Page 71 of The Death
“You asked me to tell you when Quinn showed up,” Rashid said as he came down the cliff toward the bridge. “He’s up at the camp with Kontara and the kid. He wanted to come down here, but I could see that they are all pretty well exhausted. I told them to grab something to eat, and you’d be up to see them right away.”
“They’re all okay?”
Rashid shrugged. “As good as they could be. If they’d had their way, they would have turned around and headed back toward Shafira.” He looked at the recently completed repair work on the bridge. “They did this in record time. I’m impressed.”
Dominic nodded. “So am I.” He started back up the trail. “And we’ll get there pretty damn quick once we decide which route we want to use for the attack. I just have to talk to Kontara to be sure we’ll have those bastards in our sights…”
“Well, then I believe you’re going to get what you wanted.” Rashid was glancing over his shoulder. “Looks like she followed me. Sorry about that.” He nodded as he pushed past Kontara. “Hello. I do know how worried you are. I’ll see you both later back at the camp. I did give him your message.”
“I thought you would, but I needed to see him,” Kontara said, then focused on Dominic. “Because it’s my fault Celine isn’t with us, and I can’t stand it. I never should have listened to her, but she was so certain I had to save the boy and Joe Quinn. I don’t know how much time we have now, but I have to know what you’re going to do.”
“I’m going to go get her. What did you think I’d be doing?” He grabbed her by the shoulders and gave her a little shake. “And you’re going to be there with us. So don’t give me that self-pitying bullshit. All I’m going to need from you is a map that will lead me down the eastern maze and position me where I can set up a trap for Caldwell. Do you think you can handle that?”
“No.” She was frowning. “Not unless you have a way to take care of Zakira and his soldiers, too. Do you?”
“I might have a few ideas.” He nodded at the bridge. “I sent in Seth Caleb well equipped with firepower. He’ll do some reconnoitering at Shafira and coordinate with the forces I bring in from the eastern maze you’re going to tell me about. Satisfactory?”
“If you can promise me that you’ll move fast enough.” Kontara shivered. “I’m having problems forgetting that statue in the museum where I first saw that photo of Celine. Zakira used to stop and stare at it whenever he was anywhere near it.”She turned on her heel and headed up the hill. “Don’t let him touch her, Dominic. I’ll do anything you tell me to do. Just promise me that you’ll keep her safe.”
“Absolutely. She’ll be safe even if I have to burn down the entire damn village to keep her that way.”
“I think you mean that,” Kontara said wryly. “But there are a limited number of people in that village for whom I feel a certain sympathy, so please not everyone, Dominic.”
“I’ll try to restrain myself,” Dominic said. “But since I don’t believe there are many people in that category, you’ll have to point them out to me.” He shook his head. “Now go get some rest and a decent meal and draw me that map. After I give everyone on the team their assignments, we’ll be assembling the equipment. And we’ll be leaving the camp before midnight.”
She nodded. “I’ll go back to camp and see if I can manage to get a decent meal down Michael. I’d make a bet that if I don’t, he’ll be on his way to find out where I went. The last thing he asked me was when we were going to go back to get his mom. I told him I’d tell him after I talked to you.”
“Is he causing you problems?” Dominic asked. “I can designate one of the men to keep an eye on him if you like.”
She shook her head. “Not what you’d call problems. He’s just not like any kid I’ve ever run across. From the moment we managed to get him away from Shafira, he’s barely said a word. He just does what Quinn and I tell him to do, and sometimes he’s even ahead of us in that.” She frowned as she gazed back up the trail toward the camp. “But he’s worried about Eve, and you can tell how much he’s hurting.” She shrugged. “But then so is Quinn. So any plan you’ve devised had better work.”
“It will work,” Dominic said. “Because it’s damn well got to. Just keep an eye on that kid so I don’t have to watch out for him, too.”
“I’ll do my best.” Kontara started up the hill. “But the only thing that may help us is that Quinn isn’t about to lose his son again now that he’s managed to get him back. I’ll try to have a few words with him…”
Michael was waiting by the path when Kontara reached the camp. He took a step toward her, his gaze on her face. “When?”
She knew he wouldn’t be evaded. “Tonight. Midnight. But there’s no way your dad is going to let you go back to that place again. He’d consider it entirely too dangerous, and so would your mother. It’s the last thing that she’d want, Michael.”
“I know that,” he said soberly. “We talked about it. But that was when I was still a prisoner. What she said made sense. It was safer for both of us. But everything is different now. I can’t let her stay there. I always told her that I’d take care of her. She laughed about it, but I meant it.”
“I’m sure you did, but your dad still wouldn’t permit it. Trust him to take care of your mom.”
“I do trust him. But now it’s also my job, and I can’t do anything else.” His lips tightened. “My dad has taught me a lot, and there are other things I already know that will help me do what has to be done.”
She frowned. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I know you don’t. But my dad will, and even if he doesn’tlike the idea of me going with him, he’ll understand that I might be able to help us get Mom away from them.” He suddenly smiled gently. “I thank you for all you’ve done for us, but I can’t do what you want, Kontara. And now I have to go and talk to my father.”
“By all means.” She gestured to where Joe was sitting talking to Rashid. “That’s probably for the best anyway. Perhaps he can talk some sense into you. I don’t seem to be doing very well.”
“You’ve said everything you should have said,” Michael said as he started across the camp. “Mom would have agreed with you. But it’s just something I have to do.”
He stopped a few yards before he reached his dad and stood waiting. Joe must have felt Michael staring at him because he suddenly broke off what he was saying to Rashid and then stiffened as he met Michael’s eyes. He got to his feet and strolled over to him.
“Kontara said tonight at midnight,” Michael said quietly.
“I know. Rashid told me.” He was gazing at him searchingly. “And you have something to say to me?”
