Read Online Deathgame by Franklin W. Dixon - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Franklin W. Dixon
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Terry, "some recruits never learn."
Ignoring him, Hammerlock glared across the table at Joe and Frank. "Bureaucratic red tape ruined my military career. The essentials of how that happened are not important. What is important is that I have created an independent fighting unit that does not need to be sanctioned by any government or chain of military command to get a job done!"
Hammerlock continued, becoming more excited by his vision. The more fervent he became, the more he slurred his words.
"We have already begun. Perhaps you read about a strike on an airliner full of hostages taken by terrorists?"
Frank remembered. There had been speculation in the news at the time as to the identity of the rescue force. If his recollection was correct, a number of the hostages had died instead of being saved. And the mysterious rescuers had opened fire on law enforcement officials as well as on the terrorists.
"Oh, yeah, that fiasco," Frank said, knowing he was treading on thin ice.
Terry shot him a grin, but Hammerlock's face was mottled with rage. He pounded a fist on the table. "We'd have saved them all if it hadn't been for those pussy-footed police! They interfered with our plan!"
Since the ice was already cracking around him, Frank decided to ask about the San Marcos deal he had read about in the files he'd discovered at the Ultimo Survival Camp.
"You sound indignant and righteous," Frank said, carefully choosing his words. "But if you're so honorable, how could you provide mercenaries to San Marcos? There aren't any high ideals in that kind of business. It's a matter of making profit from human suffering."
Hammerlock stared past the candle flame that fluttered in the space between him and Frank. He slammed down his hand, snuffing out the flame with his palm.
"I don't know what you are talking about," he said in a very quiet voice.
"But I saw — "
Hammerlock cut Frank off. "I will not allow you to sully what I have worked so hard to achieve. The time of my private army has come. My troops do not exist for personal gain. If I discover the location of missing POWs in Vietnam, I will go in with a crack unit at a moment's notice. My men will never negotiate with terrorists. We will deal with a ruthless enemy in a ruthless fashion."
Frank did not back down. "You could end up endangering the lives of hostages, you could end up killing innocent people — have you considered those factors?"
Hammerlock gestured abruptly, stabbing his plastic fork in Frank's direction. "A soldier takes risks with his life. And we are all at war. It won't be long before the public understands this and comes to adore us!"
Joe shook his head in apparent admiration. "Colonel, you are no ordinary man." He paused for a second. "You're a real loony tune!" He pushed his canned peaches away. "Think I'll skip the peaches a la lead poisoning."
Hammerlock looked at Joe as if he were a mutant from outer space. Then he barked out an order to have the table cleared. Orderlies picked up the cans.
Lauren snatched a small package of gum from one of the orderlies. "Just a second, I wasn't finished."
Once the table was cleared, the orderlies returned to deposit a collection of knives in the center of the table. The blades were all sheathed.
Hammerlock picked one up and drew the wicked-looking blade out halfway. "These are Malin M-Fifteen survival knives. Each one contains a precision ZF-Three-sixty Liquid Damped Compass, plus a small survival kit within the handle, including an eighteen-inch cable saw and waterproof matches, among other items."
He shoved the sharp, silvered blade back into the sheath. Metal scraped metal.
"Get up!" Hammerlock ordered.
Joe and Frank supported Biff between them. Biff gamely tried to stand. "I'll be all right," he muttered.
"Just hold on to us for a while, tough guy," Frank murmured.
Hammerlock let the lethal, heavy knife drop to the table. He spoke slowly as if to let every word sink in.
"Recruits, grunts who don't live
Ignoring him, Hammerlock glared across the table at Joe and Frank. "Bureaucratic red tape ruined my military career. The essentials of how that happened are not important. What is important is that I have created an independent fighting unit that does not need to be sanctioned by any government or chain of military command to get a job done!"
Hammerlock continued, becoming more excited by his vision. The more fervent he became, the more he slurred his words.
"We have already begun. Perhaps you read about a strike on an airliner full of hostages taken by terrorists?"
Frank remembered. There had been speculation in the news at the time as to the identity of the rescue force. If his recollection was correct, a number of the hostages had died instead of being saved. And the mysterious rescuers had opened fire on law enforcement officials as well as on the terrorists.
"Oh, yeah, that fiasco," Frank said, knowing he was treading on thin ice.
Terry shot him a grin, but Hammerlock's face was mottled with rage. He pounded a fist on the table. "We'd have saved them all if it hadn't been for those pussy-footed police! They interfered with our plan!"
Since the ice was already cracking around him, Frank decided to ask about the San Marcos deal he had read about in the files he'd discovered at the Ultimo Survival Camp.
"You sound indignant and righteous," Frank said, carefully choosing his words. "But if you're so honorable, how could you provide mercenaries to San Marcos? There aren't any high ideals in that kind of business. It's a matter of making profit from human suffering."
Hammerlock stared past the candle flame that fluttered in the space between him and Frank. He slammed down his hand, snuffing out the flame with his palm.
"I don't know what you are talking about," he said in a very quiet voice.
"But I saw — "
Hammerlock cut Frank off. "I will not allow you to sully what I have worked so hard to achieve. The time of my private army has come. My troops do not exist for personal gain. If I discover the location of missing POWs in Vietnam, I will go in with a crack unit at a moment's notice. My men will never negotiate with terrorists. We will deal with a ruthless enemy in a ruthless fashion."
Frank did not back down. "You could end up endangering the lives of hostages, you could end up killing innocent people — have you considered those factors?"
Hammerlock gestured abruptly, stabbing his plastic fork in Frank's direction. "A soldier takes risks with his life. And we are all at war. It won't be long before the public understands this and comes to adore us!"
Joe shook his head in apparent admiration. "Colonel, you are no ordinary man." He paused for a second. "You're a real loony tune!" He pushed his canned peaches away. "Think I'll skip the peaches a la lead poisoning."
Hammerlock looked at Joe as if he were a mutant from outer space. Then he barked out an order to have the table cleared. Orderlies picked up the cans.
Lauren snatched a small package of gum from one of the orderlies. "Just a second, I wasn't finished."
Once the table was cleared, the orderlies returned to deposit a collection of knives in the center of the table. The blades were all sheathed.
Hammerlock picked one up and drew the wicked-looking blade out halfway. "These are Malin M-Fifteen survival knives. Each one contains a precision ZF-Three-sixty Liquid Damped Compass, plus a small survival kit within the handle, including an eighteen-inch cable saw and waterproof matches, among other items."
He shoved the sharp, silvered blade back into the sheath. Metal scraped metal.
"Get up!" Hammerlock ordered.
Joe and Frank supported Biff between them. Biff gamely tried to stand. "I'll be all right," he muttered.
"Just hold on to us for a while, tough guy," Frank murmured.
Hammerlock let the lethal, heavy knife drop to the table. He spoke slowly as if to let every word sink in.
"Recruits, grunts who don't live
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