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Tolland couldn't have agreed more。 The only question was how。
They had no time to consider a solution。 A familiar high…pitched whir became audible above them on the glacier。 Tolland's gaze shot up to see two white…clad figures ski effortlessly up onto the edge and stop in unison。 The two men stood there a moment； peering down at their battered prey like chess masters savoring checkmate before the final kill。
Delta…One was surprised to see the three escapees alive。 He knew； however； this was a temporary condition。 They had fallen onto a section of the glacier that had already begun its inevitable plunge to the sea。 This quarry could be disabled and killed in the same manner as the other woman； but a far cleaner solution had just presented itself。 A way in which no bodies would ever be found。
Gazing downward over the lip； Delta…One focused on the gaping crevasse that had begun to spread like a wedge between the ice shelf and the clinging block of ice。 The section of ice on which the three fugitives sat was dangerously perched。。。 ready to break away and fall into the ocean any day now。
Why not today。。。
Here on the ice shelf； the night was rocked every few hours by deafening booms…the sound of ice cracking off parts of the glacier and plummeting into the ocean。 Who would take notice？
Feeling the familiar warm rush of adrenaline that acpanied the preparation for a kill； Delta…One reached in his supply pack and pulled out a heavy； lemon…shaped object。 Standard issue for military assault teams； the object was called a flash…bang…a 〃nonlethal〃 concussion grenade that temporarily disoriented an enemy by generating a blinding flash and deafening concussion wave。 Tonight； however； Delta…One knew this flash…bang would most certainly be lethal。
He positioned himself near the edge and wondered how far the crevasse descended before tapering to a close。 Twenty feet？ Fifty feet？ He knew it didn't matter。 His plan would be effective regardless。
With calm bred from the performance of countless executions； Delta…One dialed a ten…second delay into the grenade's screw…dial； slid out the pin； and threw the grenade down into the chasm。 The bomb plummeted into the darkness and disappeared。
Then Delta…One and his partner cleared back up onto the top of the berm and waited。 This would be a sight to behold。
Even in her delirious state of mind； Rachel Sexton had a very good idea what the attackers had just dropped into the crevasse。 Whether Michael Tolland also knew or whether he was reading the fear in her eyes was unclear； but she saw him go pale； shooting a horrified glance down at the mammoth slab of ice on which they were stranded； clearly realizing the inevitable。
Like a storm cloud lit by an internal flash of lightning； the ice beneath Rachel illuminated from within。 The eerie white translucence shot out in all directions。 For a hundred yards around them； the glacier flashed white。 The concussion came next。 Not a rumble like an earthquake； but a deafening shock wave of gut…churning force。 Rachel felt the impact tearing up through the ice into her body。
Instantly； as if a wedge had been driven between the ice shelf and the block of ice supporting them； the cliff began to shear off with a sickening crack。 Rachel's eyes locked with Tolland's in a freeze…frame of terror。 Corky let out a scream nearby。
The bottom dropped out。
Rachel felt weightless for an instant； hovering over the multimillion…pound block of ice。 Then they were riding the iceberg down…plummeting into the frigid sea。
56
The deafening grating of ice against ice assaulted Rachel's ears as the massive slab slid down the face of the Milne Ice Shelf； sending towering plumes of spray into the air。 As the slab splashed downward； it slowed； and Rachel's previously weightless body crashed down onto the top of the ice。 Tolland and Corky landed hard nearby。
As the block's downward momentum plunged it deeper into the sea； Rachel could see the foaming surface of the ocean racing upward with a kind of taunting deceleration； like the ground beneath a bungee…jumper whose cord was a few feet too long。 Rising。。。 rising。。。 and then it was there。 Her childhood nightmare was back。 The ice。。。 the water。。。 the darkness。 The dread was almost primal。
The top of the slab slipped below the waterline； and the frigid Arctic Ocean poured over the edges in a torrent。 As the ocean rushed in all around her； Rachel felt herself sucked under。 The bare skin on her face tightened and burned as the saltwater hit。 The flooring of ice disappeared beneath her； and Rachel fought her way back to the surface； buoyed by the gel in her suit。 She took in a mouthful of saltwater； sputtering to the surface。 She could see the others floundering nearby； all of them tangled in tethers。 Just as Rachel righted herself； Tolland yelled out。
〃It's ing back up！〃
As his words echoed above the tumult； Rachel felt an eerie upwelling in the water beneath her。 Like a massive lootive straining to reverse direction； the slab of ice had groaned to a stop underwater and was now beginning its ascent directly beneath them。 Fathoms below； a sickening low frequency rumble resonated upward through the water as the gigantic submerged sheet began scraping its way back up the face of the glacier。
The slab rose fast； accelerating as it came； swooping up from the darkness。 Rachel felt herself rising。 The ocean roiled all around as the ice met her body。 She scrambled in vain； trying to find her balance as the ice propelled her skyward along with millions of gallons of seawater。 Buoying upward； the giant sheet bobbed above the surface； heaving and teetering； looking for its center of gravity。 Rachel found herself scrambling in waist…deep water across the enormous； flat expanse。 As the water began pouring off the surface； the current swallowed Rachel and dragged her toward the edge。 Sliding； splayed flat on her stomach； Rachel could see the edge looming fast。
Hold on！ Rachel's mother's voice was calling the same way it had when Rachel was just a child floundering beneath the icy pond。 Hold on！ Don't go under！
The wrenching yank on her harness expelled what little air Rachel had left in her lungs。 She jerked to a dead stop only yards from the edge。 The motion spun her in place。 Ten yards away； she could see Corky's limp body； still tethered to her； also jolting to a stop。 They had been flowing off the sheet in opposite directions and his momentum had stopped her。 As the water ran off and grew more shallow； another dark form appeared over near Corky。 He was on his hands and knees； grasping Corky's tether and vomiting saltwater。
Michael Tolland。
As the last of the wake drained past her and flowed off the iceberg； Rachel lay in terrified silence； listening to the sounds of the ocean。 Then； feeling the onset of deadly cold； she dragged herself onto her hands and knees。 The 'berg was still bobbing back and forth； like a giant ice cube。 Delirious and in pain； she crawled back toward the others。
High above on the glacier； Delta…One peered through his night…vision goggles at the water churning around the Arctic Ocean's newest tabular iceberg。 Although he saw no bodies in the water； he