Page 208 of The Sleepwalker

Through the windscreen, Joona sees two of the tactical unit operatives waiting with their backs to the silo.

‘We can use the noise of the freight train to mask the sound of the drone,’ Joona says.

‘Good idea,’ the UAS operator replies.

The drone sinks down towards the gravel in front of the brick building as the train thunders past behind the silo.

Joona pulls his Colt Combat from his shoulder holster, checks the magazine and slots it back into the pistol.

The drone is now hovering around two metres above the ground, clearing the snow from a cross-shaped patch of groundbeneath it.

The thermal camera tilts upwards, revealing that the figure radiating heat is at the bottom of the building.

‘The target is on the ground floor, over,’ the tactical commander says over the radio.

‘Roger that,’ Jamal replies.

‘Await final order.’

72

The men from the tactical unit have put on their breathing masks, and two members of the team are now slowly moving towards the brick building with their assault rifles raised.

On the far side of the hangar, the train thunders by. Car after car jolts as it passes over the switch, as though a slight electric shock is working its way backwards through the train.

Joona studies the brick facade through the drone’s video feed, taking in the graffiti and the damp sheets of plywood over the windows.

Someone has pried the front door loose, and it is lying like a ramp on the two steps.

‘Moving closer,’ says the UAS operator.

The drone glides slowly towards the door, hovering a metre above the ground. A brown doormat emerges from the gloom. There are muddy footprints and empty wine bottles on the floor, a yellow raincoat hanging on a hook.

On the feed from the thermal camera, Joona notices that the blob of lava on the ground floor has started to move. It shifts slightly to one side, slowly spreads out, and suddenly seems to have too many legs.

Thoughts of the skeleton man briefly cross his mind before the orange lump splits in two. A German Shepherd bursts out through the doorway and launches itself at the drone.

The operator makes the unit turn sharply, and one of the propellors hits the overhanging roof, causing the drone to lurch to one side. It slams into the smooth wall of the silo and loses all power.

‘Fuck!’

The commander of the tactical unit gives his men the order to storm the building, and the team breaks through two of the boarded-up windows.

They detonate several tear gas canisters, one after another.

Joona gets out of his car and loads a round into the chamber as he runs towards the silo.

The dog has started barking aggressively.

Up ahead, the group of operatives peel apart, moving quickly towards the brick building with their rifles raised.

Three shots ring out in quick succession, echoing around the yard.

Joona rounds the corner of the silo and sees the dog slumped on the ground.

Grey smoke is billowing out of the doorway, and the operatives disappear through it, securing the sides as they go.

Joona speeds up.