Connor shook his head. “They had to recall it before the Myanmar military discovered it had entered their air space, but she saved the footage of the landscape beneath our flight path. They’ve been following our cell signals since we left the crash site. They’re also monitoring Myanmar’s air space and military coms. Hopefully, they’ll be able to warn us if search helicopters head our way.”
Shanti asked him the question plaguing her since they set out. “Do we truly stand any chance of making it back alive?”
He brushed a strand of hair off her cheek, his gaze going soft. “I’ll get you home, princess. I promise.”
It was gettingclose to dusk with a light rain falling when Connor came across a footpath. Because it headed generally in their direction—and because the terrain would be easier for Shanti—he followed it, Shanti a few steps behind.
He had to give her credit. She hadn’t complained about the pace or the insects or being thirsty or hungry, though he could see she was uncomfortable. He didn’t think she’d spent much time in her life roughing it, and this was about as rough as it got.
He wished to hell he had a drone overhead and Shields’ voice in his ear telling him what lay ahead. He’d gotten used to that and felt blind without it. A good pair of infrared goggles would have come in handy, too. He’d suggest that to Corbray and Tower at the debriefing—if he made it back.
He glanced back, saw that Shanti was breathing hard and sagging under the weight of her handbag. “I’ll take that for a while.”
“I can carry it.”
“I know you can, but let me give you a break. I’ve been trained to do this sort of forced march. You haven’t.”
She lifted it over her head, her T-shirt shifting to reveal a red mark on her shoulder. “Thanks.”
The damned thing probably weighed thirty pounds.
He put the strap over his shoulder. “Look for a good campsite, someplace with good tree cover but not too much undergrowth. I don’t want to be walking in the dark, not with predators on the prowl.”
“Sounds good.” She smiled, clearly trying not to laugh. It was the first smile he’d seen on her face in hours—a sign that she was bouncing back. “I’m not sure that handbag goes with the rest of your look.”
He glanced down at himself. “Are you kidding? This is what all the operatives are wearing this season.”
Shanti laughed. “Trendsetter.”
They set off again.
She seemed to have an easier time keeping up now. “How far do you think we’ve come today?”
“I doubt we managed more than twenty miles, but it was hilly terrain.”
They kept moving, the sun getting lower on the horizon, the forest thick and dark on both sides of the path. More than once, he’d been sure he heard helicopters, but they seemed to be far to the south. Then up ahead, he saw it—the roof of what appeared to be a tree house or a lookout tower.
He took Shanti’s hand, pulled her off the path and into the cover of the forest. “There’s something up ahead—a tower of some kind. I’m going to do a little recon. I don’t want to make camp too near a village. If anyone sees us…”
She nodded.
“Stay here, no matter what.” He handed her the sat phone. “If you hear gunfire and I don’t return, use this to contact Cobra. You’ll need to be clear of tree cover and other obstacles. They’ll guide you. Head northwest.”
“Please be careful.” She stared at him through wide eyes, the thought of facing this alone clearly frightening for her.
It scared him, too, the idea of her being out here by herself putting a knot in his chest. He couldn’t let that happen. She was strong, but she wasn’t prepared for this.
“I will.” He ducked down, kissed her, startling them both. “Stay hidden.”
He made his way carefully through the darkening forest, rifle at the ready, rain lashing his skin as he moved toward the tree house. There was no sign of people—no chickens clucking, no smell of wood smoke or food, no voices.
Up ahead, the forest opened into a clearing, and he saw a half dozen of them—structures built high in large trees. He waited, looked through the infrared scope, but saw no one. Moving closer, he spotted a wooden sign. Some of the writing looked like it was in Burmese, but there was also English.
Welcome to Adventure Trek Camp
A camp? Seriously?
In the center of the camp was a well with an old-fashioned iron pump. He didn’t know how clean the water was, but he could deal with that.