فصل 42

42

Visitors

It was the morning of the fifth day on Plutus. Enele looked out the gap in the fourth-story wall of the depository, toward his home island of Funafuti. It was four days since they’d sequestered themselves inside, and still no sign of an Elgen attack. It wasn’t a question of if they would come, only when. The Elgen knew the Tuvaluans were there. There was no question of that, as the rebels were being regularly monitored by Elgen drones. Twice a day and once at night they’d come, always circling the island just out of gunshot range, watching for movement. But still no attack. Enele knew what Hatch was waiting for. He was rebuilding his army while Enele’s grew weaker.

Hatch had all the time in the world. He had stranded Enele and his men on the island and guaranteed that they would remain there. Just six hours after Enele’s army had finished carrying all their weapons and supplies into the depository, a fleet of Elgen helicopters—twelve fully-armed Apaches—flew in from the east. They passed over the depository in formation, then, circling back, commenced their mission.

It was easy to conclude what their mission was. They didn’t fire once at the building; instead they focused their missiles and guns on the boats docked in the harbor. They performed their operation efficiently. Just fifteen minutes after they arrived, they were headed back to their base, leaving Enele’s boats shredded, sinking, and burning in the harbor.

The ES Proton, the only real ship Enele had had left, was, missile by missile, blown to pieces, her burning wreckage scattered and floating in pieces around the harbor.

In addition to their missiles, the Apaches carried M230 chain guns mounted beneath the helicopters that fired 30mm bullets at the rate of 625 bullets a minute. The helicopters strafed the ground so thoroughly that even the smallest of Enele’s rafts was so riddled by bullets that it looked more like a block of Swiss cheese than a flotation device.

Four days, Enele thought now. When will it come? Or maybe it wouldn’t. Perhaps Hatch’s plan was to just wait until they ran out of food and water. If the gods were generous, he and his men could capture rainwater for drinking, but food was a different matter. Even with rationing, Enele’s army wouldn’t survive more than two months.

Enele’s thoughts were suddenly broken by something he hadn’t heard in a while: the sound of boat engines. But they weren’t coming from the east. Enele ran to the other side of the floor and looked out over the enclosed Nukufetau harbor. Amid the wreckage of their ships there were nineteen boats of different shapes and sizes headed their way. Enele grabbed his radio. “Adam, you see that?” “Yes, sir. We’ve got visitors.”

“Who are they?”

“I don’t know. I’ll go out to meet them.”

“Be careful,” Enele said. “Consider them hostile. Send some men up to me, and we’ll cover you from here.” “Roger,” Adam said.

A minute later four soldiers ran up the stairs. “We’re here,” the first said.

Following Enele’s instruction, they pointed two of their machine guns out toward the harbor. Two of the boats had already docked, and their occupants started to disembark. None of them appeared to be carrying guns. Then Adam, flanked by six armed soldiers, walked up to them. The men spoke for a moment, then, to Enele’s surprise, embraced.

“I’m going down,” Enele said. “Hold your fire unless we’re fired on.” He ran down the stairs. As he reached the main floor, the front door opened. Adam walked in. “Enele. I have someone to see you.” Enele walked forward to see who it was. Standing just inside the doorway were Jack and Ostin. Enele immediately threw up his arms. “Jack! Ostin!” “Enele,” Jack said. They came together and hugged.

“What are you doing back here?” Enele asked. “I thought you had escaped.” “So did we,” Jack said. “The Philippine Navy captured the Joule. We’re the only ones who got away. We came back to save them and help you.” “Who are ‘we’?”

“Our new friends,” Jack said. He turned back and said, “Come on in, you guys.” Vishal, Alveeta, and the MAS crew all stepped inside the depository.

“In Fiji we met Vishal and Alveeta,” Jack said.

Vishal and Alveeta stepped forward.

“Enele,” Alveeta said. “Do you remember me?”

“Of course, my friend.” The men embraced. “I haven’t seen you since grade school. You look the same.” “I weigh the same,” Alveeta said with a slight laugh. “I am here with Vishal. He is the leader of the Tuvaluan resistance. Now we will follow you.” “I’m Vishal,” Vishal said, extending his hand. “It is an honor to meet you, Enele Saluni. You come from a great family.” “Where did you come from?” Enele asked.

“There were about two hundred of us who were out of the country when the Elgen attacked. We’ve been waiting for the right time. When Jack and Ostin told us that you were rallying our people, we knew it was time.” “I would someday like to hear how that came about,” Enele said. “But we haven’t time now. You have two hundred soldiers?” “Almost two hundred, though we’re not much for soldiers. We’re mostly salesmen and professionals. But we are willing to fight and die for our country.” “That is good,” Enele said. “We have an army. Did you see any drones as you came in?” “No,” Ostin said.

“Good. That is how they watch us. Come in. Have you eaten?”

“Yes,” Vishal said. “Likely better than you. We have supplies and weapons on our boats.” “Adam,” Enele said. “Take a hundred men and help our friends unload their boats. Then hide their boats wherever you can. There is a mangrove forest a mile north of here; they might be safe there. Then hurry back. I am convening a war council.” “Yes, sir,” Adam said.