Page 121 of Viral Justice

“We need to find out what the nutcase wants,” Warren said. “We’re small fry in the scheme of things.”

“Jesus,” Hunt whispered.

“Is that a complaint?” Max asked him.

“It’s a prayer, because I know you’re going to say yes.”

“Feel free to hide a weapon or two around the building,” Max said. “I’m going to keep him talking for another minute.”

Hunt blinked, then nodded and disappeared into the rubble behind them.

“What about the people in here with me?” Max shouted. “Some of them are civilians, children. Will they be unharmed?”

“Why do you have children in there?” Akbar seemed genuinely curious.

“Their parents died or were killed. There wasn’t anywhere else for them to go.”

Max couldn’t see Akbar’s face, Ali’s was the one he could see clearly, but Akbar’s hesitation was the only sign so far that the man had any empathy left in him at all.

“Keep them out of the way and they won’t be harmed,” Akbar said after a few seconds. “Any soldiers with you must disarm now or they will be killed. If they try to fight, they’ll be killed, but not before one of the children is killed in front of them first.”

So much for empathy.

The ultimatum was enough to make Max sick. His fists clenched so tight the joints were white against his skin.

The soldiers around him swore, turning the air blue.

“He’s not sane,” Max said to the men around him. “He’s exhibiting psychopathic behavior, which means he’ll have no hesitation in hurting or killing anyone, and no guilt afterward. If you provoke him, he will kill you first and not bother with questions.”

“Sounds like he’ll kill us anyway,” Hunt said.

“No.” Max thought about it. “He wants something or he wouldn’t be here looking for my surrender.”

“What does he want?”

“I have no idea, though...” He thought back to Dr. Sophia Perry’s clash with Akbar. “He might want my professional expertise in some way. He tried to force one of my doctors to genetically alter a rabies virus into a superbug.”

“Did she?” Hunt asked.

“No, she blew up her lab instead. Nearly blew up Akbar too.”

Hunt grunted. “Too bad she missed.”

“So, as soon as you’re of no use to him, we’ll all die—is that what you’re saying?” Warren asked.

“In this plan-for-the-worst-hope-for-anything-better situation, yes.”

“Fuck.”

“What is your decision, Max?” Akbar called out.

“I agree to surrender. My men, as well,” Max shouted at the madman. “How do you want to do this?”

“You come out first, walk ten feet, then disarm. After you’ve been searched by my men, you may join me and your men may come out one at a time.”

“Fine. I’m coming out.” Max followed his words with actions, leaving the safety of the building. He stopped approximately ten feet out and set his Beretta on the ground. He put his survival knife there too. Then he stood and walked toward Akbar with his hands in the air.

A militant came toward him, searched him thoroughly, then frog-marched him to stand by Akbar, not quite close enough to touch.

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