Free Origin by J.T. Brannan Page B

better make that Charlie Three, Renfrew decided as he aimed down the sight of the MP5.
    But the animal was going too quickly, it was charging, galloping, and then all he could see through the sight was the fierce visage of Adams as he rode the horse hard towards the van.
    And then they were all there, almost on top of him, and he had to pull himself back into the van, out of harm’s way, as the horse seemed to jump straight at him, hooves scraping the hood.
    And then Renfrew looked up, and the horse and the two riders were gone, now on the far side of the van, galloping with the traffic north up the Maturana.
    Eldridge was definitely not going to be happy.
    Within two minutes the van was full, Eldridge’s team all back inside as Renfrew piloted it into the Maturana traffic, following the fugitives north.
    Eldridge was getting constant feedback on the horse’s location, but it wasn’t necessary; out of the windshield ahead of him he could see the animal galloping down the boulevard, Adams and Lynn tight on its back. He could also hear the sound of sirens, converging from the rear and sides.
    Damn
. It appeared that local law enforcement was getting involved, which might cause a whole host of problems.
    ‘Faster,’ he ordered Renfrew.
    ‘Hey, I’m trying,’ Renfrew objected as he wove the large van in and out of the constant stream of vehicles. ‘There’s a hell of a lot of traffic.’
    Eldridge looked in the wing mirror, seeing the flashing lights behind them, closing in. ‘Ram the other cars off the road if you have to,’ he ordered. ‘We need to catch that damn horse!’
    The horse was nervous, Adams knew, and he couldn’t blame her. The road was jammed up, and he had to guide her at a gallop through tons of moving steel, the sound of growling engines and blasting horns being enough to make any animal nervous – humans included, Adams thought as he struggled to control their unconventional transport.
    Behind him, Lynn was keeping him posted on what was going on in the street. ‘The van’s getting closer, even nudging other vehicles out of the way now,’ she yelled into his ear. ‘Police cars too, coming up fast behind them.’
    Adams nodded his head, watching the road. He then turned to Lynn quickly.
    ‘Hold on!’ he yelled as he pulled down to the left, the unbridled mare turning with his will, straight across the oncoming traffic of the Compañia de Jesús.
    Adams was glad that Lynn couldn’t see what was happening in front of them, as a huge Ford RV headed straight for them down the busy street. He leant in close to the mare’s neck, coaxing her onwards, until she reared upwards and vaulted the massive vehicle in one smooth motion.
    ‘Matt!’ Lynn cried out as the horse landed and then immediately veered sharply around another car. As Adams turned to Lynn, he felt her grip slipping from his waist, and his eyes went wide as he saw her slide straight off the side of the horse.
    ‘She’s going!’ Eldridge announced to the teammates in the rear of the van as they rounded the corner, forcing their way on to the Compañia de Jesús. ‘She’s going!’
    In the front cabin, Eldridge and Renfrew watched as the horse miraculously vaulted the front of a huge 4x4, then snaked lithely around another car, and then – yes! – as Evelyn Edwards lost her grip on Adams and plummeted towards the hard concrete street below.
    As soon as Adams felt Lynn’s grip go, his body reacted instinctively, and instantaneously.
    Gripping the mare’s thick mane in one hand, he shifted his weight to the side, digging his knees in to tighten his grip, his other arm shooting out towards Lynn.
    Just as she left the horse’s back, Adams clamped down on her forearm with his powerful grip, leaning halfway down the animal’s flank. The horse continued to gallop along the street, and Lynn secured her other hand over Adams’ outstretched arm, screaming as she was dragged along, feet banging painfully against the rough