Read Online First Strike by Jack Higgins - Free Book Online

case that gave things away. I have new ones for you to look at now, but you’ll find they’re actually very similar. We’ve been planning this for a while. And now we’re going after a bigger, even more dangerous fish, my friends.”
    Jefferson Kent straightened up and folded his arms. He looked round the table, making eye contact with everyone in turn. Especially the woman at the back.
    When the tension was so thick you could cut it, Jefferson Kent told them what they were going to do. What they’d really been training for. And he was pleased to see that even the dark-haired woman’s eyes widened and her face paled with shock.

7
    The huge lorries of the Chinese army convoy looked like tiny toys as they snaked their way along the narrow, twisting road through the valley.
    It had taken Chance and Mr Chang a whole day to find the warheads. Mr Chang had left Yoshi with his sister, before he and Chance checked each of the several possible routes back to safer Chinese territory. Now they watched through binoculars from the top of one of the high cliffs overlooking the road.
    â€œNot far now,” said Mr Chang. “Another few hours and they will be out of the more dangerous areas where the rebels still operate, and back in safer Chinese territory.”
    â€œI hope they aren’t getting complacent because of that,” Chance told him.
    â€œThey look well guarded.”
    There were trucks full of Chinese troops between the three large lorries. What the lorries carried was hidden under huge tarpaulins stretched over their cargo, but Chance was sure it had to be the warheads. What else could it be—the size and the number was about right, and the heavy guard contingent meant it was important. The fact it was material heading out of Wiengwei and away from the conflict zone was another indication. Most Chinese military supplies were being brought into the war zone.
    â€œSo what do we do now?” Mr Chang asked.
    â€œWe watch. Make sure they make it home. With luck we won’t have to do any more than that.”
    Mr Chang nodded. “We should move on.”
    They headed back to Mr Chang’s car, parked far back from the edge of the cliff so as to be well out of sight from below. There was a narrow track along the cliff top. Further on, according to Mr Chang’s map, it zig-zagged down to meet the road at the valley floor. But the track was too narrow and too steep for the military vehicles. Chance hoped it wouldn’t turn out to be too narrow or steep for the car. If it started—they should have left it running, he thought.
    The engine protested, but caught on the third attempt. The car belched black exhaust fumes into the afternoon, before lurching unevenly along the rough track.
    The explosion was so powerful it shook the car. Mr Chang braked hard and the car skidded to a halt in a cloud of pale dust.
    Chance was out of the vehicle even before it had stopped. He ran to the edge of the cliff, dropping to the ground as he neared the edge. Then he crawled the last few metres and peered over, down into the valley.
    The lead truck was on fire and strips of canvas floated down through the air. The road was blocked with the charred, burning shell of the vehicle. Men were shouting, running. The flatbed lorry at the back of the convoy was trying to reverse, its trailer slewing across the road.
    â€œLandmine?” Mr Chang asked, joining Chance.
    Chance shook his head. “No crater. And the main damage is at the top of the truck. Rocket-propelled grenade more likely.”
    â€œWhich means the rebels are here.”
    Chance pointed across the valley. There was a flash from behind one of the bushes that grew sparsely on the steep banks. “You got those binoculars handy?”
    â€œSurely they will detonate the warheads if they destroy the trucks,” said Mr Chang. “We should get away from here, fast.”
    Chance shook his head. “The warheads will