Midnight Runner - Jack Higgins [80]
"I suppose I'll have to go for Dillon and Billy myself. Actually, it's a good thing you phoned me."
"Why?"
"I was going to drive to Fuad with my Sergeant under cover of darkness and blow up their ammunition and explosive store, but I can't do that with this other thing coming up. Kate Rashid would be alerted."
"You're right."
"I'll check on her movements. The other problem is the possibility that Dillon and young Salter might be recognized from the last time, and the news reach her. But she may have gone up-country. I'll let you know."
"What if she hasn't?"
"Well, we have the RAF compound at the airport now. Make sure your plane has RAF roundels, and have the crew wear uniform. I can pick Dillon and Salter up. In Arab gear and with a scarf across the face, they'd make acceptable Scouts for the time that's necessary. Are you coming?"
"I hadn't thought of it."
"I'd need bigger robes for you. I'll speak to you later, Charles."
A t Farley Field, Dillon arrived as the Gulfstream was taxiing up to the apron, and noticed the RAF roundels at once. The engines were switched off, the door opened, the steps came down, and a Flight Sergeant emerged in RAF uniform, a man called Pound whom Dillon knew well.
"Mr. Dillon, sir. I see we're bound for foreign parts again."
"And a rather hot one." Lacey came down the steps, also wearing full uniform. "Very pretty," Dillon said. "It's the first time I've seen you with that Air Force Cross ribbon."
"The General wants us to have an official smokescreen at Hazar. You and young Billy have got to be kept under wraps. Colonel Villiers is turning you into Scouts."
"Mr. Dillon." A voice called, and Dillon turned and saw the Quartermaster standing in the entrance of the admin block. "I've got our stuff ready."
Dillon followed him in and found various items laid out on a trestle table: two silenced AK47s, two Brownings with Carswell silencers, and titanium bullet-proof vests. Last, but not least, the parachutes.
"Anything else, sir?" the Quartermaster asked.
"No, I think we'll start the Third World War nicely with that little lot."
The Quartermaster called, "Sergeant, give me a hand."
Pound came in and they transferred everything into two RAF-issue holdalls and carried them to the plane. Dillon lit a cigarette and walked out to the steps. The Daimler drew up and Ferguson got out. His chauffeur followed, carrying a suit bag.
"Put it in the plane," Ferguson told him.
"What's all this?" Dillon asked.
"I'm going with you. No arguments."
"You'll look rather striking in Bedu robes."
At that moment, Harry Salter's Jaguar drew up, Baxter at the wheel. Harry and Billy got out, Baxter opened the trunk and produced two bags.
Harry said, "Damn you, Dillon, but if Billy's going, so am I."
Dillon grinned at Ferguson. "No arguments?"
"Oh, get on board and let's be moving."
They went up the steps and settled in. Lacey and Parry were already in the cockpit, and Pound closed and locked the door. The engines turned over, the Gulfstream eased down the runway, turned, and took off. It climbed higher and leveled off at fifty thousand.
"I've spoken to Tony." Ferguson told them what Villiers had said.
"Nice to know he's on our case." Dillon lit a cigarette. "What about Quinn?"
"Oh, he'll be fine. He isn't going to die on us or anything, but Bellamy says he'll be laid up for a while. Oh, and I tried the White House, but the President is on an official visit to Argentina, so I had to make do with Blake Johnson. He was horrified to hear about Quinn and about Kate Rashid's plans."
"What did he say?"
"That he would inform the President."
"Was he suitably alarmed?"
"What he actually said was: 'Tell Dillon and Billy to go in and kick ass.'"
Dillon turned to Billy. "Now there's a compliment. So here we go again."
"Saving the free world. Why does it always have to be us?"
"We're too good at it, that's the problem," and Dillon called to Sergeant Pound, "I'll have a Bushmills now."
HAZAR
15
W HEN THE RASHID PLANE LANDED AT THE AIRPORT OUT- side Hazar, the Scorpion was