The Crimson Dagger - Vatican Knights Series 23 (2020), Rick Jones [free ebooks for android txt] 📗

Marino Abatangelo had turned out well—the boy now a man who wanted to change the world for the better with the direct guiding of his moral compass. He had always been a good soldier who was always willing to fall on his sword. And he performed his duties knowing that what he did was right in the eyes of his Lord.

And it was these thoughts that comforted him as he watched the cab of the elevator caroming off the walls to his position, knowing that he was totally defenseless to save himself. There were no recesses or gaps to tuck himself into, nor were there means of escape with the fire below and the doorways above. Here was a man who was unfortunately caught in the Between.

As the elevator continued to drop and bounce off the walls, he watched the other Vatican Knights slide into small openings, perhaps a blessing from God that they had more in life to do. But his time had come, and God was calling him home. So strong was Marino’s faith that he smiled at the thought of his life coming to an end, because an eternity of happiness within the Ethereal Light awaited.

Marino, after closing his eyes knowing there was nowhere to go or hide, waited.

The elevator was a ruined cube that had been misshapen on its downward flight within the shaft, the falling vehicle bouncing and smashing and indenting against the side walls and rails.

From above, the Vatican Knights cried out to Daniel. But Daniel maintained an airy smile of peace as Death approached.

Pounding and banging, the elevator fell and coughed up sparks. And then the cab clipped Daniel off the rail and carried him into the depths below, through the flames and into the abyss. The hearts of the Vatican Knights became sickened with grief, the loss palpable enough to cause their stomachs to turn into slick fists.

From their safe perches, the Vatican Knights could still hear the elevator falling with the thumping and bumping fading, until it could be heard no more. But it was Kimball who moved his team forward and upward, though he did so with overwhelming sorrow. Losing a Vatican Knight was the same as losing a sibling, a brother, which any soldier in the field would understand. The camaraderie between all warriors was something uniquely special and umbilical at the same time.

Pressing forward, the Vatican Knights climbed to greater heights with the flames and escalating heat giving formidable chase. When they reached the fifty-sixth floor, Job managed to force the elevator doors to the level wide. One by one, the Vatican Knights entered the floor which was much cooler than the shaft. But even here, the temperature was well above the norm.

Kimball’s face was darkened and soiled with soot, as were the faces of his teammates. Job, Isaiah and Jeremiah looked upon Kimball with even features, though Kimball knew they were all angry and despondent. Suffering the loss of Daniel, after all, brought with it the many different sides of emotion that was the human condition.

“Daniel’s at peace,” Kimball told them after discerning what they were feeling. Their emotions were no different from his. And as a Vatican Knight their priority was to see the mission through and deal with their emotions later. Fight through it for the greater good of the many.

Daniel’s at peace, three simple words that were simple, yet impactful.

From that point on the Vatican Knights realized and committed to their primary role ‘to help those who cannot help themselves.’

With the building becoming an inferno underneath them, Kimball Hayden led his team of Vatican Knights forward.

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

Vienna, Austria

Müller’s cellphone rang and he answered it begrudgingly.

“As you can see, Müller, the gas lines decided to accelerate the time of our airlift. The building is fully engulfed in flames,” said Mustafa. “Eventually, the supports on the lower levels will become molten enough for the building to buckle and collapse.”

“We tried everything to shut the lines off.”

“Once Again, Müller, you have proved yourself worthless.”

“Mustafa, listen to me. There’s a chopper on the way and a plane is already fueled and ready to go at the airport.”

“Question is: will the chopper be here in time to airlift my team to safety?”

Müller remained silent for a moment before answering. Then: “Yes. Of course.”

“Your hesitation, Müller, doesn’t exactly inspire confidence. That chopper needs to be here twenty to thirty minutes sooner since the window of our safe departure is quickly closing. Is that clear?”

“I hear you.”

“I’m sure you do. But is that doable? To be here within that timeframe?”

“Even the chopper you requested has its limits, Mustafa. But I’ll see that it arrives on time.”

“You better hope so, Müller, because if we’re not airlifted in time, then the Cardinal Secretary of State and the associate judge of the United States Supreme Court, along with dozens of others who are trapped topside, will burn because of your ineptitude.”

“The chopper will be here on time,” Müller stated flatly.

“Look at the building, Müller. It’s burning like the Wicker Man, fast and steady. Remember what I said about limited time.”

Click!

After the connection was disconnected, Müller sighed and looked at the building. It was as Mustafa had indicated with the metaphor spot on. The fire was consuming the raw materials of the beams and supports as quickly as the intertwined wooden shoots of the Wicker Man. Soon, as the heat grew too hot, the topside weight would prove too much for the softening supports to maintain.

Zeller gave Müller a sidelong glance. Then: “Asking for the impossible, is he?”

“To a degree.” Müller pointed at the building and at the towering flames. “She’s going to come down, so we need to push back—and I mean way back—enough to assure that no one will get hurt when she does.”

“You really think she’s going to come down?”

“I can feel the heat from here.” He turned to Zeller. “What have you got for me?”

“Four choppers are on their way