False Horizon - Alex Archer [78]
“Anything is,” Annja said.
Tuk pressed the number two and waited. Finally, Annja saw him sit up. “It’s ringing.”
“Give it to me,” she said. She grabbed the phone as Garin’s voice could be heard.
“Tuk!”
“It’s Annja, Garin.”
“Where the hell are you?”
“I don’t have any time so shut up and listen. This place, wherever we are, is a staged thing. Some rogue Chinese military woman who calls herself Vanya is running the show here and the aim seems to be to get me to give them the sword.”
“Annja, that’s impossible, isn’t it? You can’t give anyone the sword. The sword chose you. And when you’re gone, presumably the sword will choose someone else.”
“Well, I’m having a hard time selling them on that notion. Apparently, they think that as I’m dying I can command the sword to pass to the person of my choosing.”
“Rubbish!” Garin said, although he didn’t sound entirely convinced.
“I don’t have any time. Tuk and I are in a room that is wired with explosives. This Vanya woman is telling me that unless I come out and give myself up, she’s going to blow it up.”
“You go out there and they’ll kill you.”
“I know.”
“I need more time, Annja. I can’t find you guys. I’ve been searching everywhere and there’s no trace.”
“All I’ve got is that this place—wherever we are—was previously constructed. It’s got to be something big. And somehow it’s tropical here, and that means it would take a lot of heat coming from something. I don’t have any idea what, but it’s a sure bet it would have taken millions to make this place.”
“That’s it?”
“I’m not exactly having a great day, Garin.”
“I’ll do what I can and get there as fast as possible.”
“I hope so.”
Annja closed the phone and handed it back to Tuk. “So much for that.”
“Did he say they were close?”
“He’s got no idea where we are.”
“This is your last warning, Annja!”
Annja frowned. “I’m getting tired of hearing her voice. She sounds incredibly egotistical.”
“She’s probably quite happy about the situation she’s got you in,” Tuk said.
“No doubt.”
Tuk laid a hand on her arm. “I don’t mind dying, Annja Creed. I’ve had a good life. I’ve done a lot given the paltry amount I started with. So if you say we’re going to rush them, then that is exactly what I will do.”
Annja smiled. “I don’t doubt it, my friend. But I don’t think that’s the best way to play this.”
“Then how.”
Annja took a deep breath and told Tuk what she wanted him to do. When she was finished, Tuk looked up at her. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. It’s the best option we have right now.”
“It’s not really much of an option, if you ask me.”
“I’m all out of ideas,” Annja said.
“As am I.”
Annja nodded. “All right, then. Are you ready for this?”
Tuk took a deep breath and closed his eyes. “I think I am.”
A second later a single shot rang out. Then Annja got to her feet very calmly and shouted down the hallway.
“I’m coming out!”
“What was that gunshot we heard?”
Annja was fifty yards from the entrance. But she could see Vanya standing there surrounded by a squad of Chinese soldiers all aiming their weapons at Annja.
“You left me no choice.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You said you wouldn’t kill Tuk, but neither of us believed you. And he preferred to die by my hand than by yours. So I did him the favor.”
Vanya regarded Annja as she approached. “But you didn’t choose suicide? How interesting.”
“I don’t think I’d be able to do it,” Annja said. “I guess I just know my limitations.”
Vanya nodded. “Come out here into the light so I can see you properly. And if you try any tricks, my men are under orders to fill your body full of bullets. You’ll die standing up.”
“That wouldn’t really help your end game, would it?”
“To get your sword?” Vanya grinned. “I suppose it wouldn’t, but I’m not a fool, either. I’d rather you were dead than give you even half a second to unleash that blade against us.”
Annja cleared the remaining distance and came out into the light, blinking her way back to full vision. As she did so, she caught a glimpse of movement and suddenly Hsu Xiao had her claws positioned around Annja’s