Project - 16 (31 page)

“
Why, though? Piotr told us that the NSU were aware of what
was going on and had only sent him. Why the elaborate
lie?”

“
You trusted him?” she said and there was no hint of suspicion
- it was more a method of checking we were both on the same
page.

“
Yeah, I did. He'd no reason to lie,” I said.

The farmhouse looked worse up close and I opened the gate
that led to a long, gravel path running to the front door. We
followed it, wincing at the noise the stuff was making.

“
Any theories then?” she asked, stepping inside.

“
Only the simplest one,” I said. “Corban's in charge and he
sent a few worthless troops to satisfy his own curiosity after a
few days of worrying. When the report got back to him that they'd
died he probably dismissed it, but deep down thinks we're still on
our way here and will have increased his security.”

“
Okay, then what?”

“
Then he'll continue to use that machine to drill down into
the bunker because he can't get through the doors. He's kicking
himself thinking that killing us was a big mistake because the only
reason he's here is us.”

Riley was smiling and shaking her head. “You've been thinking
about this from the start, haven't you?”

“
Yup. Here's what happened - Corban watched to see which
direction we took after you came to my house. When we went to the
first bunker he wasn't interested - he knew it wasn't that
one.”

“
Why?”

“
Because it was the site of one of his other failed
experiments - one they'd sealed shut killing everyone inside. They
were his drones we saw and they were the ones monitoring us all the
time, just at a distance. It was only when we started moving in
this direction that he attacked us - why? Because he got here
before us and when he discovered it was the correct bunker, he gave
the order to have a drone wipe us out.”

“
I'm happy with that so far,” she said. “But what makes them
think it's this one and how are you sure it's a drill we can
hear?”

“
It's the only machinery it could be. And I'm sure that the
moment they arrived and entered their own codes in they would have
realised the system had locked them out and the codes had been
changed in the last six months.”

“
Alex and Saska."

"Or our mysterious third party."

The farmhouse stank of mould and dust and the windows that'd
survived all this time were thick with green filth. Most of the
furniture had rotted into fragments but there was a steel bed frame
in one room with the springs in tact and a metal chair.

“
Cosy,” she said, sitting down. “It'll do though. None of it's
been disturbed until now. We just need to be careful about snow
prints.”

“
I think the rain might take care of that for us.”

“
Rain?”

“
The sky looks like it's gone a few rounds and tapped out.
That's rain if ever I saw it.”

“
Nicely timed,” said Riley. “When?”

“
In the next hour or so,” I replied.

“
I'm heading out tonight then. The rain'll be a perfect cover
for me. I might even be able to get some supplies if I see any. God
knows we could do with some.”

“
What's your plan?” I asked.

“
To confirm or deny your theory,” she said, laughing. “If
you're right then Corban is operating outside US control - he's
gone rogue. That means those guys are there because he chose them
and they might not even be soldiers.”

“
That's a good point. How will you know?” I said.

“
I'll know. I’ve worked with enough mercenaries in my time to
recognise one. I suspect he's dressed them up in uniform to put off
any NSU attention but there'll be signs.”

“
Like spoor,” I said.

“
Exactly like spoor,” she replied. “Guess it's my turn to hunt
then?”

“
It'd look like it.”

We waited until nightfall before going down the side of the
hill away from the farmhouse. We found a secluded spot and sat in
the damp grass listening for any patrols. The rain had started
earlier than I'd guessed, coming down in great sheets that quickly
turned the snow into slush and we'd both seen it as the time to
move.

“
I'm not expecting there to be any serious resistance at this
stage,” she whispered into my ear. “But you can't risk
it."

“
I'll give you three hours,” I said, setting my watch. “After
that I'll come looking.”

“
If you do, be careful.”

“
I will. I've done a bit of sneaking around before," I
said.

“
Yeah, you have. Too long on your own. After this-”

I stopped her. “Count your life in days out here,” I said.
“Let's just get through this one first.”

I leaned forward and pressed my lips to her forehead. There
were tears in the corners of her eyes and they glittered as the
light caught them. We held each other for a moment before she got
up and disappeared into the night.

I waited a few minutes before heading back up to the house
and I sat in the chair with my ears alert to any sound that came
through the rattle of the rain on the stone outside. It was coming
down hard now. I sat there unable to relax and wished I had some
coffee to brew. I tried to think about the house, about the crops
I'd plant next year, about what foods to stock up on, which ones
I'd enjoyed the most, mundane things like that - anything other
than where Riley was and if she was safe. Right now all that other
stuff seemed pointless and stupid. Only she mattered to me now but
that desire didn't mean I could stop her being Claudia Riley,
retired Ranger. Any attempt to stuff her into a glass cabinet of my
own making would be the death of us. She'd suffocate under such
oppressive feelings and I'd stop being the man I'd spent years
trying to become, the one Dad wanted me to be despite my crayon
tantrums at five years old and my anxiety issues much later. He'd
been a patient man and I'd failed to notice. He was dead by the
time I'd managed to put together the words I'd wanted to share with
him.

The minutes ticked by slowly and there was still nothing from
outside. That had to be a good sign if nothing else. Gunfire or
shouting would have sent me flying down the hill after
her.

Could I risk thinking about the future with Riley? Could I
dare hope that we had a future together? The possibility that I'd
ever meet the woman I wanted to fall in love with had been
something I thought I'd put to rest a long time ago. When I
imagined myself with someone, it hadn't been Riley and I was happy
to have my preconceptions smashed by her. But could I see us at the
house together? Would she take to the only life I had to offer her?
Or would it need to change?

I didn't have to think for long. Just after the two hour
mark, I heard her coming down the gravel path. I looked out of the
window and saw her carrying two heavy bags and she threw one to the
floor, waving at me to come and grab it for her.

“
Well?” I whispered.

“
You don't have to worry - they're way down there on the other
side of the village. Grab the bag and let's get inside. I'm
soaked.”

Once we were out of the rain she dropped the bag and slumped
into the chair, dripping water into dusty patches on the stone
tiled floor. She was breathing heavily and beads of rain and sweat
gathered on her brow.

“
You need to get out of those clothes,” I said.

“
Yeah, I bet you'd like that,” she replied, barely able to
laugh as she caught her breath.

“
I think I’ve got more on my mind than that. Here, let me help
you.” I hoisted her jumper and shirt over her head and hung both of
them on a nail. She dropped her pants and I saw blood coming from
her thigh.

“
Get a bandage on it,” I said, rooting in my pack for one.
“You've managed to tear it open but it's not too bad at the
moment.”

“
There's more clothes in the bag,” she said. “I managed to get
us plenty of kit - plus a few weapons and rounds for the rifle.
They've got all sorts of shit down there - they've got a fucking
armoury in the back of a trailer and crates full of MREs. I didn't
know your sizes so I had to guess.”

I passed her my last bandage and she secured it around her
thigh. Then I rooted through the bags and began unpacking it all
onto the bed. She'd been busy. I handed her a pair of fresh combats
and some underwear.

“
What's the score then?” I asked once she'd put on a jumper -
the same style as the one she'd taken off. “Do they all shop at the
Ranger store?”

“
They're mercs all right - hence the gear. It's all expensive
shit, the kind no soldier could afford to buy and wear in the
States. And I hate to say it...”

“
But?”

“
You were right. They've got one of those enormous fucking
drills and they're trying to get into the upper floors of the
bunker with it. They've got shifts running night and day. They've
been here for a week at least.”

“
Any signs of Corban?”

“
No, but I think he's there. The HQ was a shipping crate but
it was too well guarded for me to get close. I managed to get a
rough head count.”

“
And?”

“
I'd put it at 60, give or take a few. They're running thirds
- 20 on shift at any one time. It isn't a fucking battalion but
it's enough to take a bunker with two people in it.”

“
So they're not NSU then?” I said.

“
No, I think I’ve met a few of them before. I saw some
familiar faces. Blackthunder maybe or one of the ones working in
South Africa at the moment.” Her face shifted to a wry grin. “Look
in the other bag!”

I found no less than fifteen silver packs of MREs - all lemon
sponge.

“
Really?” I said.

“
Pass me one - I'm starving here.” She tore it open and began
spooning the cold slop into her mouth, moaning with pleasure. “It
was worth the hassle to get them. And before you ask - no, they
didn't have any stoves or fuel - hence why I'm eating it
cold.”

“
What else did you learn?” I asked, tearing open one. It
didn't taste that bad cold.

“
The helicopter we saw is there, plus room to launch a couple
of drones but they weren't on the strip of highway they're using
for it.”

“
Did you hear any talk?”

“
Nothing that wasn't about fucking women or sticking their
dicks up each others asses. We had the same problem in the Rangers.
Mouths like sewers.” I didn't say anything to that. “But no, I
didn't catch anything interesting.”

We finished eating to the sounds of the drill far off - a
methodical pulsing as the bit tore into the earth until it reached
the concrete wall of the bunker. I assumed it would be made of
concrete. Or would it be metal? Some kind of thick steel defence? I
didn't know - I'd never seen one being built nor read about
one.

When she'd finished, Riley scrunched the foil pack into a
ball and placed it in one of the bags. She licked the spoon clean
and tucked it back into her pack before sorting out her loot. I
watched her from the other side of the room as she put together her
kit into Piotr's bag, moving with the smooth skill of someone who
was thriving off the thrill of the action. I wondered if she could
ever truly leave it behind, it was such a big part of who she
was.

When she'd finished she threw a blanket on the floor and led
out on it, resting her head on a rolled up jumper.

"I'm going to take a nap," she said, patting the space next
to her with a smile. "Care to join me?" Before I did I checked my
rifle and bag were by the door and led out next to her.

Thankfully, Riley was snoring in moments and as I crept
softly out through the door I took one last look at her, wondering
if it would be my last

The truth? I
wanted to face Corban alone and I couldn't risk him knowing that
Riley had survived. I couldn't be sure but I was pretty confident
that his priority had been to kill Riley - the only person who
posed a real threat to what he was up to there. Even if she didn't
take direct action, she might still go home and tell her story to
the Government or worse still the media. Maybe now that wasn't an
issue for him. Maybe it still was. I'd soon know.

I made my way carefully across to the area where the drilling
was taking place and raised my rifle over my head, whistling to get
the attention of the nearest soldier stood with his back to me,
watching the others work. He spun round, startled and reached for
his rifle propped against an oil barrel.

“
Hey, hold on!” I cried. “I'm here to see Corban.”

“
Who the fuck are you?” said the American soldier.

“
My name is Miller - Corban knows who I am.”

“
Come closer and keep the rifle in the air! Try anything and
I'll nail you to the fucking wall.”

The drill team had all turned to stare at me and two more
soldiers appeared, aiming their rifles straight at me. I moved
across the floodlit area as slowly as I could, my head down,
avoiding eye contact. When I was close enough, the first soldier
reached up and snatched the rifle from out of my hands.