First Strike by Jack Higgins Read Free Book Online Page A

where they’ve been cut—they’re still shiny, like new.”
    â€œYou mean, this was recent?” Rich asked.
    â€œCan’t be more than a day or two since the warhead was removed,” Chance agreed. “The rebels must have known they were still here, and they’re only just too late. That’s what Ralph was warning us about, I bet—that the rebels were planning to get the missiles. Seems the Chinese knew that too and finally acted—got the warheads to safety before the rebels could take them.”
    â€œSo where are the warheads now?” Jade wondered.
    â€œThere was a convoy,” said Mr Chang. “Yesterday, my contact at the factory told me, a lot of soldiers and vehicles left this base.”
    â€œYou didn’t mention that,” said Chance.
    Mr Chang shrugged. “I told you they had left only a small force behind. It didn’t seem important. But now…”
    â€œThe nukes can’t be far away. They might still be inWiengwei. They’re too big to fly out on a cargo plane, so they must have left by road, on big, slow, cumbersome trucks. And the rebels will soon be after them.”
    â€œOnce they’ve finished with us,” Rich whispered. “Look!”
    He pointed to where the first rebel troops were climbing up the metal ladders towards the walkway.
    There was another ladder leading down from the other end of the walkway, but rebel soldiers were climbing that one as well.
    â€œThere’s no other way down,” said Jade.
    Rich stared at the rocket. Something had occurred to him, though it wasn’t a thought he relished. “What about up ?”
    â€œUp?!” Jade stared at him.
    â€œThe roof must open when they launch the missiles. There must be a way out.”
    â€œThat hatch,” said Chance.
    There was a huge circular hatch that they had seen from the ground. But it was tight shut.
    â€œHow do we get it open?” Mr Chang asked.
    â€œIdeas soon, please,” Jade hissed.
    The first rebels were almost at the top of the ladders.
    â€œManual controls?” Chance wondered. “Look—everyone look, see if there’s a switch or a lever or a button. Anything.”
    â€œI bet the controls are down there,” said Rich, pointing over the side of the walkway. “I mean, you wouldn’t want to be operating controls up here when it launched would you?”
    â€œDoesn’t matter now anyway,” said Jade.
    The first of the rebel troops had spotted them. He was shielding his eyes from the bright glare of the lights with one hand, and holding his rifle level in the other. He shouted at them.
    â€œHe’s asking who we are. He can’t see us clearly,” said Mr Chang quietly. “What do we do?”
    â€œWe ask them to open the hatch for us to escape,” said Chance.
    â€œOh, like that’ll help,” said Jade.
    â€œTell him we’re on his side,” Chance told Mr Chang. “Then shout to them down below to open the hatch so they can get the warhead off the missile.”
    â€œAre you serious?” Rich asked.
    â€œWorth a try,” Chance told him as Mr Chang shouted to the approaching rebel soldiers. They shouted back angrily. The leading rebel raised his rifle.
    Mr Chang yelled urgently at him. Then he leaned overthe walkway and shouted down—urgent and loud. There was an answering shout, and Mr Chang yelled the same thing again, even more loudly.
    He turned to the others. “I think it’s working. They said that—”
    But his words were drowned out by the sound of the enormous hatchway above the missile sliding back. Through it, the black night sky was visible. A cool breeze riffled Rich’s hair.
    â€œI can’t believe they fell for that,” said Rich.
    â€œMove,” said Chance. “They won’t fall for it for long.” He grabbed Jade and hoisted her up bodily into the gap a metre above his head. She