The survivor, p.12
The Survivor, page 12
FIRST-AID HUT
MABATO VILLAGE
When Riley came back into the first-aid hut over two hours later, the area had been cleaned and cleared of the bandages that had remained after she’d finished with her last patient. There was now a long rectangular table in the middle of the room on which the young girl lay on a stretcher covered in a white sheet, another white sheet over her naked body. Riley stopped and then forced herself to stand beside the stretcher and look down at the girl’s face. “Hello,” she whispered. “If you’re somewhere out there, all this must seem strange and bewildering to you. But there’s no one here who wants to hurt you; that’s all in the past. I know you wouldn’t want your parents to know about all that pain you went through so, if you don’t mind, we’re going to wash you and wrap you in a pretty blanket. It will make them feel a little better. I’m sure that’s what you’d want. Okay?”
“I’m sure that’s what she’d want, too,” Cade said gently from the doorway. He came forward to stand beside Riley. “But you don’t have to do this. I could get a couple of the island guards to do it.”
“Don’t be silly. I want to do it. I think she’d want me to do it. It’s not as if I haven’t spent years in the tombs of Egyptian rulers who have been dead a thousand years longer than Siena.”
“My apologies,” Cade said. “By all means, continue.” He nodded at the thick, colorfully striped woven blanket she was carrying. “You seem to already have a plan in mind. Siena? You found out who she was?”
She nodded. “Siena Fazkar. It took a little while. But one of the villagers remembered that a few days ago, one of the women who worked in the orchards was calling around to other villages and asking if they knew anything about her daughter Siena. She had stayed home from school to help with the harvest and hadn’t come home that night. I ran and got Maya and she called the orchard and talked to the mother. The girl was still missing, and they’d been searching frantically everywhere for her. Maya had her text a photo of the girl.” She looked down at the face of the girl on the stretcher. “She looked very happy in that photo, but there wasn’t any doubt. Maya had to tell her mother she wasn’t going to find her little girl.”
“Why isn’t it Maya in here getting her ready for her parents?”
“Because I told her to go get the parents and bring them here. The orchards are almost as far as the airport. They wouldn’t have been in any shape to drive after she told them about Siena.” Her lips tightened. “Though she didn’t tell them in what kind of shape we’d found her. That’s why I came in here right away—to do a little damage control.”
“I’m surprised Maya didn’t want to do it herself.”
Riley shook her head. “She’s the caretaker, and she’s good at it. She knew what her job was in this nightmare.”
“Then will you let me help you?”
She shook her head. “I know what my job is, too. I’ll call in a few neighbors to give me a hand. I want it done quickly, before her parents show up. Go find something else to do. I’m sure that won’t be difficult. Have you been able track those snipers?”
“To an inlet where they were picked up,” Cade said. “But I’m not worried. It’s only a matter of time. You can’t believe how motivated I am.”
Yes, she could. She’d seldom seen him more lethal than he’d been since that moment standing over Siena’s body. “You have to consider this could all have been an elaborate trap aimed at Maya.”
“That’s obvious. But it doesn’t change the fact that some assholes are meant to die, and in this case I cheerfully volunteer to take care of it.” He paused. “It’s clear that Nadim has something more sinister in mind for Maya, however. He gave those shooters permission to take her down if the opportunity permitted itself. But that wasn’t the prime objective. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have withdrawn so quickly after I took out the sniper who missed that shot at Maya. Nadim wants to make her death a production to soothe his wounded ego and show everyone around him that no one can treat him the way she did.” A muscle jerked in his cheek as he looked down at Siena. “He wanted her to see this poor kid and associate what he’d done to her with Maya’s own child. But anyone can see it’s only the beginning.”
“Maya knows that,” Riley said. “She had it figured out before she made you take her to that tent. She’s always said it was the endgame. Now she knows she has to end it quickly. After we finish here, she’s going to go to the temple to see her daughter, but then Nadim is next on her agenda. She as much as told me that she had no other option.”
“Which puts me squarely behind the eight ball,” Cade said bitterly. “I promised you I’d take care of her, and that nothing would happen to her. But I saw how she operates today. There’s no way she’s going to sit around and let me go after Nadim on my own. She’s going to hunt him down herself.”
“She has reason,” Riley said. “Who could blame her?”
“I could,” he said harshly. “Because she’s not only risking her own life. Today you followed her into that forest, and you had no idea what you were getting into. You just knew that you had to help your friend. And I can see it happening again and again. I couldn’t stop her, and I’m not going to be able to stop you unless I can figure out a way to keep her safe.”
“It’s not as if either one of us is totally dependent on you, Cade,” she said quietly. “We’ve both learned to take care of ourselves almost from the cradle. I’ll be grateful for anything you can do for Maya, but I wasn’t being foolish when I ran after her. I was armed, and it was clear you thought the situation was safe for Maya. Why wouldn’t it be safe for me? I wasn’t worried about the physical ramifications, but anyone could see how emotionally fragile she was when she went with you.” She lifted her chin. “And I was right to follow her. You weren’t handling it at all well, Cade. She was hurting.”
“Are you done?”
“For the time being.” She began to unknot the ties binding the blanket. “You can tell the women waiting outside to come in to help now. I’ve got to hurry to get Siena ready to see her parents. I want them to think that she looks like the angels wrapped her in their colorful cloaks to keep out all pain and cold.”
“I’m sure that you’ll succeed,” he said gently. “I’m glad you’re going to allow me to do something.” He was heading for the door. “You’ll pardon me if I get to work on a few ideas of my own. You’re not seeing my personal stake in the situation at all…”
It was almost three in the morning when Cade, Riley, and Maya finally stood in the village square watching as Kirby backed one of the island guard trucks out of the local garage. Then he helped Siena’s parents load the stretcher in the back, and they climbed in beside their daughter. Even in that brief moment of separation, Riley noticed that Siena’s mother kept a tight grip on the blanket in which Riley had wrapped her daughter. It was as if she couldn’t bear not having that contact. It had been a long and achingly sad several hours for Siena’s parents after they had seen their daughter tonight. But all through that time the other villagers and even Jelsko had put aside their own personal sadness for the harm done to them and their own village to come by and give a few words of comfort. Riley had tried to be as kind and helpful as possible during that period, but they had only wanted to cling to Maya. She was the rock that was keeping them afloat tonight, and Riley couldn’t have admired her more. She gave them comfort but also the strength to fight through this agony. Riley knew she must be as exhausted as Riley felt, but she never let them see it. Now it was ending, and Maya embraced Siena’s parents and jumped out of the truck to the ground. Kirby glanced at Maya as he got into the driver’s seat. “I’ll get them safely back to their own village, but are you sure you won’t give me directions how to get to my next stop? I know you said the location of the temple was confidential, but it would save me a hell of a lot of bother.”
Maya smiled. “But then I’d have to kill you. Just come back here and we’ll get you to the temple. It’s not as if it’s a place you can get with a GPS setting. Just take care of seeing that those three heartbroken people you’re caring for are settled in their home and then drive the truck back here to Jelsko’s village.”
“Whatever you say.” Kirby turned to Cade. “I texted Anders about the crew coming in later today and told them to arrange for repairs on this village as you ordered. And I’m trying to locate Finn Kagan. Who knows where he is right now.” He pressed his foot on the accelerator. “I’ll contact you as soon as I have Siena’s parents safe. It may take longer for Anders and Kagan.”
“Make Kagan a priority,” Cade said. “I need him.”
“So do half the nations in the world at one time or another. Like I said, I’m working on it.” He lifted his hand. “But you may have to go after him yourself.”
“Then I will.”
Cade watched him drive out of the village before he held open the rear door of the jeep for Riley, then turned to Maya. “I assume you’re not going to let me drive us to this temple?”
Maya shook her head. “Even if it wasn’t forbidden to reveal the directions to the temple to anyone, you’d only get lost.”
Riley gazed at her curiously. “Yet you gave me the general location as deep in the north-central area when you were drawing my map.”
Maya shrugged. “It was necessary. I had to break through that wall you both were building against me. It was a way to demonstrate that you could trust me. So I told you enough to keep you happy.”
“Was it the truth?”
Maya smiled. “Yes, but I also told you that you’d need me to find it. That was also true.” She paused. “Even if you tried to dazzle me with space-age technology. That’s usually the first key treasure hunters use to break through barriers.” She got into the driver’s seat. “Sit back and relax. Sleep if you can. The route is practically all jungle, but we’ll have to walk the last few miles.”
Cade grinned as he got in the backseat. “I have a very good memory and extensive tracking experience in the jungle. I’ll see if I can memorize the way back.”
“Do that.” Maya glanced at Riley. “You, too?”
She shook her head wearily. “I’m not in the mood for challenges right now. I’m still sick from the sight of what Nadim did to Siena. I just want to shut my eyes and forget it for a little while until we can make him pay.” She closed her eyes. “I’ll worry about space-age tech and jungle instincts later, Cade. I’ve watched how those villagers feel about Maya all day and I’ve decided I trust her. You’ll have to make your own decisions. But right now I prefer to just trust her to get us to the damn place.”
“No problem.” He kissed her cheek and then leaned back in his seat. “Try to take a nap, love. It’s been one hell of a day. I believe Maya and I both want it to go away for you for a little while…”
She didn’t open her eyes, but she had to ask a question. “Who’s Finn Kagan? I don’t believe I’ve ever heard you talk about him.”
“An old friend from my service days. He taught me quite a bit before he got bored with me and wandered away.”
“Bored with you?” she repeated drowsily. “He must have been crazy. I probably wouldn’t like him.”
“I think you would. But he’s not to everyone’s taste.”
“Crazy…”
A few minutes later he realized that she was asleep. He pulled her closer against his shoulder.
“What do you want with Kagan?” Maya was looking at Cade in the rearview mirror.
He lifted his gaze to the mirror. “You’ve heard of him?”
“Of course, but I’m not surprised that Riley hasn’t. She’s done a great amount of trekking through the jungle, but Kagan is a mountain man. He’s done a lot of climbing around here. He’s climbed Everest eight times. I’ve heard he’s fantastic.” She paused and asked again, “What do you want with him?”
“I think he might be useful.” He changed the subject. “But I don’t believe he’ll be going back to Everest. It was beginning to bore him the last time I talked to him. He was spending a lot of time at K2.”
“The most dangerous climb in the world,” she murmured. “And you’re not going to tell me what you want with Kagan, are you?”
“Probably not immediately. I’ll have to think about it. But you shouldn’t jump to conclusions about Riley. She was the one who decided that Helen’s tomb was probably in the mountains because of the preservation factor. She practically handed me the sarcophagus on a silver platter.”
“I wasn’t denigrating Riley. I realize how smart she is. No one could appreciate her more than I do.”
“Yes, they could.” He brushed the top of Riley’s head with his lips. “I do.” He lifted his eyes again. “That’s why I’m being very cautious with you. Riley’s all heart and dives in without thinking as long as she trusts someone. I have to do a little investigating to make sure no one is going to play her.”
“It wouldn’t be me.”
“If it is, you won’t be around long.” He added softly, “And you’d regret it. I hope I won’t have to make that kind of judgment. I prefer to keep to our arrangement. But you still haven’t let us know enough about you yet.”
“That will come. I’ve always found it’s best to learn about people through experience. You’ll learn a lot at the temple.” She added, “I do realize it’s not fair that I know more about you, but that was necessary. I had to do extensive research when I thought I might use you to help save the island. I already knew everything I had to know about Riley.”
“Don’t be too sure. I’ve been finding out all kinds of things I didn’t know about Riley recently. She’s a constant mystery to be solved.” He grinned. “If she lets you.”
“Thanks for the tip.” She shrugged. “But I imagine you might have more problems than I would. I’ve been taught to negotiate rather than dominate.”
“Hmm…” He tilted his head thoughtfully. “Is that why you stabbed Nadim and caused all this uproar?”
“That was an exception to prove the rule.”
“If you say so.”
“I do say so.”
“Then I wouldn’t think about arguing, given your faultless negotiating skill.” He leaned back in the seat. “I’d rather concentrate on remembering every twist and turn we’ve been making on the way to your temple.”
“And you think you’ve done it so far?”
“Yes, though I expect it will get more difficult.”
“You have no idea. We have guards at the temple who have worked there for years, but they have to be led out by special escorts or they become hopelessly lost. Would you care to make a wager?”
“No, because that would mean I’d have to offer proof, and I prefer to avoid letting you know that I’ve succeeded. That might become dangerous.”
“And it might also mean you’ve failed and don’t want to admit it.”
He nodded. “That could happen, too. Another reason not to give you proof either way.” He was silent for a moment. “I have a question. If what you’ve said about those special escorts is true, you have to be one in order to take us to the temple. How do those escorts learn the way? How many of them are there?”
She chuckled. “Wait until you get to the temple and count them… if what I’ve said is true.”
They arrived at the point where they were to leave the jeep two hours later. Riley was wide awake again and gazing outside the vehicle shaking her head. “This is incredible. I’ve never seen such deep foliage or complicated trails, it’s almost… smothering. So much dazzling greenery.” She turned to Maya. “How far away are we from this temple?”
“Only a few miles. But you’ll have to stick close or you’ll lose me on the trail. You wouldn’t want to do that.”
“No, I wouldn’t.” Riley made a face. She glanced at Cade. “Unless you think you’ve got all the trails in these entire woods memorized?”
“I believe we should rely on Maya for the time being. It will be interesting to see her woodland technique.”
“Yeah, sure.” Maya laughed. “Then keep up.” She started down the trail. “And watch close. In about a hundred yards you won’t see the trail any longer. I’ll be your only point of contact.”
Riley instinctively increased her pace.
Then she felt Cade take her hand. “Don’t rush. That warning was really for me. There’s no way she’d ever really lose you. She just wanted to point out how helpless I could be.”
“And are you?”
He shook his head. “I’m like Maya. I’d never lose you.”
“I don’t believe I like the idea of being caught in the middle of this game the two of you are playing.”
“You should. It shows how special you are.”
“I already know that.” She pulled her hand away. “No more games. Or I’m on my own.”
He held up both his hands. “I surrender.”
She nodded. “Wise move. Now can you get me back to Maya?”
He took her hand again. “This is a bad move if we can’t trust her.”
“Then make certain we can. How far ahead is she?”
“Three left turns and one to the right.” He was moving quickly. “She’s slowing down because she thought she might have lost you. She should be right ahead…” He turned the corner. “And there she is. Hello, Maya.”
She smiled. “Hello, Cade. You’re even better than I thought. But you blew it toward the end.”
“No, I didn’t. Riley didn’t like our game and she decided to stop it in its tracks. She wasn’t amused. I told you not to underestimate her.”
“How close are we to the temple, Maya?” Riley asked.
“It’s just ahead. There’s a cave in about another hundred feet, and once you enter it, it quickly becomes completely dark. But soon there will be lanterns that will light your way until you reach the street.”
“Street?” Riley asked. “Not temple?”
