Chapter 14 - INFILTRATION AT DAWN
By 5:30 AM, The Golden Dragon cut its diesel engine, gliding silently through the sea fog toward the sheer black limestone cliffs of Islet 9.
The ancient fortress loomed above the water like a jagged shadow, its stone battlements overgrown with jungle vines. A single iron pier extended into the cove, where two armed guards in dark slickers paced with assault rifles.
"I'm going in alone," Linh said, pulling a heavy iron wrench from Binh's toolbox.
"You're crazy," Minh said, standing up from his seat. "There are at least ten guards on that island! You don't even have a gun!"
"I have something better, Minh," Linh said, kneeling beside the twelve-year-old boy and placing her hands on his shoulders. "I have the truth. And I'm not letting Han take another day of your mother's life."
"Take this," Binh grunted, handing Linh an old underwater diver's knife and an emergency flare. "The fortress has a submerged sea-cave intake pipe below the waterline used for drainage. You can climb through the old artillery shaft."
Linh looked over at little Rosy sleeping peacefully on the bunk, then back at Minh.
"Stay on the boat with Captain Binh," Linh commanded softly. "If I'm not back in one hour, take the children to the federal prosecutor's office in Hanoi."
May you like
"Bring our mom back," Minh whispered, his voice trembling with a mixture of fear and fierce hope.
Linh pulled the silver wing bracelet around her wrist tightly, stepped onto the gunwale, and slipped silently into the cold mist-covered bay.
