The AK’s thudding bark filled the confined space as the soldier leaned over the broken wall and fired. Bullets kicked up mud as they smacked into the ground, but Eddie was in the passage, the rest of the shots twanging noisily off the ancient stonework. Trampling plants, he darted round a corner to find a flight of steps winding upwards. He hurriedly ascended them, listening for the thump of the soldier jumping down after him.
It didn’t come. The Venezuelan wasn’t willing to take a leap into the unknown. Instead, he was continuing along the alley.
After Nina.
Nina raced back to the stairway, seeing Kit trying to pull Macy up. Osterhagen and Becker had just reached the top of the wall, but Cuff was still waiting anxiously at its base. ‘Soldiers!’ she shouted. ‘Right behind me – everyone run!’
Macy gave Kit a fearful look – even with his help, she was still having trouble climbing. There was no way she could reach the top of the wall before Nina’s pursuer arrived. ‘Hide!’ the Interpol agent ordered. She nodded, and he released her hands. Arms flailing for balance, she scuttled back down the pile of stones and ran for the roofless buildings.
‘Hey! What about me?’ yelped Cuff as Kit rushed up the stairs after the two Germans.
‘Just
‘
The soldier burst into the open, aiming his gun at Cuff. The American gasped in terror, throwing up his hands. The Venezuelan looked round, glimpsing Macy as she ducked into the house Nina had explored earlier. Movement above – he fired at Kit, but the Indian threw himself the last few feet up the steps and disappeared over the top of the great wall.
His smoking AK-103 fixed on Cuff’s chest, the soldier advanced on him. ‘Don’t shoot, don’t shoot me!’ Cuff stammered. ‘I – I have dollars! American dollars!’ One shaking hand reached to a pocket. The soldier’s finger tightened on the trigger. ‘No, no, no! Please! Dollars, see?’ He took out his wallet and tremblingly thumbed it open to reveal a wad of banknotes inside, then tossed it to the ground. ‘Take it!’
The soldier regarded the money for a moment, then lowered the rifle. Cuff whimpered in relief – and the weapon’s stock smashed into his mouth, spilling blood and broken teeth. He collapsed on the muddy ground, clutching his jaw and moaning. A dark patch spread on his trousers as he wet himself.
His attacker shot him a brief sneer, then turned to hunt another intruder.
Macy.
The archaeology student was already regretting her choice of hiding place. The ancient house was more like a cell; small, devoid of concealment and with no other exit – except the window. She slipped her arms into the hole. It was narrower at the top than the bottom, but she hauled herself through, head and shoulders clearing the sill as she wriggled the rest of her body out—
A single gunshot, the bullet shattering part of the lintel. Stone chips stung her backside and thighs. She screamed, freezing.
‘Well, look at that!’ said a man in Spanish with a mocking laugh. ‘Now that’s a gorgeous ass – and in just the right position.’ Macy heard him cross the room. ‘Maybe I should keep you there, eh? Have some fun.’ She flinched as a hand squeezed her left buttock. ‘Now that’s—’
There was a muffled crack, followed by the thump of something heavy hitting the floor. Then silence. ‘Er . . . hello?’ she whispered nervously.
‘Get your ass out of there, Macy,’ said a familiar New York voice.
‘Nina!’ Macy cried as another hand pulled her backwards. She found the soldier slumped at her feet, Nina standing over him. ‘What did you do?’
The redhead held up the bolas. One of the rotten ropes had fallen apart when she pulled the weapon out of the muck, but its other two stone spheres were still connected. ‘I got him by the balls. Or
‘What about you?’ Macy asked as the other woman returned to the doorway.
Nina looked back at her, determined. ‘I’m going to find Eddie.’ She moved off at a run, shouting. ‘Eddie! I’ve got his gun!’
Reaching the top of the long, twisting stairs, Eddie thought at first he was trapped in a dead end, but then he found a low opening almost completely hidden behind a curtain of ivy and creepers. He pushed through the plants to find himself on a narrow street. To one side, he saw what he realised was a battlement along the top of the cliff bounding one side of the ruined city, a collapsed section revealing the foliage of trees beyond. He went the other way, heading back towards Paititi’s centre.
Before long, the street opened on to the central plaza and he stopped, looking out cautiously. The second soldier stood near the tent with his gun pointed at Valero, who was kneeling with his hands on his head. If he could approach without being seen, maybe—
The soldier’s head snapped round at a shout. Eddie heard it too. Nina! But he couldn’t make out what she was saying, echoes and his own less than perfect hearing muffling her words.
The soldier seemed to understand them, though. To Eddie’s surprise, he didn’t react by bringing up his weapon, but instead backed in concern towards the tent, AK still covering Valero.
Nina called out again, closer. This time he made it out. She had got the other soldier’s rifle. No wonder the man here was worried.
But why was he going to the tent? A different weapon wouldn’t give him an advantage . . .
He realised what was within the canvas shelter just as the soldier groped inside. He was getting a radio, calling for backup.
Eddie burst out of cover and charged at the tent. A click and a hiss of static, then the noise was cut off as the
