The Eagle's Covenant Read Free Page B

and Joseph were concealed.
    “They are coming.” It was simply stated. Nothing more was required. He turned and immediately went back to his own patch, his own killing field.
    Breggie got up and put the Uzi around her shoulders so that it was carried across her chest. Joseph picked up his bag and kissed her swiftly on the cheek. He could literally feel the tension in her body. He kissed her again and then jogged up the road to a position about twenty metres further on from Karl.
    The three of them were ready. There was no need to let Conor know the convoy was on its way. He knew exactly what he had to do.
    *
    Schiller was surprised to see a security guard at the gates. These were normally manned by a gatekeeper whose job it was to receive all deliveries of incoming goods, mail and unwanted callers. Anything the gatekeeper was unable to deal with could be handled by the security office established at the entrance to his residence.
    He saw the security guard talking to the driver of the lead Mercedes and stiffened. Joanna thought nothing of it but was immediately aware of Schiller’s sudden curiosity. He touched the button on the small control panel set into the door and lowered the window. The guard walked up to the limousine and saluted.
    “Sorry for the little delay, Herr Schiller.” He stooped and looked in through the open window. “The boss decided it would be better if we had someone here to keep the paparazzi out.”
    Before Schiller could respond the guard had stood up and was redirecting his attention to the last Mercedes. Schiller grunted and leaned back in his seat. The window closed noiselessly and the car moved on.
    The men in the third car had watched all this with interest and curiosity. The guard walked over to them as their driver lowered his window. He went through the same drill, explaining the reason for the extra security. He waved them through. None of the occupants of the three cars had ever seen the man before.
    When the cars had disappeared from view, he then closed the gates and slipped a padlock through them from the inside. He paused momentarily, staring absently at the assembled pressmen, and then went back inside the small gatehouse.
    *
    Trucco lifted the rifle and pulled the stock close into his cheek. Nothing obscured his vision as he looked through the scope and sighted the crossed hairs on the trunk of a tree immediately across the road from him. He then swung the rifle to his right and waited.
    Joseph dropped into position behind a tree on the edge of the tree line. He opened his bag and emptied out its contents; several magazines of 5.45 mm. hollow point bullets and two hand grenades. He was beginning to sweat and had to wipe his hands down the front of his combat vest. Joseph would not have the opportunity to pick his target as carefully as Trucco would. He had to wait for the car to come to rest.
    Breggie held the Uzi tightly, as though she was afraid she might drop it. She could feel her heart beating in her chest. She was almost salivating and could feel wetness in her loins.
    Conor heard the sound of the cars climbing the hill. He held a limpet bomb in his hand. In the waist band of his trousers he had stuffed a Browning 9mm automatic pistol and around his chest was a Heckler and Koch 9 mm MP5 submachine-gun.
    Trucco saw the leading Mercedes briefly through the trees. There was very little sound, much of it being absorbed by the forest. Suddenly a vibrant noise shattered the calm; the machine-like rattle of a woodpecker scything through the wood. Trucco closed his eyes and swore softly beneath his breath. His finger had tightened perceptibly on the trigger. Had it not been for the fact that the sound of the woodpecker had been attendant on them since early morning, he would probably have mistaken it for gunfire.
    The car appeared, moving effortlessly up the slope. He brought the rifle up to his cheek and peered through the telescopic sight. The crossed hairs danced momentarily on