The Serpent and the Crow

Book 4: Chapter Eighteen

Wade felt the cold chill, he felt the chill would turn to fog. He took a gulp from his canteen. Nerves made it hard to swallow, as if the very automatic procedures his body functions were used to performing were no longer relevant. He did not imagine he would be back in the same wilderness again.

But Douglas needed help. Halonie depended on their return. He would do anything to watch that happen. Wade thought of that saying. The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.

Douglas and Bolivar waited for four other Para Los Muertos soldiers to rappel. Miguel landed with ease. He was scrawnier than Wade, but you could tell by his weathered face Miguel was accustomed to jungle warfare.

Alejandro was not so fortunate with his landing. He came crashing down most likely because of the SAW he carried; Squad Automatic Weapon. Wade was familiar with the gun from Afghanistan. The SAW was meant for cover fire, the aggressive rate of fire was ferocious. It meant no one wanted to pop their heads up if that thing went off.

Juanita and Juan were siblings if there were any two people in the world that embodied a hammer and an anvil it was these two. It was obvious to Wade that the hammer moniker belonged to Juanita. She may have been a woman, but she looked like a leader of a death squad than anyone that was there.

Bolivar explained to his crew what the situation was. Bolivar was invested in this as he showed each Para Los Muertos that he had transferred Five hundred thousand to each mercenary's SWIFT account. Promising a bonus once the job was done, which his second in command would wire regardless if he came back or not. Two million dollars is a lot to pay for a one-night deal. But Bolivar did not want any hiccups.

The trudge up to Redfern was arduous. Bolivar only sourced two-night vision goggles. Bolivar had one and Wade. Anyone that has travelled in the wilderness at night without a flashlight with serious lumens knew that it's pitch black. Wade always hated it in movies, where people seem to run in the wilderness by the grace of the moonlight.

The ponderosa hid most of the moonlight. But also in the wild it is the darkness that has superiority. Wade learned that animals had the advantage. His thought was not far removed from thinking that Great Snake could eliminate each of them one by one. Only Bolivar and Wade would see it coming.

It was then that Douglas observed, even without night vision, that Redfern had been busy in that year since he was up here. It appeared Ellroy Braithwaite had used his immense wealth and connections to rebuild Redfern to its past splendour. The long staircase that looked on the verge of collapse under Douglas and Cortez was remade.

Ominous statues seemed less imposing with polished and repair work. Redfern glistened in the moonlight and they replaced the broken windows. They had cut the overgrowth back, and it was beautiful.

Bolivar signalled to Miguel and Alejandro to follow him and Douglas while the siblings, Juan, and Juanita, joined Wade's team.

Bolivar asked, "What are rules of engagement, Doug?"

"If there are any hostages, once safe, take them to the rendezvous out in the plaza where your man can ferry them back via helicopter."

"What about Ellroy?"

Wade said, "He dies first."

"Hold on a minute," Douglas said, "Yeah, he's Elmore's brother, but we know little more. He could be human or whatever Jador was. We don't know."