The two approached the van and Farrow helped Alik into the far back seat before climbing in herself.
From his car seat, Danny’s eyes were wide with worry at the sight of his brother. Having taken his responsibility as guardian of the defenseless child seriously, Maze leaned back against him to shield the boy’s view before a series of canine sneezes hit. His sharp nose was feeling the sting of the pepper spray wafting in the air. When he finally stopped sneezing it was only because he started licking his muzzle and whining sympathetically. Danny wrapped a pudgy arm around him and craned his neck around so he could see his brother.
Margo’s heart squeezed tightly in her chest for her oldest son. The soldier in her forced her shoulders square and her voice calm. “Farrow, are you well enough to help Alik wash away the oils from his face?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Farrow said through a raspy cough and started searching for supplies with shaking hands.
Theo’s phone started chirping. He glanced down at the screen. “Margo, they’ve shut down the airport because of the approaching storm.”
Margo flinched reflexively.
“Jacobi recommends we take cover as they’re reporting damaging high winds and zero visibility.”
“Mom!” Evan’s voice carried through the rolled down window of the sedan that had pulled up beside them. “We good to go?”
“Yes,” she nodded. “Change of plans, though. Sandstorm shut down the airport. Just follow us,” she yelled. Trying to decide what to do, Margo looked back at her children who were trusting her to keep them safe.
“What do you want to do, Margo?” Theo was looking at her expectantly.
Watching her son with Farrow made her heart swell with desperate hope for the future. Then her eyes locked onto Danny. He had been watching the worry and panic carve lines into his mother’s face.
“Danny? Remember what you said to me about the salt water?”
“Yes!” His whole face broke into a wide smile.
“Do you think you could try to help Alik feel better?”
Danny started bouncing excitedly in his seat. Concerned over the sudden change in his behavior, Maze whined and licked the boy’s face causing the curls on that side of his head to stick up adorably.
“I can help everybody feel better, Mommy.”
Margo smiled widely at her youngest son’s enthusiasm. She turned back around and looked at Theo.
“Are we really doing this?” Theo asked.
“Head south. We’ll look for signs leading us to the turnoff for the Fayed Oasis.”
“You want to take the children to ‘The Great Bitter Lake’ in the hopes that our four-year-old will be able to cure their wounds in the salt water? And all of this has to happen, oh I don’t know, before a sandstorm rolls in? Not to mention the insane Dr. Williams on our heels trying to wipe us off the face of the earth? Have you lost your mind?”
Margo frowned, “Well, when you say it like that, it does sound pretty far-fetched—but can we argue as we drive?” Margo motioned emphatically toward the road.
The van made a wide turn followed by the sedan. Within moments, they were driving as fast as they could down the road.
23 Williams’ Contingency Plan
Back on the sand dune, Kerry Braden grimaced at the dislocated shoulder he’d suffered during the crash. It wasn’t the first time, and it probably wouldn’t be the last. He unbuckled his harness and tumbled to the ground, catching himself with his good arm but still biting back the urge to yell.
He looked around to find his teammate. He didn’t have to look far. The rifleman’s body slumped in his harness. From his angle, Braden could see the misshapen side of his head—gray matter glistening in his hair. His rifleman was dead.
"Shit," he muttered softly as he reached for the radio.
“Base this is Company Leader, Braden with Chopper 1. We’re down. I repeat, we are down.”
“Survivors?” clipped the voice on the other side of the radio.
“Just me.”
“Triangulating coordinates. A recovery team is en route, sir.”
“Copy,” Braden clipped.
Not willing to see the Director in such a state, Braden worked his way out of the cockpit and walked around to the chopper’s skids. He positioned himself against the landing blade and with a silent scream, whacked his shoulder as hard as he could.
The first two times didn’t work.
He only had enough strength for one more try before the pain would make him pass out..
This time he took a running start. The lightning strike was so intense, he couldn’t help but cry out, fall to his knees and keel over from the pain. That’s how the recovery team found him five minutes later.