Ward Gale sprawled beside his dead horse and felt a desperate thirst. His shoulder bled where the bullet had seared the flesh. He raised his eyes and judged that the hot sun would not set for many hours. There was no hope in him, no fight left. He had been ambushed and now the sniper was carefully biding his time. This was what he got for bucking powerful Matt Roberts-for pursuing Roberts over six thousand miles to avenge the cold-blooded murder of his brother. Minutes passed. A dead silence filled the air. Then, suddenly, a twig snapped behind Ward. He swung his rifle around. This was the showdown!