Manhunter by Chris Ryan (best books to read for beginners txt) 📕

Mallet turned to him. ‘Give him your canteen, Major.’

‘This man is dying. It is pointless.’

‘Do it.’

Mavinda reluctantly unhooked his bottle from his belt and pressed it to the guard’s lips. The man drank greedily, water dribbling down his chin. He swallowed another mouthful and groaned in pain. Then he said a few words to Mavinda in a tongue Bowman didn’t understand. It sounded similar to the language the president’s bodyguards had used when speaking to each other, back at the royal wedding.

‘Ask him what happened here,’ said Mallet.

Mavinda jabbered at the guard. The man winced and said a few words in reply. Then Mavinda translated.

‘He says the enemy attacked two hours ago. They came out of nowhere. A hundred of them.’

‘What happened to the rest of the Presidential Guards?’ Loader said.

Mavinda related the question. The guard wetted his lips again before making his reply.

‘Many of his brother soldiers chose to flee, when they saw the rebels approaching,’ the major said. ‘Only a few remained. They were cut down in a matter of minutes.’

‘By the Machete Boys?’ Mallet asked sceptically.

Mavinda shook his head. ‘KUF paramilitaries. General Kakuba’s men.’

‘KUF?’ Loader frowned. ‘But those guys we dropped upstairs were from the Machete Boys.’

‘They’re just scavengers,’ Mavinda said. ‘They wouldn’t have the skill or discipline to attack the palace. Only the KUF are capable of such a thing.’

‘Looks like they made short work of the opposition here,’ Mallet observed.

‘Do they wear lucky charms as well?’ Loader joked.

Mavinda’s expression was deadly serious. ‘The KUF are the closest thing the rebels have to a professional fighting force. Many of them deserted the army with General Kakuba. They even dress like soldiers.’

‘They must be the ones being trained by the Russians,’ Webb said.

Mavinda stared at him with raised eyebrows. ‘Russians?’ he repeated.

‘They’re supporting the rebels,’ Mallet said. He told Mavinda about the military advisers, the Kremlin plot to back the coup.

‘The Russians have chosen a dangerous ally,’ Mavinda said after he’d finished. ‘General Kakuba is a terrible man. He has attacked many villages in Karatandu. His soldiers rape, kill and loot anything they can find, then burn the villages to the ground. They say he eats the livers of his defeated enemies.’

‘Let’s hope we don’t bump into that fucker,’ Loader said.

Mallet said, ‘What happened to the president’s family? Ask your man.’

The major relayed the question to the wounded guard. He responded in a croaking whisper, then coughed up a gout of blood.

‘He says they managed to escape,’ Mavinda said after the man stopped talking. ‘Through a service exit.’

‘He’s sure?’ Casey asked.

‘The family fled before the KUF rebels could get into the compound,’ Mavinda said. ‘This man says he is certain of it. The senior ministers tried to flee through the same exit, but the rebels cut them off and herded them into this room with the remaining guards. Then they executed them, one by one. The staff pleaded with their captors to spare them, but General Kakuba did not care. Some of his men were laughing when they tossed grenades at the victims.’

Casey suppressed a shiver. The man said something else. Mavinda’s face clouded with unease.

‘What is it?’ Bowman demanded.

‘He says Mr Gregory is with the family as well. He helped them to safety.’

‘Mike? He’s with the family?’

‘Yes.’ There was a hint of trepidation in his voice. The major gave him a wary look. ‘You know him?’

‘He’s a good friend of mine,’ said Bowman.

‘Where did they go?’ Mallet interrupted. ‘Ask him, Major.’

The guard was drifting out of consciousness now. He muttered something inaudible. Mavinda told him to repeat it. The man mustered one last reserve of strength, lifted his dimming eyes to the major.

‘Rogandu,’ he said. ‘Rogandu.’

His head dropped. His breathing faded to a faint murmur.

Mallet turned to the major. ‘What’s this Rogandi gaff your man is talking about?’

‘Rogandu,’ Mavinda corrected. ‘It’s a small village. The most eastern district in the country.’

‘Why would the family leg it there?’

‘There’s a private estate near the village. A few miles to the north. One of Mr Seguma’s friends built the place. It was intended as a gift to the president.’

Bowman said, ‘Who’s the friend?’

‘A Canadian. Mr Camby. He’s responsible for all public transportation in Karatandu. A very lucrative position. He paid for the mansion in Rogandu, but it really belongs to Mr Seguma.’

‘Must be good mates,’ Mallet noted. ‘Not everyone has a friend who builds them a fucking palace for free.’

‘Mr Camby owes his fortune to his friendship with Mr Seguma. It’s in his interest to keep the president happy.’

‘Is that where we’ll find his wife and kids?’

Mavinda thought for a moment. ‘Makes sense. Rogandu is isolated, far from the capital. Mr Seguma hasn’t stayed there for several years. They say the place has fallen into disrepair these days. I can’t think of a better place to hide.’

‘It’s a lot safer than staying in the city,’ said Loader. ‘What with the Machete Boys running around chopping people up.’

‘How far is it from here?’ asked Webb.

‘A hundred and fifty miles. Four hours, if you stick to the main road. Less, if you take the short cuts.’

Mallet said, ‘Will the rebels know about this place?’

‘Everyone knows about Rogandu. It is the worst-kept secret in the country.’

‘In that case, we can assume the enemy will be heading for the mansion soon,’ Casey said.

‘Then we’re fucked.’ Loader threw up his hands. ‘They’ve got a head start on us. Even if we leave now, we’ll be lagging behind. They’ll get to the residence before us.’

Mallet shook his head firmly. ‘There’s a chance we can get there first.’

Loader threw him a doubtful look. ‘How’d you figure that, John?’

‘The president owns a load of other residences around the country. The rebels will assume the family has fled to one of those other homes. They’ll be busy searching them all. That should buy us time to get to the jungle estate before them.’

‘You might be wrong,’ said Casey.

‘What’s the alternative? Either we go to Rogandu, or we throw in the towel. Unless anyone has