Page 41 of What Remains

“What?” John asked.

Driver didn’t answer. Instead, he shouted into the Harris’s mouthpiece, “Mac, what thehellare you doing? You gotta wait, man, you gotta?—”

“You doing all right?” Turning, he looked down at Roni, who’d eased to his side. “No trouble?” she asked.

Her proximity made his chest tight. There was a smudge on her right cheek he ached to thumb away and her lips which he longed to taste. “None. Although it was interesting.”

“How?” But then she shook her head. “Tell me when we get back.”

He liked how that sounded. Together, they watched as Flowers made his way along the cavern’s sloping wall. For a small man, he was very strong and quick, spidering up the wall in smooth, efficient movements. “That’s amazing,” he said.

“Even more amazing if he can get that boy down.”

Behind them, Driver was still shouting into the radio. “No, Mac, youcan’t?—”

Roni darted a look at Driver. “Do you know what he’s upset about?”

He shook his head. “Not a?—”

“Oh.” Shahida put a trembling hand to her mouth. “Look, look!”

Flowers had reached the fissure. In response, the boy tried making himself even smaller. Although thin enough to worm his way in, Flowers stayed where he was and instead kept up a steady patter. They were too far away to hear what Flowers said, but John could tell the boy was listening.

But he’s got to hurry.How long had it been since he and Flowers ducked into the caves? Five minutes? Ten? He flicked a look at his watch. They still had plenty of time to make it backto Kabul Airport, but only if they left in the next twenty or thirty minutes. There was no point in shaving this too close.

“Oh!” Shahida’s eyes brimmed. “They coming, Buri coming!”

The boy slithered toward Flowers, who’d climbed a bit higher until his shoulders were a little above the opening. Murmuring encouragement, Flowers waited as the boy clambered onto Flowers’ back where he clung like a baby monkey.

“Thank God,” Roni breathed.

John grinned. “You can say that a?—”

Something, somewhere,thumped.

Radio still at his mouth, Driver froze. Everyone did.

What was that?John looked right and then left. The sound had been dull but percussive, like a balloon popped underwater.Or like thunder.

And then the earth beneath John’s feet…trembled.

“No,no!” Cursing, Driver spun on his heel. “Everyone out, get out now!”

“What?” Roni asked. “Why?”

“I don’t have time to explain. Just clear out!” Then his radio burped, and Driver was bawling, “Mac, damn you,stop! Can you hear me? Mac, we felt that! Wefelt?—”

Another dull percussivethump, and this time, John staggered as the ground twitched. Vibrations shimmied up his legs and he caught a sound like the pattering of rice on tin as a thin shower of debris rained down from the ceiling. On its heels came a thin, high cry and John looked back. Still twenty feet from the floor, Flowers clung by a single hand and one foot.

“Shahida!” Flowers’ voice was thin and strained. “Musa, grab him, I’m going to lose him!”

What sparked the kid off?AsShahida and Musa rushed to help, John remembered what Roni had said about the boy having PTSD because his entire village had been leveled by bombs.

And then he remembered something.

Mac both arranged the transfer with Drummondandsaid help was not far away.He used his Harris.Even though everyone stayed off the air, so no one could pinpoint their location.

“Oh, holy God,” he said.

---