Page 48 of Helsing: Demon Slayer
Dianne started to object anyway. “Olivia, please,” she said, anguish twisting her voice. “You didn’t see what Germaine did to him.” She threw Ryan a tormented look that punched him in the gut. “I managed to get the bleeding to stop, but what happens when—not if—it starts again?”
Olivia relented at Dianne’s impassioned plea, softening her tone. “Then all the more reason to get him to the safehouse, Di. There’s a triage center, and the housekeeper has emergency medical training. If you care about what happens to Ryan, then make his job easier.” She paused before adding, “I’m counting on you.”
Ryan watched Dianne, whose open mouth showed how nonplussed her sister’s counterplea had left her.
Then he watched her straighten her spine, square her shoulders, and lift her chin.
He recognized the behavior. There always came a moment when an Army Ranger candidate had to step up and accept the call to duty. Only those who did merited the name of Ranger.
“Rangers lead the way,” he murmured to himself.
Dianne threw him a glance that told him she’d heard and understood the reference.
She shocked the hell out of him with her answer. “Hooah!” she said, not looking at him.
Ryan smiled to himself.
“That’s my soldier,” said Olivia, clear approval in her voice. “Find any vehicle still running. I assume you don’t have a working phone. Now that your GPS and comms are back online, I’ll be your eyes, ears, and all-round den leader. Demon Slayer, how copy?”
“Solid copy, Aerie Actual.”
“Good. It’s approximately five hours to the safehouse by car from your location. Be advised that you’ll have to slip through border control on your own.”
Ryan watched the surrounding pilgrims as they began to show signs of growing confusion and panic. Not a time to be armed with only a handgun and a combat knife wearing what amounted to a T-shirt and cargo pants. “Copy that” was all he said, however.
“Let me know when you’ve acquired a working vehicle, Demon Slayer. If nothing viable presents itself in the next hour, check in anyway. I should have an update for you on the safehouse and available assets in your area. Otherwise, conserve your comms battery.”
“Wilco.” Ryan stepped closer to Dianne, closing the gap between them.
“And Ryan? Stay frosty.” Olivia paused. When she spoke again, she addressed her new recruit: her sister. “Dianne, remember your mission, and try to stay off comms until we understand how they work better. See you both on the other side. Aerie Actual out.”
Ryan returned his gaze to Dianne, who watched him surveying the crowd. “Well, then,soldier, let’s acquire a vehicle before this peaceful gathering turns into a desperate mob.”
They moved away from the outside worship space toward the traffic circle in front of the church where buses and cars sat, the occupants standing next to open doors and talking amongst themselves. Multiple people had cellphones to their ears, while others tried to start their vehicles and became increasingly frustrated. Although the emotional temperature among the visitors remained low, it wasn’t stable and would degrade if the power didn’t return soon. Olivia’s report made that seem very unlikely. They needed to get out of here before the nice people got ugly.
Ryan took Dianne’s hand. Ignoring her protest, he led her to the street where he scanned the abandoned and unoccupied cars for an older one unlikely to have an electronic ignition.
There!An older model Opel sat a hundred meters down the two-lane highway that led into the center of Medugorje.
“With me,” he said.
“Yessir,” said Dianne, breathless from the quick strides he forced her to take.
Ryan ignored her sarcasm. He needed to push forward while the flare’s effects lasted. He wanted to be in Shkodër before the pain returned.
It was only after it had dissipated that he’d realized just how strong it had been.
The Opel sat unattended, parked against the curb as though the driver worked nearby. Ryan glanced around as he tested the driver-side door handle, on alert. No one appeared, angry and ready to assault him. The car was locked.
Ryan pulled his pack from his back and fished around for his stainless-steel water bottle, still heavy with water. Gripping it tightly, he looked at Dianne.
“You might want to stand back. There by the trunk is fine.”
Dianne didn’t pester him with any questions, simply nodded and moved to a safe distance.
Hefting the full metal container, Ryan aimed his blow at the corner of the driver’s side window above the handle, where the glass would be the weakest. It cracked, sending small pieces onto the pavement. He smashed the bottle a second time, widening the hole.
Ryan stuck the bottle into the backpack before using the bag itself to clear the jagged edges of the glass enough that he could reach in without cutting his hand. He groped around until he found the lock button on the inside of the door. Twenty seconds later, he’d unlocked and opened the door. Thirty seconds after that, he’d popped the hood.
