Sword of God

are we going to do when we get there?'

Unfortunately, Payne never got the chance to answer.

He was too distracted by the helicopter that hovered up ahead.

31

Monday, January 1

The roar of Jung's boat masked the chopper's engines until it was too late. Throw in the wind and the choppy seas, and Payne didn't spot it until it was a hundred yards away. Of course, even if he had, what could he have done? The damn thing just hovered there, directly in his path. No movement. No lights. Like an iceberg in the night, just waiting for the Titanic to strike.

Payne swore to himself and eased the boat to a stop. He told everyone on board not to panic, that everything would be all right. But deep down inside, he wasn't so sure. Technically, they were in a stolen boat and had just fled a country where he'd shot someone and assaulted five others. Park was carrying a gun and had recently fired it several times in the crowded streets of Seongsan. Jones was bleeding. The boy was traumatized. And Kia was privy to everything.

Yeah, they were screwed.

Things got worse when the chopper turned on its gigantic spotlight and shined it directly on the boat. Payne shielded his eyes, trying to figure out who he was dealing with. The police? The coast guard? The Korean Navy? Any of those would have ruined his New Year.

Suddenly a booming voice-like the voice of God- filled the night. It was broadcast in English over the chopper's speaker system, echoing louder than the roar of the turbines. 'Do not be alarmed…. Do not make a move…. Prepare to be boarded.'

Jones grimaced at the announcement. 'That sounds painful.'

'Let's hope not,' said Payne as he inched his way toward Mr. Park, who sat in the back of the boat. When he got there, he spoke firmly into his ear. 'If you want to help your son, drop your gun overboard. If they see it in your hand, you will be arrested. Or worse.'

Park nodded in understanding.

Five seconds later it was sinking to the bottom of the sea.

The next few minutes were a whirlwind of surprises. The chopper rose several feet above the water, then crept forward until it hovered directly above the cramped deck of the boat. Payne heard the rumble of a large winch as two men were lowered on board.

Both of them were dressed in black, their faces covered with visors.

No patches. No badges. No insignias.

Neither man carried a weapon.

Confused, Payne stood there, assessing the situation. He knew they were in Korean waters, yet no one on the chopper had identified whom he worked for. The orders to halt had been given in English, not Korean. And the men standing across from him were tall and muscular, closer to Payne's size than Park's.

Something about this didn't seem right.

Things got stranger when one of them whipped out a cell phone and waited for it to ring. A few seconds later, it did. But instead of answering the call, which would have required him to take off his helmet and show his face, he walked forward and handed it to Payne.

The man said, 'It's for you.'

'It is?' Payne took the phone and answered the call. 'Hello?'

The voice on the other end was American. Masculine. All business. He said, 'We've been sent to evacuate you and your friends.'

'Who is this?'

But his question was dismissed. Simply ignored. 'We'll hoist you up one at a time. Jones first, then the others, then you. Later tonight you'll be briefed in private. Am I clear?'

'Crystal.'

'Good. My men will remain on board. Tell them where to dump the boat and it will be done.'

The United States and the Republic of Korea signed a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) in 1966, guaranteeing the presence of U.S. military personnel to protect against external threats. Currently, there are more than thirty thousand American soldiers stationed in Korea, scattered around the country on several official bases. And several more that are unofficial.

Payne and his crew were taken to one of those, tucked in the rolling hills of Jeollanam-do Province, near the southwestern tip of the peninsula. On paper, the base was decommissioned a decade ago, yet it still housed enough soldiers to start a small war. From the outside, the facility looked abandoned-a series of dilapidated hangars and warehouses that should have been razed-but the inside was a different story.

It was buzzing with activity.

From the moment they got into the chopper until they were escorted to a small room on the northern end of the compound, the Parks were blindfolded. Kia sat next to them the entire time, whispering in Korean, assuring them that everything was being done for their safety. Her dedication continued once they reached the base. She refused to leave their side, even after their blindfolds were removed and they were locked in their holding cell, which had the feel of a cheap hotel room-equipped with a bed, desk, TV, and bathroom. A video camera was mounted in the far corner of the ceiling, allowing a team of guards to monitor them at all times.

Meanwhile, Payne and Jones were taken to a different building, this one in the center of the camp, where they met the senior enlisted adviser in a tiny office with cement walls and an American flag as its lone decoration. His name was Crawford, and his rank was command sergeant major. He wore a beige T-shirt and camouflage cargo pants that were recendy ironed. His hair looked brown but was shaved so close its color hardly mattered. The type of guy who smiled so infrequently it looked like he had gas when he actually tried.

Payne recognized Crawford's voice the moment he spoke-he was the man who'd called him on Jung's boat. 'I hope you realize the position you put us in, having to save your ass in the middle of the night. We didn't appreciate the exposure.'

'Excuse me?'

'You heard me. This is supposed to be a low-key operation.'

'Yeah,' Payne snapped. 'I gathered that from your office decor. I meant the saving my ass part. I never asked to be saved.'

'That's not what we heard from the Pentagon.' He opened the lone folder that sat on his desk. 'At oh-oh-oh- two hours, we were notified of a possible medical evac on Jeju Island. Details to follow. At oh-oh-eleven hours, medical evac was changed to personnel evac. Three soldiers, two civilians. Aerial resources were diverted from a training mission in the Korea Strait, course south-southwest toward Seongsan. At oh-oh-seventeen hours, our rendezvous point was updated when your boat was tagged by satellite.' He glanced up from the folder and stared at them. 'Shall I go on?'

Jones spoke first. 'Can you repeat the part about medical evac? That was so exciting!'

'You think this is a joke?'

'No,' Payne said, 'we don't. But unless you have transcripts of an unauthorized broadcast on our part, I think it would be best if you dropped your attitude. Last time 1 checked, sergeant majors were several notches below captain in the chain of command.'

Crawford stood from his chair. 'Maybe so. But last time checked, you were retired.'span›

He walked toward his office door, then stopped. 'Stay put. I'm calling Washington.'

Payne and Jones waited for Crawford to close his door before they spoke. And even then, they did it in hushed tones, trying not to be overheard.

Jones asked, 'Did you call for evac when I was shot?'

'Are you crazy? I was running down the street, chasing a gunman. When could I call?'

'What about Kia?'

'What about her? She was taking care of you. Did she use your phone?'