Hey there, Ethan said calmly, I resent that.
How do you say difficult fortune?' the guard asked with a smile.
Do you mean tough luck? Ethan asked.
I believe so, the guard replied. In any event, I—
Ethan dove to the floor on hearing several gunshots in close succession and observed the other guard do the same. After several seconds of silence, Ethan slid over to the guard and discovered that he had been shot and killed.
Hurry up, would you Ethan? Jim urged, this time not over the radio. Ethan looked toward the source of the voice and saw Jim standing with an uzi submachine gun. Ethan shot him a strange look.
The radio piece you have is triggered by your speech, Jim reminded, helping Ethan to his feet. I heard you were in trouble. Quickly now, the guards had to have heard us.
Ethan and Jim ran to the large opening of the loading dock, encountering no opposition. Ethan noticed the two Russian dock workers were dead.
So much for zero body count, Ethan muttered as he and Jim climbed into an idling speed boat at the dock.
Jim agreed, gunning the boat before pulling away from the dock. Anna is waiting in the car. Do you have the disk?
Right here, Ethan said, patting his coat.
Jim said, steering the boat down the canal. The cement walls rose suddenly around them, making the canal feel like a narrow canyon carved out by a river. Suddenly Ethan became aware of another engine's droning. He looked quickly behind them and noticed another boat closing behind them.
Jim, we have company, Ethan informed.
I see it, Jim replied, beginning to weave the boat around as much as possible in the narrow canal. Take these.
Jim handed Ethan a pair of night vision goggles, which he quickly put on. Amazed once again that the IMF team had exactly the right equipment at the right time, Ethan pulled out the pistol he had picked up from the ground before leaving the fallen guard in the loading dock.
The boat behind them carried two people: a driver and a gunman. The second appeared to have a sniper rifle mounted to the prow of the boat. Ethan quickly took aim and fired. The bullet ricocheted off the boat, and the sniper returned the favor.
I felt that one whiz past my ear Ethan, Jim informed.
So sorry, Ethan said, firing again. Wanna switch?
You do your job, Jim said, turning around to smile for half a second, and I will do mine. Another bullet whizzed past from the sniper. Do make it quick though. We are almost to the transport.
Ethan said, firing again.
The fire fight continued for a few minutes without either side causing damage to the other. The canal seemed unchanging as they went along with the exception of slight discolorations here and there. The night sky above, or what was visible through the narrow canal walls, was clear and star filled despite the lights of Kiev.
Suddenly the rigidly straight canal began to bend to the right. The turn was rather sharp, and Jim had a little difficulty negotiating the curving water corridor. The high, narrow walls made the dangerous turn that much more deadly, but luckily the pursuing boat was having as much difficulty.
Ethan aimed carefully and fired, hitting the tiny windshield at last. He missed the driver, but now Ethan knew where he was. A second shot hit the driver dead on and less than a second later the boat swerved into the canal wall. Ethan shielded his eyes from the explosive blaze as they rapidly moved away from the accident site.
We are almost there, Jim said as the high canal walls fell away at last. A small hill curved up and away from the widening canal to the left and Kiev stretched away in the distance to the right. Ethan spotted a black, unexceptional car parked on a small glade on the right of the canal.
Jim parked the boat at small dock by the waiting car and Ethan and him hurried out. They got in the car wordlessly and drove away from the canal. Only after they were well mixed in with the late-night traffic of downtown Kiev did Ethan feel safe at last.
I assume you got it, Anna asked, looking back with a serene expression.
Yeah, I got it, Ethan assured. It was a little tough, but it is right here.
Jim agreed. Now for the hard part.