The Mayan Priest (44 page)

They were given a few precious moments to move back into the preceding room before the tide rushed them off their feet.

Arun’s fury knew no bounds. He cursed and screamed as he was hustled forward and was hoisted back into the entrance tunnel and to the surface. He was embarrassed and incensed at losing a treasure that he had touted as his own.

The water managed to retain a steady level, allowing Gillian to wade progressively towards the next basket where she was jumbled uncaringly into the wicker and accompanied by Fred. He grinned at her with the look of familiarity and smugness that she found absolutely disgusting. She hated him with a vehemence that was unprecedented and despite his obvious arrogance, she noted the slight twitch in his fingers that symbolised his unease at her presence. She took a small measure of comfort at the knowledge that she still had the ability to rattle him. This pleased her.

Samuel approached and Gillian was surprised by the sense of relief she suddenly experienced at his presence. How things had changed in a few short days! Samuel was her arch enemy. He had done everything at his disposal to kill her. Fred was her beloved fiancé whom she had been prepared to spend the rest of her life with. Now she had discovered that Fred was actually the traitor, using her for his own benefit and most possibly assisting Arun with his distribution of drugs. Samuel, on the other hand, whilst equally bad, had been forced to become someone in conflict with his basic nature, and if memory served her right, she had known him, but how. She had the sinking feeling that their connection went deeper than just friendship.

Her recollections revealed a boy she spent most of her days with. A kind, gentle person who shielded her from things she was too young to see. He treated her like kin, like a brother or sister, but this simply did not add up. Her father had told her nothing of this boy and she trusted her father implicitly. Surely he would have informed her about something so important.

Samuel took Gillian to the pit that held her friends. He ordered her to join them and she did not argue. After all, Arun was watching from the nearby tent.

CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN

Sean was so nervous that he barely controlled the quivers that ran rampant throughout his body. He even took a moment to view the fabric between his legs to ensure that he had not made a mess. In fact, he was so out of sorts that for the first time, he wished he had a decent haircut and owned a can of deodorant.

He quickly wiped his palms to ensure they were clean before clasping the outstretched hands of the president.

Marcus Winston chuckled. ‘At ease, young man. From what I hear, you have every right to stand tall and proud. You have served your country admirably and for that you will be well rewarded.’

Sean dropped to his knees on the luxurious red carpet and took a moment to check his surroundings. He was convinced that this was a dream and had to pinch himself to ensure it was reality and not fantasy.

‘Get up, Sean.’

Sean could not. The President actually spoke his name. The insignificant boy, born into a family fraught by poverty, was actually kneeling before the leader of his country who knew his name. It was a miracle.

‘It’s okay, Sean!’ Marcus Winston knelt to his level ‘My family came from a generation of corn farmers who lived in a house no larger than a standard farm shed. I too was once in your position and I remember the overwhelming impression of grandeur this place represents as if it was yesterday. What you need to remember is that you have earned your right to stand in this room.’

‘The Oval Office would have been better,’ muttered Sean as he forced himself to get a grip and stand up like a man.

The President chuckled. ‘You understand the necessity to keep your visit a secret, hence this underground room, but when this fiasco is over, I will give you a tour of the Oval Office myself.’

Sean smiled.

‘Now it’s time to get down to business. Georgio’s phone call provided little information except that you hold in your possession the one thing that will bring down Arun Keane’s entire drug smuggling operation. He also told me that you obtained this yourself after Dale was kidnapped.’

‘I did … with Dale’s help,’ muttered Sean as he handed the President the small book he had been carrying.

‘Let’s hope we manage to save Dale in time,’ said the President as he opened to book and began to read the list of names.

His lined but upstanding face was burdened with shock and disbelief. Sean thought his rugged good looks had aged ten years in an instant.

The President sat down for a moment. ‘I had no idea it was so widespread. I recognise many of these names. Some are even in my immediate employ. It is a disaster, but not one that can’t be dealt with.’ He seemed to contemplate the issue for a moment before continuing, ‘Sean, I understand the urgency to return to Tikal, so it is my intention to send an entire army battalion with you. From a previous conversation with Dale, I also realise that a number of his comrades were captured and are still imprisoned by Arun, so the opportunity to catch Arun red-handed is too good a prospect to miss. It will be enough for us to hold him until we can gather sufficient evidence to convict him for life.’

Sean nodded. He was beyond words. The President had calmly learnt of a corruption that involved many of his perceived loyal employees. Revelations of such treachery, if leaked to the media, could cause immeasurable damage to the presidency, but Marcus Winston took it in his stride like a walk through the gardens on a sunny day. Sean supposed that the leader of the country would face many issues like this, but he still admired the great man for his sense of calm and duty.

He dwelled on the President’s words for a moment, suddenly recalling what Marcus Winston had said. The battalion was to return with him. What did he mean by that? Was he to command the battalion? Surely not. Sean gazed at the President in horror.

‘Fear not. You will be well protected, but we could use your assistance.’

Sean felt as if he would burst with pride. A request from the President was an honour that he could not ignore. He could imagine the look on his parents’ face. They would be so proud. Sean frowned. His parents would presume he was dead by now and that upset him. He wanted to ask the President for a favour, but how could he do that? Sean had never asked for help from anyone in his life.’

Sean did not turn back; he hurried towards the exit to meet Henre who was waiting for him on the other side of the solid steel door.

CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT

Gillian was the first to hear the change in sound.

They were too far below the surface to see what has happening, but the general chatter and noise of everyday activities had ceased momentarily until a sudden incursion of gunfire and screaming filled the air.

They were so surprised that everyone ducked involuntarily, even Dale’s men who were suffering from heat stroke, dehydration and sunburn. They quickly formed a protective huddle, but it soon proved to be a waste of time. Bullets ricocheted across their heads, causing them to shout in fear.

Gillian’s heart seemed to burst from its cage and her hands shook in fear. Millions of explanations as to the sudden inclusion of extra men with guns whirled around her brain, but she could only come to one assumption: they had come to save them.

She started yelling, ignoring the panicked looks in the eyes of her friends. She yelled until her throat hurt and she was sure that they had heard her.

The first face she saw was the pimply boy her father had befriended and she jumped in joy. She never thought an average countenance would bring her such elation, but it did and she turned to hug the first person next to her … Adam.

Dale’s men were the first ones assisted from their prison with immediate emergency assistance given. Stretchers, re-hydration drips and liquid glucose were used and helicopters deployed. Gillian, Adam, Georgio and Tom climbed out afterwards and they celebrated immediately until Sean came running toward them.

‘Arun has escaped!’

Gillian looked at Adam and she immediately understood. The only place they could escape was from the compound where they had originally hidden the cars. It was the same place Georgio and Adam had stolen the Jeep, chosen by Arun because of the large canopy of trees that protected their presence from overhead satellites. He would be intending to make his getaway with Samuel and Fred his likely companions.

They had no time to waste. Every second spelt failure.

Gillian grabbed the gun thrown her way and she pounded the grass like never before. Adam and Georgio were not far behind although Georgio struggled to keep up with them. His huffing and puffing brought a snigger from Adam and a general look of amusement from Gillian who in any other circumstance would have used the opening as an opportunity for an exchange of banter. Georgio was fun to stir and Gillian recalled many occasions of laughter with him.

They were closing in now, fighting the rising humidity and sweat that was pouring from their foreheads, but Gillian could smell success. She was spurred on by the sight of the one remaining Jeep and the two men attempting to force Arun into the passenger seat. She feared they would not make it, but luck was on their side. Fred and Samuel slipped and fell, accidentally dropping Arun to the ground. He cursed loudly, oblivious to onlookers who were witnesses to his embarrassment.

Gillian stepped forward. ‘Going somewhere, lard arse?’ She could not resist the jibe although she knew it may come back to haunt her.

Samuel lunged forward. It was almost as if someone had flicked the switch from light to dark and Samuel represented the darkness. His eyes had transformed from a typical compassionate human to a blank, unthinking robot. His body language became stiff and defensive and his expression was one of extreme anger. Gillian had seen this look when he’d tried to kill her after her escape from Tikal. He was to be feared and she reacted immediately.

Gillian spun and instinctively veered to her right. She moved in between Adam and Georgio with the intention of forming a solid line, but Fred was ready for them. Gillian was well aware that Fred was a karate expert, but so was Samuel and they ran at them like bulls to a gate. Adam and Georgio ducked, Gillian twisted and let loose with a kick of her own. She collected Fred on the shin and wore his wrath with a striking blow to the cheek. Gillian yelled, catching a quick glimpse of Arun in the background as she turned. He was enjoying the scene so much that he resembled a fan at a ballgame. Gillian was so sickened that she almost missed Fred’s next punch to her stomach.

She reacted just as he connected with her skin, dredging up a fist from her own armory and hitting Fred where it hurt – his balls. He stumbled forward but grabbed her ankles and yanked her forcefully to the ground along with him. She fell, instinctively calling to Adam and Georgio for help, but they were already struggling to contain Samuel.

Fred snarled. ‘You bitch. You always did think you were better than me. Well, this time you are wrong. You are going to die and your dear friends will not be able to help you.’

Fred had rolled onto Gillian’s body, pinning her feet with his own. He reached for a nearby piece of wood, ignoring her attempts to wriggle free, and raised the stick above his head. Fred whopped Gillian over the top of her head, but he had misjudged his angle and instead of a deadly strike, it was merely a glancing blow.

‘Shit,’ he swore as he spat at her face and raised his weapon for a second attempt.

A gun fired and everyone stopped to locate the cause.

Gillian cried in fear and relief as Fred slumped forward, leaving blood smears over her face and clothes. He was dead and a moment of disturbing realisation flooded her mind. She had shot Fred. The man she had been prepared to marry. She had shared her soul with him and now he was dead by her own hand. Horror and disbelief at the reality of her actions threatened to overwhelm her and she felt sanity slipping from her grasp. Gillian longed to retreat into the depths of her mind, to seek relief from her guilt until her inner strength came to the fore. Damn it, he was going to kill her. He would have murdered her and suffered no regret. Gillian was merely defending her own life, and she deserved to live. She had every reason to enjoy a full and happy life as the next person. Fred had no right to take than from her.

Gillian sat up. She had expected Georgio and Adam to come to her aid, but they were still in a violent fight with Samuel. To their credit, they did not look like they were losing but neither were they any closer to winning. Punch was met with punch, kick with kick and each was as bloodied as each other.

Gillian fondled the gun in her hand. She had the option of ending the fight with a simple gunshot, but she was well aware that shooting was not her strong point. She dared not risk the lives of her friends.