Free The Seventh Pillar by Alex Lukeman Page B

four RPG launchers. There were two brand new stingers in a box with US markings. They found food and water. They found two large pallets loaded with packets of white crystalline powder wrapped in plastic. Carter cut one open. He wet his finger and tasted. It numbed his tongue. He spat it out.
    Cocaine, courtesy of the Cartels. Millions of dollars worth. Someone in Bogotá or wherever was going to be unhappy. Whatever else came out of this, they'd just put a dent in the drug route to Europe.
    They didn’t find a phone.
    Carter went back outside and searched the bodies of the men they'd killed. No phones. Nick fought off the feeling this had all been for nothing. He still couldn’t call for help. He picked up the weapons lying around in the ravine and went back to the cave.
    He sat on one of the boxes and realized how tired he was and thought about Harmon, back on the mesa.
    The sound of an approaching vehicle rumbled up the ravine. Carter looked out the entrance. A Toyota Land Cruiser painted in desert camouflage ground up the slope. It stopped when the driver spotted the bodies.
    "It’s an army vehicle."
    Selena studied the truck. "Border patrol? Out here? How would they know where this cave was?"
    "They wouldn’t. Something’s not right."
    After a moment a door opened. A familiar figure emerged from the passenger side, followed by two men in fatigues. Last time Carter saw them, they'd been fingering their batons in the airport security office.
    "It’s Samake, with his two goons. If he knows about the cave he’s part of this. That's why he didn't want us up here. Grab your rifle and get out of sight behind that crate. Be ready to shoot if I open fire."
    Selena started to say something, thought better of it and went to the crate. She rested her rifle, took aim and waited.
    Samake looked around, barked an order. All three ran for cover. It was a mistake, because now he was away from his vehicle. He’d just cut off his escape route. Carter waited. It was Samake’s move.
    Colonel Samake called up the ravine. "My brothers, what has happened here? It is I, Colonel Samake."
    Nick kept his voice low. "I guess that clinches it," he said. Selena nodded. Her face was grim. She was angry.
    "Come out, my brothers. Let me see you. I have come as we arranged."
    Selena and Carter waited.
    Samake and his men were behind the rocks. There was no clear shot. Samake didn’t know what to do. After a few moments he sent his men forward. They kept low, moving from boulder to boulder. They got closer to the mouth of the cave. Nick signaled Selena. Wait.
    "I see no one," one called. "The cave is empty." He stood up, a sign of lousy training. A man with a rifle and a uniform, not a soldier. The second policeman stood.
    Carter opened up. Selena began firing.
    The AK 47 is a formidable weapon. The rounds ripped into the two men and shredded them. They jerked and spun like marionettes in the hands of a lunatic puppeteer and fell backwards.
    "Hey Colonel," Carter called. "Why don’t you throw down your weapon and stand up."
    "Depp?" Carter heard anger in his voice.
    "Catch any flies lately, Samake? Stand up, you bastard. We can wait all day if we have to. But I don’t want to. We’ve got an RPG here. That rock won’t help you. You’ve got five minutes."
    Nick let him think about it. "Selena, get one of those launchers."
    She went over to a crate, took out a launcher, pulled several rounds out and brought everything over.
    "Keep him covered."
    "My pleasure." She took up her position. Carter set his rifle down, loaded the RPG.
    Samake called out. "I am a Colonel in my country’s security services. I came to arrest these terrorists. You have killed two of my men. Perhaps you were frightened. Stop this foolishness and we will talk. It is not too late."
    Carter took aim beyond Samake and fired. The rocket boosted grenade sailed over Samake's head and detonated thirty yards behind him.
    "Next one is right on you, Samake. Stand up."
    He stood,