Alex chased after Tehrani, tracking his movement through the snow. He came up to the rail line and stopped. The tracks were lost in a mess of slush.
Suddenly, something hit Alex from behind, like a hot baseball bat striking his left shoulder. It hit him with such force that his left hand lost its grip on his AKMS, and he almost fell onto the tracks. His vision blurred and his ears rang and he fell to his knees. The ringing in his ears took away his equilibrium. “Sniper,” Alex reported weakly. He didn’t recall the sound of a rifle, but he sensed he’d been shot by Major Khan.
“Alex!” Cat yelled. “Get up and run, Alex! Run!”
“I can’t see,” Alex cried.
“You have to try!” Cat shouted.
Alex scurried on his knees toward the railcars, knowing he’d buy himself a few more seconds. His vision remained blurry. Everything was a swirl of white and black. His hearing still ringing, Alex felt unbalanced, afraid to move because he might fall and he wasn’t sure he could pick himself back up again. The shot had pierced his shoulder, and he knew it wouldn’t be long before Major Khan took his second shot. In that moment, Alex regretted not being able to see Cat’s smile again, but he imagined it.
He heard two more shots, but he could tell they weren’t aimed at him. His left hand went numb and he looked down. Cat was holding his hand, helping him to his feet.
“I’ve got your hand. Just run with me, baby. Run.”
Alex stumbled with her across the railway tracks and into the warehouse. His feet tangled up in some wire and he stumbled and fell, dragging Cat down with him. A shot zipped past them. Cat returned fire, then helped him up, and they ran. He couldn’t hear if Major Khan took more shots. Maybe he was still working Alex into his crosshairs. Alex ran for Cat, and he ran for himself—he wanted to live. As he ran, the ringing continued in one ear.
They weaved through the rubble, up and over crumpled metal siding and a pile of huge gears. Cat led him to a heap of rebar and then stopped when they got around to the far side.
Alex’s vision began to clear. He noticed a black object in her hand. “What’s that?”
“I think it’s General Tehrani’s cell phone. It probably fell out of his pocket. I found it on the gangway.”
“That’s why my ear keeps ringing.” He took out the earpiece that monitored the divining rod. The ringing in his ear stopped.
“Your shoulder is bleeding.”
Alex looked around the debris and snow for any signs of General Tehrani. “I lost him. I know he’s close, but where?”
Cat grabbed his shoulder and Alex winced. “We need to get you bandaged up.”
“Khan will be coming, and we’re too out in the open to stay here,” Alex said, looking around them. “There, see that ducting. It must have fallen from the ceiling when the building burned down, but a lot of it is still intact.”
Cat peered around the rebar and swept the area. “Okay, we’ll get in there and I’ll patch you up. Go.”