Page 68 of Freedom Fighters
“Evacuating?”
Garrett smiled grimly. “They won’t give up the mine. Not whenthe Loyalists are nearby and will take the mine if they leave. That’s why we were put on display last night.”
“The Loyalists will pull back to Acapulco and take cover on the highest ground they can find.” The instinct to head for the hills at the approach of a sea storm was ingrained in Vistarians from generations of practice.
“Ibarra will stay put, right here,” Garrett said. “I got a look athis face last night. I could see it in his eyes. He’s quite crazy. There is no humanity left in him. He’s mad but disciplined. If he’s been told to hold the mine, he’ll hold onto it with everything he’s got no matter what comes his way, no matter how extreme his actions. He’ll justify anything as following orders. That’s probably why Serrano put him in charge. The Insurrectos can’t afford to losethe mine.”
Carmen shivered. She didn’t doubt Garrett’s analysis. “When the hurricane arrives, he will realize his mistake.”
“That might be when we can make a move,” Garrett said. “Sleep,” he told her. “I’m going to keep listening. If anything interesting happens, I’ll wake you.”
Carmen shook her head, her chin rubbing against his shoulder. “No, I’ll stay awake with you. I can’t sleep now.”
Five minutes later, as she listened to Garrett’s heart beat under her ear, she realized sleep was stealing over her again. She marveled at the change. When she had been hiding in the palace, up in the rafters where the Insurrectos couldn’t find her, she had spent three days so terrified she would be discovered and so distraught over her inability to help Minnie, who had been captured by Zalaya, thatshe hadn’t been able to sleep at all. She had grown up in the palace, yet with Insurrectos living in it, the building had become a foreign land to her. That had been a minor thing compared to this.
Garrett made the difference. Because he was here, she could sleep in complete confidence that nothing would get past his guard. Garrett…whom she loved. How strange the way the world worked. What wouldit throw at her next?
* * * * *
The west side cliffs ofLas Piedras Grandeswere considered the most dangerous cliffs in all of Vistaria. They were called, poetically,Saltode los Amantes. Many lovershadthrown themselves over their steep sides, to tumble to the exposed rocks and wild waves that smashed up against the base of them. Others had made promises, standing on the edge, gripping eachother’s hands. Gulls and other seabirds rode the soaring thermals above them. Tourists would come each summer to toss coins into the wind and make a wish.
No one had ever thought of climbing the cliffs. They were inaccessible thanks to the thundering waves and unclimbable, rising one hundred and sixty-three feet to the sharp edge at the top.
An hour after dawn, Duardo took a good grip with hisleft hand and rested against the rope, letting his right arm relax. He looked down at the sea surging below his feet. He was twenty yards above the water and was no longer being sprayed with every wave that rolled up against the wall. The only things holding him was his left hand gripping a small, jagged rock, his boot thrust into the crease that Emile had found and the rope around his waist, heldtaut against the piton Emile had driven into the rock.
Emile was ten feet higher, hammering at the rock to widen a vent to drive in a piton. He was a private. He was also a world-class mountain climber and had tackled Everest only a year ago. Duardo spent a few nights a month playing poker with his men, so he could get to know them better when they were off duty and had their guard down. Threeweeks ago, Emile had tried to explain to him how the cold and thin air made Everest such a challenge, so Duardo had known at least one man in his unit could tackle these cliffs.
There were five other men strung out behind Duardo. Each of them was watching the man ahead of him, placing his hands and feet exactly as the first man had and moving precisely like the first man. All of them except Emilewere complete novices at climbing, including Duardo. Emile had been confident he could get them to the top as long as they did exactly what he did.
Emile looked back over his shoulder and down at Duardo. “Sir?” he asked. His voice was all but snatched away by the wind. It was picking up speed.
“I’ve got it,” Duardo assured him and flexed the fingers of his right hand. He was glad he had improvedhis fitness and cardiovascular conditioning in the last few weeks at the big house. If he had been in the physical shape now he had been in when posing as Zalaya, he couldn’t have done this.
The five men below him had all been chosen for their similar physical condition. He had also questioned them on their ability to handle heights. He had weeded out those who would choke during such a high-riskchallenge, leaving him with a seven man team, including Emile and him.
Flores had been outraged when Duardo laid out the plan. “No! I will not consider it! You would put every man in this army at risk. You would put them all in the way of a hurricane, when we should be returning to safe ground.”
They were standing on the heaving deck of the launch Flores was using as his command post and itwas just past two a.m. The sea was inky black, rolling away into the black night sky. There had been barely any moon and no wind.
Nick stood between Flores and Duardo, the third man in their conversation. Nick had only spoken once or twice because this was a military operation.
“Risks must be taken in war,” Duardo replied. “I’ve considered the odds. They’re not as bad as they seem. There’s anexperienced climber in my unit. And there are precautions we can take that will minimize the risks.”
Flores shook his head before Duardo had finished, then he chopped his hand sideways. “I will not consider it,” he said flatly. “It is utter madness.”
Nick stirred and cleared his throat. “It is my decision, General.”
Flores grew still. Then he straightened to attention. “It is your order wedo this, sir?”
“It is,” Nick said mildly. “Use volunteers for the higher risk elements we’ve talked about, but no one gets to stay home for this. We will need everyone.”
Flores considered Nick. “Fuck me stupid!” he breathed. Then hesmiled, showing crooked teeth. “I still say it is madness. Perhaps that is what we need, yes?” He clapped Duardo on the shoulder. “I will take the men in overland.You, the mad one, you can take the cliffs.”
“Thank you, sir,” Duardo said, although it had been his intention to do that, anyway. He climbed down into the cabin to retrieve the roster of personnel. He could pick his team from anyone suitable.
Nick stepped into the cabin behind him. “I’ll come with you, if you’ll have me.”
Duardo straightened up, the file in his hand. “You can’t.” Then he tackedon belatedly, “Sir.”
