Left to Lapse by Blake Pierce

Author:Blake Pierce [Pierce, Blake]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Blake Pierce
Published: 2021-02-08T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

“John!” Adele cried, reflexively. There wasn’t enough time for any more words.

Agent Renee cursed and staggered to his feet, holding out a hand as if to try to catch and break Leoni’s fall, reacting, it seemed, on instinct alone. Leoni, though, seemed to jolt and jar for a moment, his hand feverishly working at the climbing vest’s clasp. There was a whistling sound of the rope going suddenly taut, and Leoni’s body bounced, jarring painfully.

Now, though, he hung suspended nearly twenty feet above, not moving at all. Below, John began to shout an instruction. But the train began to move again, turning down a mountain pass and now heading directly toward a tunnel in the side of the slope.

“John!” Adele shouted, pointing.

Agent Renee gritted his teeth and gestured at Leoni. “Release the second clasp!” he shouted. “It’s caught—the rope’s caught!”

But his words were lost in the wild sounds and panic of the moment.

Leoni descended another few feet, then got stuck completely. The helicopter above maintained course, but Adele realized it wouldn’t be able to for much longer, without slamming into the cliff face.

“Christopher!” she shouted, one hand still braced against the roof of the locomotive, her eyes wide and peering up toward the Italian. “Drop! You have to drop!”

He was nearly fifteen feet above the top of the car now, but still too high. It wouldn’t be safe. There was no other option, though.

“Christopher!” she screamed.

Agent Renee and Adele watched helplessly, braced against the metal roof of the train. The tunnel beyond was quickly approaching, despite the calm pace of the engine.

Adele heard another curse as the Italian agent marked his trajectory. Then she glimpsed a flash of silver as his hand procured something sharp from within a pocket. Teeth gritted, he began sawing feverishly at the rope.

The helicopter pilot above began to move, having left it until the last second. Now, he had to rise above the mountain slope or slam into it. There was no more time.

Leoni’s body, still dangling from the rappel line began to sway as the helicopter did. With one last cry of extraordinary effort, Agent Leoni managed to saw through the rappelling line, in a puff of small black fabrics. Then, with a shout, he tumbled, falling from the sky and rushing toward the train, completely unsupported now.

The helicopter veered away at last, completely, but it had altered trajectory in those last moments, causing Leoni to gain momentum and swing forward as he fell.

Agent Leoni was not just sent plummeting, but tumbling toward the edge of the train. Adele lurched forward, trying to snag her new partner. But she missed, and Leoni struck the top of the train. Then he began to roll, sliding along the slick metal surface.

John, though, moved fast. He was taller, lengthier than Adele. With a herculean groan, his fingers managed to snag the Italian agent’s shirt, gripping him tight. Adele heard a loud cry of pain as John’s arm extended. Leoni’s fingers scrambled against the slick surface as he yelled, trying to find purchase, but it was too late.

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