The Secret Crown (2010) Read Online Free PDF Page B

and grassy to steep and rocky.
    Although the sun was shining and the weather was pleasant, Payne and Jones had spent enough time in the mountains of Afghanistan to understand how drastically altitude could affect the weather. It was sixty-eight degrees where the chopper had landed, yet the peak above them was covered in snow. Depending on the length of their hike, they knew the temperature could drop significantly - especially after dark.
    Jones swore under his breath, not thrilled with the possibilities. Despite years of training and hundreds of missions, there were few things he hated more than cold. And Payne knew it.
    ‘Looks
frigid
up there. I hope you packed your mittens,’ Payne taunted him.
    Jones swore again, this time a little louder.
    ‘What was it that you said earlier? “The man has snacks. How bad can it be?” ‘ Payne asked in a mocking tone. ‘Well, I guess you’re about to find out.’
    Unhappy with the turn of events, Jones was ready to unleash a string of four-letter words, but Kaiser cut him off before he had a chance. ‘The sun goes down around seven - even sooner where we’re headed. The trees choke out the light.’
    Payne nodded in understanding. ‘Then we better get moving.’
    Kaiser pulled a cargo bag from the belly of the chopper. ‘I’ve got flashlights and basic supplies. Everything else is at the site.’
    ‘How far away?’
    ‘Maybe thirty minutes.’
    ‘Not a problem,’ Payne said as he studied the forest. Starting at the edge of the meadow, a narrow path snaked its way up the hillside until it disappeared in the trees. ‘Out of curiosity, who owns this field?’
    Kaiser walked towards him. ‘Why do you ask?’
    ‘Why? Because we just landed a helicopter on it. Plus, if we need to haul something off the mountain, we’ll need to bring in a truck.’
    ‘Don’t worry. It’s taken care of.’
    ‘Meaning?’
    Kaiser smiled. ‘Meaning, it’s taken care of. Seriously, Jon, you should relax. All I need you to do is figure out what we’re dealing with.’
    Even though Kaiser had kept his word and filled in some details during their trip from Munich, Payne wasn’t comfortable with his role as consultant. Normally he was the man in charge of the mission, not the one with all the questions.
    ‘Sorry,’ Payne said, ‘force of habit.’
    ‘No need to apologize. Or worry. I’m telling you, Jon, this will be easy. You’ll be drinking beer at Oktoberfest before you know it.’
    Payne forced a smile, hoping he was right. ‘Sounds good to me.’
    ‘It’s about freaking time,’ snapped Jones as he brushed past them and headed towards the trail. ‘The longer we wait, the colder it gets.’
    Confused, Kaiser looked to Payne for an explanation. ‘What’s his problem?’
    ‘Unfortunately, there are too many to name.’
    All things considered, the hike was a simple one. The weather was mild, the ground was dry and the path was well defined. Someone had marked the way with chalk, placing an X on trees in order to highlight the route. Every once in a while, there would be a circle or a square or an arrow pointing to the left or right, but Kaiser explained they were ‘dummy signs’ meant to confuse intruders. Payne and Jones weren’t sure who would follow symbols in the middle of the woods - unless Robert Langdon was in town - but they took it in their stride. Until they knew what had been discovered, they weren’t sure how much caution was necessary.
    ‘We’re almost there,’ Kaiser assured them. He reached into his bag and pulled out a two-way radio equipped with GPS . ‘I have to let them know we’re approaching.’
    ‘And if you don’t?’ Payne asked.
    ‘They’ll shoot us,’ he explained.
    Jones, who was leading the way, stopped instantly. ‘Good to know.’
    Kaiser turned on the unit, then mumbled several words in German. A few seconds later, a short response crackled through the speaker.
    Kaiser nodded in understanding. ‘Okay, we’re clear. It’s just up