False Horizon - Alex Archer [89]
Tuk frowned. “Actually, yes. She didn’t put up nearly the fight I thought she would have.”
“That was probably part of her plan. With you blown up, the surprise would have enabled her to overpower Annja. Only the way you ran or walked must have carried you right over the trip wire.”
“So I missed being blown up by luck?”
Mike smiled. “I could use a little bit of that luck right now, my friend.” He nodded at the corridor. “Now go and let me get this done. One way or another I’ve got to get free of this or else we’ll die.”
Tuk retreated to the corridor and wedged himself in against the wall. If Mike was unsuccessful, the explosion would no doubt cause some serious damage to the facility, especially given how much explosive was in that room.
Tuk shook his head. How had he managed to get himself wrapped up in all of this, anyway? All because some stranger named Garin had hired him to look after Annja and make sure she was safe.
Tuk sighed. He didn’t think he was doing such a wonderful job.
Mike’s face appeared around the corner. “Okay. I think we’re all set now.”
Tuk let out a breath. “Thank God. I thought the entire room was going to explode if you didn’t manage it.”
Mike nodded. “I got myself free and then replaced the pin in the claymore so it wouldn’t go off. I did a quick check of the room to make sure there weren’t any other surprises lying in wait for us. It’s clear.”
“They probably didn’t have time to set anything else up,” Tuk said. “And then Annja killed them, anyway.”
Mike smiled. “She did, did she?”
“Oh, yes.”
“She’s a marvel that one.” Mike gestured with his gun. “Now come on, let’s get out there and see what we can do to help.”
Tuk led them back to the statue room and then toward the doorway. He could hear voices. And he gestured for Mike to get low.
Tuk looked out and saw Annja with her sword in her hands. Across from her stood Hsu Xiao and Vanya. Tuk frowned and looked at Mike. “Annja’s injured.”
Mike nodded. “I can see that. But how badly? Do you think she can still fight?”
“You’ve known her longer than I have,” Tuk said. “But if I had to place a bet on whether or not she could, I’d definitely say yes.”
“So would I.”
“Look at Hsu Xiao’s leg. It seems like Annja managed to get something in on her, too.”
Mike chuckled quietly. “Good, that means she’ll be easier to take care of.”
Tuk looked at him. “I don’t know. She scares the hell out of me.”
“Nothing to it. She’ll die as fast as anyone else once she’s got enough bullets in her.”
“Well, do you mind shooting her, then? I’d rather not have to deal with her.”
“Fine.”
Tuk leaned back and looked at Mike. “Are you ready?”
“Time’s ticking, my friend. Let’s get this done.”
Tuk got to his feet and readied the assault rifle. Everything was set to go and he flicked the selector switch to semiautomatic. Perhaps, he thought, if he got the drop on Vanya quickly, he wouldn’t have to shoot her. That would be a good thing. Maybe there was a way to stop the facility from exploding. Maybe Vanya knew what to do.
“Tuk!”
Tuk looked at Mike. “Sorry.”
“Come on, man, let’s get this done. I’ll go after Hsu Xiao and you take down Vanya. Don’t stop for anything until we have them both down and dead, okay?”
“Mike, what if Vanya knows how to stop the facility from exploding?”
Mike shook his head. “Listen to me, Tuk. That treatment installation is not going to tolerate the infusion of scores of bodies. It wasn’t designed for that. Vanya knows that and that’s exactly why she’s done what she’s done. She wants this place to blow up. She’s got no interest in saving it, and if you think she does, you’re wrong.” Mike leaned closer to Tuk. “Now listen to me. I know this isn’t what you signed on for, but we’ve got to do something here or else we’re all going to die. Do you understand?”
Tuk nodded. “Yes. I understand. Sorry.”
“I’m not a killer, either, Tuk. This isn’t something that I do every day. But at the same time, I know that these people are responsible for unleashing some truly bad stuff on the world. And