Page 46 of Heat Force
Edmond glanced up, meeting Hawk’s eyes. He gave a small, respectful nod. “We will find them.”
The rain began to ease, the pounding deluge giving way to a steady drizzle. Hawk checked his watch. They couldn’t afford to wait any longer.
“Let’s move,” he said, slinging his pack over his shoulder.
The group filed out of the hut, their boots squelching in the thick mud as they made their way back to the jungle’s edge. The air was cooler now, the storm having temporarily beatenback the oppressive humidity, but the ground was treacherous, slippery and littered with puddles.
Edmond took the lead, his machete flashing as he cleared the narrow path ahead. As a ranger, guide and tracker, he was best placed to pick up the trail. Hawk followed closely, his rifle held ready, his eyes scanning the dense foliage for any sign of movement. Phoenix and Viper brought up the rear, their banter from earlier replaced by a tense, watchful silence.
The jungle was alive with noise—the drip of water from the leaves, the distant call of birds, the rustle of unseen animals. Every sound set Hawk’s nerves on edge, but he forced himself to focus. His SEAL training came back to him in sharp detail:stay alert, stay calm, assess the situation, and adapt.
As they pushed deeper into the jungle, Edmond paused suddenly, holding up a hand. The group froze, their weapons at the ready. Hawk moved up beside him, his voice a low whisper. “What is it?”
Edmond pointed to the ground. A faint trail of flattened grass and disturbed earth led away from the track, heading deeper into the trees.
“Footprints,” he whispered. “Three people. One is supporting the boy. They passed through here recently.”
Hawk’s pulse quickened. He crouched down to examine the trail, his trained eye picking out the details Edmond had noted. The footprints were shallow—whoever was carrying Moyo was struggling to distribute the weight evenly. The tracks were fresh, no more than a few hours old.
“They’re heading southeast,” Edmond continued, his voice steady. “There is a river nearby. They will follow it.”
Hawk gave a determined nod. “Then so will we.”
The group moved quickly now, their pace urgent but controlled. The jungle seemed to close in around them, the dense foliage swallowing the fading light and plunging them intoa green-tinged twilight. The sound of running water grew louder as they approached the river, the rush of the current mingling with the ever-present hum of the jungle.
Edmond stopped again, crouching by the riverbank. He pointed to a patch of disturbed sand. “They crossed here. See the tracks? They’re heading upstream.”
Hawk scanned the area, picking out the faint signs of passage. A snapped branch here, a scuff mark on a rock there. Lexi was doing her best to cover their tracks, but she wasn’t a trained operative. Her efforts, while admirable, wouldn’t fool a seasoned tracker like Edmond.
“They’re smart to stick close to the water,” Viper said, kneeling beside Hawk. “Easier to stay hydrated, and the sound of the river will cover their movements.”
“Smart, but risky,” Phoenix countered. “The rebels will be looking here too. We need to move fast.”
Hawk’s jaw tightened. “Let’s pick up the pace.”
They followed the river for another hour, their boots slipping on the wet rocks as they navigated the uneven terrain. The jungle grew darker as the sun dipped below the horizon, the fading light casting long shadows across the water.
Finally, they came to a small clearing where the ground was littered with signs of recent activity. A makeshift campfire in the center, long since extinguished, surrounded by a few scattered belongings—a torn piece of cloth, a stick with striations carved into it, possibly from the type of pocketknife he’d given Moyo, and a bundle of medicinal plants wrapped in a banana leaf.
Hawk bent and picked up the cloth. “I think this is from Moyo’s shirt. His fingers tightened around the fabric. “They were here.”
“How long ago?” Phoenix asked.
Edmond studied the remains of the fire. “Last night, maybe early this morning.”
“We’re gaining on them,” Hawk said, looking at the others. “If we keep moving we might be able to intercept tonight.”
Phoenix and Viper exchanged a glance, their expressions resolute. “You lead, boss,” Phoenix said, hefting his rifle. “We’ll follow.”
Hawk glanced ahead at the seemingly impenetrable jungle.
“I’m coming, Lexi,” he whispered into the dusk, so nobody else could hear. One thing he knew for certain was he wasn’t stopping until she was back in his arms.
CHAPTER 21
Lexi stared out over the vast expanse of Lake Kivu, watching as the cotton-wool clouds drifted across the glassy surface. On the other side of the lake, hazy purple hills marked the border with Rwanda. Beyond that, the promise of safety. She longed for it with every fiber of her being, but the lake might as well have been an ocean.
The villagers spoke of hidden dangers beneath those placid waters—gases that could poison the air and the treacherous depth that swallowed small boats whole, never to be seen again. Local myths, mostly, but even if they could secure a vessel, rowing across the lake without supplies or shelter would be impossible. Moyo was injured, and both she and Patrick were exhausted.