Free Vortex of Evil by S D Taylor

survived.  I am a little under the weather, but could you take a quick trip around the north end of the island and see if you can see a boat out to the west?  If they are there, we may have a chance to save Erin and our other friends.”
    Tom suppressed his sense of irritation at this sudden pressure from Doug since he was glad Doug was alive to pressure him.  “If you are ok for a little while with Ying to look after you, Megan and I will go with the Haida when they are ready to leave.  We will see what we can see around the other side of the island and come right back.”
    “Sounds good.  Unless Ying can carry me, I won’t be going anywhere.  But before you go, Gaby told me there were some antiaircraft missiles buried over there behind the pit where the fake vortex weapon was mounted.  See if you can find them.  It might give us an edge if we could shoot that thing down.”
    “See you later, Doug.  I am glad you are awake now.  Don’t let him go anywhere until we get back, Ying.”  Tom knew he needed to go before the self-appointed, bed-ridden general gave any more orders. 
    “No problem, Tom, I will hog tie him if needed.  That is the correct expression, right?  Hog tie?”
    Doug laughed.   “You have it right, Ying.  I hope I have to worry about being able to leave and you trying to talk me out of it.”
    “Me too, Doug.  Me too.”  Ying smiled but she wondered how she and Doug would get along when the others were gone.  She hoped he wasn’t too resentful of her role with the pirates.
    Doug discovered he could move his right arm, but he held back that information.  He wanted to see how Ying would treat him if she thought he was still helpless.  He wasn’t sure about her loyalties and thought his helpless state would allow her to try something if that was her intent.  He hoped she was as nice as she appeared.
    Tom and Megan left the tent and headed to the pit.  Between the pit and the trees, there were a couple of spots where the grass had been dug up.   The first spot they chose to dig was a grave that they stopped digging up when they found a man’s boot with an ankle protruding from it.   The hard plastic container with the small missiles was in the second spot they dug.  The dirt was loose and they had it out of its grave in little time.  Tom brushed away the dirt and opened the case.  There were four missile tubes that resembled small bazookas.  Each tube had a control box on the side, a trigger mechanism and a sight that would guide the missile to its target. 
    Tom and Megan hauled the missile case back to Doug’s tent, took one missile and headed to the beach where the zodiacs were tied up.  Flying Raven was supervising the loading of his canoe with the wounded.  They were nearly ready to push off when Tom and Megan arrived carrying the missile tube.
    “Are you planning to go with us after all?”  Flying Raven looked a bit confused by this change.
    “We are going to go look for a boat offshore to the west.  Doug thinks that is where the hover vehicle may have come from.”
    “So he is awake?  I am glad he has survived.”  Flying Raven smiled.
    “He still can’t move, but it appears the pulse that hit him wears off eventually.  I hope it didn’t do any permanent damage.” 
    “I will visit him before we leave.  Good luck, Tom.  May your Gods smile upon you.  And you also, Megan.”
    They both smiled and nodded to the Haida Chief.  “Goodbye and have a safe journey.”
    Tom started the Zodiac motor and headed slowly out to sea as Megan cradled the antiaircraft missile in her arms.  They also had an AK-47 just in case they ran into pirates.  And the machine gun mounted on the frame.  Tom thought they had it covered.  He had just turned to the north when he saw the Viking ship in the distance, heading west under full sail.

 
    Chapter 10
    Tom and Megan stared in awe at the sight of the Viking ship.  They had met the Vikings a few days earlier but