Babel Novel
Chapter 93
The wind whipped in our faces as the speedboats roared across the water.
We were heading towards the islands of Le Vignole and Sant’Erasmo. The plan was to go between them and then head for San Michele.
Lars was driving the boat I was in. Five men huddled in the seats behind us.
Adriano was piloting another boat with six men, and there was a third boat with the remainder of our guys.
Twenty-three men to take a whole island against a force of God knows how many mercenaries.
Lars’s words echoed in my head:
Odds are they’re in the church on the northwest tip of San Michele. It’s basically a fortress – and the most easily guarded spot on the island.
We can’t attack it directly. That would be suicide. There’s a stone wall surrounding it that we’d have to climb, plus Aurelio’s sure to have at least half his men inside the church. They’d kill us before we could even get out of the boats.
The bell tower next to the church is the highest point on the island, so they’re sure to have a sniper up there. If we get out too close, it’ll be like shooting fish in a barrel for him.
The only choice we have is to split up. Three boats will land at three different spots to the west, south, and east. We get out and cross the island, and all three teams converge on the church. That’s the plan.
After my call to the Widow, we knew Lucia was in the bell tower with Aurelio and Zollner.
We had our target.
Suddenly, I could see a boat speeding towards us across the water. It was still a good 800 feet away.
“INCOMING!” Lars shouted.
All the men crouched down below the edge of the boat.
The windshield was bulletproof and I was in the passenger seat, so I figured I was safe.
“Massimo, take the wheel!” Lars yelled over the wind.
“What?!” I asked, shocked.
“Play chicken with them. At the last second, go LEFT the tiniest bit. I want you to miss them but don’t slow down. The instant we pass them, try to get the boat upright. We’re going to hit their wake, so it’s going to be choppy.”
“Are you sure about this?” I asked as I grabbed the wheel.
“Yup,” Lars said as he got out of the driver’s seat. He grabbed something off the boat floor, then gestured to the guys in the back. “Out of the way!”
I scrunched down behind the windshield and began to sweat. I’d thought the big battle would be on the island – not out here on the water.
I glanced over my shoulder and saw Lars settle between the rear seats. He braced a grenade launcher on the back of the boat like he was aiming at somebody following us.
“Hold onto me so I don’t get thrown out!” he yelled at the guys nearby, and they grabbed onto him.
Bullets hit our windshield, chipping and cracking the glass.
Pop pop pop pop!
200 feet away –
100 feet away –
“GET READY!” I screamed, and jerked the wheel at the last second.
We roared past them at a terrifying speed.
The right side of our boat was lifted up in the air, and their bullets smacked the underside of the hull.
Ping ping ping ping!
“NOW!” Lars screamed.
I jerked the boat slightly to the right and tried to get us level.
We slammed into the other boat’s wake, launching into the air like a skier jumping a small hill –
And then I heard the PTUNK of Lars firing the grenade launcher.
I couldn’t help myself – I glanced back over my shoulder.
The projectile shot out over the water –
Hit the inside of the mercenaries’ windshield –
Bounced back inside the boat –
And exploded.
BOOM!
The entire boat went up in a fireball.
Every one of our men screamed with joy.
“FUCKIN’ GREAT SHOT!” Adriano yelled over the earpiece I was wearing. Lars had one, too.All rights © NôvelDrama.Org.
Lars grinned as he made his way back up to the front. “Just lucky.”
Adriano laughed. “Yeah, well, I’d rather be lucky than good ANY day.”
“Let’s try to be both,” I said as I handed the wheel back to Lars.