Foreign Influence_ A Thriller - Brad Thor [69]
Using his night vision device to help guide him, he carefully moved from one outcropping of rock to another.
When he got to the weather-beaten cowshed about one hundred meters from the chalet, he stopped and caught his breath. This was the last piece of concealment available until he hit the house. As he traversed the remaining distance, he would be completely in the open.
He would have given his eye teeth for a sniper providing overwatch for him. There was a chance that this quarry had night vision as well and had observed Harvath’s entire approach. He could be inside at this very moment waiting for Harvath to step out into the open, waiting for him to get close enough to mow him down.
Harvath pushed the thought from his mind as he drew his Glock and prepared to run. Counting to three, he was about to charge the house when he heard the scatter of gravel behind him.
He spun just in time to see what looked like two enormous wolves barreling down on top of him. He leapt out of the way as Argos and Draco sped past. He recognized the lump clinging to the bizarre harness on Draco’s back. It was Nicholas; he had jumped the gun and was going to screw everything up.
With nothing he could do to stop him, short of shouting, which would tip Tsui off, Harvath had no choice but to take off after them.
Owning a Caucasian Ovcharka of his own, he knew how fast the breed was, but Nicholas’s dogs were amazing. He was still at least fifty yards behind them when the front door burst open and the shooting began.
CHAPTER 32
Tsui was an idiot. He opened the door and silhouetted himself against the light from inside. As Nicholas and his two dogs barreled down upon him, he raised his shotgun and fired.
The odd thing was, the gunfire didn’t come from Tsui. It came from somewhere to his right. There were sharp cracks as rounds splintered the doorframe around Tsui’s head. He ducked just as Argos leapt into the air.
The enormous animal landed right on top of the man and knocked him backward into the chalet. Right behind came Draco and Nicholas.
Harvath hit the side of the structure and pulled up short. He pulled out his night vision device and was just able to catch a flash of a person taking cover nearby. Tsui must have had a sentry of some sort. Whoever it was, he had done a very good job of remaining hidden while Harvath had been doing his surveillance of the chalet. He had never seen the man.
Harvath snuck around the back of the chalet and over some rocks behind it. He tried to make as little noise as possible. He used his night vision device to guide him.
Finally, he located the outline of the shooter, taking cover behind a large store of firewood. Creeping up behind him, Harvath leveled his Glock and said, “Don’t move,” and then repeated himself in French just in case.
Turning his head, the figure replied, “It’s me.”
Harvath recognized the voice immediately. It was Peio.
There was no time to say anything as a scream was raised inside the chalet. It was Tsui, and Harvath knew what was happening. Nicholas was exacting his revenge.
“The balls! The balls!” the Troll was yelling at Argos in Russian. “Bite his balls!”
Tsui was kicking wildly at the dog trying to get him off. His pants were shredded, and the man was bleeding badly.
“Nicholas,” Harvath yelled as he burst into the chalet. “Enough!”
On top of the kitchen table was a terrified Yorkshire terrier with a rhinestone collar and a ridiculous blue bow atop its head yipping wildly. Draco circled the table growling, holding the smaller animal at bay.
The Troll ignored Harvath and taunted his victim as Argos tore into him. “Look at my face, you motherfucker. Look! Look what you have done to me.”
Tsui was screaming for help, the tears streaming down his face as he continued kicking at the dog and thrashed to get away.
Harvath grabbed for Argos and the animal turned and tried to bite him, his snout covered in blood.
“Call him off or I’ll kill him,” Harvath ordered.
The dwarf didn’t comply, so Harvath lifted his pistol and put a round through the wall.
Reluctantly,