The Target(106)

It had been confirmed that a coded message had been passed to Du-Ho and Eun Sun. They had not been told what night it would happen, because if that information had fallen into the wrong hands it would have been disastrous. But the two would know that a rescue attempt was being made and that they would have to be ready.

When Robie, Reel, and Sook drew close to the camp they dismounted from their scooters and hid them in a patch of trees. Sook changed his clothes, wiped off his face, and hoisted an old duffel bag over his shoulder. Now he looked like a typical North Korean peasant. He took to the road while Robie and Reel paralleled his movements through the trees.

The outer perimeter patrol of Bukchang lay dead ahead.

As Sook walked along three guards approached him. They told him to stop and identify himself. He did so, telling them that he was traveling east to Hamhung to see his family and take a job there he had been promised. He gave them his paperwork, which had been expertly prepared.

While two of them searched his duffel the lead guard examined the paperwork. He finally handed it back.

“You are near Bukchang camp.” He pointed to the north. “You must head that way. There is a road that will take you around the camp and then you can head east.” He suddenly eyed Sook suspiciously. “What sort of job are you going to do in Hamhung?”

“Farming.”

“Let me see your hands.”

Sook held them up. They were roughened and callused. He had spent a week making them so.

The guard nodded. “Then go work your ox and smell your horse shit,” he said, and the other guards laughed.

They stopped laughing when three rounds from suppressed weapons entered their bodies, dropping them where they stood.

Robie and Reel emerged from the woods and dragged the bodies into the cover of the trees. Robie slipped off one of the guards’ walkie-talkies and handed it to Sook so he could listen in on local communications.

They moved on and soon reached the rear outer fence of the camp. They had been given the patrol times of the guards and waited for four of them to pass by before moving closer to the fence. They knew it was electrified and had come prepared for that. Using a laser, Reel cut through enough strands to allow a good-sized hole that each of them could slip through.

Sook went first, followed by Reel and then Robie. The hut they wanted was at the very back of the camp. As they crept forward they saw a burst of light and then realized it was a guard lighting a cigarette. Reel and Robie circled the hut, counting off the number of guards surrounding it.

Four. Like the intel had said.

Then they separated. Reel went left and Robie and Sook went right.

Reel spoke into her headset to Robie. He listened and said, “Affirmative. Three count on second hand sweep at twelve.”

He pulled two tranquilizer pistols from holsters and aimed each at a different guard. Now that they were inside the camp they didn’t want to make any unnecessary noise. Based on the satellite reports and intelligence on the ground, they both carried two dart guns, for a total of four shots, equaling the number of anticipated guards. Fortunately, that number had not changed.

On the other side of the hut Reel was doing the same. It was more difficult than it looked, aiming two guns simultaneously at two different targets, but they had no choice. Dropping less than all four guards with the first volley would allow the others to react and shoot back. The entire camp would be alerted.

They each looked at their watches until the second hand hit twelve. Then they took double aim, counted “three Mississippi” in their heads, and fired both weapons.

Four men fell.

Sook rushed forward and into the hut.

Robie and Reel were right on his six.

Du-Ho and Eun Sun were not asleep and were dressed in their work clothes. Sook explained to them who their rescuers were and what they were about to do. They asked no questions, but merely nodded and followed them out.

They were through the hole in the fence and had fled down a path toward the woods when it happened.

A siren went off.

As they looked back, lights in the camp blazed on and they heard feet rushing and motors starting.

Robie pointed up an embankment. “This way. Now.”

They ran up the embankment. Luckily, Du-Ho and Eun Sun were young and in good shape. They had no difficulty keeping up, also no doubt energized by the realization that if they were caught they would be executed.

As Robie and Reel rushed along she said, “Do you think we were set up?”

Sook answered. “I just heard on the walkie-talkie. The guards you shot on the perimeter were found.”

“Great,” said Robie. “Let’s double-time it.”

“This way,” said Sook, pointing to his left. “It’s a shortcut to where we left the scooters.”