A foreign Hunter I didn’t recognize grabbed onto my arm and took me from Lacoco. From the way he appraised me, I probably looked worse than I felt. “You both need medical attention.”

“No time. Get to the chopper.”

“Do it,” Julie ordered him.

“How many men do you have up here?”

“Counting you guys, eight.”

That would be a very tight fit. “Load them up.” Julie shouted for the others and waved them toward the Hind. Ed helped me up the stairs to the landing pad, and a few seconds later I was climbing inside the Hind. It appeared that Skippy was ready to go. Julie got in behind me. “What’s your plan?” she shouted, trying to be heard over the rotors. I mostly read her lips.

I pulled down a headset from the overhead rack and pulled it on. “Skippy, as soon as everyone is loaded, get us in the air.”

“Go where?” Skippy asked.

“Pick a direction and run, fast as you can.” Gargoyles were capable of surprising speed, but they would be no match for Skippy. Though driving in a helicopter through a magical hurricane was probably stupid, Sam said we could fly right out of here. Being dead didn’t make you infallible, so I sure hoped he was right or we were totally screwed.

Edward climbed in next, and then extended his hand to help in a slight figure. I realized it was Tanya the elf, but before Julie or I could say anything, Ed looked at us and put his finger over his face mask to indicate silence. If his brother realized that there was an elf on his chopper there would be absolute hell to pay. We couldn’t leave any of our people up here to die, but I wasn’t sure if Skippy would agree that elves counted as people, and there was no time to argue about it.

Julie’s snipers were moving back from the edges. John VanZant came running up, carrying a Barrett M-82 that was nearly as big as he was. Lacoco was being helped along by the stranger. They were almost to the chopper when there was a flash of red lightning. The running Hunters were swept off their feet. The Hind rocked and swayed on its tires, our spinning rotors dipping wildly toward the ground.

“Look!” Julie pointed out the door.

Gargoyles were swarming over the side of the roof, their blank stone eyes focusing on the Hind. There was a flash of purple lightning, the sky broke open, and shadows flashed above as dozens of beating wings filled the sky. The gargoyles had seemingly appeared out of nowhere. They were circling, preparing to dive-bomb their stone bodies against our only escape.