Hector Cross - 03 - Predator by Wilbur Smith

Author:Wilbur Smith
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Thriller
ISBN: 9780007535781
Published: 2016-03-24T00:00:00+00:00

The men who had stormed the rig had all been dealt with. Now the main priority was getting all the hostages out of the canteen before they suffered any side-effects from the sevoflurane, other than feeling very, very sleepy. Cross had gratefully peeled the gas mask from his face and was just telling Paddy O’Quinn to organize a body count of the hostages, rescuers and terrorists when Dave Imbiss came over the comms. ‘I’ve got some people here would really like to express their thanks for what you all just did, so I’m putting this out to everyone: go ahead, sir …’

‘Hi, Hector, this is John Bigelow, I just want to say on behalf of everyone here at Bannock Oil and, I’m sure, of all the loved ones of the folks you and your people rescued today: you did a great job. I always had faith that you would rise to the challenges of working in this offshore environment, but I never dreamed that you would be called upon so soon, to face such a terrible situation.’

‘Thank you, John, that means a lot to all of us …’ Cross replied, thinking, Really? You didn’t dream? Not even when I told you, in plain English, exactly what might happen?

‘We’re just sorry we couldn’t save everyone,’ Cross added. ‘But we did all we could and we certainly made sure that the people who attacked this rig paid a very heavy price for their crime.’

‘We’re very glad you did,’ Bigelow replied. ‘It sends out a message to anyone who’s thinking of assaulting an oil installation that they can expect immediate retribution. Now I’d just like to hand over to someone else who’d like to say a few words.’

‘This is Vice Admiral Scholz from the Fleet Forces Command of the US Navy. We spoke earlier, if you recall, Mr Cross.’

‘Yes, sir, you gave us a very clear picture of our situation,’ Cross replied.

Scholz laughed uncomfortably. ‘Which wasn’t too good, as I recall.’

‘No, sir.’

‘Well, that only underlines the scale of your achievement. What you and your people achieved tonight, recapturing an offshore rig in the most testing weather conditions, with virtually no time to plan your mission … I’d say that constitutes a military miracle. If you were a US serviceman, they’d be pinning quite a medal on your chest, and on all the personnel who supported you so valiantly.’

‘Thank you, sir. We were just doing our jobs to the best of our ability.’

‘And you should all be very proud of yourselves.’

The line from the US went dead, to be replaced by the sound of a dozen ex-soldiers making sarcastic remarks about the sudden stench of corporate and military horse manure.

‘I could use some fresh air myself,’ said Cross and headed out on to the main deck to get it.

Hey, Johnny,’ said Chico Torres on the bridge of the Mother Goose, ‘you wanna do a countdown? Cause our baby’s about to blow – just a few minutes to go now.’

Congo laughed. ‘Yeah, let’s be Mission Control, take it right on down to blast-off.

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