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  ‘Are you thinking about staying to fight or are we still heading to Mexico?’

  ‘Whichever comes first,’ Gibbs said and walked over to Luka who was staring up at him, eyes black and blue from a beating Smithy had dished out. ‘Did you have to wrap sellotape all around his face and mouth? He looks like an idiot. Just how much did you use?’

  ‘He was irritating me so I thought it would be nice to gift wrap him for Rebus,’ Smithy said as he walked over. He reached down and grabbed him under the one arm. ‘Help him up, Gibbs.’

  ‘Come on, pretty boy,’ Gibbs said. ‘Man, you smell like shit.’

  ‘I wouldn’t let him go to the toilet, so he shat himself. You know, a present for Rebus.’

  ‘There‘s something very wrong with you, mate,’ Gibbs said. ‘Right, Luka. We have men in place that will be targeting you and your lover. Any shouting or swearing, and this doesn’t end well for you.’

  • • •

  A small dried tumbleweed rolled past them on a gust of wind. ‘Did you just see that?’ Smithy said to Gibbs. All three men had passed through the UMC main gates, which had closed behind them. They stood in the dust, waiting in front of the perimeter wall.

  Gibbs laughed. ‘Did you arrange that? It’s a little clichéd, but it’s kind of your style.’

  ‘I feel like Clint Eastwood in Pale Rider.’

  ‘Personally, I like The Good, The Bad and The Ugly more.’

  Between them, Luka groaned into the cloth that had been taped in his mouth.

  ‘I see them, Stinky,’ Gibbs said. ‘When Rebus asks you if you’re okay, make sure you nod your head eagerly. Or I’ll shove a bullet into your temple.’

  ‘Josey Wales. That’s who I’d want to be. Great movie,’ Smithy said, shifting the SA80 assault rifle around on his chest. ‘Still, only two vehicles making their way down. Did you also see that plume of dust on the horizon behind them? Could be more.’

  ‘Yeah, I clocked it. The wind isn’t that strong up there, so it must be a few more that have parked up,’ Gibbs replied. ‘I loved Josey Wales too. What I’d do to have a quiet night in with a few movies.’

  Gibbs turned slightly and shouted to the wall. ‘Watch that horizon up ahead. If they’re planning to attack, that’s where it’ll come from.’ He reached up and pulled the gas mask down over his face, popping the hood back up over his head.

  The two fusion vans pulled up fifty metres in front of them, both painted silver with red and yellow decals on the bonnet and side door. Both roof hatches opened. Men with shaved Mohicans pushed old machine guns through as they stood up. A side door opened on one of the vans and Rebus got out, waistcoat flapping in the wind, his black denim jeans tucked into his boots. He had a long samurai sword in his right hand and a Glock in the other. A tall Amazonian woman got out the other door, spinning a wooden staff in her fingers. Smithy whistled softly. Gibbs smiled at the theatre happening in front of him and took a long breath to steady himself. Rebus reached inside the car and dragged the urchin-like Maddy out, her hands pulling at his tight grip. She smiled when she saw Gibbs and Smithy, giving them a little wave as her hair fell in front of her face. With a little puff, she blew a gap in the curtain of her long fringe. Rebus yanked her closer to him. She didn’t resist and stood next to him, scowling as she scanned the tops of the enclave wall, her hands placed in front of her stomach. Her eyes widened as Rebus placed his sword beneath her chin.

  Gibbs raised his Glock17 to Luka’s temple and pressed it hard against the skin, causing the man to whimper. Rebus pushed Maddy in front of him. She cried out as the sword pressed into the flesh of her throat.

  ‘Take it easy, Rebus,’ Smithy said.

  ‘I will only address the man with the hood and gas mask.’

  ‘That’s just tough shit now, isn’t it. Let’s get this done, and then you can take pretty boy here and get back to selling your drugs,’ Smithy said, walking forward and dragging Luka up from his knees. They walked about twenty metres and stopped. Smithy pressed the SA80 into the man’s back.

  ‘Your turn to come a little closer.’

  ‘This is so disappointing, Hooded Man. I thought you less of a coward. We’ve come all this way so now it’s your turn to show a little faith here. Unless you want to continue to hide behind this crusty old soldier because you’re scared.’

  ‘Why should we trust you?’ Smithy said. ‘We only have to look up onto that rise behind you to see seven battle trucks and numerous fusion vans waiting to attack.’

  Rebus looked back and screamed out loud, looking across to the attractive woman on the other side of the car. ‘I told Skink to wait for my signal. This will ruin everything. It was supposed to be a surprise celebration.’

  Gibbs walked forward and removed his mask. ‘Let Maddy walk, and I’ll let you have your drug addict boyfriend,’ Gibbs said.

  ‘He speaks,’ Rebus said. ‘Look, everyone. The Hooded Man speaks. I’m so glad to make your acquaintance. Your reputation precedes you.’

  ‘I, on the other hand, have never heard of you or the Rockstars.’

  ‘It’s Roadsters, you idiot.’ Rebus shifted from side to side and pushed Maddy forward, placing the blade on her shoulder. ‘Now let Luka come to me, or I’ll send you back her head like a bowling ball.’

  Gibbs studied the man ahead of him who’d started to twitch and fidget. ‘Smithy, untie this smelly ball of crap, and let him go.’

  Smithy pulled a knife from his belt and cut the ropes behind Luka’s back, dragging the blade across one of his palms. He groaned and grabbed his hands, rubbing his wrists.

  Gibbs shoved Luka in the small of his back with the Glock. ‘See you real soon, pooh pants.’

  ‘You sure now is the time to taunt them?’ Smithy said under his breath.

  Gibbs leaned over and whispered, ‘Everyone’s in place.’

  Chapter 12

  University Medical Centre, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA – 2043

  Pain shot through the man’s knee as he swivelled from his seat on the floor to place the box of 8.59mm rounds within reach. The cold stone floor was already causing his back to ache, but the pain was needed to keep him focused. He stared through the window frame, checking the tattered piece of cloth that hung from the makeshift flagpole. It was the ideal weathervane for showing wind strength and direction. The sun was behind him, making the task easier.

  Warren Smith had one simple task. Make a single four-hundred-metre shot that would shatter his target’s head if he got the signal.

  ‘Deep breaths, young man,’ the older man said from his position seated on the top step that led down to the sixth floor of the hospital. He’d helped to carry Warren and his kit up the four flights of stairs and would remain there until after the deed was done.

  ‘Thanks, mate. This is not my first time at the rodeo.’

  The old man nodded and rested his arm on the top step as he lifted his binoculars. Peering through a large hole in the brickwork, he scanned the scene. ‘Want a drink?’ he asked.

  ‘Sure. Is it anything decent?’

  ‘No, but it’ll numb the pain in that knee,’ he said, reaching for a dirty glass bottle from his trouser side pocket. ‘Take a small sip to numb the old taste buds then have a longer drink.’

  Warren winced as the milky liquid travelled down his throat. The warmth was instantaneous, and he forgot about his knee. ‘Bloody heck.’

  ‘You get used to it. Mrs Perez brews it in her old bathtub. That daughter of hers is sweet on you, by the way. Wants them swimmers of yours.’

  Warren shook his head as he looked through the scope of the L115A3 Sniper rifle. His leg sent spikes of pain and cramps up his thigh. ‘I just can’t get comfortable.’

  ‘You’d better hurry up and get settled, son. Things are happening out there.’

  Warren looked through the scope and saw the figures of Smithy and Gibbs dragging the prisoner with them. They stopped and looked up at the horizon. ‘Crap, it’s all going down. We took too long getting up
here.’

  ‘You’re heavier than you look, son.’

  Warren tipped the box of rounds onto the floor while releasing the five-round magazine box. He took a breath and started pressing two more rounds into the box, tapping it onto its side before slipping it in beneath the rifle with a click. He had backup ammo boxes if needed, but time would be against him. He placed the adjustable bipod legs onto a section of the exposed brick frame and looked through the scope.

  ‘Damn it. I’m too low.’

  ‘I can’t see anything up here that you can sit on.’

  Warren breathed out. ‘Help me get my legs under me.’

  ‘Really?’

  ‘Don’t ask questions. Just help pick me up so I can move my feet. Then get that bathtub brew ready.’

  The pain spiked again, and Warren groaned as he brought his feet under him. As the old man set him down again, he moaned, feeling faint. He sensed the bottle at his lips before he realised what was happening. Swallowing twice, he felt the homebrew do its job. His eyes widened as his throat burnt like hell before the jolt kicked in, causing him to squeeze his eyes shut again. That would have to do for the pain.

  The sound of the round being chambered was loud on the rooftop but blown away on the gusting wind. Sandy ground whirled around beneath the crosshairs as he scanned for human shapes. Locking on to the side of the Hooded Man’s head, he noticed the direction Gibbs was gazing in and scanned left.

  ‘So that’s Rebus Maze,’ Warren said.

  ‘Don’t wait for a second chance. Take the bastard out before this gets out of hand.’

  ‘I have to wait for the signal.’

  ‘Why wait? You have the fucker locked in. Shoot him. Kill him now.’

  ‘Quiet,’ Warren said. ‘We have this under control.’

  Warren looked at Rebus and Maddy like they were in a silent movie. The man pointed to Gibbs and then back again at Maddy. He slipped a long sword under her throat and shouted across to Gibbs. Warren scanned back to Gibbs who’d taken a step forward alongside Smithy. Warren felt his breath going shallower. He had one shot. The rechambering of another round only took a second or two, but that could be too long.

  He tracked the limping prisoner, keeping the crosshairs on his head as he walked towards Rebus. Movement in the left of his scope view made him pan to Rebus, who had been joined by a tall, good-looking woman. Rebus looked back at her and then back to Gibbs. He smiled at the Hooded Man and said something. Warren scanned back to Luka, who had reached Rebus’s position. Words were exchanged. A long breath from Warren and he squeezed the trigger.

  Nothing. He squeezed again. Still nothing.

  Warren reached forward with his thumb and flicked the safety catch. He searched for Luka, but Rebus came into view, his arm jerking to the right as he sliced Maddy’s throat in a single movement. If she screamed, Warren couldn’t hear above the roar. The feathers in Rebus’s hair moved slightly as the bullet passed and slammed into the van door behind him. The recoil lost him a second as he reloaded another round, slamming the bolt home. Scanning left by a metre, he locked on to the startled Luka. His head erupted from the heavy bullet, and he slumped forward into the tall woman’s arms. Blood sprayed back onto Rebus, who screamed and jumped back into the driver’s seat.

  Warren reloaded and let another bullet go, the crosshairs placed over Rebus’s head as he attempted to start the van. The side-window cracked like a spider’s web, the bulletproof glass doing its job. Reloading, he scanned left and caught a glimpse of the woman disappearing around the back of the van, dragging the body. Warren scanned back for the petrol tank, but it was on the other side of the van. He fired another shot at Rebus, but the second bullet failed to get through as the van started to reverse.

  Warren reloaded and scanned upwards to the man who was on the machine gun, but he was slumped over the front windscreen. A bullet from Smithy or Gibbs, no doubt.

  The van stopped, and a gun barrel with an attached grenade launcher was pushed through the sunroof. A puff of smoke and two seconds later the roar reached them on the roof. Scanning back, he picked up Gibbs and Smith, lying flat on their bellies, smoke billowing from the metal front gate of the enclave.

  Anger filled Warren as he lined up a shot on the retreating van, firing at the back left-hand side of the vehicle. It might get through to the fuel tank. He reloaded, but the magazine box was empty. His heart sank as he looked down at the safety. Nausea filled him.

  • • •

  The explosion sent a wave of air over their heads. Gibbs lay flat on his stomach and opened his mouth to alleviate the pressure of the blast wave. His ears hummed, and he squeezed his eyes shut to focus. Opening them briefly, he looked across to Smithy who’d done the same. Time slowed as the dust wave bellowed across them. Gibbs shook his head.

  ‘Maddy,’ he shouted, pushing himself to his feet. He covered the ground to the little girl in two seconds. His military training kicked in, and he fired repeatedly. Round after round slammed into the back door of the retreating van. One of the back windows cracked, but it was bulletproof. The bolt of the pistol eventually locked back. Empty.

  Gibbs screamed and threw the Glock to the side. Placing his hand on the bleeding wound on Maddy’s throat, he looked into her eyes. Wide with panic and fear, she tried to speak, but no words came out. She stared into his eyes as her hand reached up and grabbed his arms, small fingers clasping at the leather of his jacket. He couldn’t breathe. Gibbs looked across at Smithy, who’d also emptied his weapon into the van and was reloading while he walked towards the main gate of the enclave. He shouted something, but it was lost in the wind of chaos.

  Gibbs looked back to Maddy, and the fear was gone. Her eyes were fixed, the sparkle she’d always had, dimmed. He threw his head back and roared an unholy sound from all the tormented demons within him. As he scooped her body up in his arms, she felt like as light as a fallen autumn leaf. They would pay for this.

  He started for the gate as it began to grate open. His legs treading in slow motion, the ground feeling like wet concrete. A fizzing sound meant trouble, and he crouched as he ran. The twenty-millimetre round slammed into the upright container to the left of the main gate. The explosion shuddered the wall. High explosive rounds.

  Gibbs looked down at Maddy, her eyes a blank stare. A tear rolled down his cheek and dropped onto the leather jacket. He swallowed a whimper. The killing needed to end, but first, the maniac had to be destroyed. Another explosion jolted his body, and he felt a tough grip on his arm.

  ‘Move it, old man. They’re coming at speed,’ Smithy shouted over another explosion. ‘Let’s get her inside.’

  ‘It’s too late. She’s gone. What will I tell Stuart?’

  ‘Get your bloody arse into the gate,’ Smithy said, pulling him along.

  He felt old and tired, his feet heavy in the dust. They stepped into the safety of the enclave and heard the gatekeeper giving the order to close the gate. Gibbs fell to his knees. Someone slid in next to him on their knees. One of the medics from the enclave. She pulled Maddy from his arms, but he wouldn’t let go. Not again.

  ‘Let her go, I can help her,’ the woman said, and she pulled Maddy out of his arms before getting up and running off.

  Gibbs knelt in the dust, emptiness washing through him. ‘We have to stop all this senseless killing, Smithy. It has to end. Christina, Killey, Shredder, Tom, all taken from us because of a lust for revenge.’

  Smithy grabbed him under his arms. ‘Come on, mate. Let’s get you to the warlord’s office. We can talk there.’

  ‘We have to end it all.’

  ‘Sure we do, but first we need to get you away from prying eyes, and get a stiff drink into you.’

  • • •

  Tears blurred his vision as Rebus squinted through the dirty windshield. The van snaked on the dirt path as he tried to wipe his eyes with his forearms.

  ‘I’m going to rip the skin from his wriggling body,’ Rebus said, slamming the steering wheel with his ha
nd. ‘He double-crossed us and hurt my lovely boy. Luka, talk to me, my love. Stay with us.’

  Enyo leaned forward and placed her hand on Rebus’s shoulder, but there was no reaction there. ‘Watch the road, lover. If we all die, the Hooded Man wins.’

  Rebus squeezed the steering wheel as they slid sideways again on the dusty road. He looked in the rearview mirror. The other van was still in front of the enclave. Doors open with bodies lying on the ground.

  ‘Luka. Hang in there. Doc is with the battle truck over this hill.’

  Enyo climbed from the back into the passenger seat, jolting sideways as they hit a small gulley in the road.

  ‘What are you doing, bitch? Get back and stop the bleeding.’

  ‘Focus on the road, or we die here.’

  ‘Help Luka, or you’ll never walk again.’ Rebus felt faint. He could smell the Reaper was near. He always knew when death was coming for those he loved. Tears ran down his cheeks. ‘I should have come sooner. It’s like Grace all over again.’

  ‘Who is Grace, my love?’ she said.

  ‘I told you about Grace. My sister.’

  ‘I can’t remember, Rebus. Remind me.’

  ‘I’ve told you before.’

  ‘Sorry, I can’t remember, love. Tell me. I want to know.’

  Rebus dodged a large boulder in the road. ‘After I ran away from home, I went back for her, but it was too late. The Reaper had whispered in her sweet ear, and she’d slit her wrists. All because I ran away and left her with my rapist of a father.’

  ‘But you did go back.’

  ‘It was too late, or weren’t you fucking listening?’

  ‘Watch the road, Rebus. Get us back to the rest of the men so we can plan our revenge.’

  He felt his anger focusing. Luka would recover while they plotted to kill everyone in the enclave. ‘Yes. I am good at planning. I planned for an entire week to kill my father, as I will plan to slaughter the Hooded Man and his followers.’