One Child by Jeff Buick Read Free Book Online Page B

work on getting that done. Alexi, in addition to building the equipment we need to cut the power, you will ensure we have drawings of the sewers and the stadium. Preferably in English."
    "What do you care?" Androv said. "You speak Russian."
    "It's rusty. I haven't used it for a while."
    Androv shook his head. "I don't think we'll find them in English. I'll have to translate."
    Trey smiled. "Well, there you go. That's the reason I'm paying you eighty large."
    Besovich asked, "What happens when the lights fail? People could get trampled if they panic."
    "If we take the lights out early enough, there will still be some daylight. Moscow is pretty far north and it stays light late in the evening. In fact, I checked and sunset is 8:42 pm on August 25 th ."
    "Still, the sun will be low and the stadium will be darkening."
    "To some degree," Trey agreed. "The emergency lighting is on battery packs so it will kick in. But there's still a degree of risk."
    "What about backup generators?" Alexi asked. "A band the size of U2 probably has backup systems for the sound and lights."
    "Good question," Trey said, raising an eyebrow. He hadn't expected anyone on the team to think about that. "U2 has built three stages for their tour and they leapfrog them from place to place. Each stage is accompanied by a massive generator mounted on a dedicated truck."
    "That's a problem," Alexi said.
    "Not if the truck breaks down," Trey said.
    "Which it will."
    "Yes."
    Their food arrived and Besovich turned to Maelle as the waiter set the plates on the linen tablecloth. "You're quiet," he said.
    "I have nothing to say," she replied.
    Trey dug into his meal. Sea trout on buckwheat noodles. "Are you guys in?" he asked between bites.
    Androv nodded. "I'm in."
    Besovich grinned, crooked teeth poking out from behind thick lips. "Hell, yes. Easy money and a hot chick. It doesn't get any better."
    The sun dipped below the western horizon and a sudden wave of darkness swept over the city. "No such thing as easy money, Petr," Trey said. "It's fool's thinking to be expecting that."
    "Whatever," Besovich said.
    An uneasy calm settled over the table.
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Chapter
    17
    Day 10 - 8.05.10 - Morning News
    Kandahar, Afghanistan
    Halima ran her finger over the bandage on her leg. She had seen bandages on other people lots of times, but had never felt them against her own skin. The texture was strange, like the shell of one of the small, green turtles that lived in the reeds by the river. The wound from the shrapnel didn't hurt - rather it was more of a constant throbbing. Mostly, for the past three days, she had ignored it. She was too busy fetching water and cooking qorma and kachaloo for her family to fuss over a cut on her leg. With her father not working, there was no meat to supplement the potato and vegetable dishes, and no money to buy any more food. She could see the worry etched in his face.
    At least she was okay. Safa was still in bad shape from the landmine blast. The metal that pierced her cheek had broken a bone in her jaw. Ahmad had taken her to the hospital in Kandahar and had waited sixteen hours for a doctor to stitch her cheek and the gash above her hip. Halima had visited her friend once since the accident and didn't want to go back. Not until her face healed and she could speak. Halima hated sitting beside her in silence, listening to her moan in pain. Her father, who had left at an unusually early hour, returned and sat on a blanket. He was quiet, careful not to wake Aaqila and Danah.
    "Can you fetch water today?" he asked.
    "Yes, of course." She studied his sun-drenched face. He looked worried, but recently he was always worrying about something. "Is everything all right?" she asked.
    The look faded and he smiled. "Everything is fine." He dug inside his tunic and pulled out a small wad of dog-eared bills. "I have