4pm SST Monday 14 January 2085
Before delivering the news to Herbet, Zak checked the jail.
Brigard was the only hijacker on duty, sitting at the table. Zak had been concerned that since Brigard was not engaged in conversation, he would be more alert to what was happening behind the bars. But Brigard was smiling, laughing, and letting out the occasional snort, totally engrossed in some video he was watching on his wristband.
Zak called Herbet.
‘I’ve decided to carry on,’ he said.
Herbet let out a big sigh.
‘It took you long enough to decide, but it’s great to have you back.’
‘They’ve discovered the Ambassador, and taken him to the cargo hold.’
‘Hmm. They might take him with them, and demand a ransom,’ said Herbet. ‘Have you thought about what to try next?’
‘I’d thought I’d watch them for a bit. See what their current routine is. I’ll try and get some information out of the guys I locked up.’
‘We’ve only got about eleven hours left now. But one advantage for us is that these guys have been up all of last night, so they’re going to be very tired.’
‘Okay. I’ll get back to you with what I find,’ said Zak.
He opened a CCTV view on cabin B-1. It was time to check on Zahedi and Saltzmann.
The lights were off, but first he would listen in.
‘There’s not a great choice for school trips,’ said Zahedi. ‘They won’t take seven year olds outside the city.’
‘I don’t blame them,’ said Saltzmann. ‘The last thing you want is a kid falling into a crater.’
Zak turned the lights on. The two men were lying on the bare double bed, a respectable distance apart. They stopped talking immediately.
