Typhoon Fury (Oregon Files 12)

Now he remembered that he had been right by the entrance with Locsin, trying to deflect the suspicion that Cabrillo had cast upon him. Knowing that Locsin would interrogate him further when the situation was under control, Tagaan had been backing out of the building as the first Kuyog exploded. His shirt was full of tiny holes where bits of the building had pierced his skin, but none of them seemed to have done real damage.

He pushed himself up and felt a sharp cramp in his calf, the first time he’d felt any significant pain since he began taking the drug. He looked down to see what could have caused it and went cold when he saw that his left foot was gone below the ankle.

Although it throbbed, the pain was manageable, but he had to get out of the cavern. His future here was over. If Locsin didn’t kill him, the police would no doubt be raiding the place as soon as Hidalgo had passed.

He looked up to see the first hint of daybreak through the hole in the cave roof. They were still in the eye of the storm. If he could get out now, he could get to a safe hideaway and tend to his leg. With the huge supply of Typhoon in the truck, maybe his foot would even grow back. He’d heard of salamanders regrowing lost limbs, so it might be possible.

He didn’t worry about putting on a tourniquet. The blood was no longer gushing from his leg and would soon stop flowing completely.

He crawled over to the truck and pulled himself up. He opened the rear door just to make sure the Typhoon was still inside. He counted the barrels and saw that all nine were there. He quickly opened the closest one and saw the cardboard piece holding the pressed flower. He took it and closed the door, then hopped to the driver’s seat.

The keys were in the ignition. He started the truck and patted the remote detonator in his pocket.

Sure that he had everything he needed, he shifted the automatic transmission into drive and accelerated toward the entrance tunnel.

• • •

JUAN SHOOK HIS HEAD as he sat up. Linc was doing the same.

“You all right?” Juan asked him. He worked his jaw to try to get the ringing in his ears to stop.

Linc winced. “I’ll need about four hundred ice packs when we get back to the Oregon, but I’ll live.”

Then two noises added to the sounds of the burning warehouse. One was the exchange of gunfire echoing through the cavern, which made it difficult to tell where it was coming from. The other was the sound of a truck speeding away.

They turned to see the truck that had been parked near the front of the still-intact factory tearing across the compound. Tagaan was driving, and he wasn’t waiting for anyone else.

“That’s the one with the Typhoon inside,” Linc said.

Three nearby Humvees were in flames, but one looked undamaged. Juan pointed to it and said, “We can’t let him get away with the drug. Tail him, and stay in touch. We’ll intercept you after we get back to the helicopter.”

Linc nodded and sprinted to the Humvee.

Juan stood. “Eddie, what’s your status?”

“Juan, this is Beth” came the reply, amid intermittent three-shot reports of assault rifles in the background. “Eddie and Raven are busy right now shooting people.”

“How many?”

“A lot. I don’t think they’re real happy about you blowing up the place. Are you all right?”

“Tell Eddie we’re fine. Where are you?”

“I don’t know exactly. I think we’re on the other side of this complex from you.”

“I’m on my way.”

“I don’t think we’re going anywhere. Just follow the gunshots.”

Juan picked up his M4 and ran along the side of the burning warehouse as Linc got the Humvee started. He gunned it just as Tagaan disappeared into the tunnel.

• • •

IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR, Tagaan could see a Humvee giving chase. That might be one of his men, but he couldn’t take the chance.

When he got to the entrance, he didn’t even slow down. The guards didn’t move as he sped toward them and he realized it was because each had a hole in his head.

He rammed the gates and they went flying into the jungle as the hood of the truck crunched from the impact. It had been modified to travel muddy roads, with a more powerful engine and bigger tires, so Tagaan knew it could take the punishment.