Chapter 134 Discovery
The journey to Northwind for the crucial documents implied an inevitable return of Paige within three days, all in a bid to rescue Raymond. This belief served as a soothing balm for Marigold and Finnegan, alleviating their panic.Finnegan, choosing honesty over deceit, didn't withhold this information from Raymond. "Your lady has journeyed back to Northwind," he informed, a hint of admiration in his voice. "It appears you two share a bond of deep devotion. She isn't one to abandon you so easily. It seems my gamble has paid off."Marigold had initially resolved not to release either of the two captives. However, Raymond's uncanny ability to decipher the critical information they sought forced her hand. They had to release one of them, or the documents would remain forever out of their reach. Without these documents, their efforts would be in vain.Raymond was uncertain whether Paige had personally embarked on the journey to Northwind. Yet, he was convinced of one thing: she was undoubtedly orchestrating their rescue and the retrieval of the antidote. He had witnessed firsthand the significance Mrs. Sackler held for Paige. The antidote was within their grasp; how could she possibly abandon it?Raymond chose not to respond to Marigold's remarks. Instead, he made a peculiar request. "I crave Western food.""Western food?" Marigold scoffed, shaking her head as she swirled her drink. "Regrettably, we lack the culinary skills for that. Consume what is provided and curb your pickiness. There are times when even our supplies are delayed, and here you are, being choosy."So, supplies were delayed? Yet, Raymond had observed that Marigold and the Finnegan siblings never seemed to run out of their alcoholic beverages. It appeared that while other supplies and food might be scarce, they were never short of alcohol. Given the biting cold of their surroundings, the alcohol did indeed serve as a warming comfort.Meanwhile, Paige was relentlessly scouring for coordinates. A fleet of small helicopters, mobilized under her instructions, were diligently searching, ready to report back immediately upon locating the sites Paige sought.After coordinating the flights, Pearl took over the logistics. From minor tasks to food and drink, everything was managed by Pearl, who remained steadfastly by Paige's side.While maintaining contact with the helicopter crew, Paige was simultaneously scrutinizing the satellite maps and cross-referencing them with the live searches on the ground. Time was a luxury she couldn't afford. Marigold had granted her a mere three days. To catch them off guard, Paige needed to locate the place within a day and dedicate another to strategizing the assault.For Paige, every wasted second was a gamble with Raymond and Mrs. Sackler's lives. With the antidote tantalizingly close, how could she risk losing it?As the hours ticked away, Paige continued her relentless search for the coordinates, refusing to rest. That evening, Paige and Cecil West pulled an all-nighter. Pearl, however, managed to steal a few hours of sleep on the study's sofa, waking after a mere three or four hours.The sound of Paige's typing, which had been incessant for nearly eighteen hours, filled the room. Her eyes hadn't closed once. The intensity of her workload was daunting to any observer.Yet, with helicopters continuously combing the area outside, how could Paige afford to halt her search? The first day was drawing to a close, and with the break of dawn, the second day would commence.The night of the third day was reserved for the transaction. According to Paige's plan, if she failed to locate the place by noon, she would be entirely at the mercy of others. A situation Paige was determined to avoid.As the sky gradually lightened, Pearl, upon waking, promptly brewed coffee and served it to Paige and Cecil West to keep them alert. Neither of them mentioned rest, and naturally, Pearl didn't suggest it either. She understood the critical importance of the antidote for Paige and the significance of Raymond's identity.After an operation lasting over ten hours, the helicopter finally spotted an area at daybreak that resembled the place Paige had described. It was a secluded valley, nestled amidst snow-capped mountains, devoid of any roads.When the helicopter radioed in, Paige immediately responded. After listening to the observer's description from the aircraft, she swiftly requested photos. As the images transmitted to Paige's computer, she leaped up, exclaiming, "Found it!"Cecil West pushed the computer aside and approached Paige. "You've found it?" he asked.Paige nodded, a triumphant smile on her face. "Yes, we've found it."Despite the photo's lack of clarity, even with the best equipment, Paige recognized it instantly. Although she hadn't spent much time at that location, Paige had meticulously memorized every feature of the area.
Cecil West studied the coordinates that had been delivered to him. "This place is a natural prison," he observed. "Surrounded by mountains on all sides, with heavy snowfall sealing off the area this season, even expert climbers would struggle to enter or leave."Paige responded, her voice filled with concern. "The heavy snow isn't just a seasonal issue. Even in the spring and summer, the snow coverage here is thick. I suspect there's barely a spring at all. Summer is fleeting, the snow melts briefly, and then as fall arrives, it starts snowing again. The valley is particularly cold, and with Raymond's impaired legs, the longer he stays here, the worse his health will become. We need to act quickly."Having finished her statement, Paige turned her attention to Pearl. "Call Julian and Charles over. We need to discuss how to infiltrate this place." She was determined to gain entry, and to do so stealthily, without alerting anyone inside.Cecil West cast a concerned glance at Paige. "We've pinpointed the location. It's barely light out, why don't you take a moment to rest?" Paige had indeed been neglecting her rest, but at that moment, she didn't feel the least bit tired. There was so much to be done, and despite her fatigue, she had to keep pushing forward. If she didn't, the consequences could be dire. She was acutely aware of her physical state, and she knew she could keep going.Pearl soon roused Julian and Charles from their deep slumber. They were meant to stay up all night with her, but Paige had insisted they get some sleep. When it came to action, Paige knew she needed to include Julian and Charles. Especially Charles, who would likely refuse to be left behind even if Paige wished him to stay. Therefore, they needed their rest.Upon hearing from Pearl that there was news, the two men abandoned their sleep and rushed over to where Paige was. By that time, Paige had already marked the specific location of the natural prison on the map. The geographic layout was projected onto a large screen, providing a full view of the area surrounded by snow-capped mountains on all sides.Julian squinted at the geographic layout. "This place can only be accessed by helicopter, right?" Paige nodded in agreement. "You're correct. Apart from a helicopter, there's no other way in or out. But we can't use a helicopter."As soon as Paige made this statement, Charles caught on immediately. "Yeah, we can't use a helicopter. Not just landing, even flying low would be detected, and that would put Raymond's life at risk. Raymond is still their hostage!" Charles couldn't bear to think of anything else; his sole focus was on ensuring Raymond's safe return.Paige took a deep breath, steadying herself. "You're right, so we can't use a helicopter. We need to figure out another way to get in."Julian was perplexed. "Other than a helicopter, what other methods are there? We could rappel from a point further away from the valley."Charles countered, his voice filled with frustration. "It's pretty obvious that this place isn't very big. If the helicopter keeps its distance, are we supposed to land on a snowy mountain? And then trek down from there? We don't know the conditions on the mountain, how deep the snow is, or even how to navigate it."Paige hinted, a glimmer of a plan forming in her mind. "Maybe, we don't have to walk?"
