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I could do a blitz attack around the console, but he’s probably sitting up, pistol moving, ready to shoot at whatever appears overhead or around the side.
“Sure, Alvi,” I say. “Let’s talk things through. Let’s find out what’s going on here. Maybe I can help.”
Alvi says, “Oh, so we’re negotiating now, are we?”
“Sure,” I say. “I’m open to negotiating. Let’s see if we can find a way out of here that works for the both of us.”
I look around, seeking something I can toss to distract him.
Nothing.
Right now, I’d sacrifice a finger in exchange for an M84 stun grenade.
“Talking…you Yanks, you’re very good at talking. So negotiate. What can you give me, hunh? What canyougive me?”
“Well…let me think for a moment.”
Inside the cab there’s nothing but metal, metal, and more metal.
Okay, then.
“Alvi, you open for negotiations? Are you? Because I’m ready.”
“Sure, bitch, give it your best.”
I aim my pistol at a sixty-degree angle to the metal roof and pull my trigger finger as fast as possible until I’m sure only two rounds are left in the clip. The explosive sounds of the gunshots and the whistling ricochets make me flinch.
I sprint around the console at a crouch, give a quick peek, and see a shocked young man in blue jeans and a tan barn jacket, holding a hand to his chest, then pulling it away.
Covered with blood.
“You said…we were negotiating,” he gasps out, bringing up his other hand, the one holding a pistol.
“I lied,” I say, and shoot him again.
Chapter120
BENDING OVERthe German-made viewing apparatus, Rashad smiles with satisfaction.
The second train—the southbound one—is coming into view, its infrared beacon announcing its arrival.
Allah be praised indeed.
“Rashad!”
He remains still, watching the train get closer and closer.
“Rashad! Get away from that scope or I’ll shoot you right here and now!”
He recognizes the voice, of course, and slowly gets up and turns around, hands open, smiling.
Jeremy Windsor approaches him, limping, eyes red-rimmed, beard a mess, clothes wrinkled and stained.
“I say, Jeremy, you do look fairly worse for wear.”
Jeremy says, “If you have a weapon, remove it with two fingers of your left hand, Rashad. Your left.”
Rashad nods and removes his pistol from his waistband as ordered. In one quick motion, he tosses it over the side. At this point, he won’t need it.
