Summer Games Read Free Page A

him.
    Even when she turned and disappeared beyond the crest of the hill, he didn’t move. He crouched in the fragrant shadows and waited for a long sixty count.
    When no one reappeared at the top of the hill, he stood in a smooth, controlled movement. Even standing, he was still concealed by trees. He listened with the concentration of a man whose life depended on the acuteness of his senses. He heard nothing but the slow sound of grass, breeze, and leaves.
    After a moment Cord flowed out of the grove, moving with the silent ease of a shadow. His sand-colored bush jacket and jeans blended completely with the tawny grass. Even his binoculars were dun colored. He walked up the sloping hill, choosing a shallow ravine that would bring him out just behind the place his target had stood.
    Using every bit of natural cover, he climbed swiftly until he was just below the crest of the hill. Then he dropped flat and eased up to the top. He made certain that his head never rose higher than ripe grass swaying in the wind. His black hair would be easily spotted against the golden hillside.
    His pale blue glance raked the downhill side, searching for the woman who was entirely too curious about the site of the Olympic endurance event. A quick glance revealed no one moving over the land. A second slower glance didn’t do any better.
    All right, honey. Where did that nice smooth walk take you? he thought grimly. Over by those boulders?
    No, not enough time. The next grove, then?
    His eyes narrowed as he saw her on her knees in the grass. Why are you kneeling there? What are you doing?
    Cord checked the location of the sun. No help there. If he lifted the binoculars, sunlight would flash off the lenses, giving his location away. For now he would have to be content with his own excellent vision.
    Holes. She was digging holes.
    Why? What choice piece of hell are you planting? And why there?
    The tactician in Cord knew that the most effective place to put a bomb would be on the event course itself, where the horses would come thundering by, exhausted and yet still game, running their hearts out because they were born to do it and because their riders were there every step of the way, as tired and tough as their horses.
    Is that what you’re after? He watched the kneeling woman through narrowed, glittering eyes. Do you ache to kill something that’s stronger and better than you’ll ever be? Or will you be happy just turning the spectators into a hell’s kitchen of dead and dying?
    There was no answer to Cord’s questions except the one given by his own experience.
    It wasn’t a comforting answer.
    Motionless, he lay just below the crest of the hill, watching. Waiting. It was all he could do for the moment. As soon as the woman turned her back on him, he would come down off the hill and ask her some questions.
    And she would answer every one of them.
    *   *   *
    Slowly Raine stood up. She let the last fragrant eucalyptus leaves crumble between her fingers and drift away in the fitful wind. Absently she brushed off her khaki slacks and faded chambray blouse. The pungent scent of eucalyptus still clung to her like an invisible shadow, mingling with the summer scent of grass and heat.
    The good news, she decided, as she looked at the dusty earth, was that it wouldn’t get muddy under the trees, no matter how many horses galloped through. The land was dry all the way to its stony, enduring soul. With new respect and appreciation, she stared up into the towering crown of a nearby eucalyptus.
    “It’s a long time between drinks for you, isn’t it?” she asked whimsically. “You could give lessons to a camel. Makes me thirsty just thinking about it.” Without looking away from the tree, she reached into her rucksack for her water bottle.
    At the same instant something big slammed into her back, knocking her off her feet. Dazed, totally unprepared, she let her riding reflexes take over and fell loosely, rolling with the impact rather