Desperado (Murphy's Lawless: Watch the Skies Book 2) by Kevin Ikenberry (any book recommendations txt) 📕

Bo nodded. “Without aerial reconnaissance, we’re kinda hosed. We can see if Colonel Murphy can get us something from space, but I doubt that, too. We’re on our own.”

“Maybe Lieutenant Turan can get us something from the inside.”

“When we talk again, I’ll tell her what we found. Hopefully, she’s found a few things today, too.” Bo reined Scout back to the west and gestured for the patrol to fall in behind him. He prodded Scout into a trot; the whinnie didn’t complain and seemed glad for the faster pace.

It was a beautiful evening for a ride. At that moment, there was nothing to do but quietly make their way back across the valley. The pieces were coming together.

* * *

Imsurmik

Aliza emerged from the tunnel into the city. She’d make sure the math was right later, but she estimated the tunnel through the rock on the southern side of Imsurmik was roughly a half-mile long. The collection of vehicles and the other items in the cache site were a critical intelligence requirement that needed to be reported. Aliza delivered the parcel where the leader pointed.

She turned back to him and asked, “Again?”

The man grinned at her, showing several missing teeth, and nodded. He pointed back down the tunnel, and Aliza set off. She counted her steps a second time, wanting to ensure her count was right, and by the time she emerged on the far side she determined she’d been close enough. When she reached the transport, there was a long line of volunteers waiting to receive parcels. Aliza took her place in the queue and glanced around the complex as much as she deemed safe. Given Bo’s position on the far side of the valley, she was certain he couldn’t see this site at all. So any additional information she could gather, particularly on the number and type of guards and weapons systems, was critical.

Along the top of the canyon, armed guards stood watch or walked patrols on both walls. They were high enough that an attack would be hard-pressed to get through them and down into the canyon itself. There was no way for the vehicles in Bo’s complement to attack, either, without coming out of the valley and revealing themselves as they moved east on the wide road. Bo was too prudent to take that kind of chance.

Aliza smiled. He is cautious and good.

The line of bearers paused and didn’t move for several minutes, so she stepped out of the queue and moved to her right, along the southern canyon wall. She was able to get close enough to the outer wall to see its level of fortification and the number of soldiers guarding it. Both were prohibitive. Constructed of rock, she estimated the wall was at least seven meters wide at its base and rose to a pathway at least two meters wide based solely on the number of people she saw. Several weapons were mounted atop it as well. There was little doubt it was fortified all the way across, but her position did not allow her to see any details beyond the near lip.

Aliza passed several large cylindrical tanks and tried to discern if they were for fuel or water; no luck. As she moved further around the curved edge of one tank, a tall, powerful man stepped into her path. She recognized him immediately as she’d literally run into him not more than a half hour before. He’d somehow beaten her to this side of the plateau, and, given the fury in his eyes, he’d recognized her as well.

“Waornaak,” called a voice from behind the brute. His eyes did not move from her. Aliza couldn’t keep up the intense glare and dropped her eyes. He wore bandoliers over both shoulders and there was a large knife strapped to his left hip.

Waornaak? I know that name!

“Get this woman out of here,” Waornaak said over one shoulder without taking his eyes off hers.

Aliza swallowed and kept her face up. “I, uh…”

“Never come back here, woman,” Waornaak growled. “Return to your line. This area is not for you.”

“Why not?” she asked, finding her courage. Waornaak’s eyes widened slightly, as if he wasn’t used to being questioned. Aliza pressed her advantage. “Are we not all gathering supplies to survive the Sear? And aren’t you guarding them to protect them for our city? I could help you. Maybe as a guard, even?”

Waornaak sneered. “I have no use for you. Get back in your line and do not put your eyes where they do not need to be.”

“So sorry,” she said. “I was looking for a…latrine.”

The man’s stare eased, and one side of his mouth curled under. He pointed back toward the tunnel entrance. “Down the other wall from where you came in.”

“Thank you,” Aliza replied and made to leave.

Turning away, she heard another man call, “Zeesar’s first caravan will be here within the hour, Waornaak. We must make ready.”

Zeesar. I have heard of him, as well. Another person of interest.

Appears I’ve hit the jackpot.

Aliza filed away the name Zeesar along with what she observed of Waornaak: that he was someone in charge, someone with a small band and obviously keen to the goings-on of the town. This Zeesar person also would need to be found sooner rather than later.

Aliza tried to look chastised as she made her way back to the line where people still waited to gather new parcels. The truck was mostly unloaded, and in front of the parcels she was delivering, Aliza saw several tubes that appeared heavy—carried by one man on each end.

Some type of missile?

The line finally moved. Aliza collected a parcel, placed it on her shoulder, and turned back toward the tunnel. Clearly, Imsurmik wanted protection as the Sear approached.