Blowback

Rayburn’s security men were already swarming out of the château, as Harvath hastily wrapped a makeshift bandage around the pilot’s head.

“You don’t need to do that,” the man said as he tried to get up. “I just want to know which one of you assholes shot me.”

“That would be this asshole,” said Schroeder, wrapping his beefy hand around Rayburn’s arm and jerking him upward.

“Okay,” interrupted Harvath, handing him the radio, “you’ve just been promoted to combat controller. I don’t care how you do it, but you’ve got to find a way for those other gliders to land.”

“What are you talking about?” said Schroeder. “There are too many rocks. Those planes will crack up just like we did, or worse.”

“Maybe not,” said the pilot. “A couple meters more to the right, and we might have had a smoother area to land.”

“I don’t care what you do,” said Harvath as he removed the remote detonator from his pocket. “Just figure it out. “Then, arming the remote, he looked at Rayburn and said, “You’re on, sunshine. Do everything you’re supposed to and you could live to see a ripe old age. Fuck around and they’ll be playing ‘Great Balls of Fire’ at your funeral, if you know what I mean.”

Subconsciously, Rayburn’s hand moved toward his groin and the explosive device Harvath had forced him to duct-tape beneath his shorts.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” said Harvath, and Rayburn quickly removed his hand. “I’d try also not to think about Elle Macpherson either, “He added as he shoved Rayburn toward Château Aiglemont and its advancing troops.

Convinced that even under duress Rayburn could talk them into the château, Harvath had provided him with a script, any derivation from which he had guaranteed would result in the worst case of jock itch Rayburn had ever had.

SEVENTY-FOUR

Call everyone into the dining hall,” commanded Rayburn. “Someone is preparing to move against the Aga Khan. They tried to take me out while I was in Sion last night. I have more reinforcements coming in via air. Make sure they get to the dining hall ASAP. Let’s move. The briefing is in five minutes. Go!”

Rayburn then rushed Harvath, Schroeder, and the other Stern commando past several of the security personnel and up the front steps of the former monastery. Though many of the security personnel looked as if they had questions about what the hell was going on, they obviously knew better than to question a direct order from their boss and immediately went into action.

Inside, Château Aiglemont looked more like an English manor house than a former monastery turned health spa. Medieval tapestries, antique furniture, and even suits of armor accented every inch of the heavy stone walls. “Which way to Tokay?” asked Harvath as he withdrew the map Rayburn had drawn for him.

“At the end of this hallway you make a right, and you’ll find a stairway that leads to the subbasement.”

“How many guards?”

Rayburn looked at his watch. “Only two, but they will have heard about the meeting in the dining hall by now, and one of them will stay while the other comes up.”

“What about the Aga Khan?” replied Harvath. “Where do I find him?”

Rayburn hesitated a moment and then pointed the opposite way and said, “To the right of the stained glass window is a staircase that leads up into the bell tower. Halfway up is a statue of Saint Nicholas von Flüe.”

“The patron saint of Switzerland,” said Harvath. “How appropriate. What about it?”

“He holds a rosary in his hand. Gently pull down on it, and a door will open. That doorway leads to the monastery’s second floor. The Aga Khan’s rooms are at the very end.”

“Is there any other way to get up there?”

“Not unless you’ve got a very tall ladder.”

Harvath had no intention of climbing a ladder to get to the Aga Khan. Looking at the timer on his Kobold Chronograph, he tossed Schroeder the detonator and said, “We’ve got less then two minutes. You and Gösser take Rayburn with you and find Tokay. If he doesn’t cooperate, blow his balls off.”

“Wait a second,” said Schroeder. “I thought we were here to rescue your hostage. Where are you going?”

As important as Emir was, Harvath couldn’t pass up the opportunity to get his hands on the Aga Khan himself. “I want the guy behind all of this.”

“You can’t go by yourself. Let’s get the hostage first. After that, we’ll be able to watch your back,” said Schroeder.

Harvath shook his head. “We don’t have time to discuss this. Get Emir, and I’ll meet you outside.”

Schroeder could tell he wasn’t going to get anywhere by arguing with Harvath and so he nodded his head and took off.

Harvath found the doorway at the end of the hall and beyond it the smooth stone steps, which led up to the second level. At the statue of Saint Nicholas, he pulled on the rosary beads, and the statue moved back to reveal a narrow entryway onto the second floor.