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“Surely they can see us overhead,” Hannah said.
“Not with the glare. They’ll assume we’re still in the warehouse.”
They crouched down under the curvature of the silo, their backs flush against the warm steel, and waited for the chopper to land. Except it didn’t.
Tom felt Hannah start as the pilot opened fire on the warehouse. The noise reverberated off the structures around them, obscenely loud. They watched as the warehouse splintered and cracked under the bombardment.
Then the SUV exploded, bursting into flames. A portion of the roof collapsed, and all the windows shattered.
Hannah gripped his hand as the helicopter lowered itself menacingly until it was in line with the open garage door. Orange sparks flew from the front two automatic guns as the aircraft opened fire once again, this time aiming inside the warehouse.
“They’re taking no prisoners,” Tom muttered. The SUV was a burned-out wreck, while the warehouse looked like a category-five tornado had hit it.
“Thank God we aren’t still in there,” Hannah whispered.
Having depleted its arsenal, the chopper swung around, pausing in midair.
“Stay low,” he hissed. “Don’t move a muscle.” She crouched down farther and held her breath. The chopper hesitated for a moment before swooping down for a closer look.
Tom could see Anwar in the passenger seat. He was scanning the ground through a pair of binoculars. Would the glare be enough to mask their figures from the air?
Eventually, after what seemed like an eternity, the chopper regained altitude.
Tom exhaled. “We’re in the clear.”
It circled the complex once more, before heading off in a northerly direction. Neither of them moved until it was a tiny black speck in the cobalt blue sky.
Hannah surprised him by bursting into tears, but he knew it was just the release of tension. The last few hours had been extreme. It would have tested even the hardiest soldier.
He held her in his arms and stroked her hair. “It’s okay. We’re safe now. They’re gone.”
She nodded into his shoulder. “I’m sorry,” she muttered, already composing herself. “I can’t help it. I was so scared.”
“I know. It’s okay. I’ve got you.”
And he did. Somehow, they’d got through it unscathed. He’d nearly lost her at the army base, but luck had been on their side, and again here. He felt a little shaken himself, if he was honest.
“Tom. . .” She glanced up at him, her eyes wet with tears. His heart lurched, just a little bit.
“Shh. . . Now’s not the time. I’ve still got to get you off this island. We’ve lost precious time, and the clock is ticking. We’ve got to stay focused.”
She let out a shaky breath. “Of course.”
He released her and got to his feet. “You stay here. I’m going to have a quick look around. There might be something here we can use.”
She didn’t reply, so he left her sitting against the silo and headed towards a dusty field. Along the edge sat some rusty pieces of machinery.
He inspected them, but there was nothing of use. Then he saw a shed in the far corner of the field. It looked abandoned, like everything else around here.
The door was locked, so he kicked it in. When the dust settled, he broke into a grin.
Wheeling the items back to Hannah, he said, “Fancy going for a cycle?”
CHAPTER 32
It was late afternoon when they cycled into the small fishing port of Hamesh. The fresh air was a welcome relief after the dry dusty heat of the interior. As they rode through the palm trees and cycads, Tom finally felt some of the tension dissolve. This was the last leg of their journey.
They stashed their bikes behind a small convenience store. He’d disposed of his rifle in a drain outside the town. It would draw too much attention to them here, and they had to keep a low profile. A gun-slinging rebel would raise eyebrows. He kept the handgun, though.