Counter Force by Don Pendleton

Author:Don Pendleton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Worldwide Library
Published: 2013-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Charging straight up to the ridge in vehicles was obviously out of the question; Phoenix Force had to make their approach with speed and stealth.

The increasing warmth had suddenly dissipated with a rise in wind, bringing a significant drop in temperature. The conditions were close to miserable. The five warriors practically froze their asses off as dust devils swirled around their boots. The cloud cover had dispersed and parted to a view of a crisp, clear sky filled with stars. The climb up the near vertical ridge didn’t make the going any easier, and the many stumbles and scraped knees or hands brought forth grunts, grumbles and an occasional muttered curse.

McCarter wondered if Jeddah hadn’t chosen the most difficult approach possible for this assault. Climbing treacherous, rock-strewed hills in the dead of early morning wasn’t exactly the greatest plan they’d ever cooked up, and was proving more difficult than McCarter would’ve thought possible. The Briton reminded himself he shouldn’t let the aggravating circumstance of the present situation get to him too much. The Marine prisoners somewhere inside the AQI camp, if there were any left alive, were more likely having a much harder go of it than Phoenix Force.

Snap out of it, McCarter, he told himself. Keep your head on mission.

It took them nearly ninety minutes to climb the ridge in the dark, but they were eventually rewarded with reaching the top of the crest. While the AQI leader would most likely have sentries posted, the bugger probably wouldn’t be expecting an approach from the ridge side in the dark. In fact, he probably wasn’t expecting any sort of rescue attempt. McCarter had thought the success of their mission would hinge on the surprise element and that was damned good because—

Movement to his left caught his attention.

Encizo and James, already in counterflanking positions, trained their assault rifles in the direction of the noise. They saw a triple flash from a small, blue light—the prearranged signal they had set up with Dakuwami and Nawaf if they got separated. The chance anyone else would know that signal was slim, and it confirmed itself with Nawaf’s shadowy form as he emerged from some large brush.

“What the hell are you doing here?” McCarter whispered. “And where’s Uthman?”

“On his way back to my country,” Nawaf replied. “I sent him with Sergeant Dakuwami.”

“I thought you didn’t want to have any part of this?” Hawkins inquired.

Nawaf turned and looked Hawkins in the eye, something hard and cold set in his expression. “I have already told you that I have a stake in this, as well. I’ve made an oath to help you, and in Jordan that means something when a man gives his word.”

“We don’t need any more of your bloody help,” McCarter said.

“What you need is inconsequential to me, American. But if I abandon you, then I abandon my mission and my goal of finding Jeddah. I will not go back to my country empty-handed, not for you or anyone. I will do it on my own if I must, but I would rather work with men of skill and integrity.

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