'They would not communicate on this frequency.'
'I know,' Friday replied.
'The line of control isn't far from here. I'm worried that it could be an Indian unit moving in.'
'A sweep coming down through different zones,' Nazir said.
'That would be a standard search-and-rescue maneuver.
Should we do a fly over 'Why?' Friday asked.
'They may have intelligence on the cell's location that we do not,' Nazir said.
'The direction they are headed may tell us something.' 'No,' Friday said. He continued to look out the window.
'I don't want to waste the time or fuel.'
'What do we do if they contact us?' Nazir asked.
'Radar at the line of control may pick us up as we near the end of the range. They may ask us to help with the search.'
'We'll tell them we're on routine reconnaissance and were about to turn back to Kargil,' Friday said.
Apu stuck his small, strong hand through the opening. He tapped Friday on the shoulder.
'Is everything all right?' he yelled.
Friday nodded. Just then, about one hundred feet below, he saw snow billowing from under an overhang.
'Hold!' Friday barked at Nazir.
The helicopter slowed and hovered. Ron Friday leaned toward the side.
The puffs of snow were concentrated in a small area and inching toward the north. They could be caused by an animal picking its way across the cliff or they could be the result of a wind funnel. It was impossible to tell because of the overhang. The sun was behind the top of the peak and unable to throw shadows behind or in front of the region.
'Do you see that?' Friday asked.
Nazir nodded.
'Take her down and away slowly,' Friday said.
The chopper simultaneously began to descend and angle away from the cliff. As the target peak filled less and less of the window, the vastness of the range loomed behind it. The layers upon layers of brownish-purple mountains were a spectacular sight. Snow covered the peaks and Friday could actually see it falling on some of the nearer mountains, off white sheets like stage scrims. The sun cut a rainbow through one of the storm centers. It was a massive arc, more brilliant than any Friday had ever seen. Though Friday did not have time to enjoy the view, it made him feel for a moment like a god.
They dropped nearly one hundred feet. As they did, three people came into view. They were slightly more than two hundred feet away. The three were walking close together.
Each one was wearing dark, heavy clothing and carrying a backpack and weapon. They did not stop or look over at the helicopter until the rotor wash stirred the snow on the ledge beneath their feet. Given the parka tops they were wearing and the low rumble of the wind, Friday was not surprised they did not hear the chopper.
'Is Nanda there?' Apu asked.
Friday could not tell who the three people were. He was disappointed to see that only three of them had gotten this far. Unless-'Take us back up and head north!' he shouted.
Captain Nazir pulled the U-shaped wheel toward him and the chopper rose. As it did, the tail rotor and starboard side of the cargo area were struck by short, hard blows. Friday could not hear them but he could feel the craft shudder. He could also see the thin shafts of white daylight appear suddenly in the bottom half of the cargo bay.
'What is it?' Nazir yelled.
'They think we are the enemy!' Apu shouted.
'It's a setup!' Friday snarled.
'They broke into two groups!'
The chopper wobbled and Friday could hear the portside tail rotor clanging. The weapon fire from the stern had obviously damaged the blades. If they had not pulled up when they did the chopper would probably be plunging tail first into the rocky, mist-shrouded valleys below. As it was. Captain Nazir was having trouble keeping the Ka-25 steady and moving forward, much less gaining altitude. A moment later the chopper stopped climbing altogether.
'I'm losing her!' Nazir said.
'And we're leaking fuel.'
Friday looked at the gauge and swore. They had already off-loaded whatever gear they were carrying in the back. The only thing left was the fixed-winch. There was no extra weight they could push out. There probably was not time to get rid of it in any case.
Friday looked out the window as the chopper began to shudder violently.
The rainbow vanished as the sun's angle changed. He no longer felt like a god but like a grade-A sucker. Of all the damn tricks to fall for. A freaking sleight of hand, a sucker punch. The operative studies the unthreatening team while a backup unit, either hidden or on another side, tears you a new exit.
