The Trade (A Hans Larsson Novel Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

this is one-seven-seven,
over,” his upper-middle-class English accent unwavering and professional.
    “Go ahead, one-seven-seven.”
    “We have visual on the cargo ship, over.”
    “Proceed with caution, one-seven-seven. We await a sit-rep,
over.”
    “Roger that, out.”
    HMS Fortitude ,a Type 23 frigate, had been on
a joint training exercise with the Cape Verde coastguard. Upon receiving the
news of Hans’ rescue, Phipps wasted no time in contacting its captain to
request a casualty evacuation. The ship steamed toward the Kimberley II to
get within the operating range of its Lynx helicopter. Hans would remain aboard
the British warship until the ship’s doctor was satisfied his condition had stabilized
enough for the chopper to transfer him to Cape Verde’s Agostinho Neto Hospital.
    Despite having spoken to the captain of the Kimberley II by satphone, Bungy Williams circled the aging vessel twice, as per procedure, checking
for any landing hazards before making his final approach, flaring the high-tech
bird gracefully to set her down on the designated shipping containers
highlighted with a crudely painted white H.
    The aircrewman leapt out and skipped across the stack of
freight to where Carlos and Juan crouched next to Hans’ stretcher, doing their
best to shield him from the downwash from the rotor blades. After a brief
conversation the Filipinos helped load the injured man onto the Lynx.
    “Wait, wait!” Carlos yelled above the din. “You better take
this.” He pulled the teddy bear found in the life raft from his overalls.
    With a shrug, the crewman threw it into the hold and
clambered in himself, and the chopper was away.
    Meanwhile, in Boston, Muttley had organized an experienced medical
team, who would fly out to Cape Verde on the Concern’s Learjet and provide
urgent treatment before returning Hans to a hospital in the US. Naturally, Penny
and Phipps insisted they accompany him on the flight.
    On the deck of the Kimberley II , Jens and his boy Chamfar
watched the helicopter depart until it was a speck on the delicate blue backdrop.
With the reward money shared among the crew, this would be Jens’ last voyage on
the faithful old barge.
    He put an arm around the first mate’s shoulders. “So how do
you think the fishing is in Mozambique, my friend?”
    “I think it is very good, Captain,” the boy replied with his
ever-cheeky grin.

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    “H ey sailor,” Penny held Hans’ hand as he opened his eyes.
    “Miss Masters I presume.” He feigned a
smile.
    They were in a private ward in Boston’s exclusive
Ross Medical Center , where Hans had spent a week in an
induced coma following surgical debridement to remove gangrenous
tissue from the side of his head. The surgeons left the gaping wound open at
first to allow the site time to self-heal, closing it when reinfection was no
longer a threat, leaving a jagged red welt only a skin graft would fix. Hans came
out of the coma four days ago, but it was only now he was lucid that the various
intravenous feeds of drugs, fluids and nutrients had been removed.
    “Feeling better?” Penny knew it was a
ridiculous question, but there was not a lot else she could say.
    Hans squeezed her hand and stared into the distance. Their
thoughts locked. It was all Penny could do not to dissolve into a sobbing mess.
With painkillers flooding Hans’ bloodstream, the full extent of Jessica’s loss
had yet to hit home, and she prayed she could do something to ease his pain
when it did.
    “I . . . I can’t believe she’s gone.” Hans’ good eye fixated
on the teddy bear sat on the table by his bed.
    “Let me move this,” she offered.
    “No!” Hans rasped, placing his hand on her arm. “No.”
    Moments passed in silence, the agonizing reality suspending them
in a meaningless black void.
    “I thought I had her, Penny.”
    “You don’t need to talk about it now—”
    “No, I need to.” Hans turned to face her. “She was swimming
up to me as Future sank. I