Sunset in Silvana (Da'ark Nocturne Book 1) (30 page)

The fugitives set off for the woods as quickly as they could.  The sudden darkness after the bright spotlight made even walking hazardous, but, with the agility of youth, Peter ran on ahead and found a suitable gap in the trees.  Iain stumbled after him, while RD helped Bartes limp across the broken ground, and the Sub-Major made sure they all stayed within range of his transponder.

Bartes had been listening to the shouts and screams from behind them, and risked a look back.  The troops to the south were diving for cover, trying to avoid bullets from the helicopter’s mini-gun, and those to the north were toppling like dominoes as a blurred figure sped among them.

He and RD were approaching the path Peter had located when a laser blast came out of the sky and hit the earth a hundred yards to the north.  Bartes glanced in that direction.  He was just in time to see an indistinct human shape hurtle into the trees.

The others were waiting just out of sight, and escorted them to a small clearing some thirty yards beyond the edge of the forest.  They sank to the ground as one.

“Do you think we’re safe here?” Peter asked.

“I believe so,” The Sub-Major said.  “The enemy can’t cross the border, and the trees will stop any bullets.  And by the time they get any heavy weapons here, we’ll be long gone.”

“What about the mini-gun on the helicopter?”

“The last I saw of that ’copter, it was unmanned, and heading towards the tower to the south.”  Almost as if on cue, there was a loud explosion to the south-west with an accompanying flare of light which lit the clouds above.  “I think we’re in the clear.”

As soon as he had caught some of his breath, Bartes said, “I’m going to look for Tanya.  I think I saw her dive into the trees north of here.”

“I wouldn’t bother,” RD said.  “I saw the laser blast, too.  She couldn’t have survived.”

“Then I’ll find her body.”  Bartes glowered at him.  “I’m not abandoning her.”

“I’ll help you look,” Iain said.

“Me, too,” Peter glared at RD.  “I’ve few enough friends – I don’t want to lose another.”

“I’ll come along as well,” the Sub-Major added.  “It’s the least I can do – after all, she saved my life too.  But we can’t risk using lights at the edge of the trees – they might give us away to any surviving enemy snipers.  I’ve got a pair of night glasses, so I’d better lead the way.”

“Well, I’ve got some as well,” Iain said.  “We ‘liberated’ them from a Zelynan observation post.”

“Good – then it’s not as hopeless a task as I thought, but we must keep the noise to the minimum.”  The Sub-Major helped Bartes to his feet, and supported him as they, Peter and Iain made their way carefully towards the north-east, with RD reluctantly following.

They’d reached the treeline and had been walking along it for a fair distance when Iain raised his bandaged arm.  “I can see her,” he whispered over his shoulder.  “I’m sorry, Bartes – I’m afraid it looks like RD was right.”  He inclined his head towards where Tanya’s body was draped limply over a branch.