Treason, page 18
“We were never engaged.”
57
KRASNODAR KRAI, RUSSIA
There was a dull hiss in her ears as she awoke, lying on her side with her back against the cliff wall. As her vision cleared, she realized it was the sound of the unrelenting rain, which seemed to be coming down even harder in the early morning light. She pushed herself to a sitting position, noting someone had covered her with a SEAL camouflage jacket while she slept. A quick look around spotted Harrison without one; he was sitting beside Kalinin, talking with him in Russian. Harrison’s eyes caught hers for a moment, then he looked away as he continued his conversation with Kalinin.
Christine took a closer look around. Two SEALs were on watch at opposite ends of the cliff recess, which appeared to be the entrance to an abandoned trail along the cliff face, following the river. Maydwell and Rosenberry were weathering their wounds okay; both had good color in their faces and were talking quietly with two other SEALs. Christine pulled her water bottle from her backpack and took a sip. Senior Chief Stone saw her stirring and moved along the ledge, stopping beside her.
“Do you have food?” he asked.
She pulled the Russian rations from her backpack. “Not the tastiest,” she said.
“May I?” Stone asked, reaching toward the pouch.
Christine opened the package and offered him a piece of dried meat.
“That’s not bad,” he said. “You’ll have to wait until we return to Michigan for a decent steak, though.”
“Do we still plan to wait until tonight before heading to the coast?” she asked.
Stone nodded. “The area is infested with Russian soldiers. Our best bet is to stay put until nightfall, although this miserable weather would provide excellent cover. Even if they chose to fly helicopters in this mess, their visibility would be almost nothing, and their satellites are useless as well. But waiting until darkness, combined with the bad weather, is better.”
Chief Stone moved on, conferring with one of the SEALs on watch before checking with the other. Christine chewed a few pieces of meat, then rummaged through her backpack and selected a pouch of dried fruit. As she stared into the gray, dreary weather, her thoughts drifted to her conversation with Harrison last night. She had dropped her guard and revealed the one thing she wished she hadn’t.
When she had learned Harrison was engaged, she’d reacted indifferently on the phone, passing it off as—it’s your loss, not mine. However, the news had been devastating. She’d spent the rest of the weekend curled in a fetal position in bed, crying into her pillow.
He said he would wait.
The years passed and she married Dave Hendricks, their tumultuous marriage coming to an end ten years later. Christine had to admit she was partly to blame. Although she could reason her way through the most complex issues, she sometimes struggled to contain her emotions, and every once in a while, she’d say or do things she’d later regret.
Compared to some of the things she’d done, last night was a minor transgression. But she had finally revealed her true feelings—that she’d been devastated by Harrison’s engagement. She didn’t know why it was important he not know, but for some reason it was. It was a moot issue now.
She glanced at Harrison again. He was still talking with Kalinin and the two men seemed to be getting along. Christine wondered where their conversations went; whether Harrison was probing Kalinin for information about their relationship, or worse yet—giving him a data dump on her. Although she didn’t have any dark secrets, she was bothered by the thought that they might be talking about her. She decided to join them.
Christine approached Harrison, handing him his camouflage jacket.
“Morning, Chris,” he said. “Did you get a good night’s sleep?”
“Not bad, considering the accommodations.” She sat down, the two men clearing a spot between them.
Kalinin noticed that Harrison had used a nickname for Christine. He asked the Navy SEAL, “Do you two know each other?”
“You could say that,” Harrison replied. “We were engaged.” Then he cracked a sly smile.
Christine’s anger ignited. Despite their conversation last night, Harrison had pointed out they’d been engaged, just to spite her. She punched him in the chest as hard as she could, narrowly missing the armor plate in his tactical vest. “Why do you always go there when someone asks about us? Why can’t you just say, ‘We’re friends’?”
“That’d be a stretch.”
Her eyes narrowed, then she draped her arm around Kalinin’s shoulders. “Yuri is my friend.”
“You should choose your friends more wisely. Look at where we are.”
She turned to Kalinin. “He’s being an ass. Ignore him.”
“Well,” Kalinin replied, “if I didn’t know better, I’d swear you two were married.” He glanced at Harrison and spoke again in Russian, and the SEAL laughed.
Christine pulled her arm away. “You’re not helping.” She folded her arms across her chest and gazed into the pouring rain.
Kalinin offered Harrison a faint smile, which Harrison returned.
Stone hurried toward Harrison, dropping into a crouch. “We got company. North end.”
Harrison donned his jacket and helmet, then took his M4 carbine and headed toward one end of the crevice while the other SEALs grabbed their gear and weapons. Stone and Harrison stopped beside Brown at the north end, then the three men pulled back. After conferring with Harrison, Stone moved back down the ledge, updating everyone.
“About twenty Russians below, maybe more. Can’t tell through the rain. They’ve spotted the cutout in the cliff and three men are on their way up. We can’t take a stand here. They’d radio in reinforcements before we could eliminate them. We’re moving out.” Stone pointed to the other end of the ledge, where Stigers was standing watch.
The ledge ahead narrowed to three feet, wide enough for passage in single file only. Her eyes shot to Kalinin and his swollen ankle.
“I will manage,” he said.
He didn’t have a choice. He’d have to power through the pain until they reached more favorable ground where a SEAL could assist.
Christine grabbed her backpack, then followed the SEALs as they made their way toward Stigers. Rodrigues helped Kalinin to his feet as Harrison issued orders into his headset. Stone took the lead while Christine and Kalinin were placed in the center of the column, Christine in front. While they waited, she turned back toward Harrison and Brown. The two SEALs had their M4s raised to the firing position. Each man squeezed off several rounds, then hustled toward the single-file formation.
Harrison placed himself between Christine and Kalinin, while Brown took up the rear. Harrison spoke into his headset and Stone moved forward, followed by the others. After the single-file column exited the crevice, Harrison directed Brown, “Use a thumper. Close the passage.”
Brown pulled a grenade launcher from its holster, then fired a round into the far end of the ledge. The cliff shook from the explosion, partially filling the passage with rubble. Brown fired two more grenades, blocking the route completely. Another order from Harrison and the column moved forward on the narrow path, snaking slowly along the cliff. Kalinin limped along, his slow progress setting the pace.
The rain came down in cascading torrents, hitting Christine and the cliff walls at an angle, accompanied by gusting winds whipping through the gorge. They continued along the winding cliff face, with the ledge narrowing to only two feet. The path eventually widened again, but the ground transitioned from hard rock to loose gravel, sloping down toward a precipitous drop. She peered over the path’s edge at the swollen river two hundred feet below. The water rushing through the ravine crashed against the rocks along the way, creating a white mist blanketing the river.
Several of the SEALs ahead lost their footing momentarily before steadying themselves, and the trail gradually deteriorated with each person’s transit. Christine continued on, following closely behind Rodrigues when the path beneath her gave way. She tried to catch herself, but both feet slipped through the loose gravel, and she slid toward the cliff edge.
Harrison lunged toward her, grabbing her arm. But his hand slipped down her wet forearm as she fell, until his grip held at her wrist. Christine’s weight and momentum were too much, however, and she pulled Harrison toward the cliff edge.
Mendelson dodged past Kalinin and grabbed Harrison’s left boot. He dug his feet into the trail, halting Harrison and Christine’s momentum. Harrison’s lower body rested on the sloping cliff while his upper body hung over the edge. Christine dangled in midair, two hundred feet above the raging river.
In his effort to reach Harrison, Mendelson had knocked Kalinin off balance. His weight ended up on the wrong leg and he lost his footing as well. Kalinin slid down the steep path toward the cliff edge.
Harrison grabbed Kalinin’s wrist with his other hand as he slipped off the mountainside, and the Russian swung in the air beside Christine. With Harrison holding both of them, he began sliding down the mountainside; Mendelson’s footing was giving way.
Rodrigues joined in, grabbing Harrison’s other boot, halting his descent. But Rodrigues and Mendelson were dangerously close to the trail edge. A few more inches and all three SEALs, along with Christine and Kalinin, would plummet over the cliff. Christine looked down and the mist parted for a second, revealing the river surging through the ravine far below.
Stigers and Brown joined in, helping Mendelson and Rodrigues gain better footing before grabbing on to Harrison’s legs. With four men pulling, Harrison inched upward. But they had three more feet to go before Christine and Kalinin would be within reach of another SEAL.
The downpour continued, the rainwater running down Harrison’s arms and over their hands. As he inched slowly upward, his grip on Christine began to slip, her hand sliding through his. Harrison clamped down even harder, almost crushing the bones in her hand. Then his hold on Kalinin began to slip. Harrison yelled into his headset, urging the four SEALs above to pull faster. His rate of ascension increased, but Christine and Kalinin were still two feet away from help.
Her hand slipped even farther, as did Kalinin’s. As the rain streamed down Harrison’s face, falling toward her, Christine saw the panic in his eyes. It was a look she’d never seen from him in the thirty-plus years she’d known him.
Harrison would have to choose between them. He could save either Kalinin or the woman he had loved for most of his life.
If there was one thing Christine was certain of, it was that Harrison would save her.
Then he let go.
Of her.
Christine’s shock was overcome by fear as she fell toward the jagged rocks two hundred feet below.
58
KRASNODAR KRAI, RUSSIA
Kalinin watched Christine disappear into the heavy rain and mist as Harrison grabbed him with both hands. As the two men inched upward, hauled by the other four SEALs, Kalinin listened for a splash, praying Christine hit the water instead of the rocks. But he heard nothing above the roar of the turbulent water. Kalinin saw the anguish on Harrison’s face after he released Christine. Then the SEAL closed his eyes for a moment. When they opened, a cold, hard look settled over him and he aimed his gaze at Kalinin.
Slowly, Harrison and Kalinin were pulled back onto the path. The five SEALs and Kalinin rested on the narrow path, sitting with their backs against the cliff, while Stone, Rosenberry, and Maydwell stood watch. Harrison stared into the rain, and no one said a word while they waited for his order to continue. Kalinin’s thoughts went to Christine. Even if she survived the fall, she’d be swept through boulder-filled rapids, her body smashed against the rocks. Finally, Harrison stood and gestured forward. Stone began moving again, and the eight SEALs and Kalinin snaked slowly along the cliff face.
Ten minutes later, they reached a break in the cliff, offering a passage west through the mountains. They turned and ascended a ravine, which led to a grassy plateau. The SEAL formation spread out, with Kalinin in the middle. Mendelson assisted the Russian president, wrapping one of Kalinin’s arms around his shoulders. Harrison took the lead while Stone moved to Kalinin’s other side. They traversed the plain, then descended toward the sea. The rain began to ease and Kalinin heard the faint beat of helicopter rotors every few minutes passing by in the distance, growing gradually louder each time before dissipating.
The SEALs scanned the forest and the skies as they advanced, and visibility improved as the rain eased. The formation suddenly dropped into the foliage, with Mendelson pulling Kalinin down with him.
“Chopper,” Mendelson explained, pointing up and to the left.
Kalinin squinted as he peered into the rain, and a dark object passed slowly by beneath the gray clouds.
After the helicopter melted into the haze, Stone conferred with Harrison, then turned to Kalinin. “Get comfortable. Visibility is improving and they have air assets. We can’t risk the transit to Michigan aboard the RHIBs in daylight. We’ll wait until nightfall.”
* * *
The day passed slowly, then dusk finally arrived. Kalinin rested beside a tree, with Mendelson and Stone not far away. Kalinin figured they had another hour until it was dark enough to begin moving again when Stone spoke into his headset, concern in his voice. Kalinin listened to the one-sided conversation.
Russian soldiers were advancing toward them, arranged in a line between the SEALs and the shore. The SEALs would have to create a gap in the line like they’d done the previous night. Darkness hadn’t yet fallen, so they couldn’t slip through unnoticed this time. Once their presence was revealed, it’d be a race to the shore.
Stone approached Kalinin. “How’s your foot? How fast can you travel?”
Kalinin massaged his ankle. The tenderness was fading, but it was still stiff and swollen. He could walk unassisted if he had to, but running through the forest was out of the question.
Stone informed Harrison, and a moment later, Mendelson removed his backpack and crouched beside Kalinin. “Hop on.”
Kalinin climbed onto Mendelson’s back as Senior Chief Stone slung Mendelson’s backpack over his shoulder. Stone informed Harrison they were ready. The three men remained stationary, and Kalinin quietly asked Stone what they were waiting for. Stone informed him they were waiting until they were discovered, letting the line of soldiers approach as close as possible before the SEALs burst through toward shore.
“How much farther?” Kalinin asked.
“About a half-mile,” Stone answered, then added, “One kilometer for you metric types.”
The conversation ceased, and Kalinin waited tensely until Mendelson whispered, “Get ready.”
Kalinin tightened his grip around the SEAL’s neck, and a few seconds later, Mendelson and Stone bolted forward. As they surged through the forest, Kalinin took in the scene. The six SEALs ahead were arranged in an arrow formation piercing the Russian line, with Mendelson and Stone in the middle. There was a gap ahead and soldiers were falling to the ground on both sides as the SEALs fired.
As the SEALs passed through the Russian line, the remaining soldiers on either side began pursuit. The Russians fired as they followed, their bullets slamming into tree trunks and branches, sending splinters into the air. Two SEALs on either side of the formation slowed occasionally to take out several Russians, keeping them at bay. The strategy seemed to be working; the Russians failed to gain ground. Kalinin figured they had covered half the distance to the shore, leaving only a half-kilometer to go.
A heavy beat of helicopter rotors advanced toward them, then the right side of the SEAL formation was engulfed in a half-dozen explosions. The ground shook and the concussion blast knocked Stone and Mendelson from their feet, but not before Kalinin spotted tree limbs and SEALs flying through the air.
Kalinin remained attached to Mendelson. The large SEAL regained his feet, as did Stone, and the two men sprinted through the forest, changing course forty-five degrees to the left. Stone spoke into his headset, trying to ascertain the status of the other SEALs, but couldn’t establish communication with Rodrigues or Stigers. Listening in on the conversation, Kalinin gleaned that Harrison had ordered them forward. With several dozen Russians in pursuit and air assets above, they couldn’t afford to stop and search for the missing SEALs.
The forest erupted to the right; another half-dozen explosions. If they hadn’t altered course, they would’ve been killed. Even though the missiles missed, Mendelson and Stone were knocked to the ground by the blast. They scrambled to their feet, with Kalinin still clinging to Mendelson, and altered course again, aiming straight toward shore. They were almost there. Unfortunately, Maydwell could no longer keep up.
He’d taken a bullet to the thigh the previous day, and had done amazingly well thus far. Stone listened on his headset for a while, then joined the discussion, the conversation becoming heated. Maydwell was disobeying a direct order. Harrison had ordered him to continue on as best he could, but Maydwell had decided to make a stand and take out as many Russians as possible, buying valuable time. They’d be vulnerable on the beach as they hauled the RHIBs into the water.
The discussion ended with Stone cursing into his headset. A few seconds later, Kalinin heard the distinctive thump of an M79 grenade launcher as Maydwell fired several rounds. The grenades exploded in the middle of the Russian formation, driving the soldiers to the ground. Maydwell kept firing until he ran out of grenades, then shifted to his M4 carbine. Kalinin listened to the firefight behind him until it suddenly went quiet.
Mendelson and Stone halted abruptly. They were standing beside Harrison and the other two SEALs, standing on a bluff overlooking the beach. Kalinin estimated the height to be sixty meters, with the bluff sloping down at a seventy-degree angle. It’d be a difficult trip down, but they could make it. Unfortunately, while Maydwell had bought them time, it wasn’t enough. The Russians would reach the bluff before the SEALs completed their descent. They’d be out in the open, easy targets. They wouldn’t make it.
