Apocalypse Cult (Gray Spear Society) Read Free Page B

stuck his head under the dashboard. Now I just have to hotwire this thing fast. The truck had very simple wiring—another lucky break—and he still had his electrical toolkit. Even so, he needed thirty long, sweaty seconds to short-circuit the ignition. The guards were pounding on the windows by the time he started the engine. He stomped on the pedal, spun the tires, and shot off, leaving a cloud of dust behind.
    Aaron needed an escape route. The front gate at the northern end of the compound was built from thick bars of steel, welded together, so busting through it wasn't an option. If he tried ramming the perimeter fence, he might get stuck or crash into a tree. His best chance was a small gate at the southern end, which he had noticed while memorizing the aerial photos of the compound. Beyond that gate was a narrow dirt road. He hoped it would take him back to civilization.
    He turned hard and drove south at full speed, confident in his plan. The bright floodlights helped him navigate.
    There was some kind of violent commotion in the center of the compound. He glanced in that direction.
    A huge man dressed in black and gray was battling several guards at once. Three opponents were on the ground, but at least a dozen more surrounded him and reinforcements were on the way. The guy had no chance of escape. He was like a lone moose caught by a pack of hungry wolves.
    That's Joseph! Aaron realized. What the hell? He's supposed to be with Galina!
    Aaron aimed the pickup truck straight at the fight and stomped the accelerator to the floor. He leaned on the horn to make sure his intentions were absolutely clear. Cult members scattered out of the way, their bare calves moving quickly under the lights.
    Aaron waved his arm, and Joseph nodded in acknowledgement, obviously recognizing him. Joseph bravely stood his ground as Aaron approached at full speed. Aaron hit the brakes at the last second, causing the truck to spin on the loose dirt. Joseph vaulted into the bed of the truck even before the wheels stopped turning. Aaron drove off.
    He visualized the layout of the compound as he weaved between buildings. He couldn't afford a single wrong turn. People were rushing back and forth, sometimes right in his path.
    At last, he reached the southern gate. Two guards tried to bar his way, but when it became clear he wouldn't stop, their courage broke and they jumped aside. The pickup truck barreled through the gate with a satisfying crash.
    "Yes!" he yelled.
    He was on a rough dirt road that led into a forest as dark as ink. Instead of turning on the headlights, he flipped down his night vision goggles, and night became monochromatic green day. Rocks and fallen branches on the road forced him to slow from suicidal speed to merely reckless.
    Somebody knocked on the back window. He stole a quick glance and saw Joseph sitting there. Almost forgot about him , Aaron thought.
    He stopped the truck just long enough for Joseph to enter the cab.
    "I guess I owe you. Thanks."
    "I can't leave a teammate behind," Aaron said as he drove off, "not even one who lied to me. You told me you would stay with Galina."
    "Change of plans."
    Aaron waited for a more elaborate answer, but Joseph kept quiet.
    "I bet the plans never changed," Aaron said. "You always intended to go into the compound."
    "Oh?" Joseph said.
    "Yeah. I was a decoy. A distraction. I was supposed to get caught instead of you. I bet there was nothing in that building you told me to investigate."
    Joseph looked at Aaron for a moment. "You're a real smart guy. We figured as long as you were going in, we might as well use it to our advantage. We didn't cheat you. We gave you the intelligence and night vision goggles we promised."
    "Who are you?" Aaron said. "Who do you work for?"
    "Don't ask that question. Trust me. You don't want to hear the answer. It would change your entire life, or end it."
    Aaron clenched his jaw in anger. Under the circumstances, he felt Joseph owed him some kind of