Necessary Retribution (26 page)

“What's he saying, Gunner?”

“He's demanding to know where they got the bandages and medicine.”

“Who are they?”

“Secret police.”

The soldier moaned in pain, but said nothing. The secret police agent raised the club again. Willy nudged Marv and he nodded. The two men glided into the room. The agent with the club had his arm at full height when Willy squeezed the trigger of his silenced MP5 sending two rounds into the left side of the man's head, taking off the right side and sending the man in a turning dive onto the concrete floor. An instant later, the agent holding a gun to the colonel's head took two rounds from Marv's gun at the junction of the nose and eyebrows as he turned to look at Marv. The two rounds exited the back of his head spraying blood and brains on the colonel. The lifeless body crumpled to the ground.

Colonel Sinchu and the assembled soldiers stood motionless as Gunner rushed to his mentor. Willy handed Gunner a package of moist towelettes and Gunner began to clean the colonel's face and speaking to him in Korean.

“Gunner, tell the colonel we need to get these two assholes to the RIB and get this mess cleaned up,” Marv ordered.

Gunner spoke to the colonel and he nodded and then gave some orders. Soldiers rushed forward and picked up the bodies and Marv motioned for them to follow him and they headed for the boat. Other soldiers produced pails and mops and started cleaning the remaining blood, brains and skull fragments.

“Willy, I'm going to take the bodies back to our boat and dump ’em. Then I'll bring back a load of food.”

“Rog.”

Willy started treating the injured soldier by first giving him an injection of morphine. The clubbing did serious damage to the wound and ribs. Willy worked feverishly to stop the flow of blood. The soldier reached up and grasped his forearm. Willy looked at him and the soldier said something with eyes that spoke respect and warmth. Then life faded from those eyes. Willy immediately started chest compressions, but soon realized it was no use. The soldier had lost too much blood. Willy reached over and closed the soldier's eyes.

“Did you hear what he said, Gunner?”

“Yes. He said thank you for being such a good man and caring about us…the soldiers.”

“He died a brave soldier. He took the beating and didn't say a word.” Willy looked at the colonel. “I'm sorry I couldn't save him, sir.”

Gunner translated to the colonel. The colonel replied, “You did all you could. There is nothing to be sorry for.”

Willy stood up. “Gunner, we have to make sure the secret police can't be traced to this place. How did they get here?”

Again he translated to the colonel. “The colonel says their car is around the corner.”

“We need to move it somewhere else, at least several miles away. Can you manage that?”

“I'll see it is done.”

“All right, in the meantime bring me any sick soldiers, so I can try to treat them.”

Robin bolted up from the chair. Then he recognized Mark's room and realized he had fallen asleep. He stood up and moved his shoulders to try and ease the pain from the damage done by the cargo door. He also wanted to get rid of the pain from his hangover. He walked over and checked on Mark and was satisfied he rested comfortably. Robin made his way to the sink and filled a glass with water and drank it down. Then another. He sat back in the chair and let his head fall back against it, quickly falling back into an uneasy sleep.

Once Mike and Marv got two miles from shore, Mike opened up the throttle and sped to the boat where Ernie waited. He came up along side of the larger boat.

“What's going on? ” Ernie asked.

“These two idiots.” Marv pointed to the bodies.

“Shit, what happened?”

“These guys are secret police. They were torturing the injured soldier and had a gun to the colonel's head. Willy and I decided to refer them to a higher jurisdiction. We need to sink these bodies.”

“I have an extra anchor with chain. That ought to sink them,” Kwan offered.

“Bring it here, please.”

Kwan retrieved the extra anchor and helped Marv and Mike wrap the bodies in the chain. They fastened several parts of the chain together with wire. Once done, they eased the bodies into the sea. Mike then brought the RIB up on the rear of the boat. The men loaded both RIBs with food and medicine and then they headed back to Chongjin.

Each RIB made four trips in the darkness. The process went quickly with the soldiers helping with the unloading. Ernie looked at his watch.

“Marv, head back to Mike's RIB with Gunner and get back to the boat. I'll go get Willy. We'll get back by the other RIB.”

“Okay, boss.”

Ernie headed for the warehouse, stopping one hundred feet from it. The hair on the back of his head tingled and his gut got that “little voice” feeling. He slipped into the shadows and moved slowly toward a window. He got as close as he dared and staying in the shadows, maneuvered to get a look. Finally he saw the colonel and two men near him, but Ernie sensed there were more. They were dressed in civilian clothes and judging from the bodies Marv brought back, these guys were most likely secret police also. He moved back and forth looking for Willy, but didn't see him.

The colonel looked calm, so Ernie didn't want to make a move, but he worried about the sunrise. He heard a movement to his left and stepped deeper into the shadows. The person moved quietly. A figure came into view…it was Willy.

Ernie whispered quietly, “Willy, over here.”

Willy froze and then grinned and came over to Ernie. “Boy, am I glad to see you. We gotta get outta here.”

“Roger that. Let's move.”

The men glided through the shadows ready for anything, their heads on a swivel.

When they got to the beach, Ernie abruptly stopped. “Shit, where's the boat?”

“Don't tell me the boat's gone, Ernie. I don't need that.”

“Well it's not where I left it.” Ernie thought for a minute. “Let's head over to the pier.”

They moved to the pier stopping and listening, wary of an ambush or a trap. They got to the building closest to the pier.

“Wait here, Willy. I'm going to check under the pier. If the boat is there I'll signal you.”

Willy nodded.

Ernie stepped out and as he did, Mike came out from under the pier and waved them over.

“Come on, Willy!” They sprinted to the pier. “What are you doing under the pier? You were supposed to go back with Marv and Gunner, Mike.”

“I sent them on so I could watch this boat. It's a good thing I did because two soldiers came and told me to hide from the secret police. If I hadn't been here, you might have lost your ride home. We'll push the boat out and paddle until we get about a mile off shore. Then we'll turn on the motor.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

They pushed the boat out and started paddling. A faint pink glow peeked over the horizon.

Kwan and Gunner were nervous.

“Do you think we should go in and look for them, Marv?” Kwan asked.

Marv looked at the growing sunrise. “Hell, no. If they were in trouble they'd call us. Just sit tight. They'll be here.” He scanned the horizon with binoculars and then looked with his naked eye. He thought he saw something and raised the binoculars again. “There they
are! Get this boat fired up. We gotta get outta here as soon as we recover them.”

Soon Mike brought the RIB up on the rear of the boat.

Ernie jumped out. “Head us out 090° Kwan and step on it!”

“Yes, sir!”

“Everybody keep a sharp lookout. The secret police were back at the warehouse.”

Gunner whirled around and looked at Ernie.

“Don't worry, Gunner. It looked like the colonel had it handled.”

Willy put his hand on Gunner's shoulders. “They were looking for the two we whacked. We got rid of all the evidence, so I'm sure the colonel laid a good story on ’em. It'll be all right. He'll probably call us when he's clear.”

“Okay, everyone, stash the tactical gear and change clothes. Cover those RIBs. It's time to become fishermen.”

T
WENTY
-N
INE

RICK OPENED HIS EYES
because he heard Emmett and Doug talking about him.

“Are you assholes talking about me?” He croaked.

Emmett's face came into view. “Hey, Buddy, it's good to hear your voice.”

“How close did I come to dying?”

“Too damn close. Maria's here. She needs to talk to you.”

“Hello, Rick. Do you remember me?”

“I never forget a beautiful woman. You going to tell me the score?”

“Yes, I am. You've had a rough time. You almost bled to death. The doctors who worked on you when you came here saved your life, along with Emmett.”

Rick smiled at Emmett. “Thanks, brother.”

Emmett nodded.

“What's the bad news, Maria?”

“Your leg is badly damaged and no work has been done on it except to stop the bleeding and prevent infection because you're very weak. But the longer we wait, the chances of you having a full recovery are reduced.”

Rick looked back and forth between Maria and Emmett. “If it's all the same to you, let's get on with it. I can handle it.”

“I'll start making arrangements. You rest now.”

“Good idea.” Rick faded back to sleep.

Robin stood back in the corner of the room as the doctor and nurses examined and worked on Mark's leg. The doctor had a pleased look on his face.

“Everything looks good. There's very little bleeding and I don't see any sign of infection. Your youth and your excellent physical condition are working to your advantage.”

“Thank you for a great job, doctor.”

“I'm glad I was here when you came in.”

Rada walked into the room and looked at Mark's leg. “Excellent work, doctor.”

“Thank you, Rada.”

Rada turned and looked at Robin. “And I hope you're feeling as bad as my husband.”

“Your wish has come true.”

“Come with me.”

Robin followed Rada to another treatment room.

“Take off your shirt.”

Robin did as ordered and turned his back to Rada. She carefully took off the bandages across his back. He felt her putting on a cream.

“Oh, that feels better.”

“I'm sorry, I should have told one of the nurses to do this sooner.”