War Hawk: A Tucker Wayne Novel by James Rollins, Grant Blackwood Page B

holed up in there, following Tucker’s last order: RUN AND HIDE .
    Intending to reach his partner there, Tucker knee-walked through the sand to the ladder that led up to the dark door. He wrapped his hands on one of the rungs and gave it a tug, then another. Satisfied it was solid enough, he mounted the ladder and climbed up to the doorway.
    He poked his head through and discovered a catwalk extended from the door and crossed high above the main collection floor of the factory. Large sections of the roof had caved in, allowing moonlight to better illuminate the cavernous space, which stretched a football field wide and twice as long. Below, old equipment and a row of massive ore carts—each the size of a train car—had rusted to the concrete floor. Above, a labyrinth of steel beams was entwined in a jungle of vines.
    Tucker frowned, trying to judge the viability of using the catwalk to cross to the other side of the main floor. He pictured the conveyor’s structure collapsing a moment ago as he leapt for his life. If the catwalk didn’t hold under his weight, it was a four-story drop to the hard concrete floor.
    To his left was a skeletal staircase that led down to the floor, but the middle section had broken away. He might be able to leap the gap, but once he landed on the lower section, would it hold him? He had no way of knowing.
    So which way?
    As he hesitated, a familiar buzzing swept by overhead as the drone continued hunting for its escaped quarry. Disturbed by its passage—or by the drone’s ultrasonic whine—several roosting bats took flight from the vine-encrusted beams and shot out through the collapsed sections of the roof.
    Tucker eyed them, wishing he had wings, too.
    He knew he could wait no longer. If the drone failed to flush him out, ground forces would soon be closing in on this position, if they weren’t already here. He took out a small LED flashlight to better study his two options: the collapsed stairs or the rickety vine-encrusted catwalk. Neither was a great choice.
    Damned if I do, damned if I don’t .
    Tucker decided to take his chances with the catwalk. At least it was still intact, unlike the staircase. He proceeded cautiously, testing each step, his senses tuned for any warning. With the catwalk continuing to hold secure, he increased his pace.
    Then a familiar humming grew in volume. The drone had returned, still timed, it seemed, to pass over the factory grounds every thirty seconds, intending to keep him pinned down.
    Tucker paused on the catwalk until the drone left, fearful of being spotted through one of the holes in the roof. Once clear, he set off again. He was halfway across the main factory floor when he heard a series of rapid, overlapping pops ahead of him.
    Oh, shi—
    The catwalk broke from the scaffolding ahead. The section of grating underfoot fell at a steep angle, throwing him onto his back. His flashlight bounced out of his grip and rolled over the edge. His body followed, sliding down the grate. His fingers clawed, but he could find no purchase.
    As his legs slipped over the edge, something brushed his face.
    A vine.
    He grasped it without thinking. The rest of the catwalk tore free beneath him. He fell with it, but he jerked to a stop, hanging by the vine, swallowing a scream. He heard the clattering crash below him but refused to look down.
    With his heart hammering in his chest, he firmed his grip and looked up. The edge of the remaining catwalk was almost within arm’s reach. If he climbed another foot, he should be able to—
    A tearing sound was the only warning. The vine ripped free from its neighbor and Tucker dropped ten feet before again jolting to a stop.
    With his eyes squeezed tight, he took three deep breaths.
    Up was no longer an option.
    He finally stared down. He was still three stories above the floor. Directly below him were the ruins of the broken catwalk, now a tangle of sharp steel. But ten feet to his left was the row of giant ore carts he had