Chapter 7: Just in Time

Sully first heard the faint pop pop pop sounds of gunfire over the roar of the engines when they reached a particularly narrow part of the road, with tall, amber-orange rock formations to their right and a steep drop to the left. He sat up in his seat, straining to hear more. The gunfire came in short bursts, with a minute or two of silence in between. Whatever it was, it was getting louder, and closer to their car.

"What the hell is that?" asked the driver when he finally caught on to the noise.

"Sounds like gunfire," said his sidekick. "You think the guys are having a little fun back there?" he asked with a grin.

There was a crackle over the radio, a moment of static, and Marlowe's voice on the broadcast.

"You idiots!" she shouted angrily. "Kill them. All of them!"

Sully caught a glimpse of something from his side view mirror that disappeared just as quickly. Was that a…? Before he could confirm, a rider clad in blue appeared on a white, high-tailed Arabian horse, galloping beside one of the trucks. The rider was shooting at the guard, forcing him to take cover.

He stared more intently into the small mirror, and saw four more riders surrounding the convoy, picking off gunners one after the other. A loud explosion erupted as a bullet hit the gas tank of the nearest motorcycle. The bike, along with the motorist, went up in flames.

Ask and you shall receive, Sully thought to himself. Before he could formulate an escape plan, he heard a familiar voice that cut through the chaos of the gunfight.

"Sully?"

Sully turned around quickly, thinking he had mistaken. His eyes scanned the rear window urgently. He forced himself to blink and refocus.

He couldn't believe it. It was Nate, and he was, incredibly, the lead rider, charging his way forward.

"Shoot him!" the senior guard yelled, as he pulled out his own handgun. He opened the driver's door and aimed the gun. Reacting quickly, Sully braced himself against the steering wheel. He punched the man square in the jaw, letting his body tumble out into the sand.

"Sully!" Nate shouted as he recognized who was in the car.

The younger guard had already popped his head out the opening in the roof, and started to shoot. Sully changed positions to pull him back into the vehicle. He unlatched the rear door and shoved the guard outside.

Nate was gaining ground. "You're alive!" he yelled with joy.

Maybe, Sully thought as the car started to veer left, with no one at the wheel. Maybe not for long. It was dangerously close to the precipice.

Sully climbed quickly onto the roof and jumped at the last second to the nearest thing — the truck that housed the orange crane. His hands grabbed the side of the truck, but there was no foothold to hoist himself up.

"I'm slipping!" Sully said.

Nate was almost to the rear of the truck. "Hang on!"

Sully felt one of his hands slip off the side.

"Shit," he said as he looked down and saw the rear wheels rotating at more than 50 miles an hour. He knew he would be crushed if he lost his remaining hold. Road kill.

"Help me!" he said to Nate.

"I'm coming, I'm coming!" Nate shouted back.

Sully felt a strong pair of hands lift him off the side and into the truck. Before he could react, the same hands tighten around his neck. He tried to pry them off, but the seven foot, 300 plus pound giant that had a hold on him only squeezed harder. Sully saw Nate jump into the truck bed out of the corner of his eye. His lungs cried for air.

Just as his vision was starting to blur, he felt a hard shove from the left as Nate ran into the brute. It was enough for the giant to loosen his hold, but the force also sent Sully over the wooden railing. Nate caught him at the last second, with inches between his shoes and the ground.

"Hang on, I've gotcha," Nate grunted.

Sully felt his hand slip again. "I can't hold on!"

Nate looked around frantically. "Salim!" he shouted.

The same rider in blue appeared behind them.

"Grab him!" said Nate, as he strained under the weight.

The rider closed the gap quickly. "Take my hand, I've got you."

Sully grabbed his hand and vaulted over onto the horse. He looked back at the truck to see the brute punch Nate in the gut and push him toward the far corner of the platform.

"We have to help him," he yelled over the sound of galloping hooves. Sully could feel the horse slowing with the added weight. They were losing ground quickly.

"Can you handle the horse?" The rider yelled over his shoulder.

Sully nodded. "Yeah."

The rider whistled shrilly and a couple of seconds later, another white-haired stallion emerged beside them. He half-stood on the saddle and jumped to a perfect landing on the other horse. Sully grabbed the reins and pushed on. He caught up to the head truck to see Nate jump onto the arm of the crane and kick the brute. The crane swung to the right from his momentum, nearly hitting a jutting rock formation. Nate hung onto the middle of the crane for dear life. They both saw the next turn on the road at the same time, with a wall of rock rushing up fast. It would hit Nate in less than ten seconds.

Shit. Shit shit shit. Sully swore aloud in similar fashion. He dug his heels into the horse's side. He wasn't going to make it in time.

Sully couldn't believe his eyes when he saw, out of nowhere and just in time, the horse that Nate was riding earlier appear underneath him. It galloped forward at the same speed as the truck. He looked up at Nate, dangling above, and down at the gray coated stallion.

Come on, kid, you've got one shot at this.

Nate jumped onto the horse just as the arm of the crane slid against the rocks, forcing the truck to veer left. The sudden turn was too much, and the vehicle tumbled to its side, sliding until it fell off the cliff.

Sully let himself breathe for the first time in what seemed like minutes.

Jesus, kid, too close.

. . .

They led the horses to a stop, and both dismounted. Sully shook his head, unable to forget the image of Nate hanging from the crane. He would not have made it in time, he was sure of it. If not for that damn horse…

"Hey," Nate said as he rushed into an embrace.

Sully grunted at the impact. Nate's arms wrapped around him with more force than he expected. Sully returned the embrace, feeling the tenseness in Nate's body. The kid had been worried about him, really worried. He gave Nate a couple of pats on the back, saying, See? I'm okay.

"You alright?" Nate asked to confirm, as they faced each other. He gave Sully a once over, looking for any signs of harm. His eyes were wild, producing a look of adrenaline-laced concern.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine," Sully began, studying Nate in return. He was looking a lot worse for wear since the last time they saw each other. Sully shook his head. "But damn, I was sure they'd kill you, kid."

"Well they tried, right?" Nate said with a tense laugh.

Sully took a second look at Nate. He seemed exhausted, as if the natural rush from the last ten minutes was the only thing that was keeping him on his feet.

"So how the hell did you find me all the way out here?" Sully asked.

"I had some help." Nate pointed to the man in blue, who rode up to them.

"Salim," he said, as he reached down and took Sully's hand.

"Sullivan," Sully replied. "Thank you."

"We haven't much time," Salim continued. "We cannot allow them to reach the city."

Nate hesitated. "I…I don't know…" He looked at Sully, unwilling to risk his mentor and friend's life again so soon. He was beginning to think the risks of this treasure hunt were no longer worth the rewards.

Sully sighed. He remembered Marlowe's words in the stone village.

"He's right, Nate. I've been trapped with those crazy bastards for days." He started to mount his horse, ignoring the multiple bruises and aches on his body. "I don't know what the hell it is Marlowe's after exactly, but it sure as hell ain't treasure. We gotta stop'em."

Nate looked up at him, still undecided.

Sully gave him a nod. His look said everything. Come on, kid, let's finish this and get the hell home.

"Drake, we must go, now!" said Salim.

Nate mounted his horse and readied himself.

"Never a dull moment, huh Sully?"

Sully laughed, both of them realizing the full meaning of Nate's words. "Why change now?"