The Lucifer Crusade Read Online Free PDF

to leave the area at once."
    "F-16." The voice came back. "You are not only in a restricted airspace, you are also traveling at illegally high rate of speed. You must be cited. We are tracking you with long-range missiles. We will fire if we have to. Please reduce speed and prepare for interception."
    High speed? Cited? What the hell was this?
    Hunter decided to slow down and let the interceptors catch up to him. He was unarmed, and although he knew he could have outran the long-range air-to-airs, with all the twisting and turning required more than half his fuel would be burned up uselessly. Anyway, the interceptor pilots didn't sound menacing.
    They were Tornados. Impressive fighters that had been made back in the old days by a group of European companies. Hunter had seen many of them during the air battles over France. They were a rugged, versatile, even-flying aircraft, one of the best in the world.
    They came up on either side of him. They were definitely British -both airplanes had Union Jacks painted on their tail sections. One moved in closer to his port wing and gave a gentlemanly wave.
    "Sorry, F-16, but you'll have to follow us," he radioed over. "Course seven-two-niner Tango. Our base is thirty-four kilos northwest."
    Hunter waved back. Something about the British.
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    No matter what, they always sounded so civilized. The Tornados pulled ahead and turned northwest. Hunter followed.
    The air base was actually a small, straight stretch of abandoned highway with a half-dozen large tents on either side. A long fuel truck sat off on the edge of the makeshift runway; jeeps and personnel carriers moved about. Several Rapier antiaircraft missile batteries ringed the base. Two other Tornados were parked on metal plates that served as temporary parking stations on the highway shoulder.
    The two British interceptors landed in formation and Hunter came in right after them. They taxied to their assigned metal plates, while Hunter rolled along to the center of the base. Several men waited there. A ground mechanic directed him in with a pair of red flags and gave him the thumbs-up when he was in the correct parking position. He shut down the engine, popped the canopy, and climbed out to meet the men.
    They were all officers of the Royal Air Force, dressed in the correct desert fatigues. As one, they snapped to a perfect opened-palmed salute. Hunter returned it as best he could. One officer stepped forward -a man with bright red hair and an enormous mustache to match. He walked over and shook Hunter's hand.
    "Captain Stewart Heath," he said in a slight Cockney accent. "Sorry about all this, Major Hunter."
    "Well, it's been a hell of a long time since I've got a speeding ticket,"
    Hunter said.
    Heath pointed to the two taxiing pilots. "They're just young bucks, major,"
    Heath said. "Just a tad, shall we say, 'enthusiastic'?"
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    Hunter smiled for the first time. "They're just doing their job," he said.
    "I'm glad you see it that way, major," Heath said with a grin. "Now there will be a smallish fine. But not too much. Say, a quarter bag of silver. And if you pay it up right now, I can invite you to have breakfast with us with a clear conscience."
    Hunter reached into his flight-suit pocket and came up with a small bag of coins. A lieutenant appeared, and Hunter handed him the bag. He returned the gesture with a salute.
    Heath clapped his hands once loudly. "Smashing," he said, beaming. "Now, major, please. Will you join us?"
    Although it seemed as if he had just finished his roasted lamb feast at the cafe, Hunter found himself hungry again. Plus he genuinely liked the Brits.
    "Okay," he agreed. "Could always use a little more chow."
    The entire group of officers, along with the two intercepting pilots, adjourned to a large tent where a meal of scrambled eggs, rolls, and tea was already waiting for them. Everyone helped themselves and settled down at the cafeteria-style benches to eat. Heath sat next to Hunter.
    "We've heard of