Pirate - Duncan Falconer [53]
A large body of water stretched across the panorama in front. It wasn’t the ocean. That took up the entire horizon to his left. It was a broad river that came from the mountains in the south. But the river didn’t flow into the sea because it had been blocked by a naturally formed dam. A seasonal phenomenon. During the monsoons, when the river was in full flood, it couldn’t be stopped.
Stratton felt thirsty and hoped that the water hadn’t been invaded by too much of an ocean backwash. He set off down the incline, his neck and back aching. He was looking forward to taking a breather. He felt the girl’s muscles tense.
He stopped a few metres from the water’s edge and lowered her to the ground, placing the trousers under her head as a pillow and covered her body with the shirt to preserve her modesty. She moaned and moved her head from side to side.
He went to the water, cupped a hand and tasted a little. It was brackish but drinkable. After a couple of mouthfuls he brought some over to her and dripped it on to her forehead and across her mouth. Her eyes flickered and her breathing quickened. She licked her lips. She opened her eyes and looked at him leaning over her. She suddenly became afraid and struggled to push herself away.
‘Easy,’ Stratton said, reaching out but without touching her. ‘It’s me. You’re OK. You’re safe now.’
She stopped, her whole body tensed as she came to her senses. Her eyes darted around before finding him again. She was still scared but he was a pillar of strength in a place where they were surrounded by danger. She realised she was naked and held the shirt to her.
‘We’re out of the town,’ he said. ‘It’s just you and me. No one else.’
Her expression changed and she eased off a bit.
Stratton wondered if she remembered what had happened to her. Such a serious trauma could cause short-term amnesia.
But she suddenly remembered. The horrific memories of the past few hours flooded her mind. She fought to control an abrupt emotional reaction and rolled into a ball and began to sob.
‘You know who I am?’ he said. ‘You remember me, right? I’m Stratton.’
She calmed a little and nodded.
‘We can’t stay here long. They’ll be looking for us. We have to get further away. Do you understand?’
She didn’t acknowledge him. He wondered if she was going to make it at all. Perhaps she had become unhinged. He couldn’t help thinking about his next move if she was unable to keep going. He couldn’t leave her of course.
‘Immy?’ he said. ‘You need to get up. You can’t stay here. I can’t carry you any more. Do you understand?’
She still didn’t move.
Stratton felt suddenly tired. He had to get on. Time was running out. She had to motivate herself. It seemed like she had gone into a catatonic state. He felt his patience wearing thin. He needed to find Hopper and get out of Somalia. It looked as if he might have to do it alone.
‘Immy?’ he said. ‘I need you to wake up, right now.’
She remained motionless.
‘Immy?’ he repeated, getting to his feet and standing over her. ‘I know you don’t want to die. But if you just lie there, if you don’t get up, your life is going to come to an end very soon.
‘I’ll spell it out for you,’ he said, getting angry. ‘I can’t leave you here alive. If I did and they found you, they would eventually learn what I know, what we both know. I can’t allow that information to be compromised. They’ll move the missiles and find another way of getting them out of the country. So you see, if you don’t pull yourself together, I won’t leave you here to die. I will kill you myself.’
He held the stock of the assault rifle over her. ‘Don’t make me do this. You either get up now or it’s over. You