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The Russian military helicopter flew bruised and battered. Its gun-metal fuselage sandblasted a shade lighter and punctured with shrapnel holes. Now it was out of fuel too.
A warning light flashed and a buzzing alarm sounded as the engines cut in and out, seconds from stalling.
Lim stayed low in case of an emergency landing, skimming a whisper of sand off a bank of dunes.
Driver felt sure the Chinese agent would have to glide the Huey in to a controlled crash. Yet to everyone’s relief, the compound appeared in the near distance.
It was a hive of activity. Special forces soldiers prowled the perimeter, while others secured the base.
Lim brought the Huey in with the fumes running on fumes. She picked a quiet spot to land on the edge of the compound, with the rotors dead and slowing
