PRIMAL Vengeance

Chapter 49



Khartoum, Sudan



Zhu sat in the Nile River Cafe of the Corinthian Hotel sipping green tea from his favorite china cup. He gazed out of the windows of Khartoum's only five star hotel, watching a barge nose it's way down the Nile river. Around him a team of suit-wearing bodyguards did their best to remain unobtrusive.

Yang entered the cafe and crossed the polished marble floor to stand silently at his master's shoulder.

"This china has been in my family for three generations, Yang." Zhu placed his cup down. "My grandfather took it from the belongings of a British officer in 1901. He passed it to my father who passed it to me." Zhu switched his gaze from the windows to his subordinate's face. "Yang, one day I would like to pass it to my son."

The Chinese operative nodded. "Everything is ready, Zhu. The Chief of Police has men across the city. Our own people are with them to ensure there are no mistakes."

"And their man, Aden?"

"My men have him ready at the embassy."

Zhu wiped his mouth with the corner of a spotless white napkin. "Has Xinhai been able to make him talk?"

"No, not without injuring him. You gave strict instructions."

"Yes, I know. However, if today doesn't go as planned those instructions will change."

Zhu's phone beeped, indicating he had received a message. He read it and showed it to Yang.



I hope you enjoyed your breakfast. Please proceed to the roof of the hotel and await further instructions.



Yang spoke into a radio as Zhu rose from his chair. "Secure the roof. Alert all units that we have contact."

"I think it would be wise to follow their directions as much as possible," said Zhu as they walked to the elevators.

"I agree."

They exited the elevator at the top floor and took the emergency stairwell to the roof. Chinese personnel already manned all the doors and Zhu's four-man security detail escorted them every step. By the time they reached the top of the building, another security team had cordoned off the area. Chinese mercenaries armed with high-powered rifles were positioned on all sides.

Zhu was breathing heavily from the flight of stairs and he barely had time to catch his breath before his phone rang. He answered, putting it on speakerphone.

"Listen very carefully." It was the same metallic voice as before. "800 meters southeast of your position is the Souq Arabia market. You are to release Aden at the western entrance in five minutes."

"And my son?"

"If you look due east of your position you will see a construction site with a large crane."

Zhu rushed to the edge of the building and peered out over the city.

"Yes, I can see the crane."

"Very good. If you look closely you will see that there are two men on the end of the crane. One of them is your son."

Sure enough, out on the arm of the crane were two figures.

The voice continued. "If Aden is not released within the time period, your son will fall from the crane. Four minutes and thirty seconds, Zhu." The voice hung up.

The two figures on the crane dropped.

"NOOO!" screamed Zhu in Mandarin, gripping the railing.

One of the figures fell a short distance before dangling under the crane like a Christmas decoration. The other gathered speed, and like a spider it dropped on a thin line before it disappeared behind a block of apartments.

Yang took a sniper rifle off a guard, positioned it on the railing and pointed it at the dangling figure. "Is that him?"

Zhu took Yang's place behind the rifle and lowered his face to the optic. Through the magnified scope he could make out the features of the person hanging by the rope, squirming. "Yes that's him. It's him!"

Yang issued orders into his radio. "Take the prisoner to the western entrance to the market and wait for my order. Have every other unit form an outer perimeter. No one is to enter or leave the area without my approval." He looked out over the cityscape to the pathetic-looking blob dangling off the crane. "And get the helicopter here immediately."