Carnival Of Mayhem Part 23

They sat on their chairs and reloaded their guns.

Aaron's heart rate returned to normal. As the adrenaline left his system, he suddenly felt very tired. The worst part of a mission was the lack of regular sleep. He hated the nagging exhaustion, which weighed down his body and clouded his mind.

"Is this what you do every day?" Smythe asked.

"Not really. We see serious action just a few times a year if that much."

"Why?"

"G.o.d's enemies usually keep a low profile," Aaron said. "Maybe they're afraid of Him. We actually spend most of our time training and practicing. How do you think I got these big muscles? Ethel works us hard every day. We're also constantly developing new contacts and sources of information. Preparation is the key to our success."

Marina's voice came through the radio. "Movement on the west side! I see..."

Her voice cut out, and Aaron heard a painfully loud buzzing noise instead.

He tore off his headset. "s.h.i.+t!"

Smythe did the same. "I think the signal is jammed."

Aaron opened his cell phone and found he had no bars. "The enemy must be using a wide spectrum jammer."

"Like the one you used on me?"

"Exactly." There was a phone on a table. Aaron picked it up and heard nothing. "The line is cut, too. Get ready for a fight."

He grabbed the rest of his guns and stuffed them in his pants, but he kept the Glock 30 in his hand. It was the best weapon he had available. The a.s.sault rifles lying on the floor in the kitchen were too noisy to be useful, and besides, he didn't like picking up weapons. If they were poorly maintained, they could jam or misfire.

He was worried about Marina, who was alone out there. She could lock her storage shed from the inside, and if anybody tried to break in, she had some nasty surprises waiting for them. She was also wearing body armor. But despite the precautions, he couldn't convince himself she was safe.

Smythe finished arming himself. "We're blind without Marina. We need to get out of this trap. Let's take the fight to the enemy."

"I'm sure that's what they're waiting for," Aaron said. "They'll cut us down as soon as we step outside. Let's think about this for a second. We need a distraction so we can escape and find cover safely."

Smythe nodded and looked around. He pointed to the single bedroom. "There is a window in there. We'll leave that way."

"Why?"

"Because it's farthest away from the kitchen."

"So?" Aaron leaned his head.

Smythe went into the kitchen and ransacked the drawers until he found aluminum foil. He wadded up a big ball, stuffed it into a microwave oven, and turned the oven on. The metal immediately began to emit blue sparks. He turned on all the gas burners on the stove without lighting them. Invisible natural gas gushed out.

He ran out of the kitchen. "Let's move."

He hurried into the bedroom, and Aaron followed close behind. They pulled a mattress off the bed and knelt underneath.

"The neighbors will hear the explosion," Aaron said. "They'll call the fire department."

"We'll still have a few minutes to work," Smythe said. "The blast will blind and confuse the enemy, giving us the tactical advantage for a short time."

"We need to capture some of the Eternals alive for interrogation. That's why we're here."

"I understand."

Aaron didn't like the fact Smythe was a.s.suming a leaders.h.i.+p role, but that argument would have to wait until after the fight.

After a couple of minutes, Aaron started to smell the gas, and the odor reminded him of rotten eggs. Then a roaring noise filled his world. The shockwave from the explosion slammed into the mattress and pushed him to the floor.

He and Smythe threw off the mattress as soon as they were able. Fire was everywhere in the other rooms, but it hadn't reached the bedroom. The nearest window was completely blown out. Aaron jumped through and ran into the chilly night air.

The first priority was finding cover. The fire provided plenty of light, and he quickly spotted a dense clump of bushes ten yards away. He dove into the middle of the clump and slid to a stop in the dirt. Smythe followed him in. They b.u.mped heads in the cramped s.p.a.ce as they tried to sit up.

Aaron peeked between the leaves to a.s.sess the situation. The house was located in a semi-rural neighborhood, so there was plenty of open s.p.a.ce around. Large, old trees dominated the landscape. The Eternals were probably hiding up in the branches because they provided a great location for surveillance.

"We have to check the trees," Aaron whispered.

Smythe nodded. "Sneaking up on a guy in a tree is almost impossible. He sees you a long time before you see him."

"Marina is watching the surveillance video. If we could get to the shed, she could tell us exactly where the enemy is."

"We'll have to go around the house. We'll be seen."

"Not if we take the long way. Follow me."

Aaron sprinted directly away from the house. He kept going for two hundred yards before turning. Smythe's heavy footsteps stayed close behind him. Aaron made a huge circle that looped through the yards of a dozen other homes before he headed back.

He spotted the shed straight ahead. Made of rusty, corrugated steel, it wasn't quite big enough to store a car. He stopped in the shadow of a tree before he got too close.

"Do you see anybody?" he whispered.

Smythe was breathing hard. "No, but wait. Let me catch my breath. You're in much better shape than me."

Aaron looked up. Fall had come but the trees still held many leaves. Yellow, red, and brown had replaced the lush greens of summer. He searched for any sign of the enemy. The combination of the flickering fire and a light breeze made all the leaves appear to dance in the night.

"The neighbors must've called the fire department by now," he said. "The Eternals will run when they hear the sirens, and we'll go home empty handed."

"Better than going home dead." Smythe shrugged.

Aaron didn't like that response. "I'm going to run to the shed now."

Smythe raised his Beretta. "I'll cover you."

"Are you a good shot?"

"I could perform surgery with this gun. Go."

Aaron dashed forward. He realized he was entrusting his life to a man with questionable loyalties. From the way he talked, it was clear Smythe still didn't consider himself a Spear.

Aaron put those doubts out of his mind as he approached the shed. He kept to the shadows, but the front door of the shed was fully exposed. He took a deep breath and ran the last several yards in the open.

The door was fully open, which surprised him. He had a.s.sumed Marina would lock herself inside. He couldn't just stand in the light, so he went in.

The interior was a jumble of flickering, disorienting shadows. While his eyes were still adjusting, he saw a dark shape moving around. He wasn't alone.

Aaron raised his gun. "Freeze," he said quietly, "or I'll drop you where you stand."

"Go ahead and shoot," a deep masculine voice replied. "Death is my ultimate reward."

Aaron couldn't leave this guy behind to cause mischief. On the other hand capturing him alive would be time consuming, dangerous, and noisy. This shed was a lousy place for a fight. In the meantime Smythe or Marina might desperately need Aaron's help. He had only one choice.

"As you wish." Aaron pulled the trigger and put a .45 caliber slug into the enemy's brain. The suppressor made the shot sound like a soft thump instead of a loud bang.

He checked the video surveillance monitors and found all twenty displays turned off. The power cord for the entire system had been cut with a sharp knife. Marina sabotaged it, he thought. She didn't want the enemy using it.

He checked the shed for clues. Marina had taken her body armor and weapons, which was an encouraging sign. He found words written on the wall in face paint, and they read, "Black truck on street. See you there." He smiled.

He ran back outside, and the bright fire dazzled his eyes. The entire house was engulfed in flames now.

Aaron heard quick footsteps to his right. He reflexively dove to the ground and rolled. He looked back to see another Eternal standing with a dagger. He was a large man wearing a cloak, hood, gloves, and boots, leaving no skin exposed. All his clothes were black. The dagger's blade had a milky, wet gleam. Poison? Aaron wondered.

The Eternal fell on Aaron with the clear intention of stabbing him. Aaron grabbed his wrist and twisted so that the blade pointed up instead of down. The move was automatic, the result of countless hours of training. The Eternal landed on the dagger, grunted, and rolled over. The blade was buried in his abdomen up to the hilt, and blood trickled from the wound.

Aaron scrambled to his feet in case the enemy had the strength for a second attack, but it quickly became clear the fight was over. The Eternal was making choking noises, and all his limbs trembled violently. He expired several seconds later.

Definitely poison, Aaron thought.

"Nice move."

Aaron spun around and saw Smythe approaching. "Thanks," Aaron said.

"But I thought you wanted to take live prisoners."

"I do, but they're not cooperating. Marina is investigating a black truck parked on the street. Let's go."

Aaron heard distant sirens. No! Not yet! He ran towards the street.

He spotted the truck, which was the size of a small moving van. It was already pulling away. His heart skipped a beat when he saw that Marina was standing on the rear b.u.mper and clinging to the back of the truck. She wore gray and black camouflage fatigues.

Aaron would not let the woman he loved be taken away. He shot at the tires on one side of the truck, flattening them, but the truck didn't stop.

"Jump off!" he yelled to Marina.

She shook her head.

A fire engine sped around a corner. The truck tried to swerve out of the way, but the flat tires made hard turns impossible and it crashed into a ditch. The truck rolled onto its side.

"Marina!" Aaron yelled as he sprinted forward.

He found her lying in the weeds about twenty yards away from the accident. She was unconscious but still breathing. Blood oozed from a cut on her forehead.

Smythe knelt beside her. "I'll take care of her. You worry about the enemy."

Aaron reluctantly left her in Smythe's care. Aaron ran over to the cab of the truck and looked through the cracked front winds.h.i.+eld. Two men were inside, still held in place by their seatbelts.

For the first time Aaron saw the pale faces of the enemy. Their hair was cut short in a distinctly military style. One had a scar on his cheek. Wearing heavy, black robes, they reminded Aaron of medieval monks. They were young, no older than twenty-five, but there was no fear in their eyes.

Aaron drew his gun and aimed through the winds.h.i.+eld. "n.o.body move!"

One man reached into his robes and took out a hand grenade. He pulled the pin and held the grenade in the air like a trophy. Both Eternals watched it with calm expressions.

"No!" Aaron ran back and hid behind a tree.

The explosion sent shrapnel in all directions. He heard it whizzing past and striking the foliage all around as if it were raining. The truck was destroyed. Burning gasoline poured out and the flames reached high into the air.

A police car came up the road with its lights flas.h.i.+ng and siren wailing.

"Smythe!" Aaron yelled. "Pick up Marina and follow me!"

Smythe lifted Marina with both arms and ran over. Aaron led him away from the road and into the murky shadows under the trees. They crouched down.

"How is she?" Aaron said.

"I hardly had time for an examination," Smythe said, "but nothing looked broken. Maybe a concussion. We should get her to a hospital just to be safe."

"That's one piece of good news." Aaron sighed. "Otherwise, the night has been a f.u.c.king disaster."

Chapter Fifteen.

Aaron watched a police car park near the burning truck. Two cops stepped out of the car but didn't get close to the fiercely hot fire.

Aaron knew what he had to do even though he dreaded the idea. It was time to call Ethel. He took out his phone and punched in her number.

"Yes?" she said.

"The operation is not going well, ma'am," Aaron said. "Four Eternals are dead and none are left for interrogation. Police and firemen are here now. Marina is unconscious, but her injuries do not seem critical. Smythe and I are unhurt."

She paused. "I'm very disappointed. When you get back to headquarters, you'll explain exactly what went wrong. Did you collect any evidence at least?"

"Not yet. We can search the Eternals' bodies."