Free The Seventh Pillar by Alex Lukeman Page A

coming, the hair on the back of his neck stood on end. He tensed his muscles and set his feet, ready to push that rock down on whoever came out of the cave.
    For a minute, nothing happened. Selena continued the wailing call. Maybe it wouldn’t work.
    Five men slowly emerged from the darkness of the cave mouth. They wore skull caps and bushy beards, long shirts and loose, billowing pants. They carried AKs and moved their heads everywhere, trying to see where the voice came from. The leader signaled and they began walking up the ravine. Three were in front, two trailed behind. They cast nervous glances right and left. Carter waited until the first man passed before he pushed the boulder over.
    The huge stone rolled down and brought a landslide of rocks behind. The boulder struck the two men behind the leader and crushed them. Their screams echoed from the rocks. A cloud of dust rose as the rumble of stone died away.
    Carter picked up the rifle, drew a bead on the leader and fired as he turned and looked up. He fell backward. His AK flew out of his hands. Nick heard the rapid bark of Selena’s pistol, a flat, sharp sound. He worked the bolt and chambered another round.
The two left behind opened up with their rifles and stone chips flew off the rocks. They shot wide and high. They weren’t sure where the shots were coming from. Carter shot one in the chest, worked the bolt, took a fast point and shoot on the last man standing. His head shattered like a melon and he went down.
    The echoes of gunfire faded away. Carter motioned to Selena to stay where she was. He waited to see if anyone else would come out of the cave. No one did, but that didn’t mean no one was in there. He waited five more minutes, then ran crouched to where Selena stood. She still held the Glock, the slide locked back.
    "You’ve got a hell of a voice," he said. "Reload."
    She was white faced. She ejected the empty magazine and inserted another, racked the slide.
    "Just like Carnegie Hall." She tried a smile. Didn't quite make it.
    "I’m going down there and grab two of those rifles. Once I have them, I’m heading for those rocks on the other side." He pointed at two good sized boulders on the floor of the ravine. "After I get there, I’ll signal and you follow. I’ll give you cover if it’s needed. We have to get off this ridge. Do you know how to use this?" He held up the Mauser.
    "Yes."
    He took rounds from his pocket and reloaded. He worked the bolt and handed her the rifle. "You cover me. Watch the entrance to the cave. Anyone shows himself, shoot at him. It doesn’t matter if you hit him or not, just keep him busy."
    "Got it."
    "I’m going."
    Carter scrambled down the slope, reached the first man he’d shot and grabbed his rifle on the run. He ran to the second group, took another rifle and crossed the ravine to the rocks. No one fired from the cave.
    He checked the AK, took aim at the cave mouth and signaled Selena. She half slid down the slope and sprinted across. He handed her an AK and she set the Mauser on the ground.
    "Selector's on full auto. Aim and pull the trigger." Your basic AK instructions.
    "I know how to use it."
    He looked at her, nodded. "Follow me. Keep low and ready to fire."  Carter stood and ran for the side of the cave. He heard Selena hard behind him. He caught his breath, ran to the entrance, turned the corner and hugged the wall, AK up against his cheek. He panned across, searching for movement.
    The cave had a high, uneven ceiling and went far back into the mountain until daylight gave way to darkness. Boxes and crates were stacked along one side. Sleeping bags and a line of prayer rugs lay on the floor. A small camp stove sat on a large crate that served as a table. Boxes surrounded the crate like chairs.
    If someone was still here, they would have been shooting by now. Carter started looking for a phone.

 
    CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
     
     
    The cave was an arsenal. The crates held ammunition and rifles. They found