She passed a bright orange windsock at the edge of the grass helipad, then turned to watch the blue-and-white helicopter lift and turn back to the mainland. It had been a one-way ride, and the text she had just received from Wu Tian confirmed he was in place and that the sailboat was waiting for them to make their escape once the operation was complete.
The helipad sat atop a butte on the northeast corner of the island between Cavern Point and Scorpion Ranch. She slung the duffel over her shoulder and started down the dirt trail, descending the side of the hill toward a modern settlement of tan-colored prefabricated houses. Passing the National Park Service enclave, she continued south on the gravel road and spotted Wu Tian squatting patiently in the shade.
He stood when she approached and slipped a dry sack onto his back, then lifted the other off the ground and handed it to her. “Everything’s here,” he said.
Chen grasped the shoulder straps and swung the dry sack onto her back, cinching them down to distribute the weight evenly. “Did you have any difficulties transferring the equipment from the container?”
“None.”
She looked toward Scorpion Ranch and saw several tourists milling about in brightly colored outdoor recreation clothing. “Think they will give us any trouble?”
Wu Tian followed her gaze, then shook his head. “I take it you brought the supplies we need if they do?”
She patted the duffel bag, feeling the soft cases inside containing the Heckler & Koch MP7 submachine guns and enough ammunition to deter a squad-sized enemy force. “Hopefully we won’t need them,” she said.
“Agreed,” he said, before glancing at his watch. “Let’s get moving.”
He didn’t wait for her assent and turned to begin their trek. She was content letting the former
“What do you suppose that’s for?” she asked.
He glanced at the windmill and shrugged.
Without consulting a map, Wu Tian took the right fork and followed the trail up the side of the hill. It wasn’t a steep climb, but it offered a nice view of Scorpion Ranch to their left. After cresting a small rise, the trail angled south, and the anchorage came into view where she saw the naked mast of a sailboat resting offshore. “Is that her?”
He nodded. “The dinghy is at the south end of the beach.”
When they reached the top of the hill, Wu Tian took a trail that cut back to the west. There were no trees offering protection from the sun, and the wind hammered at them as they cut back toward the interior of the island. After walking another half mile, the double-track trail again turned south, and she found herself enjoying the hike despite her almost overpowering exhaustion.
They reached another trail intersection, and he stopped. She would never have admitted it to him, but she was thankful he had decided to take a small break. He lowered his dry sack to the dirt and squatted over it, unrolling the top to remove two Nalgene water bottles. He handed one to her, and she eagerly accepted it, uncapping it and bringing it to her mouth to gulp down the lukewarm water.
“Only a little farther,” he said.
She nodded, knowing the comment had been intended for her benefit. Wu Tian was a veteran of the
He took another sip of water, then capped his bottle and slipped it back inside his dry sack. She handed hers back, and it also disappeared inside. For this mission, they had dressed like every other recreational hiker enjoying the Channel Islands and wore Arc’teryx or Outdoor Research shorts over Asolo hiking boots and brightly colored fleeces and soft-shell jackets that had been removed as the sun bore down on them. She caught Wu Tian casually glancing at her revealing tank top, but otherwise he appeared totally focused.
Their dry sacks weren’t filled with the usual equipment and supplies one might expect of backpackers visiting the island. No tents, sleeping bags, or sleeping pads. They carried enough water to last them twenty-four hours, but the other items they carried wouldn’t be found on any other hiker.
“Shall we?”
