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readout of the electronic compass.
    This was it.
    The satellite photos they received did not reveal much about the layout of the compound. Under the cover of so much large vegetation there was almost nothing visible from above. The entire area was a thicket of tropical trees with enormous trunks and wide, spreading canopies that blocked out aerial surveillance. This was thought to be Adina’s retreat, a home away from the mainstream of the Venezuelan capital. However, the satellite heat sensors revealed a larger amount of activity than Sandor and his team had anticipated—perhaps this was also a base where Adina would plan and even equip his terrorist plots.
    He checked his watch. It was just past 3:00 A.M.
    Sandor opened the backpack and readied himself for the assault. He took his time assembling the US M24 Woodland portable sniper rifle, silencer and scope. Then he loaded the MAC-10, pocketed some extra clips and stood up. With the rifle strapped across his back, he left the backpack behind the tree, picked up the submachine gun, and moved out.

CHAPTER SEVEN
ADINA’S COMPOUND, SOUTH OF BARRANQUITAS
    H OWEVER CAREFULLY A DINA laid out his secret home in the jungle, Sandor was certain it would also be carefully guarded, even in the dead of night. There might even be trip wires or land mines outside the perimeter, so his progress became even slower. He circled back using the trees for cover, moving with extreme caution until he saw another clearing just ahead.
    He stopped and took out his night vision binoculars, removed the PNVGs, and crawled toward a wide jungle cedar to have a look around.
    He saw that the light he had been following was one of four low-intensity halogen floods that sat atop metal posts at the corners of a large rectangle. There were no fences, which confirmed his suspicion there might be traps or some sort of laser sensors in place. The floodlights were stationary, each directed outside and down, leaving the interior space almost completely in the dark. He could make out a few small buildings within the rectangle, each situated alongside a stand of the large trees that had blocked a clear satellite view. Most important, for the moment, he spotted a sentry off to his left.
    The guard was leaning against one of the tall metal stanchions smoking a cigarette. He had an assault rifle slung across his chest and wore the look of a man doing a thankless job in the middle of the jungle in the middle of the night.
    The trees would not provide much cover if Sandor chose to come at the man from here, leaving him exposed for too long when he emerged into the clearing. Charging from this angle would force him into the open for more than forty yards.
    He could take the man out with a silenced sniper shot, but he preferred to get some answers first.
    He had another look through the binoculars to see if other sentries were posted, but the trees and buildings made it impossible for him to see the other end of the compound. He decided he would circle all the way around to his left and then come at the guard from behind.
    Just as Sandor prepared to move out, the sentry straightened up, threw down his cigarette, and began to walk toward Sandor’s right. It appeared to be part of the man’s patrol, a simple stroll along the edge of this large complex. Sandor placed the binoculars on the ground, crouched behind the large cedar, and waited. The guard moved slowly, passing across Sandor’s field of vision toward the other light post off to the right.
    As soon as the man’s back was visible, Sandor did not hesitate. Leaving his rifle and submachine gun behind the tree he came out fast and low, his knife drawn.
    By the time the sentry heard the sound behind him it was too late. Sandor hit him with the full force of his weight, driving the guard facedown into the soft earth with a thud, the sharp blade of the Ka-Bar already at his throat. With his left hand Sandor yanked the man’s head back by his hair.
    “Habla