Free The Rig 3: Eye of the Hurricane by Steve Rollins Page A

would even think to do that. There were precious few people who would be able to think straight enough to make a plan like that.
    Yet something worried him more. He had felt the tremors in ‘The City’. He needed to make this quick. It would be best to make his way down to the docks, get into that submarine and let the sea take care of the mistakes Smith had made. But he could not run the risk that they escaped. It was unlikely anyone who could make it to the boats would survive the storm outside, but there was a chance. And that chance had to be dealt with.
    He turned another corner and saw his prey round the corner ahead. They were close to the hospital now, so he knew he had to move quickly. He quickened his pace, but did so silently. He turned the next corner and saw that he was only a few yards behind them now. They would round the corner ahead and then another and they would be in front of the sickbay. Now was the time. He raised the gun and marched silently forward, ready to fire the moment he was certain of his aim.
     
    ***
     
    Sheila cursed her shoes, cursed the noise they made. But she had to keep going now. She was surprised to see there was a shoe shop on one of the corridors they passed through, but there was no time to shop around. She felt the tremor of the structure and when she looked around, she saw Wes had noticed it, too.
    They were close behind the man with the gun. When they turned a corner, they saw him turn the next one. Wes stopped Sheila from going faster and getting closer. He did not want to take the risk of startling the man. They needed to make sure Dave and Joy were in a place where they could make a stand. The last corner before the hospital was the spot for that, and they would be right behind to catch the man in the crossfire.
    One corner to go after this one, Wes knew, then they would be upon him. They rounded the corner carefully, just in case the man was more careful than they had thought, but as they did, they saw him go around the next corner and they ran. They ran towards him now. This was the place.
     
    ***
     
    Dave pushed Joy behind the corner and dropped to a knee and took careful aim. He could not miss the moment the man rounded the corner. He needed to make sure this man was eliminated. So he made himself as small a target as he could and readied himself.
    Garcia rounded the corner at a run and he ran several yards before he realized Dave had stopped and was aiming straight for his heart. He stopped dead. His weapon was pointed straight at Dave. He steadied himself and smiled. “I believe this is what they call a Mexican standoff, isn't it?”
    Dave nodded slowly, the gun in his hand not moving at all. His hands were steady as stone. “Guess this is now a matter of who pulls the trigger first.”
    Garcia nodded now. “I believe it is.”
    And then Wes and Sheila both rounded the corner, Sheila's gun raised already, Wes with his finger on the trigger of the harpoon gun. Garcia turned, fast as a snake and pulled the trigger, letting himself drop to the floor. Wes's harpoon bit into his shoulder and he screamed as the metal barbs exited on the other side of his body. But there was another scream too. Wes fell down, blood pouring from his chest.
    Both Sheila and Dave fired twice. They saw the body of the agent shudder as the bullets struck home. His body jerked with the impacts and blood exploded from his wounds, but he was dead before he hit the deck.
    And then the entire City began to tilt.
     
    ***
     
    Joy lead the way, her balance still off and her feet unsteady, but there was no other way. Dave and Sheila carried Wes's lifeless body. They knew they only had one chance to make it out of there, and that was by way of that sub.
    The blood pooled on Wes's shirt and hit the floor in large quantities still. They ran. They ran down stairs and through corridors as fast as they could. There was no time now to tend to the wound. If they stopped, they would all surely die.
    They