Page 162 of Darling Wildfire
“How many?” Mads asked.
“Hard to say, but I did take a peek around there a few days ago and it looks like they built a semi-permanent compound on the border of the mountains to make rotating the shifts easier so we have to anticipate plenty of company.”
Lachlan held Mads' gaze again for so long I finally cleared my throat to get his attention.
“Anyway—” He turned a wide smile on me. “Should be fun. There are some access roads once you make it into that area but there’s only one leading in and out. The terrain is difficult so let’s hope we can stick to the plan and don’t have to improvise.”
“Alright, West will hang back and operate the drone so we have constant eyes in the sky,” I said. “When we find the gold, it’s going to require multiple trips to the loading point. We’ll take out the two outposts here and here—” I pointed to the map. “Lach, you said the shifts are twenty-four hours so we’ll have at least that before they’re alerted that something is wrong and send backup.”
“Helo will be multiple trips,” Mads said. “The bird can only hold so many kilos at a time, but what we need to talk about is the weather.”
“There’s a storm coming in,” Lachlan agreed. “I don’t think it’ll hit until we’re out of there but—” he shrugged.
“I can handle it,” Mads smirked. “But the helo has its limits.”
“It’s your call,” I said. “If we delay, it’ll be a few days until it looks like theweather clears.”
Mads turned to Lachlan. “This is your country. What do you think this storm will look like?”
“We have thunderstorms frequently—one of those could be a problem. Little snow up at altitude…maybe hail. But if it’s just a rainstorm, nothing you couldn’t handle I’m sure.” He winked at her and she smiled back.
“It doesn’t look like it’s a thunderstorm, more like rain showers and maybe some snow higher up.” She dragged her eyes away from Lachlan. “If I see anything concerning, I'll let you know.”
75
THERON
Looking out of the helo, I scanned the terrain below us. It was mountainous and densely forested with hardly a break in the trees. We weren’t going to fly anywhere close to the lake in order not to alert the security presence there. I looked over at Nyx, Atlas and Lachlan. I could see the readiness I was so familiar with on Atlas’ face and the set of Nyx’s jaw told me he was dialed in and already in go mode.
“DZ coming up in two,” Mads said over the radio.
“West, do you copy?” I asked.
“Loud and clear,” he said.
Knight picked up the drone he’d sent with us and powered it on, adjusting a few settings.
“Drone is live,” he said.
A small gap in the trees appeared below us and the bird hovered there. I looked down. It couldn’t even be considered a clearing but would work. Knight strapped the drone to his chest while Atlas released the rope.
“Ready when you are,” Mads said.
Atlas dropped down the rope, followed by Nyx, Knight and Lachlan. I went last and as soon as I hit the ground the helo dipped off, the sound of the rotors disappearing quickly. Knight launched the drone and I signaled for the others to fall into line.
Based on the maps we would head south towards the lake and loop around to where the caves were on the west bank. The lake was steep on most sides with the forest encroaching on it aggressively. This was why it was so dangerous to dive there—trees would fall into the water and sink to the bottom forming a layer of logs waiting to trap even the most experienced divers. The rumors of the gold we’d found online said the treasure had fallen below this level to the sand below but no one was able to reach it. Now we knew better and if the map was accurate, we weren’t headed into the lake.
The forest was alive with birdsong but the ground was dense with underbrush and our pace was slow and tedious. We’d been on the ground for about an hour when I signaled for a halt. I heard something through the trees and signaled as much.
“First guard house is a hundred yards east of you,” West said in my ear.
I turned to the men and motioned for Nyx and Knight to come with me and Lachlan and Atlas to sweep around, merging on them from two sides. Lachlan and Atlas disappeared silently into the trees and Nyx and I continued to advance.
“Man, these guys look bored,” West said. “Two outside—guns are propped against the cabin. Scanner shows three, maybe four inside. Little over-staffed if you ask me.”
I made it to the edge of the treeline and saw a crude cabin in a clearing. Two of the guards were throwing a football around, their banter filtering through the trees to us. I couldn’t see much through the dingy window to confirm what West said but I wasn’t worried about it.
“Lach, Atlas—take out the two outside, Nyx and I will head into the house. Knight watch the treeline. Knives only.”
