The Storm Maker (27 page)

       After
a few more minutes of firing, Sayett heard the rifle fire taper off. It was
only the SPASI guards shooting submachine guns. They were also not getting any
incoming fire over their heads. But before he could even imagine that the enemy
had retreated, a loud voice with a foreign accent spoke through a megaphone.

       “We
have you surrounded,” the voice boomed. “Throw down your guns and surrender, or
die.”

       “Stop
firing,” Sayett said over the inter-truck radio. “Stop firing right now. My
order.”

       SPASI
firing ceased. Now an eerie silence ensued, as no one dared move a foot and
everyone waited in anticipation.

       Sayett
and Qyett slowly got up, keeping one hand on their guns, and peered over the
dashboard at the four men on the road some distance from them. Three of them
had their rifles aimed, but the fourth one was holding a megaphone with one
hand and his rifle was aimed up in the air.

       Sayett
had brought a megaphone with him as well to use in the raid. He took it out
from under his seat and talked back in a loud boom. “What guarantee do we
have?”

       “None,
but you have no other option,” the man on the road replied. “We are not
murderers; if you surrender, you will live.”

       We
are not murderers, Sayett thought, what a truckload of nonsense. However the
man was right, Sayett and SPASI guards had no choice. They could not hold until
the army or the warriors got there. Besides, this was no syndicate, these were
trained Ranx soldiers; he hoped they would not shoot prisoners.

       “We
will surrender, hold your fire,” Sayett said over the megaphone.

       “Go
on, we won’t fire,” the booming voice replied.

       Sayett
put down the megaphone and picked up the inter-truck radio speaker. “SPASI
Guards, this is Sayett. We have been given the option to surrender. I have
accepted it. Help is on the way. Chief Yucker knows of our predicament. We are
not soldiers holding the last line of defense for our country, so I will not
sacrifice anyone here and we won’t fight to the last man. Your orders are to
leave your guns in the trucks and come out slowly. One truck at a time,
starting with the first one.”

       SPASI
guards were hesitant, but they knew that Sayett spoke the truth. As much some
of them would have liked to fight till death, they were duty bound to follow
orders. SPASI guards came out unarmed from one truck at a time. Ranx riflemen
emerged from the both sides of the woods pointing their Ranx rifles at the
guards. No words were exchanged between the two parties.

       Sayett
and Qyett left their weapons in the truck and walked out. The man with the
megaphone and his three armed associates walked towards them.

       “I
am Chief Detective Sayett,” Sayett said to them, “I have the command and the
highest rank here. Who is my counterpart amongst you?”

       “I
am,” the man with megaphone said as he handed it to one of his soldiers.
“Corporal Montex,” he said with a smile.

       “Corporal
in the Ranx Army?” Sayett asked.

       “No
more talk detective,” Montex said.

       “I
want to negotiate; I have the authority to do so, what are your demands?”
Sayett said.

       Montex
laughed. “But I don’t have that authority. You can negotiate with my boss when
we get there,” he said. “Now leave your dead behind and leave those injured as
well who you aren’t willing to carry on your backs. We will give medicine to
the injured at our base, but anybody who tries to run, we shoot on the spot.”

       “Nobody
will run,” Sayett said.

       “Then
let’s go,” Montex said and then smiled slyly. “Your army will be coming; we
have to prepare for a war.”

       Sayett
did not like this last comment and he could not believe that these Ranxians
thought they could hide out and evade capture when the Army took over the
search. Now it appeared that they were preparing to fight even the army? With
what, though? Even one Starfirian Army regiment with a thousand soldiers had
enough firepower to destroy their base. This was strange.

       As
Sayett was thinking these thoughts, the Ranxians had arranged the SPASI guards
in two files, with Ranxians themselves standing a few feet away on each side
with their guns aimed. Sayett tapped Qyett on the shoulder and they walked over
to stand in front of each files respectively. He counted the SPASI guards on
his way and had come up with a count of sixty-six, including both unharmed as
well as injured but alive. In contrast there were only a few dead amongst the
Ranxians who were being carried back. Sayett would have guessed no more than a
dozen Ranxians had died.

       “Follow
me,” Montex said.

They
walked into the woods guarded on each side by the armed Ranxians. Some SPASI
guards helped the injured limp along, while the seriously injured were carried
on the backs of the bigger guards. Tired and demoralized the guards moved along
quietly with their heads slumped.

“We
are almost there,” Relkyett said to the friends following him.

       “Relkyett,
do you know the police chief,” Tulkar asked walking up beside him. “I mean,
what is he going to think when he sees fifteen armed men show up at his police
station?”

       “I
have my army identification,” Sthykar said.

       “So
do I,” Jontvyk said.

       “Don’t
worry,” Relkyett laughed. “I have met the police chief a couple of times in one
of the town taverns and had conversation with him, as well with two of his
policemen different times. He will recognize me.”

       “The
question is whether he will believe us,” Karyett said.

       They
walked for another twenty minutes before they were out of the woods and on the
side of a road. In front of them across the road was a rectangular building.

       “That’s
the police station,” Relkyett said.

       “Why
are people assembled outside?” Tulkar wondered.

       “Let’s
go find out,” Sthykar said. “Relkyett, you go in front since you are known to
the town folks.”

       There
was no traffic on the road, so Relkyett crossed over, followed by Sthykar and
then the rest of them.

       Twenty
or so people—men, women and elderly—had assembled outside of the Coldwoods
Police Station. They were conversing amongst themselves about the puzzling
disappearance of their town police.

       “My
husband is a policeman; he was supposed to come home to pick up his food,” one
woman said. “Surprised to see him go away with the rest.”

       “My
son had overnight duty,” an elderly woman said. “He must be tired. He always
comes home in the morning after night duty.”

       “We
call the police when we are in trouble,” a man said, “but who do we call when
the police are in trouble?”

       “We
call the army,” another woman said.

       “Coming
through! Let the colonel through,” Relkyett called when reaching the outer edge
of the crowd. He made his way towards the station door.

       “That
was fast, we were just talking of the army,” the woman said.

       “Not
the army, madam,” Sthykar said from behind Relkyett. “Just a few of us soldiers
on vacation. Now, what is the problem here?”

       “Our
entire town police are missing,” an elderly man said. He stepped in front of
the station’s front door and when Relkyett and Sthykar reached it and pointed
to a handwritten note taped to the door.

We
have all gone to rescue lost mountain climbers
—
Police Chief
’

       And
it was signed.

       “Is
that the right signature?” Sthykar asked.

       “It
is,” the man replied, “I am retired policeman, Rydar; I have seen his signature
before when I was in the police a few years back.”

       “What
does anybody know?” Sthykar turned to face the crowd. His friends were standing
yet further behind the crowd.

       “My
husband was at home off duty; him and his partners were suddenly called in by
the chief,” one woman said. “Their duty did not start till tonight. I hadn’t
made his lunch then so I came to deliver when I found this place empty.”

       “She
called me,” Rydar said. “I called others and we have been scratching our heads
for the last half an hour.”

       “Do
the police go on a rescue like this?” Sthykar asked.

       “Yes,
but rarely more than half a dozen policemen go,” Rydar said. “They also call
the towns folk for help. Never all of them at once. There is also that old law
that requires the presence of at least two policemen at every town police
station at all times.”

       “I
am familiar with that law,” Relkyett said. “No police chief would be ignorant
of it. We have to assume the town police is in trouble.”

       “Alright,
I am taking over command of this matter,” Sthykar said. “Rydar, you stay here;
rest of you go back home. I will have the Town Administrator make a town wide
announcement when we solve this mystery.”

       “Colonel,
I respect your ability, but this isn’t army jurisdiction,” a man said. “You
can’t order us dispersed or conduct a police investigation.”

       “Rightly
said,” Sthykar replied with a smile. “However I do not assume command as an
Army officer, that I could only do under orders from the House of War; but
under the King’s name as the King’s Champion which gives me the privilege of
national investigation authority.” Sthykar took out his Champion’s card and
held it aloft for to the crowd to view.

       “You
are…” Rydar began.

       “Colonel
Sthykar,” he said. He had not wanted to reveal himself, but he had to convince
them of the veracity of his claim as a Champion.

       The
crowd was delighted and clapped and yelled in joy. They had only heard of the
legend of Colonel Sthykar on the radio or read it in the newspaper. Now they
were standing in front of him and their excitement momentarily made them forget
the matter of the disappearance of their police.

       “Alright,
let me and my friends get to work here,” Sthykar said. “Your townsman, Rydar,
will help us.”

       The
crowd slowly walked back to their cars. Some of them turned again to catch his
sight. A few people waved at him as they drove away and he waved back.
Sthykar’s friends walked up to the door as the last of the car left the parking
lot.

       “I
hope the whole town doesn’t show up to meet you now that they know of your
presence,” Jontvyk chuckled.

       “I
guess we will have to be fast then,” Sthykar said. “This must be the handiwork
of those gunmen in the woods. We will be back in the forest in no time.”

       “What
gunmen?” Rydar asked.

       “Long
story; will tell later,” Sthykar said and then called out to his two big, 6’2’’
and 6’4’’ tall friends, “Dentar, Felptar come here.”

       Sthykar,
Dentar and Felptar leaned over one of the doors and in one hard shove broke it
down. The iron lock stayed on the outer hinge, but the wooden door fell on the
ground with a thud. Sthykar walked in followed by Dentar and Felptar as the
rest entered after them.

       “Nobody
touch anything,” Sthykar said. “See something, say it, but don’t move it.”

       Sthykar
leaned over one of the side tables and looked at the cards. He was familiar
with the game that was being played. He turned over the cards of all the
different players.

       “They
must have left in a real hurry,” Sthykar said. “Not all the players in the game
had even finished playing their hand.”

       “All
the rifles are gone, too.” Rydar pointed to an empty rifle rack on the wall.
“And they took their pistols as well, but everything else is on the desks.”

       Sthykar
walked to the chief’s desk. He looked at the schedule that was half finished
and the pen that hadn’t been capped.

       “Like
I said, they left in real hurry,” Sthykar said pointing the schedule. “The
chief did not even finish his patrol schedule for the next week—didn’t even cap
his pen!”

       “That
doesn’t make sense,” Relkyett said. “That woman just said earlier that the
chief called in the off-duty policemen. That must take few minutes even if they
lived up the road.”

       “Right,”
Sthykar said. “It only makes sense if they were suddenly ambushed.” Sthykar
quickly corrected himself, “No, kidnapped. I don’t see a single cartridge or
blood spot. Whoever did it, must have taken them by complete surprise.”

       “Ranx
Rangers,” Felptar said. “They are the ones with the ability to pull it off.”

       “I
believe so,” Sthykar said. “I am going to call the House of War now.” He picked
up the phone on the chief’s desk and then tossed it down.    “Damn, I should
have seen it coming,” he said. “It is dead, no ring tone. They cut the
telephone wires.”

       “Colonel,
you can call from my house, it is just ten minute drive away,” Rydar said.

       “I
have a powerful radio with me,” Sthykar said and put the bag he was carrying
onto the chief’s desk. He opened it, rummaged through and took out a big radio.
He drew out the radio antenna, flicked on the switch and turned a couple of
knobs. Then he took up the radio mic.

* *
*

       SPASI
Chief Yucker had reached the House of War where he was received by the Supreme
Commander Krratyk Nyk. Air Commander Byter Booter and Warrior Commander Tybett
Ryt were also present in the main conference room.

       “Chief
Yucker, tragic what happened to your detectives and the guards,” Supreme
Commander Krratyk said, “as well as Constellar Slyntya’s kidnapping.”

       “Took
all of us at SPASI with complete surprise,” Yucker said as he took his seat
opposite to Krratyk. “These Ranxians seem to have a lot of manpower and
firepower.”

       “I
ordered the mobilization of the local warrior class as soon as I got your
telephone call,” Krratyk said. “Commander Tybett will tell you more of it.”

       “Chief
Yucker,” Warrior Commander Tybett said. “We have ordered mobilization of two
thousand warriors of the 999
^th
Reserve Army under Colonel Weltar;
Coldwoods is in that district. They will take about three to four hours to get
assembled.”

       “I
thought two hours was the standard time for the first two thousand warriors’
mobilization in an emergency,” Yucker spoke with a concern.

       “True
for over ninety percent of our reserve armies,” Tybett said, “Except for
sparsely populated warrior districts where people are spread out a lot more and
it takes longer for sufficient warriors to assemble. Unfortunately, Coldwoods
is under one such district, geographically large but sparsely populated. I
don’t believe you want me to send the warriors directly to this syndicate’s
location.”

       “Definitely
not,” Yucker said. “They are a competent and organized fighting force. We need
an assault by a massed army.”

       “The
nearest regular army base is a six-hour drive away,” Krratyk said. “Weltar’s
999
^th
reserve army is the closest fighting force we have there.”

       “My
fighter planes can strafe those bastards,” Air Commander Byter said/ “Only we
would have to know where they are keeping the hostages.”

       “I
don’t believe we have that knowledge,” Yucker said. “I would be totally against
air attack.”

       “I
agree,” Krratyk said, “and I won’t approve an air attack till the hostages are
rescued and safely back in our hands. What I want to know is if the Ranxian
State has a hand in it. If so we can try to intimidate the Ranxian leaders. Our
military power is five times greater than that of Ranx Nation.”

       “We
captured a man from the Eye of Ranx—their spy department—for playing both
sides,” Yucker said, “but he claims he was given the order by his supervisor.
How far up the order comes from he didn’t know.”

       “How
did these Ranxian soldiers get into our country?” Tybett asked. “Is our port
administration so loose and sloppy?”

       “No,
they are fine operators,” Yucker said. “Not all these men didn’t came from the
seaports, although some were smuggled in, but also through the airports. I had
Sayett’s team of detectives go through Ranxian tourists and businessmen and
match their photos with some of the robbers. They apparently overstayed their
visas and disappeared. Since we never had a war or any type of hostility with
Ranx, SPASI never paid much attention to the Ranxian travelers.”

       “Don’t
beat yourself up,” Krratyk said. “We have to focus our resources on enemies
like the Narducat Empire. That is what we wanted you to do.”

       “As
soon as this matter is resolved, I am going to expand SPASI’s watch to all the
travelers,” Yucker said.

       As
they were talking, an army officer from the Radio Operations knocked on the
door and saluted Krratyk.        “Commander,” he said. “Colonel Sthykar is on
the radio. He says he needs to talk to you right away on an important matter.”

       Krratyk
was bewildered and he looked at Yucker. “Does he know about his wife getting
kidnapped?”

       “Not
as far as I know,” Yucker said. “We have been trying to locate him but to no
avail. He is on vacation. He could have heard, but I don’t know from what
source. We haven’t even told the Constellation about her yet.”

       “Alright,
I will receive his transmission here,” Krratyk said to the officer. There was a
radio on a side desk of the room. The officer carried it over and set it up on
the central table, plugged in the cord, dialed a few knobs and then pointed to
a button. “Sir, press whenever you are ready,” he said, saluted and exited the
room, closing the door behind him.