I frown. It kind of looks like…
I squint and lean forward as much as I dare to get a closer look.
The guard turns again, momentarily stepping out of the shade of the trees and into the glare of the sun. The metallic weapon glimmers and I can just about see a logo engraved on the side.
GlobaTech Industries.
Fuck! I knew I recognized the design. It’s just like the AX-19 Oscar gave me a few days back. I wonder if Josh knows people like Mr. Way are using his weapons…
I shake my head to re-focus. That’s a problem for another day. Well, it’s not, actually. Not for me, anyway. I’m dead, remember?
Okay, so, there are lots of guys, and they’re all well-equipped with top of the range hardware…
Piece of cake!
First thing’s first — how do I get in the damn place?
I slowly back away, dissolving silently into the forest. I continue left, keeping the fence visible. It takes me a good half hour to make my way around the perimeter of the compound. I find a spot and crouch low behind a cluster of trees, almost directly opposite where I was before. On my left is the clearing that leads inside.
I hope Hong Yun is okay. No reason she wouldn’t be, I guess, but my spider sense is tingling, and it’s making me paranoid.
As I made my way around, I was looking for any gaps in the fence, or any easy ways over it, but there was nothing. This place is locked down tight, which leaves me with very few options. I have to hand it to The Order — if you want to be a member, you have to work for it!
Okay, think, Adrian… I need to get inside. I’m unarmed, so I can’t exactly mount a frontal assault… I need a weapon, but the only place I’m going to find one is in there… I can’t scale the fence because, as best I can tell, wherever I come out on the other side is in full view of someone…
Dammit! Think, Adrian… c’mon!
Wait…
No, that’s just stupid.
I could always…
No, I couldn’t. Shit.
Oh, hang on…
I could always…
Hmmm…
Lightbulb!
I search the ground around me and soon find what I’m looking for — a broken twig with a sharp edge. Without thinking, I run the splintered end over my palm and my cheek, hard and fast.
I wince. Shit, that stings!
I feel the warmth from the trickle of blood running out of each wound. Next, I get two handfuls of dirt from the ground and squeeze them in my fists. I rub them over my forearms and face. I dust off the excess, stand, and then take a few paces back and forth to practice my fake limp.
Okay, that should do it. I reckon I look suitably messed up.
If this works, I’m a genius.
If it doesn’t, I’m dead.
I make my way slowly over to the clearing, trying my best to look out of breath and sore. I follow the path I saw Hong Yun take. It veers left slightly, and after a few moments a guard post appears up ahead — a makeshift gate made from wire mesh between two metal poles on wheels blocks the way. There’s an armed man standing on either side.
I approach them slowly, running through every possible outcome in my mind as I slip into character. They see me and exchange the briefest of glances before raising their guns, aiming at me with an unnerving steadiness.
Showtime.
I thrust my arms into the air, lowering one immediately as if forgetting a pain. “Oh my God, please help me! I’m…” I stand still for a moment, and then drop heavily to one knee. “…I don’t know… where…”
I fall flat on my face, eyes closed. It’s a risk, but I think I did alright. Josh was always better at this than I was, but I could play a part well enough when I needed to. As I lie here, listening to the hurried footsteps of the guards as they make their way over, it occurs to me that there weren’t many things Josh wasn’t better at than I was. He was smarter than me, better with computers, more organized, a better actor, more levelheaded… arguably the same level of taste in music… I’m definitely better at killing people, but that’s hardly something to shout about, I guess.
Oh — here we go.
I feel them hook my arms and hoist me unceremoniously to my feet. I fight the urge to support my own weight, instead hanging loose in their grip. They’re pretty strong, and they drag me easily over to the post, shouting to one another in a language I don’t recognize. Strangely, it’s not Vietnamese. At least I don’t think it is. They don’t sound like Hong Yun did, anyway. But I can tell from their tone they’re concerned… maybe even a little afraid. That gives me something to go on. All these people, all these weapons, yet they’re on edge when one, beaten up, unarmed man collapses on their doorstep… Why so touchy?
I hear the gate roll open and I’m dragged through. As it closes again, I notice another set of footsteps coming toward me.
More voices.
I think these two ass-hats holding me up are explaining to the new arrival what’s happened. That might mean whoever’s in front of me is in charge. Mr. Way…? Nah, I doubt it. If he’s the big cheese around here, he won’t bother himself with shit like this.
I feel a hand grab my jaw and squeeze, making my face pucker. They lift my head and shake it back and forth.
Okay, okay — I’m up…
I slowly open my eyes.
Holy shit!
There’s a guy’s face inches from mine. And he’s an ugly sonofabitch!
I twitch, startled. Which isn’t part of the act. “Wha-what’s happening? Where am I?”
I watch as the guy in front of me narrows his eyes and stands straight. Jesus, he’s a big bastard! He must be damn near seven feet tall!
I act drowsy and allow my head to droop, mainly because I’m not sure I can hide the frustration from my eyes. It’s Way’s head of security. I recognize him from the picture. And he’s…
Shit!
The picture!
It’s in my pocket! If they search me, I’m screwed!
The guards on either side of me let go of my arms. I drop to the ground and land on all fours. I tense, bracing for a kick to the ribs, but nothing comes. The head of security utters something and walks away. The two men standing with me start arguing.
I look up at one of them. “Where… am I?”
He turns to me and smiles. “You in Hell!”
Oh, man — that’s disgusting! The teeth that weren’t missing were yellow and black…
I sigh. “Oh… good — glad I asked…”
They heave me back to my feet and march me across the open yard. This is my first real look inside the compound. I move only my eyes, keeping my head still so I don’t make it obvious I’m scoping the place out.
It’s big. There’s a row of small, temporary housing units over on the right, maybe seven of them side by side. Each one could easily accommodate thirty people. They look like the ones GlobaTech have been shipping all over the world to help out after 4/17. In fact… yeah… they are the ones GlobaTech have been shipping out!
Whatever else Mr. Way is, he’s a fucking thief! Wait ’til I tell Josh!
Oh, wait… I can’t.
Damn it.
Lining both sides, probably every three or four hundred yards, is a guard tower. Crudely-built wooden structures standing maybe fifteen feet high. There’s a platform at the top, protected on all sides except the one that has a ladder leading down from it. I count seven of them on the left, nine on the right.
Directly across from me are a half dozen 4×4s, parked at random angles in between a fuel dump and a small workshop.
Ahead of me, at the far end of the camp, is a large tent. The kind military generals used back in Roman times. To the side of it is a fenced-off area, maybe twenty feet square, full of grass and plants. I can see four women crouching as they tend to it, all of them dressed similar to Hong Yun.