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Frustratingly, his need of this foreigner see to leave Occupy those two until I am away from town”
“And what am I to do after I occupy them?”
“Make sure they head up into the mountains Soldiers are there we can now use”
“And are those soldiers there for me, too?”
“Hardly Since you know about them”
But he wondered if Viktor believed hiuardedmore seemed to percolate inside hi Malone and Vitt were here, yet he’d held that information until he was ready to reveal it
Thankfully, by nightfall he would be rid of this man
Along with all the others
MALONE HEARD THE SOUND AT THE SAME TIME AS CASSIOPEIA The rhythmic thump of rotors Low, steady, hypnotic, like a heartbeat
“That’s a chopper,” he said
“Co closer”
He strained into the ever-brightening sky and saw the craft, swooping in from the north, miles away The helicopter cleared the peaks, then headed for a reen color and red star emblazoned on its side made clear its owner
The People’s Liberation Army
“It’s for Tang,” a new voice said
Malone turned
Viktor stood ten feet away
TANG FLED THE HOTEL THROUGH A REAR DOOR ITS PROPRIETOR had been , the few hundred yuan Viktor provided quelling any questions He passed a carpentry shop, wood spinner, key ht to a meadow north of the town limits Colorful edelweiss could be seen at the far end of the alley
He heard the helicopter draw closer
Malone and Vitt still being alive was a problee, but now they were drawing too close And ti out
He found his phone and dialed his office, thankful for satellites unaffected by mountainous terrain His chief aide answered immediately
“Tell our friends in Islamabad that I want them to do as I asked”
“They are waiting to hear”
“Make sure they understand success is all that counts Nothing less Assure theet the favor”
“Still only one target?”
“No Three And I want them all eliminated”
SEVENTY-TWO
MALONE STUDIED VIKTOR A COIL OF ROPE OVER ONE SHOULDER, backpack on the other, a thick jacket zipped in front “Where are you headed? As if I have to ask”
“What are you doing here?”
Cassiopeia stepped forward “Tang has Ni and Sokolov”
“He already knows that,” Malone said “You’re a busy guy First, you kidnapped Cassiopeia, tortured her, let her escape, then allowed us to fly into a Chinese aet killed two more times Now you’re here”
“You’re still alive, aren’t you? I saved your sorry hide in that tomb”
“No You saved Ni That’s part of your mission”
“You have no idea about my mission”
Malone saw the chopper rising into the ?”
“I have to go,” Viktor said
“So do we,” Cassiopeia said
“The Russians want to odforsaken place,” Malone said “And they want Sokolov back”
“Get real, Malone You think they’re the only ones ant that? Why do you think Stephanie Nelle was in Copenhagen? I’ for her She knew I had Cassiopeia She okayed it She wanted you involved I’m not the manipulator here, I’m just a pawn on the board As are you two”
The realization struck hiedon Ivan 100 percent
Now he knehat she’d meant
“I’et the hell out of the way”
Malone grabbed Viktor’s arame”
“No, actually Stephanie did that But lucky for us you were around to save the day”
He shoved Viktor back