Page 155 of Clive Cussler's Quantum Tempest

Cabrillo sent a text from his cabin and ordered the crew to remain belowdecks. He didn’t want to make any kind of a scene.

The crew remained assembled in the op center or crowded into the conference room. They all watched Juan on the monitors scrambling into the AW tilt-rotor, his face grimly set on the task at hand. He wore a ball cap, loose fitting slacks, and a breezy cotton shirt instead of the cargo shorts and tank top he’d been in earlier. Cabrillo threw a jaunty salute at the deck camera as he shut the door and the AW roared off the deck.

And just like that, Juan Cabrillo was gone.

83

Isla de San Alejo

Gomez landed the AW right on time. Juan followed Suárez’s texted instructions and easily found the cave on the far end of the island, jogging the whole way to make sure he reached it in time.

Suárez stood inside the cave, the flamethrower tanks strapped once again to his shoulders. The pilot light burned brightly, and the pressurized relief valve on the tanks hissed.

Cabrillo noticed blood spotting through the man’s shirt.

Suárez checked his watch. “And two minutes to spare.” He glanced up with a phlegmy cough, and wiped his hand again on his filthy pants.

“Why so glum, Cabrillo? I’ve given you a great gift. A chance to give your life as a ransom for others—they’ll be making movies about you one day, no doubt.” He pointed at the tripod providing the live feed. “They’re watching your great sacrifice right now. Hollywood will want to use the footage, I’m sure.”

“Just get on with it.”

“As you wish. First, my end of the bargain.” Suárez raised the flamethrower and pointed it at Juan as two gunmen stepped out of the shadows. One cut loose the older nun, then zip-tied her hands behind her back. She offered no resistance, like a sheep to the slaughter.

“No tricks, Cabrillo. Make one move and I’ll fry you right here—and them next.”

Juan remained frozen in place as the second nun was cut free and zip-tied by the other man.

“Sir, you don’t have to do this for us,” the young nun said. “We’re prepared to die.”

“I know. That’s why you need to live.”

“How noble, Cabrillo.” Suárez laughed, then spat.

“We will pray for you, señor.”

The younger of the two gunmen pulled a pistol, pointed at the cave exit, and followed the two nuns out. It was hardly necessary. The nuns were eager to leave the scene of horror about to unfold, both feeling guilty but relieved they were spared the impending cruelty.

As soon as the two women left the cave, Cabrillo asked, “I have your word of honor those women will be spared?”

“As soon as I give the signal that your end of the bargain has been consummated. I harbor no ill will toward them. In fact, they saved my life. I’m relieved you had thecojonesto show up here. Killing them would have troubled me greatly.”

“What are we waiting for?”

“The camera’s rolling, hero. Step on over.”

Cabrillo marched over to the crucifix and let the other man cuff him to the cross, wrists first, then ankles. No way for him to move his legs.

“You can go,” Suárez said. The other gunman bolted out of the cave, happy to escape the madman.

“Any last words, hero?”

Cabrillo faced the camera.

“Serving with all of you on theOregonhas been the greatest honor of my life. Carry on.”

“That’s it? How droll.”

“I have an idea.”