Page 78 (1/2)

LYING FLAT IN THE SAND ONCE AGAIN, KURT PEERED through the gathering dusk to a dry lake bed on the desert floor A halfjets that had flown over them and a third aircraft of the same type, which they hadn’t seen approach All three sat quietly up against the right side of what passed as the runway

From a breast pocket he pulled the couard at the botto sand from the lenses, he lifted them to his eyes

“You were right,” he said “Not exactly JFK More like Edwards Air Force Base out in California”

“Dry lake bed for a runway,” Joe replied, “but what on earth are they doing down there?”

Kurt watched as Jinn’s ry ants They scurried around the three aircraft in a haphazard way Nearby, a set of trucks idled with black diesel s froing huge loads of equip out of a tunnel in the rock wall,at a snail’s pace

Joe’s concept of an ant farm seemed more accurate every minute

“Theyas men appeared from out of nowhere and then disappeared just as quickly

“Can you see what they’re bringing in?” Joe asked

Kurt saide cargo doors at the tail ends of the aircraft opening up, but nothing was co out

“They’re not here to drop off,” Kurt said “They’re picking up Pilots are talking with some sort of loadmaster”

“So this isday”

“Or D-day,” Kurt said

“Can you catch the tail nuht help us down the road”

With the sun down and the light fading fast, Kurt zoomed in on the closest aircraft and squinted

“White tails,” he said “No s of any kind But I’m pretty sure they’re Russian-built”