The Kremlin File

The fortress covered the whole headland and looked impregnable. Beyond the gate the courtyard was set in the same limestone. Stone buildings backed against the wall faced inward, some crumbling but others in good condition, forming a platform with their roofs.

The population was gathered around Noah. They were very dark with Indian faces, men in loincloths, women wearing only short, brilliant skirts, naked spidery children, all silent and solemn.

Noah came through them as we walked in, his face grave, drawn, his eyes fierce.

Without preamble he gave it to us. “Dr. Fleming has been kidnapped. Chip Cappola was killed trying to prevent it. Jerome has occupied the hotel. All Americans and Europeans on the island are being evacuated on the cruise boats.”

“Where’s Tara Sawyer?” I asked.

Not until later did it dawn on me that I had simply accepted the information out of hand. Through my silent five-mile ride with Mitzy, I had heard not a single beat of drums.

“The message did not mention her,” Noah told me.

At least there had been a message. He wasn’t conjuring up visions.

I said, “How did you hear about this?”

He cast a look at the people crowding around us and his lips turned up at the corners.

“Do not doubt me, Mr. Carter, there is not time. The doctor is being held in the dungeons under the old fort and must be rescued. Your Miss Sawyer is probably being sent home on one of the boats.”

“Not likely. I can’t see Jerome letting her go when he could hold up her father for ransom.”

“You have a point there. There is other news. Descriptions of you both have been broadcast and a reward, a thousand dollars each, is offered for your capture.”

I swore aloud. “I go joyriding and the sky falls down...”

“As well you did,” Noah interrupted. “Had you been in the hotel, you would be dead now and could do nothing. As it is, you can fight.”

“Well, I’d better do something.” I touched the girl. “Stay here; you’ll be safe. I’ll borrow the car.”

“No dice. You don’t know the territory. I do and I’m on this job, too.” There was a metallic hardness in her voice, a hint of the strength that had gouged her a place in the Brotherhood.

“She is right,” Noah backed her up. “You cannot return to Port of Spain by the coast road. Jerome has it blocked. You’ll have to go through the mountains and you’ll need help.” He pointed a long finger at one squat, dark man, then another. “Pants. Shirts. Guide them.”

The men ran for the buildings.

While we waited, Noah added, “They speak English and are intelligent. Go down to the car and they will meet you there.”

I didn’t like this. How did I know Noah’s story was true? And who wanted his escorts on a trip that could end God knew where? But I had no choice. I was outnumbered by Noah’s boys and even Mitzy was on his side. So I went along — at least for now.

By the time we reached the Caddy, the pair were there, grinning. Our guides now wore knee-length white cotton pants and white shirts with the sleeves tom out. Machetes were stuck under their rope belts. They swung into the back seat of the car, giving directions.

There was enough turning room for a donkey cart. The girl rocked the car back and forth for five minutes before we were headed downhill. The main road had been bad. This one hardly existed. We took it in low gear over a Swiss cheese of holes, and for added pleasure came abruptly out of the trees on a sheer cliff on the far side of the mountain spine. We turned to follow a narrow lane downward. The fenders scraped the wall on one side and on the other I looked straight down to a canyon bottom. I didn’t say a word — talking might distract Mitzy, who was driving.

There was half a mile of that, then we were in timber again with a fence of trunks on either side. I started breathing again.

“So you know the territory,” I said to Mitzy. “How do we get into Jerome’s dungeon?”

She shook her head. “We’ll have to work on that. Our first stop should be that old resort hotel I showed you on our way to meet Noah. We can get ourselves together there and consolidate our plans.”

I said it was O.K. with me and she drove towards Noah’s hotel. It was getting dark when we reached a road wide enough for a car. We caught glimpses of lights below us through the trees so we were close to town. Mitzy flipped on the headlights to enter the highway.

The beam picked up a man in uniform with a rifle leveled on us. The girl hit the brakes fast, threw into reverse and backed up. On a hunch I looked behind the car. The rear lights showed another soldier raising a rifle. My Luger was up and blasting before his gun was high enough. At the same time the windshield exploded. Glass showered over the girl but she kept driving. Then I fired through the windshield frame and the man in front of the car fell.