Page 49 of Helsing: Demon Slayer
He shot a pointed glance at Dianne, who stood on the sidewalk watching his every move with a predatory focus. Good. He needed her fully present to help.
“Keep a lookout. Copy?”
She nodded. “Copy.”
Ryan grinned to himself. He’d take his wins where he could get them.
Pulling his combat knife from his pack, he slid into the Opel. He used the knife to pry the cover from the wiring harness under the steering column. Quickly he stripped the insulation from the power, ignition, and starter wires before twisting the power and ignition wires together.
“Hey,” he said to grab Dianne’s attention. She stood in the middle of the sidewalk, her gaze sweeping the area around them. At his call, she looked over. “I’ve hotwired the engine. I’ll need you to start it once I’ve jumped the battery.”
“Jumped the battery?” she asked, sounding confused. “How are you going to do that? There’s no Triple A around here or any other running vehicles as far as I can tell.”
“No need,” he said, sliding out of the driver’s seat. He felt the bandage loosen and whatever Dianne had pressed into the puncture wounds slip as he moved. “I’m fully charged at the moment. Here, get in.”
Confusion washed over Dianne’s face, but thankfully she didn’t question him again and slid into the driver’s seat after he stood up.
“See that stripped wire hanging down beneath the steering column? The yellow and black?”
“Affirmative.”
Now Ryan openly grinned at her. “You’re a natural, Markham. I’ll have to give you a proper call sign. How about Beauty Queen?”
Dianne scowled. “What do you want me to do with this wire exactly,Helsing?”
Ryan’s grin faded a little. “When I give the go sign, touch the starter wire to the other two wires I twisted together. Those are the ignition and the power, so the car will start.”
“Aye, aye, captain,” she said, saluting.
Shaking his head while still smiling, Ryan went to the front of the car and opened the hood. His invisible tactical gear, newly recharged by the geomagnetic flare, had the benefit of being electrified during hand-to-hand combat, making it painful for an opponent to hold onto him. When the situation called for it, he could also tase a subject with his bare hands.
A situation such as a dead car battery.
Gripping the battery’s positive terminal, he directed a concentrated charge into the electrical reservoir. Then he closed the circuit by placing his other hand on the car’s metal frame, which was grounded by its tires. The only trick was not overcharging the battery, or he’d damage it, and they’d have to start over. By the looks of the people around them, they couldn’t afford that delay.
Which was another issue. If he used the harmonic energy needed to jump the car quickly, he’d drain his replenished reservoir dangerously.
He chose the exigency of getting out of Dodge over keeping his tactical gear charged. The fight you won was the one you never got into in the first place.
After five minutes of intense electricity coursing through his hand into the battery, Dianne said, “The radio’s on!” She sounded excited. “And the dash lights.”
“Now’s the time to tap that starter wire to the power and ignition,” he said.
“Copy that.”
A minute later, they were driving down the street with Ryan negotiating a path between stalled vehicles that sometimes took their stolen car up onto the sidewalk. As they made their way out of the small mountain town, Ryan saw more and more unhappy, frustrated people, many of whom began to shout and run after them.
“Lock your door,” he said to Dianne, whose wide-eyed stare was glued to the world around them. “And grab the Glock and an extra mag from my backpack.”
Dianne darted him a shocked look, but she complied with his order without question.
He took the gun from her and placed it in his lap for easy access. He shot a glance at her but kept driving. “Keep the clip. I’ll let you know when I need it.”
He switched the radio off. Its scratchy white noise boded nothing good for what they’d find beyond this secluded mountain holy site.
Time to call for ops support. “Aerie Actual, this is Demon Slayer. Over.”
Olivia responded so quickly it was clear she’d been waiting. “Go for Aerie Actual.”
