Vengeance (The Kurgan War Book 4) by Richard Turner Read Free Book Online Page A

clothes included a dark gray jacket, a blue flannel shirt, and jeans. Both men weren’t taken aback when their clothes fit. What they did not know was that when Bodrov had scanned their faces, he had also recorded their biometric readings in anticipation of obtaining a change of clothes for the Marines.
    At the bottom of his bag, Sheridan saw an identity card, a small plastic container for his contact lenses, and three credit cards from different international banks. He chuckled when he read his new name—Mark Scott. An easy name to memorize as it used the first letters of his real name.
    “Albert Coffin,” bitched Cole.
    Bodrov slyly grinned. “It was the computer that picked your names. I had nothing to do with it.”  
    “In a pig’s eye.”
    “Your contacts are the same color as your eyes are now. However, when they are scanned the name that will come up is the same one on your new IDs. Also, if the police decide to do a quick background check on you, your profession will come up on their computers as war correspondents. I thought it best that two men who will still look and act like professional soldiers in civilian clothes have a job that is befitting a pair of ‘former’ Marines.”
    “Good thinking,” observed Sheridan.
    Ten minutes later, with all of their gear packed away and changed into their new clothes, Sheridan and Cole took turns shaking Bodrov’s hand.
    “I will expect my money the moment whatever you are up to is over, Mister Sheridan,” stressed Bodrov. “I’d hate to see your family name dragged through the mud.”
    Sheridan moved closer and looked into Bodrov’s eyes. He disliked being threatened by anyone, especially a thug. “Don’t worry, you’ll get what you’re owed.”
    Cole placed a hand on Sheridan’s shoulder and pulled him back. “Time for us to go.”
    “Good night, gentlemen. My associate, Natalya, is outside waiting to give you a lift into town where you can catch a train to Moscow. From there you can go anywhere you want to.”
    “Well, that will be a pleasant change from your ugly face, Vlad,” Cole said with a smile.
    Together, the two Marines walked upstairs and out into the cold, gray light of dawn. Natalya was sitting in her car, waiting for them.
    “Well, Captain, I’ve done my bit,” said Cole. “Where to now?”
    “Rome. Harry allowed himself to be seen there, so that is where we must begin our search.”
    “True. Have you stopped to think that we’re walking into a trap?”
    “Perhaps. But I don’t think so. Harry used to like to play mind games with people at the Academy. His performance as a weak platoon leader during our operation to steal the Kurgan codes was meant to fool us. And I, foolishly, fell for it hook, line, and sinker. What I’m more curious about now is why did he even bother to try to assassinate the president. It’s apparent that he didn’t have enough men for the job. The attack was doomed from the start.”
    “If he’s as cunning as you make him out to be, then I believe he wanted his people to die on camera. His aim wasn’t to kill the president so much as to increase the level of fear and tension already gripping the people back home on Earth.”
    “Well, whatever is going on, I doubt it will end in Rome.”

Chapter 6

    The quarters on the transport ship , Brunswick , were cramped but not so bad that a person had to go outside to change their mind, thought Tarina Pheto as she placed her sandals on her tender feet. Her aching body told her to take it easy. After being rescued from the prison planet, she had been looked after by the medical staff on board the vessel. Her feet had been cleaned and her wounds treated, as had the scars on her back from the time she had been whipped by a Chosen guard. There were numerous smaller medical patches on the rest of her body. Still, she considered herself lucky. She at least was still alive and on her way home to Earth.
    “Where are you going?” asked her friend, Wendy Sullivan.