The Cult of Osiris (51 page)

He took a deep breath . . . and ran.

Nina and Grant reached the gatehouse. Part of the castle's structure had been extended by a booth with mirrored windows: a security station. The drawbridge controls were almost certainly inside.

Nina reached the door first and flung it open - just as the sound of echoing gunfire reached her from the far side of the pyramid. She instinctively looked back.
Eddie—

A noise inside the booth. Nina whirled to see a guard drawing a gun. She jumped backwards - and collided with Grant as he tried to follow her inside. He lurched clear, but she stumbled and fell on her back. The gun was jolted from her hand.

The guard ran towards her. She tried to get up, but he was already upon her, pointing his gun down at her head—

A sudden blur of motion, and the automatic flew into the air as Grant leapt up and delivered a high kick to the man's hand. He landed straddling Nina, twisting to slam an elbow into the guard's chest and following it by backhanding him in the face. The man staggered.

Grant grinned at Nina. Krav Maga, man! Learned those moves for a movie.' She wasn't impressed. 'This isn't a movie - and he's not down!'

Huh?' He looked round - and saw the guard still standing, a hand to his aching nose and an expression of rising anger on his face. 'But that always works on set!'

Because they 're
stuntmen,
idiot - aah!' Nina scrambled out of the way as the enraged guard tackled Grant to the ground and clamped his hands round the actor's throat.

Another shot cracked across the courtyard, one of the pyramid's glass panels shattering behind Eddie as he sprinted to pass in front of the helicopter. Lorenz, already leaning from the cockpit to track him, would in moments be forced either to jump out or shoot through the windscreen to maintain a line of fire - and with the chopper almost at takeoff speed, both options were unlikely.

Which meant he would take one last shot—

Eddie threw himself into a forward roll as the Dutchman fired again, the bullet kicking up splinters from a flagstone. Without pause he leapt back to his feet and continued running, angling back round to the pilot's side . . .

The helicopter left the ground.

He pushed harder, squinting into the blasting wind. The aircraft ascended at full power, its skids already six feet off the ground in less than a second, rocketing skywards—

Eddie jumped.

One hand fell an inch short - but he clamped the other round the skid as the helicopter turned.

His weight made the aircraft sway, its occupants instantly realising they had another passenger. 'Shake him off!' Shaban ordered.

Eddie pulled himself up to get a grip with his other hand - as the helicopter tipped sharply, trying to jolt him loose.

The guard slammed Grant's head down, squeezing his neck harder. The actor grimaced, eyes bulging. 'Your movies,' the man grunted, 'are
crapV

Grant tried to gurgle a riposte as he struck at the guard's head, but he couldn't score a solid blow. The man dug his thumbs deeper into his neck, pushing down on his carotid artery—

Hey!

The guard looked round - and Nina kicked him in the face. He rolled off Grant, spitting out blood and broken enamek But he wasn't out of the fight. He spotted Nina's gun and scrambled for it.

His own pistol had landed further away. Nina dived, landing painfully as she snatched it up and twisted to face her opponent.

He was taking aim—

Nina fired first. A bloody hole burst open in his green blazer as she shot him in the stomach. He screamed, all thoughts of returning fire eradicated by agony.

Jesus!' Grant gasped. 'You
shot
him!

No shit! Get the gun!' As the shocked Grant crawled over and pulled it from the man's shaking hand, Nina rushed into the booth. CCTV screens showed the main gate, the drawbridge and the road on the shore - where she could see the ASPS' van and the other Shogun waiting to cross.

Where were the drawbridge controls?
There -
a panel on one wall. She shoved the lever to the down position and stabbed at a green button. A buzzer rasped, followed by the whine of a motor, then both noises were drowned out by the clank and rattle of chains as the drawbridge descended.

She ran back outside and saw the helicopter rise unsteadily into view from behind the glass pyramid.

Someone was hanging from the skids. Eddie.

The pilot jerked the cyclic control stick sideways. The helicopter lurched, veering towards one of the castle's towers before he pushed the stick back to counter the sudden move. The passengers jolted hard in their seats, and something banged against the fuselage under the pilot's side window. Macy shrieked.

Is he gone?' Shaban demanded.

The pilot leaned over to get a better view of the skid— The door flew open.

A deafening whirlwind blasted into the cabin as the rotor downwash came through the door - followed by Eddie. He had used the chopper's roll to swing up and hook his legs round the skid, letting him reach the door handle. The startled pilot took a savage punch to the face, and before he could recover Eddie muscled his way inside and put him in a chokehold. Land this thing!

Shoot him!' Shaban barked.

Lorenz raised the gun - and Eddie hit the struggling pilot again, twisting him into the line of fire. The Dutchman swore, trying to aim round him—

Eddie yanked back the cyclic stick.

The chopper's nose tipped up sharply, throwing everyone backwards. Alarms honked and buzzed: stall warnings. The EC130 was now flying backwards - and descending rapidly, the rotor blades' steep angle not generating enough lift to maintain height.

In the corner of his eye, Eddie saw the pyramid approaching fast—

He released the stick. The pilot slammed it forward and jammed down a rudder pedal in a desperate attempt to regain control before the helicopter smashed into the pyramid. The EC130 pitched forward, spinning. Centrifugal force threw Eddie outwards, only his grip on the pilot keeping him in the aircraft.

He clawed for another handhold - the buckle of the pilot's harness.

His thumb pushed down on the release.

The pilot let out a choked scream of fear as the belts popped free. The only thing now keeping him in his seat was his grip on the controls. The pyramid whirled past, the Eurocopter's tail sweeping barely a foot from the dark glass.

Take it down!' Eddie roared.
'Now!'

Take us up!' Shaban bellowed. He unfastened his own seat belt, leaning across the cabin to pull Eddie's arm off the pilot—

Macy slammed her elbow into the Egyptian's face. He jerked back, headdress flying off.

Lorenz pointed the gun at Macy—

Eddie grabbed the controls again.

Horrified, Nina watched as the helicopter reeled drunkenly back behind the pyramid, losing height. 'Oh, my GodI
^T

Grant stood, rubbing his throat. 'Whoa, I wouldn't want to be in that. Where's Eddie?'

She gave him an anguished look. 'Where do you think?

The van sped past and skidded to a halt, the Shogun following. Assad jumped out of the latter as his troops deployed, glancing questioningly at the now-unconscious guard. 'Dr Wilde! Where's the zodiac?

She pointed at the keep. Third floor - but listen, the cultists ore oil trapped in the pyramid! You've got to keep them there until the authorities arrive. If any of them escape with the spores . . .'

Assad was torn, but reluctantly nodded. I'll split the ASPS into two teams, one for the zodiac, the other for—' The helicopter wobbled back into view, still spinning. What in

Allah's name?'

Shaban's aboard - and so are Eddie and Macy!' The EC13G dropped behind the pyramid once more. Nina stared helplessly after it - then jumped into the empty Shogun.

Dr Wilde, wait - stop!' Assad cried as the Mitsubishi peeled away after the helicopter, Nina not even bothering to close the door. 'Not again!'

The Eurocopter was only twenty feet above the courtyard, the pilot unable to increase power as he clung by his fingertips to the collective control lever between the front seats.

Eddie kept his fearsome grip round the man's neck. His grab at the controls had stopped Lorenz from shooting Macy, but the Dutchman was recovering from the dizzying spin.

As was Shaban. Macy tried to hit him again, but he twisted her arm upwards and back. There was a popping crackle from her shoulder, and she screamed. The Egyptian shoved her against the door. She moaned in pain.

Another clack of a seat belt buckle, and Lorenz leaned forward, pointing the gun round the pilot for a clear shot. Eddie grabbed the weapon with his free hand, trying to aim it away from himself.

Both men's hands trembled as they fought to overpower the other, but Lorenz had more leverage. Grunting with effort, Eddie brought one foot up off the skid and into the cabin, forcing himself inside.

The shuddering gun pointed towards the pilot. If Lorenz fired, he would be signing his own death warrant. Eddie pushed harder—

Eyes blazing with hatred, Shaban lunged forward and smashed a fist into his face. Eddie toppled backwards, losing his grip on the gun . . . and the pilot.

He fell—and slammed painfully against the skid. His foot was tangled in the seat belt. Dangling upside down, he was less than ten feet above the ground - and the helicopter was still dropping, about to crush him!

Nina slewed the Shogun round the corner of the pyramid - and saw the helicopter ahead, still spinning, losing height—

Coming right at her.

Shit!' she shrieked, stamping on the brake and diving out of the open door as the EC130 whirled like a sycamore seed at the 4x4—

The gasping pilot sat up - and flinched in shock as he realised how close he was to the ground. Jamming down the other rudder pedal, to counter the spin, he twisted the throttle to increase power.

Eddie's outstretched hands scraped the ground - then the helicopter levelled out. He saw Nina sprawled beside the ASPS' second 4x4 as he was whisked past.

The Shogun—

Nina jumped up. 'Eddie!' she yelled as the chopper steadied, hovering above the courtyard. The winch!' he shouted back. 'Chuck it to me!' What?'

He jabbed both hands at the Mitsubishi's front end. 'The winch, the
cable
¹
.
Throw it!

The 4x4 had a winch system affixed to its front bumper, a hundred and fifty feet of steel cable with a hook at the end. She ran to it as the EC130 drifted back towards her. Pulling the

release lever to let the spool turn freely, she grabbed the hook with one hand and tugged out a length of cable with the other.

Get us out of here!' Shaban snapped. The pilot applied more power. The helicopter rose again.

Nina looked up at Eddie as he swept past. Their eyes met.

She didn't know if she had pulled out enough cable, but it was the only chance she had to save him.

He stretched out his hands.

She hurled the hook with every fibre of her strength.

The line arced towards him, whipping in the downdraft. He stretched out, grabbed— Caught.

His forefinger closed round the very tip of the hook. He pulled it up, getting a grip with both hands—

The cable reached the limit of the slack Nina had drawn out. It pulled tight, the spool whining as more line was unwound.

It spun faster. She looked up. The helicopter was ascending ever faster.

Straining, foot twisting in the tangled seat belt, Eddie bent at the waist. He couldn't quite reach the skid. With a roar he pulled harder, crunching his body, but the tension of the cable stopped him short.

The pilot briefly took his hand off the cyclic to close his door, but something obstructed it. Hand back on the stick, he glanced at the straining harness beside his seat. 'He's still here!'

Lorenz!' Shaban snapped. 'Lean out and shoot him!

Lorenz looked back uncertainly. Lean out?'

He's hanging from the skid! Shoot under us!' He stabbed an angry finger at the floor The Dutchman looked more dubious than ever, but obediently turned to take a firm grip on one of his seat belt straps before unlatching his door.

Nina looked frantically between the helicopter and the winch. The cable had almost run out.

Lorenz pushed the door open and leaned out, craning his neck to get a view under the EC130's fuselage. He spotted the flailing figure on the other side of the aircraft and moved out further, taking aim.

Eddie made one final desperate lunge as Lorenz fixed him in his gunsights— The hook caught on the skid.

A split second later, the cable reached the end of its reel.

Nina leapt back as the Mitsubishi jumped violently. Above, the slamming jolt as the rapidly ascending helicopter came to an abrupt stop flung Shaban and the pilot upwards, the latter smacking his head on the canopy. Macy, strapped in, cried out as she was thrown against her restraints.

For the two men outside the cabin, the effects were more extreme.

Eddie, a moment earlier struggling to reach the skid, was suddenly hurled up against it. On pure instinct, he wrapped his arms round the metal tube, clinging to it.

Lorenz was less lucky, his gun hand catching the edge of the door frame and knocking the pistol back into the cabin as he was thrown upwards—

His head clipped the rotor blades.

Red and grey sprayed across the windscreen, then he fell, the top of his skull missing in a neat line just above his eyes. The tumbling body smashed on the unyielding stone a hundred and fifty feet below.

The dazed pilot slumped against the instrument console, the cyclic stick pushed under him. The helicopter slewed sideways towards the pyramid, trapped on the cable like a hooked marlin leaping from the sea.

Nina yelped and jumped out of the way as the 4x4 followed it. The Eurocopter didn't have enough power to lift the two-and-a-half-ton Shogun - but it could drag it.

Eddie pulled up his free leg and hooked it round the skid. A glance down: the chopper was over the pyramid, heading for the shaft of light stabbing skywards from its summit.