Page 39 of Set Fire to This Cardhouse

In total, there are rotating shifts of seven guards spread around the property—meaning seven guys who will be awake and armed even in the middle of the night.

Shifts seem to last six hours, give or take depending on motivational levels.

Guards are not necessarily sober while fulfilling their duties.

Three guards stick to the barn, sometimes joined by a fourth person stopping by for a chat.

The view of the barn from the main house is obstructed by a cottage that appears to hold food supplies and drinks. One guard is positioned there, with a partial view of the barn.

No guards are positioned on the short dirt road connecting the nearest paved road to the hacienda. The terrorists’ cars are left at its very end, just before the dirt road enters the hacienda’s overgrown courtyard. Two men are guarding the cars.

One more guy is making the rounds, checking in on everyone.

Toby is severely tempted to offer them some free advice in proper procedure, but as it makes the job easier, well, he’s not going to look a gift horse in the mouth.

“Is it just me,” he asks Mike on the way back to their car, “or do they seem primarily worried about one of their own making off with weapons?”

“Funny, isn’t it?” Mike vaults over a fallen tree like they’re teenagers on a fun little school outing. Toby looks at the obstacle in his path, takes two steps to the side, and walks around it like any sensible man would—yes, he can do it; he just doesn’t see the need.

“What’s funny?” he remembers.

“How often ideological groups fall apart from the inside once their focus shifts from making the ruling classes tremble to organized crime.”

Toby taps his chest with a fist. “Amen, Comrade.”

It’s worth it for the way Mike grins at him, a quick flash of teeth that holds no memory of the sadness he revealed last night. What happens in the tent stays in the tent, Toby guesses.

Since that’s a dangerous mental path to pursue, he puts up a roadblock sign. Tilts his head back to study the moss-covered trees arching above them, mist clinging to their tops and dampening reality. Keeps following Mike back to camp.

***

“Blow it all up. That’s your plan.” Toby repeats it slowly, without inflection. “Color me shocked.”

“Why not?” Mike sounds genuinely baffled.

“Because one, have you considered therapy? Maybe your urge to blow up things hints at some deeper issues, just saying.” Toby is careful to keep his voice light. In the sparse glow of a torch light, he needs to concentrate on his task, leaning in close to remove the wire insulation. “More importantly, we’ve got enough explosives, but we’re short on timed detonators. I’m sorry, but we’ll have to sabotage the cars manually.”

Mike considers this. He’s sitting on the forest floor, surrounded by equipment that he’s examining before evenly distributing it between two backpacks. “Fine. How about a compromise?”

“A compromise?” Toby glances up long enough for a smirk. “I didn’t know you had it in you. Will the earth grind to a halt? Will pigs take flight? You realize that means you agree to not go chasing after whatever idea pops into your head when you need your regular shot of adrenaline.”

“I compromise,” Mike says, a mulish twist to his mouth.

“Really.”

“Yes, really.” He appears to grapple for a moment, then adds, “In Mauritania. I listened to you, didn’t I? I let the last guy go.”

Toby pauses, just long enough to ensure that his fingers are entirely steady. “That’s different.”

“Yeah.” Mike lets the trigger guard snap into place, then sets the rifle aside, his tone off-handed. “Yeah, I guess it is.”

Exhaling a slow breath, Toby glances at Mike’s shadowed face, dark clothes allowing him to melt into the night. “So, about that compromise?”

“Right.” Mike flashes him a grin. “We do things your way. In return, I get to drive us all the way back to Quito—”

“You drove like a madman on the way here. Why would I let you anywhere near the wheel again?”

“Because that way we’re both hurting.” Another grin. “Also, you will keep handling any and all coordination with the Ecuadorian authorities.”

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