Ghost Squadron (Matt Drake Book 30) by David Leadbeater

Author:David Leadbeater [Leadbeater, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-02-07T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY

They clung to the landscape like gnarly vegetation, skimming across the sand and hugging the rolling hills. They poured on the speed, heading west to evade those coming up from the south before they were spotted. They traversed small valleys and gorges, slipped over low peaks and slid down rocky slopes. Darius’ breathing became laboured, and they were forced to slow, but the man kept up quite well for a civilian.

“I run,” he told them once as they raced along. “Every day. But not... like this.”

“I’m glad you run,” Alicia told him. “Because if you didn’t, I’d be carrying you.”

A range of higher, craggier hills grew closer. Drake saw passes and deep gorges and cliffs. They had no map with them, and no signal to dial up anything on a digital device. Effectively they were running, and being hunted, blind.

“Those hills are west,” Hayden said between breaths. “If we can get among them and turn south we might follow them all the way to Pakistan.”

“How long?” Shaw asked.

“At a guess... judging by when we crossed the border and how far we flew... I’m guessing four to five hours.”

“Those trucks will be on us in thirty minutes,” Kinimaka said.

“But we’ll be in the hills by then,” Hayden said.

Drake pushed it, running low and hard across the unforgiving ground. This was true enemy territory, populated by all manner of people who wanted to kill them. They ran for ten minutes non-stop and then took a brief respite atop a pointed knoll. Hayden used the few minutes to get a read on their enemy.

“That’s bad,” she said. “I see another set of trucks headed our way. Directly this way. They’ve seen us.”

Drake cursed, wishing for even a small slice of luck. “Locals?”

“Funny you should ask. No. There are three trucks. Two are being driven by mercenaries, I see. But the third...” she bit her lower lip, thinking. “Do you remember when we searched for the four sacred treasures? All those warriors were sent against us?”

Kinimaka, sitting beside her, nodded. “I do.”

“They’re dressed the same as some of them were. I...”

“Let me look,” Darius took the glasses off her and put them to his eyes, taking a little time to focus. “Yes,” he said. “You are right. I recognise them. They are samurai warriors, the warriors who fight for the Chiyome shadow royal family, and Zuki.”

“That woman,” Alicia spat. “We should have killed her when we had the chance.”

Drake recalled a few opportunities. “They won’t be able to drive through these hills.”

Again, they moved off. The lower slopes began, allowing the team to blend with the landscape, to become ghosts as they fled. Irregular rock formations, winding passes, and hard-edged outcrops enfolded them a few minutes later as they made their way higher. A bitter wind twisted its way through the weather-beaten corridors. Drake checked his own compass.

“South as best we can,” he pointed.

They started to thread their way through a new landscape. A short path here and there, a long route to bypass some treacherous outcrop or drop off.

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