The Genesis Plague - Michael Byrnes [133]
If rats felt threatened, they would defend themselves. These rats, however, were likely far more unpredictable - exactly the reason Crawford had brought along the rodent repeller that had been designed for just such a snafu. The transmitter had been cleverly integrated into Crawford’s walkie-talkie. After all, the simple technology could easily piggyback on the radio’s circuit board. With the touch of a button, he powered on the transmitter and a steady ultrasonic signal began transmitting in the 45,000 Hz range. For the rats, the high-frequency, pulsing waves - inaudible to the human ear - were like Kryptonite to Superman.
On approach to the cave, he could hear the horde’s high-pitched drone. He wondered what the rats might be trying to communicate to one another. Were they coordinating an attack on Holt, Shuster and the Kurd?
The tunnel walls fell away from his light, giving way to the cave’s soupy black void. Without pause, Crawford stormed inside, machine gun raised high on his shoulder, ready to cut down any moving target larger than a rat.
78
‘Don’t worry, Hazo,’ Shuster yelled over the squealing rats. ‘Ramirez made it. He’ll get help. Just stay where you are.’
But Hazo didn’t respond because he was still watching the light intensifying inside the entrance tunnel. He estimated that Ramirez had only gone into the tunnel less than a minute ago. Definitely not enough time to have assembled a rescue team. So why would he be coming back inside now?
The light flashed inside the cave and caught Shuster’s attention. He turned, scowled at the light, shouted, ‘Ramirez! Get out of here!’ He motioned for him to retreat. ‘Go and get the others!’
Hazo watched the sharp luminescent beam sweep side to side. Against Shuster’s order, Ramirez advanced closer. If Ramirez didn’t hear Shuster, he should certainly have understood the overt hand signals. Certain that the light would attract the rats, Hazo was confused when the writhing brood cowered back and curled into itself like ebbing surf. It looked as if an invisible wall were pushing out in front of the light to press them back, like some kind of fantastical force field.
‘Ramirez!’ Shuster shouted in an angry voice that echoed through the cave. ‘Go back!’
But the corporal’s plea quickly went silent as the swell of rats continued to retreat from the light. Like Hazo, he was trying to figure out how this was happening.
Advancing to within fifteen metres of the containers, the light stopped and swung up to spotlight Shuster. The corporal shielded his eyes from the glare while trying to discern the identity of the man holding the light. It was impossible. His frustration grew. ‘Ramirez, what are you doing? Get that fucking light out of my face!’
No reply. The light remained fixed on Shuster.
‘Ramirez?’
The rats’ squealing cries were suddenly drowned out by the clamour of automatic gunfire, and beneath the light, Hazo saw tiny white flashes spit in rapid succession.
In the same instant, Shuster’s face ripped open and the back of his head exploded in a spew of blood and brain matter. The force from the impact threw him backwards and he tumbled off the container.
Dropping to his knees, Hazo flashed his light down at the body. The rats responded instantly, swarming over it.
Then the light shifted to Hazo.
There was nowhere for Hazo to go. He was penned in by the platform’s railings. He scrambled for the handgun that Shuster had given him and sprang to his feet. Squinting in the light, he failed to make visual confirmation of a target, but blindly fired three shots. The light didn’t budge.
‘Drop the gun, Hazo!’ the gunman yelled up at him.
Hazo wasn’t surprised that it was Crawford’s voice. ‘No!’ he replied.
‘I’ll shoot you dead right now if you don’t drop the gun,’ Crawford threatened in a menacing tone.
‘Fine! You do what you must,’ Hazo screamed. ‘I’m already dead. Don’t you see?’
A pause.
‘Get off that platform,’ Crawford yelled.
Get off the platform? Hazo repeated to himself. Why would Crawford want him to come down? If he had no problem shooting