Wickerman Cove

Part 38: The Valley of the Shadow of Death

The need for stealth was really much less serious after that.

Mak rushed forward to cut the fence open, and the four of them jogged around the darkened edges of the car park towards the factory doors.

A couple more bursts of automatic weapon's fire drifted out into the night before Gabriel either got too far into the factory, or got subdued by the cultists. It depended on how many guards they had after the ones he'd shot.

"You know something," Steph said, crouching behind a concrete planter. "I'm starting to think if we're lucky, they're going to kill each other."

Mak smiled humourlessly. "Yes, I'm sure David Gabriel is far more trustworthy with the forces that are being channelled here tonight."

"Hey," Steph whispered, edging around an overgrown shrub. "I'm not saying we should go home, but if we can come in and find Gabriel's been fatally injured while gunning down everyone but the Guide, I'd be pretty cool with that."

Mak rolled his eyes. "So, you are happy that he has a weapon beyond his means and capabilities, because the possibility exists that he might use it to harm your enemies? Do they teach you anything about your country's foreign policy?"

Steph checked her borrowed assault rifle for the tenth time. It had ammo, and nobody had snuck the firing pin out while she wasn't looking. Not that she could realistically check the firing pin right now, but with luck, it was the sort of thing that she'd have noticed.

"For this to be a microcosm of US foreign policy, you'd have to have given Mansfield a crate of RPGs out of spite," Steph said. "You haven't, right?"

A slightly more genuine smile crept across Mak's face. "I brought a trailer full of AK-47s, but she was too busy trying to kill me to take delivery."

Penny tapped them both on the shoulder. I don't think anyone is coming. We should go in.

Steph smiled apologetically. "Good call," she whispered. "I think Gabriel is keeping them busy."

Don't forget the ones out looking for you, Penny signed. We should expect them to come back while we're here.

Steph tried to reach out with her newly awakened senses. The 'noise' from whatever Mansfield and the Guide were doing had reached industrial levels. Purplish spots flashed in front of her eyes.

"Did you sense that using magic? I was getting flashes in info, but all I'm getting now is a headache," Steph asked.

Penny tiled her head. There are three dry patches in the car park, she signed. Since it was still raining when you left, that suggests three cars have been moved.

"Or that," Steph said. "Okay, stick with me as we go in. There could still be some surprises."

Penny gripped her shoulder again. For the first time, Steph realised how strong Penny was when she wasn't pretending to be a tiny goth woman. If the Envious have come through, I want you to leave me. I'll have to do something, and if you stay, it will kill you very, very painfully.

She signed it one handed, forcing Steph to stare at her hand as she built the words from individual letters, signing with a speed and fluency that Steph had trouble following.

Mak stalked ahead to peer through a gap where one of the factory doors had jammed half open. Steph took a step away from the line of fire.

Penny squeezed her shoulder again. Her grip bordered on painful. Did you understand? You'll have to leave me.

"I'm supposed to protect you," Steph said, instantly angry at herself. She was a professional – you got your people home, but sometimes sacrifices had to be made. She knew that. "I mean, I..."