Spider Shepherd: SAS: #2 by Stephen Leather Read Free Book Online Page A

‘We can’t remove it without cutting a wire.’
    Shepherd nodded. ‘So all we have to do is deactivate the detonator and the vest will be safe. But which wire controls the detonator?’
    Four wires led from the vest. Rusty eliminated two of them but that still left them with a life or death choice. ‘Which one?’ Shepherd said, feeling a bead of sweat trickling down his brow.
    ‘Your guess is as good as mine,’ said Rusty.
    ‘I’d rather not depend on a guess,’ said Shepherd.
    ‘Let me check the circuit again,’ said Rusty. He stared at the circuit and eventually settled on one wire. ‘This one.’
    Shepherd nodded and took out his penknife. He flicked out a blade. ‘You’re sure?’
    ‘Sure as I can be.’
    Shepherd took a deep breath and winced as he cut the wire, bracing himself for the flash of light and the searing pain that would be the last sensation he’d ever know if Rusty was wrong. He breathed out as he realised that all was good. ‘It’s safe,’ he said to the sheikh.
    ‘Thank Rusty,’ said Shepherd.
    ‘No need to thank me,’ said Rusty. ‘I was using the old “eeny meeny miny moe” technique.’
    ‘Please tell me you’re joking,’ said Shepherd, but Rusty only laughed.
    Geordie ran forward, examined the sheikh and quickly diagnosed that he had lost a lot of blood due to the traumatic amputation of his finger and was also severely dehydrated.  Shepherd radioed Parker to ask for a casevac.  The helicopter had been on standby at an airbase in the capital ever since they had set off into the Great Sand Sea, and it arrived in a whirlwind of dust and noise within an hour.
    Although the Chechen terrorists had all been eliminated, there was no sign of the sheikh’s cousin among the bodies and after the casevac was completed, Shepherd and the team fanned out and began carrying out a systematic search of the oasis.  They eventually found the man cowering in a mud-walled farmer’s hut, covered in dirt and in a state of shock. They cuffed their prisoner’s wrists with plastic ties and force-marched him back to the vehicles.
    A few days later the team, by now ensconced in one of the capital’s finest hotels, were summoned with Parker in tow to see the sheikh, in his hospital suite.  He was well on the way to recovery, with only his missing little finger as a permanent reminder of his ordeal. 
    As soon as they appeared, he began thanking them. ‘You have saved my life and my country,’ he said, ‘and I am forever in your debt.  In the Arab tradition it is “alla sharifnee” which translates as “on my honour”. And from this day onwards, if any of you ever have a problem of any sort, it is my duty to provide help to solve it. All you have to do is ask. However first of all I have a further favour to ask of you.  I would like you all to stay on in my country as my military advisers. What ever Her Majesty’s Government is paying you at the moment I will double, tax-free, and all your transport, accommodation and living expenses will be covered.’
    There was a stunned silence for a moment. ‘Ya sheikh,’ Shepherd said at last. ‘Your offer is most generous and very tempting, but we are still committed to our army service for our country, with many more years yet to serve.’ He glanced at the others for confirmation. Geordie and Jock were nodding in agreement but Jimbo looked as if he was considering the sheikh’s offer, then he too began to nod. ‘So I regret that the four of us must reluctantly decline your offer,’ said Shepherd. He paused. ‘However, Rusty’s position is different. He is not only a fluent Arabic speaker, with a deep knowledge of your culture, he is also due to retire from the Regiment in a few months anyway. If he’s willing, I’m sure ways could be found to deal with the technicalities and bring forward his retirement date.’
    Rusty nodded. ‘Ya sheikh, I would be honoured to serve you.’
    The sheikh smiled. ‘Then the matter is settled,