Black Smoke (10 page)

As they walked further, she noticed she could tell the ones that had been there the longest.

Their faces were drawn and tired-looking. Many had dark circles under their eyes. The newest on the base still found it easy to smile and laugh. But she knew time would soon take away the easy smile, the bright look in the eyes.

They’re so young
, she said inside her head.

Yes, they are.

Why, why does war have to happen?
she questioned.

War happens because it happens. Sometimes it takes a drastic action to stop another.

That made sense to Sam, but she couldn’t help the heartbreak she felt for these people. Just then a young soldier walked by and glanced at her. He looked like he should be home making plans for a night out with his girlfriend, not here baking under the hot sun. Not wondering day in and day out if he would go home at all.

Those that are meant to return home will.

Sam closed her eyes a moment and thought about that. How many faces she saw today would return home to the arms of mothers and fathers, girlfriends and boyfriends and how many would return home in a box? How many good lives would be thrown away instead of them becoming something productive? Her stomach rolled with the sadness she felt.

“Sam, Sam!”

The voice shook her from her torment. “What?” she snapped back.

“I asked if you need to, ya know, do anything before we head out?” Kong asked in a loud whisper.

“Like what?”

“Ya know, use the facilities?”

Sam rolled her eyes. “No. Let’s just get the hell outta here.”

“I’m for that,” Kong replied and backed away from her. He wasn’t sure what had her so snippy, but he could guess. Probably the same thing that was eating at him. She wasn’t the only one affected by the young faces around them.

When the four reached the edge of the base, they stopped and gathered together. From the map they’d been provided they found a gate that had only one soldier guarding it. When the man saw them he turned his back and took several steps away. Sam smiled at her team. Walt had arranged their exit for them. From here they could head out into the desert away from the population.

“Once we leave base, we’re on our own,” Kong reminded them. “Sam’s point. We follow twenty yards behind. Let’s hook up our radios and do a check.”

All four hooked their radios around their ears and turned them on. Each one worked with sure, fast movements.

“Boomer.”

“Ricochet.”

“Kong.”

“Smoke.”

Their voices sounded in each other’s ears with remarkable clarity. But Sam knew not to get used to it. Once they were out in the desert, the blowing sand and heat would wreak havoc on the equipment.

“When we get far enough away from base, I’ll peel this uniform off and drop it on the ground, Ricochet can pick it up as he follows,” Sam said to them. She knew it would be getting dark soon and her black uniform would serve her better.

When Ricochet groaned, Sam smiled to herself. It would mean he’d have a spare uniform full of sand, but it couldn’t be helped. She’d make it up to him, somehow.

“Okay Smoke, you’re up,” Kong said looking at her with a stern face.

Without a word, Sam slipped by the guard shed and seemed to disappear. “Hold your position,” she whispered over the radio. Just ahead of her were three Afghan men huddled together and talking.

What are they saying?
she asked her guide.

These men are harmless. They feel safer when they are near the base. Also, they hope to be given odd jobs and paid.

“We have three Afghan men off to my left just fifty yards from the shed. Harmless. Just keep quiet,” she informed her team.

“Roger,” came over her earpiece in a whisper.

Can you keep them occupied?
she asked.

I will.

Sam moved forward, never once doubting that her team members would be invisible to the three men hoping for work. Not only would she be watched over on this mission, but they would as well. If she was meant to do this job, that meant they were meant to do the job and return home with her.

When they were a few miles out into the desert, the sun started going down. The cool night air was a welcome relief from the searing sun. But none of them was foolish enough to think it would stay comfortable. Once the sun went down all the way, the desert became cold.

As promised, Sam began to shed Ricochet’s uniform. She even took a few moments and folded it as neatly as she could. The time she lost in doing the small chore, she quickly made up.

“Ricochet, start looking” she said over her radio.

“Roger,” he replied.

Sam continued to lead them toward their destination. Hours had passed and miles had been walked. Sam didn’t feel the least bit tired and she was sure her companions felt the same way.

So as long as no one called her off, she would continue toward the small town.

Another two hours passed without them encountering any obstacles. Sam was beginning to feel uneasy. They should have come across someone by now, but everything was quiet.

Too quiet.

She walked for another half an hour when her guide spoke.

Samantha, there is a group of men ahead. These men look for trouble.

Sam immediately stopped where she was. She knew when a warning was given, it was real.

“Hold your position,” she said over her radio.

Dropping to the ground, Sam belly crawled across the desert floor until she heard voices.

Many voices. The hair on the back of her neck stood straight up and that meant trouble. She crawled as close as she could before stopping to listen.

Chapter Eight

What are they saying?
she asked.

They are looking for Americans. These men are what you call Taliban. There is much hatred in their hearts.

Are they connected to the missing Americans?
she asked.

No, these men are rebels. They have no reason but hate to harm.

Sam ran the map through her mind. She needed to get her team past these men without a confrontation. There were too many for the four of them to take and once they engaged any action, word would be out that there were Americans in the desert.

“Smoke, report.”

Kong’s voice came across her radio with a harshness that set Sam’s teeth on edge. He’d just have to wait until she was far enough away from the group of men to answer. And those men were her main concern at the moment.

“Smoke.” His voice came again.

Sam pushed the sound away and began to backtrack. She heard the three men talking over her earpiece. Something about her being in trouble and Kong swearing. When she was far enough away, she took a deep breath and responded.

“We need to move south for a while,” she said, talking over something Boomer was saying.

Kong swore to himself and then let out a breath he’d been holding for the last five minutes.

“What the hell happened to you? Didn’t you hear me?” he barked into his mouthpiece. He would never tell them, any of them, but he was scared. Scared something or someone had gotten her. His heart never pounded so hard in his life.

“Sorry Kong, but I had things to deal with, other than your ego that is,” she retorted.

Kong swore again then took a deep breath to regain his temper. “What happened?”

Sam smiled to herself. That was better. “A group of the Taliban was out cruising. They were looking for some Americans to party with,” she told them.

“How many?” Ricochet asked.

“About twelve, fifteen, too many to confront. Word would be out in less than an hour that Americans were crawling through the desert.”

Kong knew she was right. They couldn’t afford to let anyone know they were there. “Okay, let’s move out. Tell us where to move to.”

Sam gave them new directions then began to move herself.

“Hey Smoke, how close did you get?” Ricochet asked.

“Close enough to smell them,” Sam replied, then dropped it.

After another hour of traveling, Kong chimed in over the radio. “How close are we to the target?”

Sam looked at her compass on her wrist. “We have another hour then we can call it a night.”

“Good, start looking for a site to set up camp. We’ll need to regroup.”

A group of rocks sticking out in the middle of the open sand caught Sam’s attention. It was time to start looking for a campsite and this looked like it would provide some sort of cover.

But first she had to make sure no one else was using it.

Is that group of rocks safe for us to camp in?
she asked her guide.

It is. You will rest undisturbed.

Without hesitation, Sam strolled over and checked it out. There was a place for her to sleep away from the men, it wasn’t big, but it would work. She pulled her pack from her back and tossed it on the ground. She stretched her tense muscles then flopped down next to her pack.

“I found a campsite. It’s twenty degrees north and twelve degrees east of your position,” she said into her radio.

“Roger that,” came Kong’s voice.

She figured it would be at least another fifteen minutes until they arrived, so she kicked off her boots and rubbed her feet. They weren’t sore, but if she didn’t work out the tension, they’d be sore by tomorrow. While she was rubbing her feet, she listened to the night, wishing there was a stream or oasis near by. The sand in her shirt was rubbing against her skin and causing sore spots.

While she was dreaming of cool water, a soft trickling sound caught her attention. She stopped her hands and tilted her head to hear better. Sure enough, she could hear trickling. This was too good to be true, she thought to herself. But the sound was too inviting, so she stood to investigate. Not far away was another group of large rocks that framed a small spring. Sam wanted desperately to stick her feet in it, but she knew the men were due soon.

Thank you,
she said to her guide. Then walked back toward the camp.

Sam no sooner returned, when the three men came strolling toward the rocks. Boomer looked somber, no different than he’d looked on the plane. Ricochet smiled as he looked over the campsite and Kong looked like he was ready to chew nails and spit rust.

“Nice job Smoke. I thought we’d be sleeping exposed,” Ricochet said, then slapped her on the back.

Boomer was already pulling a Meal Ready to Eat from his pack and settling in, Ricochet followed suit.

Kong tossed his pack on the ground and stood with his hands on his hips. He was still worked up over not being able to reach her on his radio and he was looking for a fight.

“This isn’t all guys,” Sam said ignoring Kong. “There’s a spring over at the next group of rocks.”

“No shit?” Ricochet said in his high-pitched voice. “Damn.”

Boomer smiled his approval, not at all surprised she’d found a good spot for the rest of the night. He’d expected it.

Kong still stood with his hands on his hips, glaring at her. Sam just ignored him and began pulling an MRE from her pack. If he wanted a fight, he’d have to pick it. She was too tired.

“What kind of stunt was that?” he snapped at her.

Sam froze where she was and looked up at him. “Stunt?”

“Yeah, stunt. Why didn’t you answer me when I called you?”

Sam slowly stood, then moved from her spot in the rocks with smooth fluid motion—much like a cat stalking its pray. “I didn’t answer because I was less then ten feet away from the enemy,” she said stopping a few feet away from him.

Boomer and Ricochet stopped eating and watched. The way she was moving toward Kong caused them alarm. Ricochet expected her to take him down in a blink, but she didn’t.

“Why were you ten feet away from the enemy? They could have seen you, you put us in jeopardy, not just yourself, the whole team,” Kong barked at her.

Sam tilted her head to the other side and studied him. Was he serious? “No one but me was in jeopardy and I was careful,” she said in a soft, steady voice. “Are you telling me Boomer or Ricochet wouldn’t have done the same thing? They would have just crawled away like a frightened child?”

Kong felt uneasy by her tone. She wasn’t yelling, but she was mad, there was no question about it. “No,” he growled.

“But you want me to run and hide. Let me tell you something Lieutenant, since we’ve never worked together before, I’m going to forgive that remark. But be aware, be very aware of the fact that I don’t need a man to protect me. I know my job and I do it well.”

Kong held her glare for a moment, then continued his interrogation. “Why didn’t you tell us you spoke Afghan?”

“I don’t.” Sam regretted it as soon as she said it. Her temper was ruling her now and that always led to trouble.