First Strike Read Online Free PDF Page B

Sam were inside, and hadn’t yet been taken to Khan.
    Putting down his bins, Connor opened the Switchblade pack. First, he removed the metre-long cylindrical launcher. The electric-powered mini-drone was inside. He set it up on a flattish piece of ground. Then he peered into the shoebox-shaped viewer which would display the real-time video feed from a tiny camera on the drone’s nose.
    Sparks kept watch. “They’re on their way,” he said after a long wait, pointing. “Game on.”
    Hamid walked one pace ahead of Danny and Jacko towards the entrance to the mine. Each carried a crate. Hamid was shaking but hoped the darkness would conceal his terror. He stopped abruptly when challenged by a Taliban sentry. “I bring extra food at the request of Mullah Khan. There is much feasting to be done.”
    The sentry stepped forward and lifted the cloth. Steam from the pot of vegetables filled the air. Replacing the cloth, he nodded and stepped back, gesturing with his rifle towards the lamplight spilling from the entrance. Barely able to hold the crate steady, Hamid thanked him and entered the mine, the heavily disguised Danny and Jacko following quickly on his heels, unchallenged.
    â€œSo far so good.” Stage one of Connor’s plan was complete. He grabbed hold of the small hand-held panel of switches and joystick he’d use to control the mini-drone once it was launched. But first he had to wait for the others to place the charges and make it out of the mine safely.
    Hamid, Jacko and Danny moved in single file through the tunnel. Connor had instructed them to place the crates on the left-hand side, sixty paces from the entrance. As they counted, they heard Mullah Khan leading his men in prayer. The voices boomed and echoed.
    â€œHere,” Danny declared. He put down his crate. Jacko placed his on top, and Hamid’s topped the stack. Danny could see rows of Taliban kneeling on prayer cushions in the main cavern, their backs to him, all facing Khan sitting cross-legged on his raised platform. He thought of Bradley and of sweet revenge.
    Turning to leave they were confronted by Khan’s right-hand man, Rafiq. He gazed at them with suspicion. “What are you doing? Why aren’t you praying?”
    â€œI have brought extra food,” Hamid explained. His feeble voice betrayed his fear.
    â€œI see.” Rafiq frowned. “Now you have brought it, you can go and pray.”
    â€œNo, I must…” Hamid pleaded. “I must go home.”
    â€œNonsense. Mullah Khan has bestowed the greatest honour on you. By your sword hand the infidels shall die. But, come, first you must pray.”
    â€œThat’s why I must go home,” Hamid continued. “I wish to use my father’s sword. It has the finest blade. Allah demands a clean cut.”
    â€œYou can use my sword,” Rafiq snapped, seizing Hamid’s arm.
    2220. Connor gazed anxiously at the entrance to the mine. “Damn it, what’s keeping them? They should have come out by now.”

CHAPTER TWELVE
Neat flying
    Jacko’s strike to Rafiq’s throat made the Taliban’s eyes bulge. A second later he was dead, his neck snapped by a sharp twist. “Let’s get the hell out of here,” Jacko snarled, dragging the body into one of the side tunnels.
    The second they emerged from the mine, Sparks headed off to join them. Connor launched the Switchblade mini-drone from its carrier. It barely made a sound as it climbed into the night sky. Connor peered into the video viewfinder and used the joystick to gain control. He sent it on a wide arc, allowing it to gather speed, and then set a course into the ravine and the mine’s entrance.
    Once beyond sight of the guards, Sparks distributed weapons to Danny and Jacko, who were keen to strip off their disguises.
    Hamid’s work was done. “Go,” Sparks said to him. “And take your family as far away from here as you can get.”
    Connor’s palms were all