece to Kumba base, over.” He waited a few seconds before repeating the call. “Reece to Kumba base, over.”
“Kumba base here, go ahead, Reece.” It was the voice of Caroline Hastings.
“Kumba base, we have an emergency. Terrs on Kumba, over. I repeat, terrs on Kumba.” He used the old Rhodesian vernacular for “terrorist,” which was a term that, as a veteran of the Bush War’s home front, Caroline was more than familiar with.
“Roger, Reece. We will lock down here, over.”
“Is Utilivu with you? Over.” Reece asked, using the Shona nickname for Raife in case they were being monitored. There was a long pause.
“Negative, Reece, over.”
“Roger that. I’m bringing my friend to you for safekeeping, over.”
“Roger.”
Reece drove at the absolute limits of his and the vehicle’s abilities. As he skidded the Toyota to a stop next to the main house, he saw Jonathan, Liz, Thorn, Caroline, and Annika rush to meet him. Jonathan was carrying what looked like his old wartime FAL rifle at a high port, its crude green and brown “baby shit” camouflage paint job still evident after nearly three decades. He wore his daily work attire of boots, jeans, and a western shirt but with a faded nylon chest rig strapped across his chest. His face was alert, and his eyes were bright. He was in his element. Thorn had his bolt action deer rifle in hand.
Caroline carried a classic Brno model 602 in one hand, its muzzle pointed skyward with her elbow locked into her hip. She stood beside Annika protectively, a stoic look on her face indicating that this wasn’t the first time that she’d protected the family’s home from armed men with bad intentions. She rushed to open the door for Katie and wrapped her with her free arm as she climbed from the SUV.
“Reece, what’s happened?” Jonathan asked.
“Not sure, sir. Katie and I received a call from the CIA on our way into town. They missed us, but not by much. The information we received says this is Russian mafia and they are here for me and for Raife. I am so sorry, I…”
“Never mind that now, son,” Jonathan said, taking command. “It sounds like they’re just after the boys, but you never know. Caroline, it’s just like the old days. You know what to do. Thorn, Liz, you stay here. There are ARs in the gun safe and a stack of loaded magazines next to them. Grab them and keep ’em close in case those bastards get in the house. Annika, Katie, get in the vault and arm yourselves, but only lock yourselves in as a last resort in case these terrs try to burn you out. We’ll be back, as soon as we get Raife.”
All nodded in unison, and Caroline led the other women quickly toward the house.
“Hop in,” Reece said. The older man nodded and opened the back door of the Cruiser. He put two fingers in his mouth and whistled loudly.
“Zulu, come!” On cue, the family hound came bounding around the corner of the house and jumped into the SUV without hesitation. Jonathan took a seat, the muzzle of his rifle resting between his feet. As soon as he slammed the passenger door, Reece hit the gas, spitting gravel as the Cruiser fishtailed down the driveway.
CHAPTER 40
RAIFE’S FEET WERE SOAKED and numb from stalking through the icy creek. It was the only way to stay below the buck’s vision. He moved at a painfully slow pace to reduce the noise signature, the glacial stream freezing his calves. When he was within one hundred yards of the deer, he set down his bow and moved carefully onto the grassy bank. He unlaced his boots and set them aside on the dry land. Ordinarily he would have made his final stalk wearing just his wool socks, but, given their saturation, he was afraid that they might make a squishing sound, betraying his presence. He removed them as well and laid them out on the stalks of grass to air dry. He pulled the knit wool cap from his head and tore a handful of vegetation from the ground. Weaving the long strands into the fabric, he transformed the simple hat into a crown of local camouflage.
He was on all fours now, crawling in the long grass the way he’d watched lionesses hunt in Africa. He wondered for a moment how many men had crawled through this same valley, bow or