Sor (Voodoo Guardians #29)

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

The Osprey hovered in stealth mode above the wet earth below as the men fast-roped down. Once on the ground, the teams huddled together in blackness.

“We’ve got about ten miles to hike in,” said Sor.

“Let’s stop a half-mile out and split up,” said Joseph. “Our team will create the distraction. You guys get into that cave behind them. If there are men inside, kill them. We don’t have time for any bullshit. We’ve got to get out of there.”

“Move out.”

It might be November, but the jungles and wet rice paddy fields of Cambodia made the air humid, with temperatures hovering in the upper seventies. Occasionally, they would pass an ox or two, or maybe a pig and some cattle, but mostly nothing except sleeping villages. Checking their watches, Sor and the others knelt in a field just before the desired location.

“How much time do you need?” asked Abe, looking at Joseph, Nathan, and the team.

“Give us ten minutes. We’ll tap comms when we’re ready.” Before anyone could say a word, the group had turned and disappeared.

“Is it smart to send just them?” asked Sor.

“Smart?” chuffed Leif. “For who? Us or them?”

“Sor, Joseph, Nathan, JB, Nathan Luke, and Mike were all Delta, like Trak. Rett, East, Ethan, and Kiel were Green Berets, like Zeke. Even beyond that, they’re exceptional trackers, possess the ability to get in and out without detection better than almost anyone, and are the most skilled with knives, other than Trak. Believe me, it’s smart to let them do their thing.”

“Hey, ladies?” whispered Conor. “If you get up on this hill, you’ll get a front-row seat to the action.”

Sure enough, as they belly-crawled to the top of the hill, they settled low and could see the opening to the cave in the distance. Five men stood guard, all talking and smoking in the darkness. The light of their cigarettes put an eerie glow on their faces. They could see the faint outline of two more men just inside the cave entrance.

“Where are they?” whispered Sor. U-Jin tapped his arm, pointing to the sides of the cave. Somehow, they’d run from where they were to the sides of the entrance and were working their way around. Five men on one side, four on another.

One man at the entrance suddenly fell, and the others scrambled, staring into the darkness. When they saw nothing, they knelt beside their comrade. There was a large gash on the side of his forehead. Sor watched, then saw it happen again.

East and Kiel were using slingshots, firing large rocks at the heads of the men so as not to make any noises. As two men were now on the ground, they moved quickly, with ease, taking the other men down with knives. The two men inside the cave walked out, wondering why their friends were lying on the ground.

Just above the cave entrance, Joseph and Nathan squatted, their knives in their hands. When the Cambodians were below them, they leaped down, slicing their throats easily. Pulling the men to the side of the cave, they hid them in the brush and signaled the others.

“Holy shit, that was impressive,” said Sor.

“That’s our team,” said Wade. “We’ve all got our skills. That group just has a special set of skills most of us don’t possess or understand.”

At the opening, the nine men that had preceded them were standing quietly.

“Nice work,” smirked Cade.

“We thought so,” said Kiel. “It was just these seven upfront. There could be a helluva lot more inside. Nathan and I will scout for an encampment. If there is one, we’re going to make sure no one wakes up. If there isn’t one, that means there are more men inside with the kids.”

“Sebastian, Garr, and Wade stay at the entrance. The rest goes in,” said Dom. “If shit goes south, get the hell out of here. We’ll find a way to get home.”

“No. No fucking way,” said Sor. “We all go home together.”

“We’ll go home together, Sor. I promise,” said Dom. “Let’s go.”

It was slow going in the cave. Occasionally, there would be a small kerosene lantern to light the pathway, but, for the most part, it was pitch black. They needed to get to those kids and get them out before daybreak.

When they reached a large pool of water, they realized they would need to swim beneath and through an underground water cave to the other side. This was the most dangerous part of what they were doing. Darkness, no idea of what was on the other side, and all their gear.

Conor entered the water and went under with a deep-water light. A few seconds later, he came up.

“Good news, they left a guide rope for us to follow. I’ll have my light on, then every other man should have their light on. We have to move quickly.”

Sor knew that most of these men were expert swimmers. He was good, but they were great. He would trust their experience and follow orders as needed.

In the blackness of the cave waters, they followed one another with one hand on the guide rope and the other pushing them forward. When Conor lifted his head slowly at the other end, he was greeted only by another kerosene light. He tugged twice on the rope, indicating it was safe for the others, and they emerged from the water.

It was a never-ending succession of tiny openings, narrow ledges, small pools, and underground tunnels. Until Conor held up his fist. The men stopped, silent other than their shallow breaths. They could hear the sounds. Tap, tap, tap.

Lining the walls of the cave, they moved slowly toward the sound as it got louder and louder. Someone yelled something, and they heard small cries. Turning, they all looked at U-Jin. He signed the translation to them.

“Keep working. No one sleeps until this is done. No one eats.”

The faces of his teammates told him everything. They were going to move forward and kill every man in the space. As they turned the final corner, they saw the horror show before them. Dozens of young boys in only their underwear chipping away at walls and floors. They were so thin they could barely stand from weakness.

Four men sat against the walls, rifles lying over their knees. It was pointless. These boys couldn’t fight them. They couldn’t run. Hell, they were going to be lucky to get them out of these damn caves.

Dom turned to give an order to the others, then saw U-Jin slowly moving against the wall behind the seated men. It was as if he melted into the cave walls. As suddenly as he was there, he swiftly made an end to the men with his superior knife skills. Not one man made a sound. They simply fell forward, their blood soaking the earth.

U-Jin carefully wiped his blades, returning them to their holds, then held up his hands to the children.

“Are there more men?” he asked. The boys just stared at him, shocked and frightened. “It’s alright. We’re here to get you out. Are there more men further in the caves?”

“No,” said a little boy. “There are men at the entrance.”

“Not anymore,” said U-Jin. “We will get you out.”

A small boy walked toward Cade. He’d probably never seen a man his size before. He stared up at him, then held his fingers and thumb together, tapping his lips.

“He’s hungry,” said U-Jin.

Cade kneeled before him, digging inside his pack. He pulled out several soft nutrition bars, handing them out to the boys. Sor and Abe removed their water packs, allowing the boys their first taste of fresh water in weeks.

“Slowly,” said U-Jin. “We have to get out of here.”

Sor stared at the small buckets of gold and gemstones. He held up the bucket to the others, and they only shook their heads.

“All this for a bucket of bullshit. Killing kids for this,” he growled.

“Come on, brother. We’ve got to get these kids out.”

“Any signs of a camp?” asked Sebastian as the others returned.

“Nothing. We walked a two-mile radius,” said Joseph. “Any word from inside?”

“We lost them about twenty minutes in. We’ve just been waiting ever since. It’s going to be daylight in another forty minutes. We have to get the fuck out of here.”

JB held up a finger, quieting the others as they heard soft shuffling. Inside the cave, familiar faces began to appear with small boys strapped to their backs and chests. Those who could walk were slowly moving beside them.

“Jesus,” muttered Garr.

“They’re exhausted,” said Sor. “Help them.”

Rushing forward, the others lifted them and began walking toward the extraction point.

“What about the cave?” asked Sor.

“I’ve got the cave,” said Frank. “Get everyone out of here. I’ll be right behind you.”

The men broke into a slow jog and were surprised to see the older boys were following along. Exhausted, hungry, dirty, and yet they still did exactly what they were told.

“Two minutes,” said Hiro, staring at the men.

“We wait for Frank,” said Sor.

Hiro started to say something, then saw the big Robicheaux running toward them. He tossed his pack into the bird, stepping inside, and closing the door. With stealth initiated, they were in the air and headed home.

Frank sat in his seat, smiling at the men. They all looked out the windows, waiting for the show to begin. When there was nothing, Frank looked at his watch, held up his hand, and began lowering a finger at a time, starting at five.

“Five. Four. Three. Two. Boom!”

The explosion was so severe it rocked the Osprey in the air. Debris, earth, rocks, and gold were flying everywhere. The crater left in their wake would make it nearly impossible to ever get back into the caves. Dom looked at him, laughing.

“I have to say, your father would be very proud of you.”