Shadow Tyrants (Oregon Files 13)

Torkan’s face twisted in anger.

SIXTY-EIGHT

As Linda lured the speedboat away from the mission control room and around the stern of the command ship, Gomez passed an AT4 rocket and a P90 submachine gun up to Juan. He’d have to make the rocket count. It was their last one.

Torkan came into view when they were halfway down the other side of the large command ship. Linda drove the Gator in a zigzag pattern at Juan’s instruction to bring the speedboat as close as possible for his shot. Juan had the AT4 slung over his shoulder while he shot bursts from the P90, bracing himself using the hatch cover.

If he could hit the Iranian saboteur with that weapon, he would, but its effective range was far shorter than the assault rifle Torkan was using. Bullets peppered the Gator as they weaved back and forth.

When the speedboat got within fifty yards, Juan dropped the P90, which slid off the deck and into the water. He put the AT4 up to his shoulder and was about to pull the trigger when a rifle shot hit his artificial leg, knocking it out from under him. Juan fell to the deck and was barely able to keep both himself and the AT4 on the boat.

At the same time, the Gator’s diesel started smoking, and the boat shuddered as it slowed down. The rifle fire hit the engine as well.

Torkan smiled at his shot and told the driver of the speedboat to turn around.

By the time Juan got to his feet again, Torkan was nearing the stern of the command ship. A rocket launch by Juan now would require too much luck to hit the speedboat.

As Juan jumped down through the Gator’s hatch with the rocket launcher and closed the lid, the radio on his belt crackled.

“I only have one RPG left,” Torkan said, “and I don’t want to waste it on you. But, don’t worry. After I kill your friends, I’ll come back.”

Juan ignored the taunt. “Do we still have battery power?” he asked Linda.

“Yes,” she replied, “but we won’t be able to pursue them with our diesel out.”

“We don’t have to pursue him,” Juan said. “Dive the boat.”

* * *

—

For his second try at destroying the mission control room, Torkan made sure to take his time and guarantee the shot would count. After they got the speedboat in position, he reloaded the RPG.

He was about to center his sight on the big picture window when he heard a gurgling noise. He turned and saw the boat he thought he’d just disabled erupt out of the water twenty yards behind them.

The hatch flew aside. Torkan was stunned to see the man who killed Rasul pop out and aim the rocket launcher at the speedboat.

Torkan tried to swing the RPG around, but he was too slow.

The AT4 rocket leaped from its tube. The last thing Torkan’s brain registered was the impact of the warhead turning his boat into a fireball.

* * *

—

From the stateroom on his yacht, Mallik heard an explosion and hoped it was Torkan taking out the mission control room.

He reset the controls on Vajra, but they were altered yet again by his unseen nemesis.

“Torkan,” he called on the radio, “what’s your status?”

An unfamiliar voice called back. “His status currently is that he’s dead.”

“Who is this?” Mallik demanded.

“This is the archenemy of the Torkan family.”

A sonic boom shook the yacht. It was the sound of the booster stage returning to earth. Mallik looked out the window but couldn’t see any sign of it.