PRIMAL Renegade (A PRIMAL Action Thriller Book 8) (The PRIMAL Series) by Jack Silkstone Page A
Authors: Jack Silkstone
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sat phone, call your boss.”
Kogo looked to the tracker for support but the man shrugged. He wasn't about to challenge the heavily-armed former soldiers. “OK, fine, I will make the call.” He took the satellite phone from his pocket and dialed.
Bishop watched him intently as he waited for the call to pickup. Turning his back Kogo talked in Swahili.
“Do you have a map?” Bishop asked the tracker.
The man shrugged again.
“Do you speak any English?”
The only response was another shrug.
“I guess not.” He took the opportunity to check the surroundings. It was a lot like Luangwa: dry red earth, scrubby bushes, and tall thorn trees with sparse cover. It reminded him of Saneh, bloodied and wounded, lying in the dust next to the safari truck. Turning back to Kogo he saw the poacher had finished his call.
“I can’t pay you now but we can offer you five thousand dollars each if we return with at least two tusks.”
“And if we don't?”
“Then I can pay you a thousand each for your time.”
Bishop glanced at Kruger who nodded.
“You've got a deal. But, if you try to screw us you're a dead man.”
Kogo swallowed.
“Have you got a map of the area?”
The poacher reached inside his vest, pulled out a folded map, and handed it over. Bishop opened it on the bonnet of the four-wheel drive. “Ask your man where the elephants are.”
Kogo spoke to the tracker who leaned over the map and pointed at a smudge of blue.
“The lake. It’s a good start. Kruger, we need to plan our route so we avoid patrols.”
Kruger pulled out a GPS and checked the map. “We’re here.” He stabbed a finger at the map. “We can use this creek line to minimize the risk of hitting a patrol. They'll be sticking to the vehicle tracks.”
Bishop folded the map and slid it inside his shirt. “I like it. Let's get moving.”
As the local tracker and Kogo led the way Kruger hung back, took out his own satellite phone, and sent a text message.
***
THE SANDPIT, ABU DHABI
“Vance, we've got a hit,” Flash yelled from the top of the staircase inside PRIMAL's Abu Dhabi headquarters.
“Where is he?” Vance slammed the refrigerator shut and stormed out of the kitchen.
“Kruger just sent a text message over his sat phone. Looks like they’re in Kenya.”
“Do we have an open line of communications?”
“No, the phone’s switched off now.”
Vance climbed the stairs and followed Flash into the intel room. “What are they up to?”
Flash returned to his terminal and showed Vance the message. “Check this out. Kruger sent a grid reference to someone in vicinity of North Luangwa National Park. I bet it’s the ranger Bishop was hanging out with, Dominic Marks. According to the message the boys are hunting elephants near the lake at Tsavo East National Park.”
“And why would they be doing that?” asked Vance.
“It must have something to do with tracking down Mr. Mamba Mboya.”
“Find out who Kruger messaged.”
“Roger.” Flash’s fingers danced over the keyboard.
Vance glanced at his watch. “I'm going to head across to the hospital and replace Tariq.” The two of them were taking turns watching over Saneh. “Keep me posted.”
“Will do.”
As he walked downstairs his phone vibrated with an incoming call. “Speak of the devil.” It was Tariq.
“Good afternoon, Vance.”
“Tariq, I'm on my way in now.”
“Doctor Edwards wants to schedule a meeting with us this afternoon. We're running out of time.”
Vance sighed. “OK, I'll be there within the hour.” He stopped in the kitchen and contemplated pouring a scotch.
“Hey, what's up, big man?” Ice walked into the kitchen with a pistol holstered on his hip.
“I’m about to head to the hospital. How’s the training going?” Ice had set up an airsoft range in one half of the villa’s garage and had been spending hours practicing weapon manipulation with his robotic hand.
“Not bad, I was wondering if I could come to the
Kogo looked to the tracker for support but the man shrugged. He wasn't about to challenge the heavily-armed former soldiers. “OK, fine, I will make the call.” He took the satellite phone from his pocket and dialed.
Bishop watched him intently as he waited for the call to pickup. Turning his back Kogo talked in Swahili.
“Do you have a map?” Bishop asked the tracker.
The man shrugged again.
“Do you speak any English?”
The only response was another shrug.
“I guess not.” He took the opportunity to check the surroundings. It was a lot like Luangwa: dry red earth, scrubby bushes, and tall thorn trees with sparse cover. It reminded him of Saneh, bloodied and wounded, lying in the dust next to the safari truck. Turning back to Kogo he saw the poacher had finished his call.
“I can’t pay you now but we can offer you five thousand dollars each if we return with at least two tusks.”
“And if we don't?”
“Then I can pay you a thousand each for your time.”
Bishop glanced at Kruger who nodded.
“You've got a deal. But, if you try to screw us you're a dead man.”
Kogo swallowed.
“Have you got a map of the area?”
The poacher reached inside his vest, pulled out a folded map, and handed it over. Bishop opened it on the bonnet of the four-wheel drive. “Ask your man where the elephants are.”
Kogo spoke to the tracker who leaned over the map and pointed at a smudge of blue.
“The lake. It’s a good start. Kruger, we need to plan our route so we avoid patrols.”
Kruger pulled out a GPS and checked the map. “We’re here.” He stabbed a finger at the map. “We can use this creek line to minimize the risk of hitting a patrol. They'll be sticking to the vehicle tracks.”
Bishop folded the map and slid it inside his shirt. “I like it. Let's get moving.”
As the local tracker and Kogo led the way Kruger hung back, took out his own satellite phone, and sent a text message.
***
THE SANDPIT, ABU DHABI
“Vance, we've got a hit,” Flash yelled from the top of the staircase inside PRIMAL's Abu Dhabi headquarters.
“Where is he?” Vance slammed the refrigerator shut and stormed out of the kitchen.
“Kruger just sent a text message over his sat phone. Looks like they’re in Kenya.”
“Do we have an open line of communications?”
“No, the phone’s switched off now.”
Vance climbed the stairs and followed Flash into the intel room. “What are they up to?”
Flash returned to his terminal and showed Vance the message. “Check this out. Kruger sent a grid reference to someone in vicinity of North Luangwa National Park. I bet it’s the ranger Bishop was hanging out with, Dominic Marks. According to the message the boys are hunting elephants near the lake at Tsavo East National Park.”
“And why would they be doing that?” asked Vance.
“It must have something to do with tracking down Mr. Mamba Mboya.”
“Find out who Kruger messaged.”
“Roger.” Flash’s fingers danced over the keyboard.
Vance glanced at his watch. “I'm going to head across to the hospital and replace Tariq.” The two of them were taking turns watching over Saneh. “Keep me posted.”
“Will do.”
As he walked downstairs his phone vibrated with an incoming call. “Speak of the devil.” It was Tariq.
“Good afternoon, Vance.”
“Tariq, I'm on my way in now.”
“Doctor Edwards wants to schedule a meeting with us this afternoon. We're running out of time.”
Vance sighed. “OK, I'll be there within the hour.” He stopped in the kitchen and contemplated pouring a scotch.
“Hey, what's up, big man?” Ice walked into the kitchen with a pistol holstered on his hip.
“I’m about to head to the hospital. How’s the training going?” Ice had set up an airsoft range in one half of the villa’s garage and had been spending hours practicing weapon manipulation with his robotic hand.
“Not bad, I was wondering if I could come to the
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