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fanlike banana tree leaves. The mist had turned into real rain, and Jack could
hear the big drops pattering against the leafy canopy. They sprinted through
the foliage until they reached a clearing on the opposite side. As soon as
they were out in the open, the rain became a downpour. In seconds, they were
soaked.
Shit! said Jack.
There s the plane, said Theo. He was pointing to a pair of headlights at
the far end of a so-called airstrip that was nothing more than a field of
grass and packed dirt.
You said it was a prop-jet.
I lied.
What is it?
It s a twin engine Cessna.
A puddle jumper? I told you, I don t do puddle jumpers.
Theo looked up into the driving rain. Then you can spend the night here
sleeping in the puddles. He turned and ran toward the plane.
Jack thought for a second, then started after him. As they reached the end of
the airstrip, a man jumped out of the aircraft. He was easily as big as Theo,
dressed completely in black. Jack and Theo froze. He was pointing a gun at
them.
Easy, dude, said Theo. We re friends of Hans and Edgar.
The Belgerians, said Jack.
What be your names? He spoke with an accent that Jack couldn t quite place.
He s Jack, I m Theo.
He smiled and put the gun in his belt. I m Lutu. Get in.
Theo stepped forward, but Jack didn t move. Theo said, Come on, Jack.
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The rain was falling, the engines were howling, and this friend of the mad
Belgerians was packing a pistol. Jack said, I don t think so.
Just then, another set of headlights appeared at the other end of the
airstrip. It was an open Jeep filled with men. Two of them had rifles strapped
to their shoulders.
Oh, boy, said Lutu.
Oh, boy,what ? said Jack.
I knew I should never have been waitin on you gents so long. Looks like we
won t be takin dis here plane without a fight.
What do you mean taking ? asked Theo.
What do you mean a fight ? asked Jack.
The owner of dis here plantation don t pay his bills, we take dis here plane
back. Dat the way it is. But maybe dat don t make the owner so happy, you know
what I saying?
Jack glared at Theo and said, We re on a repo mission?
How was I to know?
Jack whacked him about the head and shoulders with his soaking wet hat.
Hey, hey, hey, said Theo. You want to get home or don t you?
The crack of gunfire echoed in the darkness. The Jeep full of armed guards
was speeding toward them.
Holy shit! said Jack.
Get in! said Lutu.
They scampered up the wing and climbed aboard. Lutu took the yoke, Theo
strapped himself into the seat beside him, and Jack sat behind them. The plane
was moving before Jack could find his seat belt, and the engines roared as
Lutu asked for every bit of power they packed. They were speeding down the
bumpy dirt runway, the entire plane shaking so intensely that Jack was
bouncing like a pinball from one side to the other.
Sorry, said Lutu. Got to get dis here plane up fast!
Jack wedged himself between the seats to keep from slamming his head against
the ceiling. The rain was cascading off the windshield, the wipers working
furiously. He managed to catch a glimpse of the fast-approaching Jeep. It was
a game of chicken, the plane against the Jeep, Lutu against the lunatic aiming
his rifle straight at them. Jack saw the sudden recoil in the man s shoulder.
They re shooting at us!
Wooo-hoooo! shouted Theo, loving every minute of it.
The plane hit another huge hole in the airstrip, and Jack went flying. He had
to grab something, so he grabbed Theo by the throat.
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Woooo-glupp!
Lutu pulled back on the yoke, and the bouncing stopped as they lifted a few
precious feet off the ground.
Pull up! said Jack.
Watch this, said Lutu. He held the plane steady, exactly the right altitude
to decapitate everyone in the oncoming Jeep.
Are you crazy? shouted Jack.
The flying plane was closing fast. The men in the Jeep jumped out just before
the plane passed, ditching the Jeep but saving their scalps.
Wooo-hoooo! shouted Theo.
Oh shit, said Lutu.
The tall trees at the end of the airstrip were fast approaching. Lutu pulled
back on the yoke, all the way back, sending the plane on a mean vertical
climb. Jack fell back in his seat and banged his head, nearly knocking himself
silly. He fought to keep his bearings, got on his knees, and watched, his eyes
shifting back and forth between the rising altimeter and the approaching
treetops.
Come on, baby, said Lutu.
Please, God, said Jack.
They cleared the tallest tree by a good half-meter.
Yes! said Theo. He and Lutu were slapping high fives. Jack was checking the
knotty bruise that was taking over the back of his head.
Theo glanced back, all smiles, and said, You owe me big time for this one,
Swyteck!
Yeah, and I can t wait to pay you back. He slid into his seat, searching
frantically for both ends of the seat belt as the plane soared into the night,
climbing by the second.
Thirty-nine
The mood in Vivien Grasso s conference room was even more tense than Jack had
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