The Exfiltrator by Garner Simmons (read after txt) 📗

to leave…” she added, immediately regretting the almost needy tone of her voice.  But Corbett was already on the move.  She called after him, “You can come back anytime.”

“Thanks, I will.  But for right now, I’ve got to make sure our boys have the Laser Scanner up and running.”

Watching the silhouette created by the halo of his LED light as he retraced his steps back along the rock wall in the direction of the main chamber, she smiled.  As he disappeared from sight, Ella suddenly found herself thinking about his joke and now their kiss. The memory of what had happened between them earlier that morning when she had come into his tent still lingered.  The taste of his lips.  The touch of his body.  Even so, she decided that the next move would have to be his.  Either it was meant to be or she would have to let it go. Forcing the thought of him from of her mind, she returned to her camera.  Switching on her MP3 and inserting her earbuds, she allowed the majesty of Beethoven’s Seventh to sweep her away as she began setting up her first shot.

*****

Having completed his midday prayers, Jarral arose, rolled up his prayer rug and moved to join the others. Buttar and another Jihadi named Fahad sat cross-legged together with nearly a dozen others forming a circle.  Some cleaned their weapons.  Others mended their clothes as they debated what must be done.  Stepping into the circle across from Buttar and Fahad, Jarral crossed his legs as well and lowered himself into a sitting position.

Always impatient, Buttar was again lobbying the others that the time had come for them to return to the village.  There, they must seek out the woman doctor, force her to lead them to Tariq and return with his head.

“This doctor.  In the village, they say she is Tariq’s whore.”

“She has a child,” Fahad cautioned.

“What difference?  Threaten her child and you loosen her tongue.”

“Allah does not deliberately make war upon innocent women and children.” Jarral interjected.

“And what makes you think they are innocent?” Buttar replied. His voice had an edge.  “Are they not Infidels?  In Iraq and Syria, how many innocent children have died at the hands of the Crusaders?  Let them feel our pain.”

“So they will,” Jarral countered. “But remember, we have an informer among them.  When Tariq returns, we will know.  To act sooner risks everything.”

“An informer?” Buttar said derisively. “Where was this ‘informer’ the last time when Tariq came and we allowed him to escape?  If Noor hadn’t spotted the van from the clinic driving up the road, we never would have known.”

“And what did it get us?,” Fahad countered.  “Tariq still lives while Raza and Akif are dead.”

“The time to act is now,” Buttar repeated. “Blood for blood. May Allah be praised.”

Nodding toward another man, Hamza, sat tinkering with a digital video camera, Jarral tried again.  “Tariq’s death must be recorded and posted on the Internet for all to see.  Allah has made us His messenger.  We must not fail Him.”

But Buttar could not be placated.  Jarral knew that the time for such arguments was growing short.  Far brighter than the others, Buttar had studied to be a doctor.  He had fought in Syria and seen first-hand the ravages of war. Now he wanted to make the Infidels pay with their own blood.  And while Jarral shared that desire, he also understood God’s greater plan and felt compelled to stay the course. Had not the Prophet commanded discipline in all things? The time would come soon enough.  Silently he began to pray to Allah for deliverance.

*****

Making his way through the cavern from the secondary chamber below, Corbett could see Karim and Roberto fully absorbed in every detail as they carefully set up the Riegel LMS-Z4201 3D Terrestrial Laser Scanner in preparation for mapping the upper chamber. As he drew closer, he could see the large Laser head mounted atop a heavy-duty five-foot surveyor’s tripod.  Eighteen inches tall and weighing roughly 35 pounds, it reminded him of something out of Star Wars.

“How’s that Laser coming?” Corbett asked as he reached their position.

“Tell you in a second,” Roberto answered.  “As soon as Karim finishes double-checking the high-resolution head.”

“And how many individual positions will we need in order to capture the entire upper chamber?”  Corbett moved closer.

“We’re hoping for at least twenty, perhaps more,” the young Spaniard answered.  “By triangulating the surface from multiple positions, we should be able to marry the digital data to arrive at a comprehensive portrait of the complete upper section.”

“How long will that take?”

“Hard to say,” Roberto shrugged.  “Several weeks.  But once we have recorded and archived all of the data, it will be… how do you say…?  Bob’s the uncle.” Roberto grinned.

“Right,” Corbett couldn’t help but smile at the young man’s mangled syntax.

“That should do it,” Karim announced, stepping back from the scanner and moving to the computer.  Corbett watched him as he typed a series of commands.  What was it about this British Pakistani that bothered him he wondered.  Something he could not quite put his finger on.  Suddenly, the Laser produced three narrow intensely focused beams of red light, projecting them high on the cave wall.

“Perfecto…!”  Roberto laughed excitedly.  “Showtime!”

As pulsating laser beams began to sweep across the interior surface of the upper chamber, Roberto turned to Corbett, his face alight with joy.  Giving Corbett a high five, he began to dance.

“Like the Rolling Stones…!” Roberto exulted.  “I can’t get no…”  His voice warbled off-key “…sat-is-fac-tion…!”

Clearly embarrassed by his partner’s exuberant display, Karim averted his gaze, continuing to busy himself with the computer.

Corbett shook his head.  “Just don’t forget to save the data,” he reminded Roberto with a grin as he turned and moved to the lift.  “If you need me, I’ll be up top working with