Free Laura 02 The God Code by Anton Swanepoel Page B

helipad. A boy of around seven is playing next to a twin engine Aerospatiale Squirrel AS355F2 five seater helicopter.
    “Hey kid, do you know whose helicopter this is?” Victor asks.
    “My dad’s.”
    “Wow, it is a very nice helicopter. Do you think it will be okay if we have a look inside?”
    “I do not know. He always locks it.”
    “Do you know where the keys are?” Victor is hoping he does not need to try and pick the lock. He is unaware that Nikolai has reached the market and is making his way to the train station, looking for them.
    “They are always on the kitchen table, he is taking a nap.”
    “Where is your house?”
    “Just up there, about 5 minutes away,” the boy replies, still playing with two rusty old metal toy cars.
    “Will you go and get them for me? I will give you 100 US dollars.”
    “I do not know. My dad will be angry if I wake him.”
    “You do not need to wake him, just bring the keys. We just want to look inside. You can stand and watch, we will be quick, and then you can take the keys back.” Victor holds up a 100 dollar bill. The kid’s eyes widen and he jumps up and runs away without replying.
    “You think he will get the keys or his dad?”
    “I do not know Laura, guess we will have to wait and see.”
    Nikolai is also waiting, seeing if he can spot Victor and Laura in the train departure area. The departure area is only a 6 minute jog from the helipad. Gasping for breath he walks over to the ticket office.
    “What time is the next train?” he asks the ticket office clerk, while trying to catch his breath.
    “Next train leaves in 10 minutes, do you want a ticket?”
    “No, when is the last train out?”
    “The last train out today is 8pm sir.”
    “Okay,” Nikolai comments, and walks away. Nikolai scans the departure area, no sign of Victor or Laura. Will Victor stay the night in town, or will he catch a later train? Only one thing to do, wait and see. If Victor does not show when the last train departs, then I will check into a hotel and be ready for the first train out tomorrow morning. Nikolai tiredly takes a seat near the departure’s entrance, at the same time as a small boy comes running to Victor with a bunch of keys in his hand.
    Victor smiles as he gives the boy the 100 dollar bill and the kid’s face lights up, admiring the money in his hands. Victor tries three keys before he finds the one that opens the helicopter.
    “Wow, it is nice inside,” Victor comments as he opens the pilot’s door, discretely taking the key off the key chain. Laura peeks inside, also commenting on how nice it is.
    “Well, better return the keys before your dad wakes up.” Victor hands the keys back to the boy as he speaks, closing the door of the helicopter at the same time. As soon as the boy takes the keys he continues, “Tell you what, here is 10 dollars, if you use it to go and buy us some Coca Cola, I will give you another 100 dollars when you come back.” The boy’s eyes widen and his mouth falls open. Slowly he takes the ten dollars from Victor, and then runs away as fast as his short legs can carry him.
    “That was mean, promising the boy another 100 dollars when we will not be here.” Victor reopens the helicopter’s door as Laura speaks.
    “That does not mean I cannot leave it for him,” Victor replies as he bends down and picks up one of the metal cars. Opening the car’s door, he stuffs a 100 dollar bill inside the car.
    “Sorry,” Laura replies, feeling a bit stupid.
    “Come on, get your sexy ass in the helicopter,” Victor replies laughingly, giving Laura a light slap on the bum.
    As soon as Laura gets in, Victor climbs in and starts to look at the instruments, making himself familiar before starting the engines.
    Nikolai sits back comfortably on the bench and takes out his iPod. Suddenly he jumps up, listening.
    “Damn.” He curses to himself as he recognizes the distinct sound of a helicopter starting up in the distance. Quickly he runs towards