Read Online The First End by Victor Elmalih - Free Book Online Page A

that
choice. You’ll be compensated of course.”
    Bill sat back in his chair, thinking. The money
was irrelevant, and at best, the entire mission would take about
two to three weeks—assuming he didn’t get killed or kidnapped.
Then, of course, there was the whole national security issue.
Whatever else Bill was, he was a patriot. He had spent nine years
in the marines, risen to the rank of captain, and even served a
term with JAG while he acquired his law degree. No, he couldn’t sit
idly by and allow a threat to his nation to go un-addressed. The
general had him pegged.
    “Okay. I’ll do it.”
    “Good. You’ll go in as Vellore had planned. The
Transitional Government there must not know that this is now a
military operation. We do not want to give them any hint that we
are open to negotiation—not until they crack down on the piracy
problem. That comes from the top. If you are at risk, you will be
on your own.”
    “I understand, sir. Do you think that the
government there will actually provide an escort?”
    “Yes. We’ve been able to verify that. The
problem you will face is their reliability. There is no way to know
where their loyalties really lie. At the first sign of trouble,
they may turn on you to save their own skins.”
    “That’s a comforting thought.”
    Hynes grinned. “It will be just like in
Columbia.”
    Steel groaned. “I hope not. Both of us got shot
on that one.”
    Rubbing his side where he had been shot those
years ago, the general grimaced. “Don’t I know it.” Rising to his
feet, Hynes stuck out his hand. “I knew you would go. I have
commandeered Frank’s private jet. It is fuelled and ready to leave
JFK airport as soon as you can get there.” He paused. “Oh, one more
thing. I’ve engaged the services of a forensic pathologist to
travel with you.”
    Bill stopped just short of shaking hands with
the man. “What for?”
    “My contacts there have reported some unusual
murders that have taken place in Merca, during the last few
days.”
    “Merca?”
    “That’s the closest city to where the cargo ship
almost ran aground. Street kids, mostly kids who live in the city’s
huge landfill have turned up dead, their bodies mutilated and
burned.”
    “You think there is a connection?”
    “There might be, my friend. When there is an
unusual amount of attention focused on trash, yes, I’m curious.”
Haynes came around the table and started walking towards the door.
“Her name is Lieutenant Lorna LaCruz. She has been working for me
on and off on special assignments for some time.”
    The ex-marine nodded. “Whatever you think is
best.”
    “Good. I’m glad we can agree.”
    Bill followed the general out, wondering if
there would be any more surprises along the way. “They always
messing up with me! No letup,” he muttered.
    Two days later, Bill ordered his men to spread
out around the landfill that dominated Merca’s poorer section of
town. Idly, Bill wondered if any one section of the old city could
be called anything but poor. In an effort to blend in, Bill and
Lorna had dressed in clothing that were little more than rags, and
no one carried anything that even looked remotely valuable—though
all twelve of the Somalis tasked as his escort sported automatic
weapons. And travelling with a convoy of three military type jeeps
certainly didn’t do much to lower their profile.
    “This city was once prosperous,” remarked
Lorna.
    “True,” responded Bill. “Merca was a great city
once, established in the fifth century, I think. The first settlers
controlled the region as a trading center and Merca grew into a
prominent administrative center in the Ajuraan Empire.”
    “Pretty smart.”
    “Yeah, I got my moments and I read a lot too.
The region was known by the ancient Egyptians as the land of Punt.
The coast was also known by the Romans and Greeks as an important
landmark, and for the Indians it was an important commercial center
for products such as myrrh, incense,