Read Online State of Emergency by Sam Fisher - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Sam Fisher
Tags: thriller
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go.'
The infrared signature was less than a hundred yards
away, but between them and the target dense undergrowth
covered a steep incline. The target appeared to be sheltered
in a small cave at the top of a rocky outcrop. If the satellite
was up they could have found the quickest path through the
dense vegetation, but that luxury was lost to them.
They set off, using the map on Josh's screen to guide them.
Five minutes later they had only managed to get twenty
yards closer to the infrared signature.
It was approaching noon. The sun was almost directly
overhead and the temperature on the ground was nudging
110 degrees with almost 100 per cent humidity. The
cybersuits were keeping their bodies cool by circulating
liquid nitrogen through the intricate network of capillaries
woven into the fabric. But that luxury, too, was short-lived.
Mai was the first to notice. 'Hey, guys, stop a sec.'
Pete and Josh were a few steps ahead of her. They stopped
and turned in unison.
'Is it just me, or are you warming up too?'
Pete and Josh had been too busy slashing through the
undergrowth with their jungle knives to notice. 'Now that
you mention it,' Josh said.
'Oh, Christ!' Pete exclaimed. 'Don't tell me!'
'Another little gift from Mark, I think. No more thermal
control,' Mai said.
Suddenly things got much worse. A subdued hum
came from the three cybersuits and they flicked off
simultaneously.
'What the –'
'The whole thing's down,' Josh snapped, staring in
disbelief at the dead arrays, his screen blank on his arm.
'I bet you the only things working are the sensors for the
damn Hunters,' Pete said.
Almost immediately they heard the familiar whir. A
Hunter was directly in front of them, inside the foliage.
They dived into the undergrowth, but it was too late. The
sphere emerged from a tangle of vines no more than five
feet in front of Mai. It fired, and an alarm sounded from the
back of her cybersuit.
Josh and Pete were quick to respond. As the Hunter fired,
Pete leapt up at the sphere, smashing his blade into the side
of the device. The knife was sharp and heavy, and it sank at
least two inches into the machine, crushing circuit boards
and sundering components. The sphere emitted a low
growl and fell like a stone, its lights flicking off.
Josh and Pete pressed on, while Mai headed in the
opposite direction, towards a track that would return her to
Base One.
It was exhausting work cutting through the foliage. They
were sweating profusely, their cybersuits now useless and
sodden. After ten minutes they stopped for a breather. Pete
checked his watch. 'We've got nineteen minutes. It'll take
at least ten to get the patient to the medical centre at Base
One. Come on, man.' He helped Josh to his feet and they
pressed on.
After two more minutes of slashing through vines and
dense foliage they reached a clearing. From here they could
see the jungle stretching like a green and brown fog hanging
low over the rocky terrain. It was thickest to the northeast,
thinning out to the south-west. In the middle of the
thinner covering they could just make out a rocky hill. It
was probably the highest point on the island. Half of it was
covered with more dark undergrowth and two large acacias
that were smothered with vines. Looking closely, they could
see a rough, dark circle – a cave entrance.
They moved quickly through the clearing, all the while
watching for the last of the Hunters. They made it to the first
outcrop of rock unmolested, and slashed at the vegetation
to find an opening in the trees. No more than 30 feet above
them was the entrance to the cave.
'How long have we got?' Josh asked.
Pete glanced at his watch. 'Four minutes to reach the
patient.'
Josh didn't answer but threw himself into the task with
renewed gusto. He slashed at a web of slender vines that
gave way almost as soon as the blade touched them, and
suddenly they were through.
They were both panting, leaning forward with their hands
on their knees. Josh was wincing.
The infrared signature was less than a hundred yards
away, but between them and the target dense undergrowth
covered a steep incline. The target appeared to be sheltered
in a small cave at the top of a rocky outcrop. If the satellite
was up they could have found the quickest path through the
dense vegetation, but that luxury was lost to them.
They set off, using the map on Josh's screen to guide them.
Five minutes later they had only managed to get twenty
yards closer to the infrared signature.
It was approaching noon. The sun was almost directly
overhead and the temperature on the ground was nudging
110 degrees with almost 100 per cent humidity. The
cybersuits were keeping their bodies cool by circulating
liquid nitrogen through the intricate network of capillaries
woven into the fabric. But that luxury, too, was short-lived.
Mai was the first to notice. 'Hey, guys, stop a sec.'
Pete and Josh were a few steps ahead of her. They stopped
and turned in unison.
'Is it just me, or are you warming up too?'
Pete and Josh had been too busy slashing through the
undergrowth with their jungle knives to notice. 'Now that
you mention it,' Josh said.
'Oh, Christ!' Pete exclaimed. 'Don't tell me!'
'Another little gift from Mark, I think. No more thermal
control,' Mai said.
Suddenly things got much worse. A subdued hum
came from the three cybersuits and they flicked off
simultaneously.
'What the –'
'The whole thing's down,' Josh snapped, staring in
disbelief at the dead arrays, his screen blank on his arm.
'I bet you the only things working are the sensors for the
damn Hunters,' Pete said.
Almost immediately they heard the familiar whir. A
Hunter was directly in front of them, inside the foliage.
They dived into the undergrowth, but it was too late. The
sphere emerged from a tangle of vines no more than five
feet in front of Mai. It fired, and an alarm sounded from the
back of her cybersuit.
Josh and Pete were quick to respond. As the Hunter fired,
Pete leapt up at the sphere, smashing his blade into the side
of the device. The knife was sharp and heavy, and it sank at
least two inches into the machine, crushing circuit boards
and sundering components. The sphere emitted a low
growl and fell like a stone, its lights flicking off.
Josh and Pete pressed on, while Mai headed in the
opposite direction, towards a track that would return her to
Base One.
It was exhausting work cutting through the foliage. They
were sweating profusely, their cybersuits now useless and
sodden. After ten minutes they stopped for a breather. Pete
checked his watch. 'We've got nineteen minutes. It'll take
at least ten to get the patient to the medical centre at Base
One. Come on, man.' He helped Josh to his feet and they
pressed on.
After two more minutes of slashing through vines and
dense foliage they reached a clearing. From here they could
see the jungle stretching like a green and brown fog hanging
low over the rocky terrain. It was thickest to the northeast,
thinning out to the south-west. In the middle of the
thinner covering they could just make out a rocky hill. It
was probably the highest point on the island. Half of it was
covered with more dark undergrowth and two large acacias
that were smothered with vines. Looking closely, they could
see a rough, dark circle – a cave entrance.
They moved quickly through the clearing, all the while
watching for the last of the Hunters. They made it to the first
outcrop of rock unmolested, and slashed at the vegetation
to find an opening in the trees. No more than 30 feet above
them was the entrance to the cave.
'How long have we got?' Josh asked.
Pete glanced at his watch. 'Four minutes to reach the
patient.'
Josh didn't answer but threw himself into the task with
renewed gusto. He slashed at a web of slender vines that
gave way almost as soon as the blade touched them, and
suddenly they were through.
They were both panting, leaning forward with their hands
on their knees. Josh was wincing.
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