“Split up!” he hollered when they reached the perimeter. The team divided into two-man units and worked rapidly through the burning ruins, firing three-round bursts at anyone who looked as if he may have somehow survived the initial attacks. There weren’t many, and even the wounded drew the momentary but deadly attention of the raiders. It was not work for the weak of heart, but mercy had no place in the mountains of Pakistan on a night like this.

At the far edge of the camp, Kyle yelled, “Back!” They all turned and worked their way through the charnel houses to their starting point. Fewer shots were needed this time.

The fire was chewing everything in the camp and an ammunition dump erupted like a small volcano, but the surrounding high mountains shielded the fire and detonations from the outside world. The Tridents pulled out after leaving behind a few booby traps in case of pursuit.

They climbed the trail, picked up the guide, and disappeared like ghosts back into the unfathomable reaches of the rugged border.

2

SCOTLAND

THE CASTLE WAS GUARDED by everything but dragons, knights, and archers with longbows. Professional security personnel from five nations and counterterrorism teams roamed the grounds while police in small boats patrolled the black waters of the forbidding loch. Electronic and thermal detection systems webbed the woodlands and motion detectors and surveillance cameras probed every corner. Sir Geoffrey Cornwell took a sip of whisky and looked for holes in the security net as the sun set in a final blaze of bronze sky sliced by layers of purple clouds. A fine mist was on the light breeze, but he could see across the loch, which meant the weather would be fine for tonight.

It was less than a dozen miles from Edinburgh, perched on the dominating knob of a hill that sloped to the water on the east side.