Station Breaker by Andrew Mayne

Author:Andrew Mayne [Mayne, Andrew]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, azw3
Published: 2016-02-17T00:00:00+00:00

42

Black Box

I keep moving. The man in the sunglasses reaches out and grabs me by the arm. It's not a forceful touch, but meant to get my attention.

He points to a black SUV parked across the field with a tall whip antenna. There are two others just like it at the other ends of the field.

I'm surrounded on three sides.

The man taps the aluminum bench with his hand, telling me to sit down. I look down and notice a bulge on his ankle where he's wearing a gun.

I get an itchy feeling.

What does my gut say?

I bolt down the bleachers, hop the mini-fence and run straight across the field. People yell at me and surly kids curse with their Texas twangs as I sprint over the dry grass.

I hop the outfield fence and land in the dusty cemetery – praying the SUVs can't reach me here.

Dodging tombstones and concrete crosses, I go as fast as I can up the gradual incline leading to the stone wall at the opposite end of the graveyard.

After hopping that barrier, it's a steeper climb as I scramble up the hill.

I reach the crest and don't look back. Jumping, skidding and sliding, I make my way down, trying not to trip over the clumps of hearty desert brush.

WHUP WHUP WHUP WHUP

I know the sound, but I try to ignore it.

Just keep running.

WHUP WHUP WHUP WHUP

Dust flies into the air and I have to cover my face.

WHUP WHUP WHUP WHUP

I'm trapped in a whirlwind and start to lose my way.

The helicopter ascends and the cloud begins to settle.

The three SUVs are in front of me. The man from the bench climbs out of the one at the end – still holding the newspaper.

For the first time since I took it from the bin, I can see the headline.

SUSPECTED ASTRONAUT-TERRORIST HIJACKS PLANE

"Is this you, David?" asks the man as he walks towards me, the wind rustling the pages.

At first I think he's asking if I'm David Dixon. Then I realize he's asking if this is the real me. Am I what the news is calling me?

"No," I reply, head low, no place to run.

"I didn't think so. Let's go somewhere where you tell me everything that happened." He points towards the helicopter landing on a hillside.

I keep my mouth shut, afraid of saying something that will implicate me.

"We found the Humvee from the air. That's how we knew where to look. In case you were wondering."

I was curious, but not about to ask. It's not really important right now.

Two men in black assault gear holding Heckler & Koch UMPs are standing next to the chopper. Neither one has any identifying patches on the shoulders. Both are wearing sunglasses that make their faces inscrutable.

I climb inside the Black Hawk and realize that nobody has put handcuffs on me. I'd ask about that, but I'm afraid that it's an oversight that will be quickly corrected.

"My name is Vaughn," says the man as we buckle ourselves in. "I'm going to help you clear this up.

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