Devil's Fork

by Spencer Adams

CHAPTER 54

  THURSDAY

  Northeast Coast, North Korea

  Lying on his back and getting punched in the woods was not the last thing Tom had expected going into his mission. But it was quite far down on his list of probable events.

  The attack had started so suddenly that for the first few seconds he had reacted instinctively. But now he had come to his senses and realized what was happening. He was on his back, Captain Kim was lying on top of him and punching him as fast as he could. Tom put his hands up to try to protect his face.

  He tried to wrap his legs around Kim’s torso. From his Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training he knew this was the most important measure he could take while on his back. Kim would then be in Tom’s guard and Tom knew he would be able to try any one of the techniques he knew. Within seconds he had his legs around Kim. But he was still receiving punch after punch in rapid succession from Kim. Kim was also yelling out words now. Tom assumed he was calling for help. Tom knew that meant he had only a moment to get himself out of this situation.

  He held up one hand to block Kim’s punches and with the other hand he tried to reach down to his side to pull out his Mark 3 knife. But as he was reaching down, he noticed that Kim had suddenly slowed his punches and was now reaching for Tom’s pistol, sitting in Tom’s thigh holster. Kim managed to grab the handle and was trying to pull it out. If it came out, Tom knew he would be dead within seconds. Tom reacted immediately and shot his hand past his knife and to his pistol, jamming Kim’s hand on it so that he would not be able to pull it out of the holster.

  Tom now noticed that as Kim was struggling for the pistol, his other arm had stopped punching and was holding Tom’s chest. He knew what to do. In fact he had once thought he could put the next move on with a blindfold. He grabbed Kim’s hand with his free hand and tried to slap on a Triangle Choke. His right leg curled around Kim’s neck and made a figure four with his other leg. Kim’s arm, which had been on his chest, was now trapped and Kim’s face started to turn red. Tom had Kim in a Triangle. All those years of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training had finally come into use, he thought. Tom felt Kim’s other hand, previously on the handle of Tom’s pistol, loosen completely. Kim was now putting all effort into getting his head out of Tom’s legs.

  Each second Captain Kim became redder. Tom knew that within seconds, Kim would black out. Tom watched Kim try to mouth a phrase to him.

  Kim seemed to say, “Please. No.”

  Tom stared at Kim for a moment. He loosened his triangle slightly, just enough so that Kim would stay conscious, but not enough for Kim to escape. Now Tom spoke.

  “Why’d you do this?”

  Kim continued to struggle. His eyes were bloodshot now. He stared at Tom and slowly replied, “I – hate – you.”

  By now Tom had reached for his knife. He quickly pulled it out and thrust it into Kim’s face. Tom quickly unraveled his Triangle and let Kim fall to the ground. He got on his hands and knees and grabbed his rifle.

  His radio started talking immediately. “Tom are you hurt?”

  Tom did not respond at first. He stared at Kim’s limp body for a moment. Something he had read in Heart of Darkness long ago leapt into his mind, although it resonated in a different context as he stared at Kim.

  “It is impossible to convey the life-sensation of any given epoch of one's existence — that which makes its truth, its meaning — its subtle and penetrating essence. It is impossible. We live, as we dream - alone.”

  Anderson’s voice on the radio repeated, “Tom, come in. Are you OK?”

  “Yes. Hold on, I hear something.”

  Tom heard voices in the woods. They were not near him but they were loud and approaching. Someone had heard Kim’s calls.