Desert Pursuit Read Online Free PDF Page A

explodes, blasting shrapnel at everything around it.’
    ‘Do you know how to defuse it?’ asked Alex.
    Hex brought the relevant page up on the screen inside his head. He scanned the information there, then nodded. ‘In theory,’ he said. ‘We’re going to need some pliers.’
    Paulo patted the tool-pouch at his belt. ‘I have them. Let us go.’
    ‘Wait,’ said Hex. ‘Before anyone goes down there, I want to make sure we’re all clear about this. The mine on the end of that tripwire jumps into the air before it explodes. So, if things turn bad, Li won’t be the only one to die. Understand?’
    ‘I understand,’ said Paulo. ‘Now, can we go?’
    Hex and Paulo set off down the slope, treading slowly and carefully in Li’s footprints. They were the logical choices – Hex had the knowledge and Paulo had the tools and the skill to use them – but still, Alex and Amber found it hard to stay back and watch. Khalid joined them at the top of the dune and the three of them lay belly down on the western slope, peering over the crest of the dune, willing the rescue to go well.
    As Paulo got closer to Li, he could see the strain on her face as she struggled to stay balanced on the steep slope. Her muscles were extremely strong from years of free climbing, but already there was a slight tremor in the leg that was holding all her weight.
    ‘Don’t touch me,’ she begged, in a high-pitched, panicky voice. ‘And don’t make the sand move.’
    ‘Not going to,’ said Hex calmly as he stepped over to the left in front of Li. He placed his feet with great care, making sure the sand was not going to shift before he put his full weight on the slope. Once he was sure the sand was stable, he eased down into a kneeling position. Paulo slowly moved into place on his right, hunkering down on his haunches so that Li’s foot, and the tripwire, were directly in front of him. His heart sank when he saw how firmly the wire was caught in the metal laces tab. There was no way they could release it without tripping the detonator.
    ‘OK, Li,’ said Hex. ‘I’m not going to touch you, but if you want, you can use my shoulder to lean on.’
    ‘You won’t move?’ quavered Li.
    ‘Me? Steady as a rock.’
    Li lifted her hand, hesitated, then reached out and gripped Hex’s shoulder, digging her fingers in hard enough to make him wince.
    ‘Do not worry, Li,’ said Paulo. ‘Hex knows how to make this mine safe. Right, Hex?’
    ‘Right. First, we need to make sure it’s the type I think it is. Paulo, I want you to dig down into the sand about ten centimetres to the right. We’re looking for a black tube, the size and shape of a large torch, with a separate, smaller pipe sticking up alongside it, attached at the base. If you uncover any part of the tripwire, you have to stop immediately – and I mean immediately. The tripwire must not move. Cover it up again and start digging a bit further over.’
    Paulo worked in silence, painstakingly moving the sand a handful at a time. Hex kneeled, staying as still as he could to support Li. The sun burned down on their backs and the sweat poured out of them, evaporating instantly where their skin was exposed and leaving behind a fine, white residue of salt.
    Finally, Paulo sat back on his haunches. ‘Hex,’ he said, his voice tight with tension. ‘I have found something.’

F IVE
    Paulo leaned back to let Hex see the top of a black tube, with a smaller pipe periscoping out of the sand beside it.
    ‘Good,’ said Hex, injecting as much confidence into his voice as he could. ‘Just as I thought. Don’t touch anything yet, Paulo. Li, when you’re ready, I want you to let go of my shoulder and lean on Paulo instead. I need to dig this side now.’
    ‘But, I have found the mine, yes?’ said Paulo.
    ‘Yeah, but sometimes these tripwires have two nasty surprises – one on each end.’
    Hex waited patiently until Li felt confident enough to switch shoulders, then he started