As if on cue, Kharzin’s voice came over Tucker’s headset. “Mr. Wayne, I have given your proposal some thought.”
“And?”
“What assurances do I have that you will keep your word?”
“Hmm . . . good question.” Tucker adjusted his aim on the flaming flare, then lifted the crosshairs to where he had hidden the Rover’s gas can. “This is my answer.”
He squeezed the trigger. As the round struck the can, gasoline jetted from the bullet’s holes, ran down to the flaming flare—and ignited. With a whoosh, flames engulfed the back of the Cathedral. The soldiers began screaming. Orange backlit shadows danced on the walls. After a few seconds, the screaming stopped.
Tucker spoke into his headset. “You heard?”
“Yes, I heard.”
Kharzin had to learn this lesson. It was the Russian way. From his prior employment with Bogdan Fedoseev, Tucker knew how the general would respond to the inherent weakness expressed by Tucker’s offer. As expected, he would try to gain the upper hand by force, to test how weak his opponent actually was.
Now he knew.
“General, I’ve had twelve hours to turn this place into a death trap for you and your men. If you want to keep sending your boys in, I’ll be happy to keep killing them. But I don’t think you came with a limitless supply.”
“You set me up.”
Tucker heard a note of respect buried in the outrage.
“Do we have a deal?”
Kharzin hesitated, then sighed. “We have a deal. What are your terms?”
“Let me check Doctor Bukolov’s progress. I’ll get back to you in ten minutes. Cross me again, General, and things will really start to get ugly. Do you understand?”
“I do.”
“One last thing. Is Felice Nilsson with you?”
“And if she is?”
“She’s part of the bargain. I want her.”
“Why?”
“Take a guess.”
“Well, as it happens, she’s not with us. She had another assignment. And speaking of personnel, I want Anya returned untouched.”
Tucker heard more than mere professional concern for a colleague in the Russian’s voice. This was a personal matter for the general.
He knew better than to tell the truth.
“That can be arranged,” he said.
“Then we have a deal.”
“Stay by your radio, General.”
Tucker signed off and hopped back down, one painful step at a time.
Though the back of the Cathedral still burned, he dared not leave his rear unguarded. He pressed his forehead to Kane’s. “Sorry, buddy, but I need to ask even more from you.”
Kane wagged his tail.
He pointed to the flames. “HOLD. WATCH.”
The shepherd dropped to his belly and stared across the cavern, ready to watch for any further intrusions.
Ever his guardian.
12:55 A.M.
As Tucker limped back into the cave, Bukolov and Christopher joined him, both clearly wanting to know what the plan was from here.
“Have you secured your samples, Doc?”
“Yes, they’re packed away. What now?”
“I told Kharzin we’re willing to make a deal. We’d trade half of the LUCA samples for our lives.” Bukolov opened his mouth to protest, but Tucker held up a hand. “I’m stalling for time. There are only two ways out of here. One we can’t climb out since I pulled that rope. And the other is crawling with Spetsnaz. So we’re going to have to make a third.”
“How?” Christopher asked.
“Do you remember the first spot we dug—on the ravine wall outside?”
Both men nodded.
Tucker pointed across the cavern. “It’s right on the other side of that wall. I estimate it’s only three or four feet thick . . . mostly soft sandstone.”
Bukolov looked there in dismay. “It would take us hours to dig—”
Tucker pulled the square of C-4 from his pocket. “But only seconds to blast through.”
“Would that work?” Christopher said. “Truly?”
“It’s our only shot.”
So they all set to work. Tucker unfolded and handed Christopher one of the shovels and instructed him to dig a hole four feet off the ground, as deep as he could make it.
As he labored, Tucker prepared the new charge and handed the C-4 patty to Bukolov. “Gently, Doctor. It’s live. Just go stand by Christopher.”
He then collected the first bomb he’d prepared earlier and planted it down the hole among the artillery shells.
With everything in motion, Tucker limped back over to the Cathedral and joined Kane. He put on his headset and keyed the radio. “General, are you there?”
After a few long seconds, he responded. “I am here.”
“Bukolov has the samples.”
“Good news.”
“How many vehicles do you have?”
“Two.”
“We’re going to want one of them.”
“I understand, considering the fate of your original vehicle.” He heard the residual anger in the man’s voice.
So at least his ruse with the Rover had worked.
Tucker asked, “Are both vehicles at the entrance to the cave?”
He pictured the SUV from earlier, parked in the canyon by the back door. As far as the Russian knew, that was the only entrance.
“Yes.”
“Okay. We have wounded in here. Give me a few more minutes to get ourselves together, then I’ll signal you to come in. You may bring two of your men as guards. So we’re all on equal footing. I don’t want any surprises. We’ll make the trade in here, then you and all your men will get in one vehicle and drive off. Agreed?”
“Agreed. And you’ll have Anya ready to travel.”
“Yes. Stand by.”
Tucker left Kane on guard and returned to the cavern. Bukolov was leaning against the wall, cradling the C-4 patty in his hands. “I am not enjoying this, Tucker.”
“Hang in there. Christopher, how’s it coming?”
Christopher stopped digging. “See for yourself. To be honest, I don’t think we need that explosive. The sandstone is crumbling almost faster than I can chop at it.”
Tucker examined the hole. It was already more than two feet deep.
“You’re right. Over time, the moisture from this chamber must have weakened the stone, softening it. Keep going—but gently. I don’t want to punch through quite yet. Doc, are you packed and ready to go?”