First Strike Read Online Free PDF Page A

they’d timed their visit perfectly.
    Following Hamid’s instructions they continued along a path that climbed northwards, away from the village. With the storm having passed and the sun now out, Connor was struck by the barren, almost brutal, landscape of snow and rock. He figured that if it wasn’t for the silver and emeralds, few would even try to eke out an existence in such a remote and unforgiving place.
    The path quickly levelled out. Either side, sheer rock faces rose high into the sky. To their left, the ground fell away steeply to form a deep ravine. At the end was the entrance to the mine, a small stone building, and six Taliban guards. Danny appeared at Connor’s shoulder. “Reminds me of the caves at Tora Bora,” he whispered. “So well concealed that air strikes won’t work.”
    Connor nodded. Reaching to his wrist, he felt for his GPS device hidden beneath his sleeve and pressed the button that would record his precise position. He now had the information Rogers needed to target the air strike but knew that it was doomed to failure. Sparks read his thoughts. “Sir, it would be better if we could blow the entrance ourselves. But we haven’t got the ordnance to do that.”
    Connor remembered how Bradley had told him that Hamid’s family had stockpiled old Russian munitions. “No, but I know a man who has.”
    A sudden commotion behind them made Connor and his men turn sharply. They could only look on in horror. Hamid was waving an AK-47 rifle triumphantly in the air. Behind him, Taliban were dragging Sam and Ben. And behind them came twenty more Taliban, all shouting and cheering and waving their rifles, all baying for the blood of the American infidels to be spilled.
    “Why, the dirty, double-crossing little rat,” Jacko snarled.
    Sensing Jacko was reaching for his concealed handgun, Connor grabbed his arm. “Wait. It might not be quite what it seems.” Connor had noticed that Hamid had not pointed them out and figured there had to be a reason why. “I reckon someone came to his house and saw Ben and Sam. Hamid had no choice but to make out he’d captured them on his return journey.”

    “Khan will never buy it,” Danny replied.
    “No, maybe not, but it has bought both Hamid and us some time.” Connor came to a snap decision. “He’s not going to give us away. At least, not yet. Come on, we’ll join the crowd. They’re heading inside the mine.”
    Merging with the throng, Connor and his men entered the silver mine. The entrance, little bigger than a doorway, led to a tunnel directly into the mountainside. Well lit by lamps, Connor noted several narrow side shafts piled high with weapons and boxes of ammunition. The crowd continued on, the ear-splitting cacophony of shouting echoing and reverberating. Deep into the mine, the tunnel opened up into a ninety foot cavern. Water dripped from the ceiling and the uneven floor was wet and slippery underfoot. There were tables and chairs and filthy old mattresses, some covered in richly embroidered blankets. On a raised platform sat a plump man, wearing a black turban. He had a large scar on his face. “So we meet at last, Mullah Khan,” Connor muttered hatefully under his breath.
    Sam and Ben were thrown onto the floor at Khan’s feet. The crowd fell silent. Hamid stepped forward. “These infidels came with Lieutenant Bradley. I have tricked them. They are a gift to you, Mullah Khan.”
    A tall Taliban fighter standing at Khan’s shoulder leaned forward and whispered to him. Khan then spoke. “These men attacked a village. Many of our brothers perished. Rafiq, here, was there. He says there were other infidels.”

    “Yes, but they were killed,” Hamid lied. “I have come to ask you to release my family. I have done what you asked.”
    “How do I know you speak the truth? The men I sent with you to meet Lieutenant Bradley are dead too.”
    Fumbling beneath his shirt, Hamid produced his drawstring bag of emeralds and wad of American