The Power of Five Oblivion

orient themselves. There was the dried-out canal in front of them, the casino on their right…
    “Where’s the car?” the pilot shouted.
    “This way!”
    Richard led them down Baniyas Road. There were no lights anywhere in the city but they were lucky. There was a full moon and the sky was full of stars. Richard had left the Land Cruiser about a hundred metres away and they ran towards it, their footsteps echoing on the pavements, the pilot cursing as he had to fight for balance with his arms behind him. Back at the palace, lights were already starting to come on. Someone shouted. Could it be possible that they had been spotted? Richard was already wishing he had parked the car closer. He felt in his trouser pockets for the ignition key. It wasn’t there! Just for a moment, his blood froze – then he remembered that he had decided it was better not to carry it with him and had left it in the glove compartment.
    They reached the car. Richard threw open the door and scrambled in. Scarlett helped Larry Carter into the back, wasting precious seconds as he contorted himself and swore out loud, banging his head against the top of the doorframe. Then she climbed in next to Richard.
    Richard found the key, jammed it into the ignition and turned it. The car started at once. They pulled out and began to drive. For the first time that evening, Scarlett thought she could relax. They had made it! The airport was less than twenty minutes away.
    “There’s something I think I should tell you.” The voice was Larry Carter’s and it was utterly cold, coming from the back seat. “I don’t know what you two jokers think you’re up to, but there’s absolutely no way I’m flying you to Antarctica. I don’t quite know why you want to go there. It wouldn’t be my choice for a vacation. But just so there’s no misunderstanding, I’m telling you now, it’s out of the question.”
    Richard glanced at the driving mirror. “Suppose we dump you on the road,” he muttered.
    “Then you’re not going anywhere. Zack needs me to fly that plane. Or didn’t he tell you?”
    Zack was Martins, the co-pilot. And Richard knew that Carter was telling the truth.
    Scarlett twisted round. The pilot was sprawled out uncomfortably, sitting on his own hands and arms. But there was a thin, unpleasant smile on his face. At the end of the day, he held all the cards … and he knew it. “We have to go to Antarctica,” she said.
    “Why do you have to do that?”
    “I can’t explain it to you. And you wouldn’t believe me if I did.”
    “Well, let me explain something to you. There’s nothing there except freezing wind and maybe a few penguins. Nowhere to refuel. If I come down on the ice, I may not be able to take off again. I don’t want to die out there.”
    “You won’t die. There are people waiting for us.”
    “Really?” Carter didn’t sound convinced. “Well, they’re going to have to wait a little longer. I’m heading back to Australia. Maybe you can hitch another ride from there.”
    Scarlett opened her mouth to argue with him, but just then there was a flicker of light in the back window and she saw three cars pulling out onto the road far behind them. “Richard…!”
    “I’ve seen them.” Richard glanced again at the rear-view mirror. The cars were some distance but they were already catching up. He thought of the vehicles he had seen in the lock-up. They contained some of the most powerful engines ever built for the road. There was no doubt at all that whoever was following would catch up with them long before they got anywhere near the airport.
    The pilot had seen them too. He was leaning forward, the lights of the dashboard reflecting green in his face. He looked scared. “Where’s your gun?” he demanded. With a cry of desperation, he jerked at the ropes, trying to free himself.
    “The gun won’t help us,” Richard said. He turned to Scarlett and there was a moment of understanding between them. “Can you?”
    Scarlett thought briefly, then nodded. She took one last look behind her. The pursuing cars had already halved the distance between them. She had to do this quickly. She closed her eyes. Fifteen seconds passed. They were still speeding forward through the empty streets. Richard was gripping the wheel, concentrating on the road ahead.
    “What are you doing?” the pilot shrieked. He was staring at Scarlett. “You think falling asleep is going to help?”
    “Listen to me, Mr Carter,” Richard