Lightning Game (GhostWalkers 17)

And I thought I was the storyteller. Have that hawk keep a close watch on the pair. Let’s move fast.

The two again began to make their way to the ridge, this time through Gunthrie’s woods and brush, heading in the direction of the mountain itself. The slope was gentle at first, deceptive in its climb. Rubin thought about Luther taking his still up to the ridge where he actually had it for a while. Why? He’d moved the still around his property to various spots, fueling the rumors of a paranoid man certain the feds were after him for his illegal making of moonshine. That whiskey was considered some of the best in the state and was sought after by some of the best stores. Luther made a fortune off of it. How? Rubin had never thought too much about it. He should have.

They stayed low in the cover of the brush until there was no more brush and then both dropped to the ground, blending into the rocky surface. Grasses and the occasional straggly wildflower grew on the slope leading up to the ridge, but quite a lot of the mountain was made up of rock. This particular side had sparse vegetation and was dark in color, with various-size rocks jutting out.

They used their abilities to pull themselves up with sheer strength, climbing faster than they would ordinarily, but trusting Luther to take care of the two soldiers mapping out the meadow. The two in the meadow seemed very occupied with their job. They needed to get their runway right, and it was clear from the images the hawk had shared with Diego that they had hastily made runways before.

The equipment used was small for a reason. It didn’t look military. The backhoes would blend in with farming equipment in the area. Anyone seeing the backhoes being transported on the trailers wouldn’t think twice about them.

Rubin sent up a silent prayer to the universe that Luther was as good as he thought he was. He would have to time his taking of the soldiers for the moment Rubin and Diego killed the two on the ridge. If they spotted the ones being killed in the meadow, they would be on full alert. As it was, they were nervous with communication being down between everyone. It was the fact that those in the meadow were carrying on with their job as if nothing was wrong that kept the two soldiers searching the ridge for Luther. Rubin could hear them now, he was that close.

“I hate these damn radios, Parker. They never work. And they’re a bitch to put in the ear and then take out.”

Rubin noted that Parker wore combat boots and dark cargo pants. He looked seriously capable, with multiple weapons hanging from his belt and his gun rock steady in his hands.

“You know who the package is, Kurt, and why they want her? This is a lot of work for one tiny chick. Everyone’s a little afraid of her,” Parker answered.

Rubin had been about to rise up behind Kurt, but he froze, waiting for him to give an answer. Diego didn’t move either, lying full out behind Parker. Either man could be seen. They blended into the terrain and were very still, controlling their breathing and heartbeats, but they could be stepped on, or a good soldier might spot them.

“Why would you think I know?” Kurt asked, his tone suddenly wary. He glanced up at the sky. “Those vultures are getting lower and lower. Some are already on the ground just up there. I’m hoping it’s the old man, but Daryl didn’t come back. We couldn’t get him on the radio.”

“You just complained the radios were shit, Kurt, and they are,” Parker said. “You do know why they want this woman. It’s not a big deal if you tell me. Who am I going to tell?”

“No one, because I don’t know shit. If I did know anything and it got out that I told someone, those soldiers would cut me into little pieces and hang me from a tree. They’re not anyone you want to mess with.”

Parker shrugged and patted his weapon lovingly. “A bullet kills anyone, Kurt, even them. They try to mess with me, they’re dead, same as anyone else.”

“Yeah, well, you don’t know these men. I see them every day and what they can do. Let’s go see what the vultures are feasting on.”

He isn’t going to talk. He’s too afraid of the squirrel men, Rubin conveyed to Diego.

My take too, Diego agreed.

Kurt took a step. It was the last step of his life. Rubin rose up behind him and slammed a knife into the base of his skull. Diego did the same to Parker. Neither man saw death coming, nor did they smell it. Very carefully, bodies held upright in front of them, Rubin and Diego looked toward the meadow. Luther was dragging the first body off the meadow. The second lay on the ground with an arrow sticking out of his chest.