Primary Target (Joe Weber) by Joe Weber

Author:Joe Weber [Weber, Joe]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Thrillers, General, Espionage, Suspense
ISBN: 9781937868307
Google: IUfSAwAAQBAJ
Amazon: B00L21GZFK
Barnesnoble: B00L21GZFK
Publisher: Ignition Books
Published: 2014-05-23T05:00:00+00:00

25

ABOARD THE CARAVAN

Flying low over the coastline, Scott glanced at the former Phoenician city-state of Sidon. Graced by Castle of the Sea, the northern harbor of Saida was quiet at this time of the morning. Scott began a shallow climb to improve his chances of contacting the Permak Express. Surprisingly, the ship immediately answered the radio call, although the transmission was weak and broken. Seconds later the ship was steaming toward the stricken Caravan.

Out of habit, Jackie and Scott glanced at the fuel gauges as they continuously computed and updated the time and distance to the container ship. At best, the chances of reaching the Permak Express were fifty-fifty.

She turned to him and spoke in a low voice. “Well, it wasn’t pretty, but we got the job done.”

“Yeah.” Scott shrugged. “The key word is ‘lucky.’“

Jackie remained silent.

“I’m going to check on Greg and Maritza,” Scott said as he unbuckled his seat and shoulder harnesses. “You have the airplane.”

“I have it,” Jackie said as she assumed control of the turboprop. “What are you going to tell them?”

“The truth,” he said, then remarked idly, “which I’m sure they’ve already figured out.”

Jackie remained quiet while Scott stepped out of the cockpit. Maritza and Greg were sitting on the bare floor next to the life raft. They were cold, in constant pain, and soaked raw with jet fuel. Neither one had complained.

Scott knelt beside them and spoke in a soft, soothing voice. “Both of you need immediate medical attention, but we’re going to have to make some changes in our—”

O’Donnell and Gunzelman interrupted him at the same time.

“Don’t worry about us,” Greg said steadily. “The mission comes first, so do what you need to do.”

Scott reached for Maritza’s hand and felt the pressure of her cold fingers. Her eyes reflected a deep sense of fear and emotional pain. “You’re going to have to ditch the plane, aren’t you?”

“Yes,” Scott said without hesitation. He allowed his head to droop. “We don’t have many options left, so we’re going to get you aboard the container ship as soon as possible.”

O’Donnell’s gaze inadvertently shifted to Scott’s eyes. “Bubba, you can’t bluff worth a shit,” he said with a ragged smile. “We’re going to run out of fuel first, right?”

Scott shrugged his shoulders. “That’s a distinct possibility, Captain Optimistic. Aren’t you the guy who always has the upbeat, ‘top of the morning’ attitude about everything?”

An awkward quiet settled over the pungent smell of the cabin.

Maritza finally broke the silence. “Greg tells me that you’re the best,” she declared in a firm voice. “And I told him that Jackie’s the best, so we’re not worried.”

Scott quietly nodded, then patted her hand and returned to the cockpit. God, if you have a miracle to spare, we really need one.

OVER THE PERSIAN GULF

“Diamond One-Oh-Seven,” the senior Hawkeye controller radioed to the lead BARCAP pilot, “six—make that seven bogies at your twelve, noses on, at sixty-three miles, Angles fourteen.”

“One-Oh-Seven, we’ve got ’em.” Lieutenant Commander Denby Kaywood inched the Tomcat’s throttles forward.

“Diamond One is comin’ up on the power.

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