The Historians
Chapter 14
Kitty appreciates this coffee pot that doesn't need a fire, just add coffee and water and flip a switch. Outside the kitchen window the light of day destroys the dark shadows of the night and everything looks calm and peaceful. She let Matt sleep for a while, it must have been 5 o'clock before he let himself relax enough to doze off. She knew he would need all his wits about him in the days ahead and wished he'd let her stay here with him, but she understood. Just like in Dodge he would be worrying about her safety before his own.
She turned on the television, found a news channel and listened as the man whose head and shoulders looked back at her from the screen, described how airports and seaports would be on heightened alert because of a credible terrorist threat. He went on to recap the attack on London subways a few years earlier, and the one against New York City before that. The pictures of New York City and all those tall buildings amazed her. She watched in horror as the buildings fell and felt the devastation cause by ruthless people who cared nothing about human life.
Another hour passed before Matt came walking into the kitchen looking for coffee. As she looked at him she was glad that these terrorists where not the people he was up against, just a bunch of gunrunners he had told her. Somehow she wondered if there was more to it than that.
Kitty packed the few things she had brought with her from London, into an overnight bag which Matt placed on the back seat of the Defender, and then headed towards the airport to meet Cranbourne.
As he drove he kept a watch in the rear view mirror, looking to see if the blue car was following. For about 10 minutes he saw nothing, and then a different car from last night was there, this one was black and a totally different style. He pulled off into a space along the side of the road, designed so that visitors could pull over to take photographs. The black car went on past, but another mile or two down the road he saw it again. There weren't any other paved roads leading off this one that he could take, and he certainly did not want anyone following him to the airport. He saw several dirt tracks leading off from the left hand side of the road. He had read in the vehicle's handbook how the Defender could drive over rough terrain and even through water. He was going to find out if that was true. He accelerated around the next three bends in the road until he was a good distance ahead of the trailing car. Then he saw what he needed, a dirt track off to the left. The road that he was leaving had so many twists and turns that he would be out of sight of the other car for a few seconds. The hedges along the side of the road were tall enough that if he was fast he could be well hidden by the time the other car passed.
He still had his foot hard down on the gas pedal, "Hang on Kitty," he yelled as he turned the wheel and they fishtailed onto the dirt trail. Continuing the turn he kept the Defender going so that they finished up with the tall hedge between them and the road they had been travelling on.
He rolled down the window in time to hear the other car speeding by.
Dillon wanted to get back on to the road, but further back the way he had come.
There was another road there that he could take to the airport. Opening the door, he stood on the running board and could see another highway in the distance. There was a small creek and some fairly rough terrain between them and it, but he was beginning to feel at home behind the wheel of the Defender and was sure he could make it.
He looked at Kitty, her face was a little pale, but she managed a smile.
He sat back down and fastened his seat belt.
"It's going to be a little bit of a rough ride, but I'm getting you to the airport somehow."
He selected the setting on the second smaller gear stick, on the floor beside his left hand, to off road. He had read about that in the book also. Turning the engine back on, he slipped it into gear and started off in the direction he needed. One thing he was grateful for – even if the other car did try to follow he was going to loose them in the water up ahead. He kept a fairly straight line on the direction he had sited, and wound his way between the bigger boulders.
As he became more confident in the vehicles abilities he became less selective and more or less kept a straight-line path no matter what was in the way. They both held their breath as they headed down into the stream. The water was clear and he saw no big obstacles in the way.
Just keep the vehicle moving forward, that's what he had read. The water came about half way up the wheel hubs when they reached the middle, but did not enter the cab. He kept them moving and soon the other bank was just ahead. The little vehicle willingly climbed back onto dry land and he proceeded on for another mile or two till he saw the highway ahead.
Now all he had to do was find a gap between the hedges where he could once more return to the smooth surface of the paved road. Again luck was with him and they came to a farm track, turning onto it he headed towards the road.
"You enjoyed that didn't you?" Kitty asked grinning at him.
He smiled back, "Just needed to throw them off the trail."
It only took about half an hour more to reach the small airport. It looked like the jet had already landed and Matt drove towards it. He could see Allen Cranbourne heading towards the little office at the corner of one of the hangers. He parked the Defender as close as possible and left Kitty inside to go talk to his friend.
Kitty saw a blonde headed man, about 5 inches shorter than Matt. He had a stocky build his face was oval in shape and even from where she sat she could not help noticing his open smile. He looked like he was used to taking charge of any situation and she noticed he walked with long easy strides, not seeming to hurry, but covering a lot of ground. From the shape of his jacket and the way his left arm hung, she figured he, too, carried a gun in a shoulder holster.
Matt caught up with him just before he entered the office. Another man was with him, he looked a little older but had an informal uniform with a set of wings embroidered above the pocket of his blazer.
"Hello Allen," said Matt holding out his hand. Cranbourne turned and exchanged greetings and introduced the pilot.
"I need to ask you a favor, Allen. Kitty needs to go back to London, can she travel back with you tonight."
"I'm staying here now, change of plan, but Philip may be going back.
They walked into the office where the pilot was busy filing his flight plan and checking weather reports.
"Philip," he called, the pilot turned around to look at the two men. "Are you headed back to London?"
"Yes I need to get back to City Airport to pick up another passenger or two."
"This is Matt Dillon," he introduces, "we are going to be working together for a few days. His wife needs to go back to London, do you think you can take her."
"Sure be glad too, as long as you clear it with the agency. I have to leave in about twenty minutes."
"No problem."
"Kitty's in the car, I'll get her."
"You go settle her on the plane, while I make a phone call."
Matt does as Cranbourne suggests.
"C'mon Kitty let me show you to your jet."
He carries her bag and walks with her up the steps into the jet then shows her how to use the seat belt and where the bar and snacks are.
"You sure this is going to be alright Matt." She looks a little scared as she looks around the plane. He takes her in his arms, you're going to love every minute of it. It's an amazing feeling. Just don't let on that you've never flown before."
"I wish I could just stay here with you."
"Kitty we've talked about that, you know I hate to send you away like this, but I need you to be safe. Hey and someone needs to go check on Doc, no telling what kind of trouble he's got himself in by now." She smiles and he holds her tightly to him.
"I'm going to miss you but it shouldn't take but a few days to finish this up, then we'll be together again and on our way home." He kisses her gently, lingering a little longer than he intended. There is a cough from behind him as the pilot makes his entrance. He looks at Kitty and smiles.
"Stay safe Cowboy, I'll be waiting for you."
"You too," he replies as he lets go her hands and they hold each others gaze for a few seconds.
"Philip can you see that my wife gets a taxi to Guys Hospital when you get to London. She needs to go visit her uncle." He smiles at Kitty with his shy grin, then turns and ducks his head to get through the exit door.
As he walks across to the hanger buildings, he glances back and waves as the engines of the small jet rev up. Then he watches as the plane taxis down the runway and soon lifts like an elegant bird into the sky.
"Stay safe," he says again to himself. Then walks inside to see Cranbourne, who has just finished talking on the phone.
"We need to talk," he says to Matt.
"C'mon then, that's mine out there." He points with pride to the Defender, standing out there with remnants from the trip across the Cornish countryside hanging from its bumpers.
"What have you been doing?" Cranbourne laughs and slaps him on the back.
"It's quite a story. I'll tell you later."
Matt drives them back to the cottage and on the way Cranbourne explains what has been happening.
"Things are warming up, there are several deliveries of arms expected up and down the coast in the next few days. Looks like they are planning some kind of big attack. Our job is to track the delivery here. Once it is unloaded from the sub, the Coast guard will take care of that part. They want us to handle the men taking the weapons from the coast to whatever form of transport they are using to get the goods to their destination. They want us to follow them and get the location of the transfer so the next team can take over. They will follow the weapons to where they are going. If possible they want us to plant a tracking device on the vehicle. Once the transfer has been made we are to arrest the men we have been following and hold them till backup arrives to take them away. They want to involve as small a force as possible out here in the countryside a dozen agents suddenly arriving on the scene would cause quite a stir."
"Why don't you use the local police, you seem to have a good organization going in this country."
"We have to keep it quiet. We want to corner the top men involved. If we get the local constabulary involved it will be all over the news. Word has already leaked out that something big is going to happen. Our bosses want to track all these shipments and if one of them becomes publicized too soon the rest will stop and then they will regroup later. We've got the intelligence this time, we may not be so lucky if they have to try again."
"Now tell me what's been happening here."
Matt recounted the events of the last few days, together with his drive across the fields and streams of Cornwall. About the time he finished they arrived at the cottage.
" So what do we do now?"
"The agency thinks the delivery will be tomorrow night."
They went inside and Matt found some cheese and bread that Kitty had bought so he wouldn't starve while she was gone. They sat at the small table eating and drinking coffee from the blue mugs.
"I can show you the vehicle they'll move the weapons in, and I know how they'll get it from the beach to the road. What is this tracking device you mentioned?"
Cranbourne had two black leather grips that he had brought with him on the plane. He opened one and took out a small metal device about the size of one of those scones Matt had eaten yesterday.
"This is magnetic. If we can attach it to the vehicle it gives of a signal we can pick up and follow. Makes it easy to track them down."
"I think we can do that, how does tonight sound?"
Cranbourne looks at him, "You have a plan?"
"I think I do, I need to get this job done as soon as possible so I can go back home."
Dillon explained about the Bar D ranch, the Donkeys on the beach, and the horsebox that looked too clean inside to ever have carried horses.
"Tonight we can go out there and plant this device of yours."
Matt felt good about finally getting to do something. Up till now it had been the gunrunners or whatever they were, calling the shots. Time to turn the tables.
Cranbourne was unpacking the contents of the two bags he had brought.
He arranged all the stuff on the table. Most of it was totally unfamiliar to Matt. Fortunately the agent pointed to the items and described them.
"Night vision goggles, bullet proof vests, silencers for the handguns, communications devices, black fleece jackets with hoods." Most of the words were meaningless to Dillon. He didn't need all that stuff to attach that device to the horsebox. Now things looked like they were moving he was anxious for darkness to come.
TBC