The Codetalkers (The Rebelutionaries Series: Book 2)

by Beau Cornerstone

Chapter 9

  Whether you think you can or whether you think you can’t, you’re right.

  -Henry Ford

  “John. Our young friends are in trouble,” said Rod. “Young Zac’s frozen on the rope bridge. In the middle. They were all doing well until he swung out to slide their packs along further. Now he looks like he’s gonna pass out.”

  John Cunningham was instantly alert. He took Rod’s binoculars and looked at Zac’s terrified features.

  “Hmmm... I expected at least one of them to run into trouble there,” he said softly. “The resonance is always extra bad in the middle of the bridge.”

  “Coupled with the fact that they haven’t got the right equipment to make the crossing, or an experienced support team assisting them,” seethed Charlie, glaring at Ryan.

  Ryan grabbed his binoculars.

  “Oh no. He’s as pale as a ghost. He’s gonna fall... Sir...We can’t just stand here and do nothing!”

  John casually handed Rod back his binoculars.

  “Why not? Section 28 recommends non-intervention where civilians have intentionally put themselves in danger, remember?”

  Everyone sensed John’s change in tone. All eyes diverted towards him.

  “But they need rescuing. We should call in the rescue chopper!” blurted out Ryan.

  “By the time you arrange a rescue chopper Captain, they’ll all be dead.”

  Ryan looked crestfallen.

  “I stuck to the rule-book but it was the wrong decision... I should have arranged for the men to be within proximity of the bridge. So we could have assisted them. Like I overheard Charlie saying.”

  “One of the tests of leadership is the ability to recognize a problem before it becomes an emergency.”

  “The girl’s moving closer to Zac to try and help him...” said Rod from behind the binoculars. “Easy girl... You’re getting your boots tangled up in your safety line... You have to gather the line up as you move along... You haven’t done a crossing like this before, have you? I can tell... Come on fellas. One of you notice what’s happening and warn her, before you all fall...”

  “They’re gonna die!” wailed Ryan, cutting through Rod’s commentary.

  “We’re all gonna die,” retorted John calmly. “Death and dying have become norms in an abnormal world. Our responsibility is to try and ensure no one dies prematurely.”

  “I don’t understand. Why didn’t you overrule my decision not to intervene if you thought it was wrong?”

  “Because you need to learn something the Academy can’t teach you Ryan. You need to learn how to trust that inner voice which tells you to make independent decisions that bend or even break the rules.”

  “But disobeying the rules is insurgence.”

  “On the contrary, the greatest Decision Maker in the universe bends the rules all the time. It’s the stuff miracles are made of... And it’s all the civilians have got going for them right this minute.”

  “Then they’re cactus,” sighed Ryan.

  “I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” countered Charlie. “When a man teams up with God, it’s an unbeatable combination.”

  “How do you know they’re into God?”

  “I don’t. But I saw young Zac reading a Gideon Bible this morning. Drawing strength from the Well... Sure he’s glitched, but I reckon I know a way to help him find a reserve of mettle...”

  “Are you suggesting we pray for him?”

  “That’s what my inner voice is telling me to do.”

  John resisted the temptation to hi-five Charlie.

  “I tell you what Captain, you watch in disbelief while those of us who believe in prayer, pray for them...”

  The atmosphere became electric as one by one the men around Ryan formed a huddle and started praying. Mike glanced at Paul. Paul shrugged then both men joined the huddle. Ryan listened to Charlie’s tongue clicking almost inaudibly. Unnerved to the core, he peered through the binoculars again.

  “Charlie! Something’s happening...” interrupted Ryan. “The younger bloke’s sat down on the rope bridge. And he’s coaxing the others to join him!”

  Success is having the courage to meet failure without being defeated.

  -Wilfred Peterson

  “Time for a chocolate break?” suggested Jake, draping his arms around the middle cable and swinging his legs casually.

  “Jake. I can’t believe you want to eat chocolate while I feel like throwing up.”

  “Sorry. I like chocolate. And I’ve been stashing this block for a special occasion. I reckon this is it. The view’s fantastic. And I don’t know if I’ll ever get to do this again, so I want to enjoy the moment to its fullest...”

  Jake started casually snapping photos.

  “Hey Zac. What’s your favourite thing that you do when you’re afraid?”

  “I guess I like to sing.”

  “Sing? Like on the Sound of Music?”

  “Ah ha.”

  “Well go on then. Sit down here next to me and sing!”

  “Jake I’m so scared of falling I can hardly breathe! Let alone sing.”

  Jake threw a silent glance at Maya. Maya carefully sat down on the rope.

  “Why don’t you sit down for a bit and let Maya cuddle you then?”

  “Cuddle here?!”

  “Yeah. You know. Build memories you can both share for a lifetime.”

  Jake took another casual photo.

  “Maya’s favourite thing she does when she’s scared is cuddle someone. Or get a cuddle off someone. Maybe it’ll work for you too.”

  Zac managed a faint smile.

  “How do you know that secret about Maya anyway?”

  “She told me when the explosion triggered the cave-in and we were trapped. She said she wished you were there to cuddle her. So I cuddled her. And let her cuddle me. And she taught me about different types of cuddles.”

  “You two sound like you were enjoying yourselves, while I was outside distraught,” said Zac, inching down closer to Maya and Jake.

  “Distraught was his initial reaction to my cuddle too!” chuckled Maya. “He was as stiff as a board.”

  “I remember that!” laughed Jake, as he took another photo. “Funny. It feels like that happened months ago. Not just a couple of weeks ago... Actually now I think about it... it was pretty silly being scared of you. You’re not that scary. For a girl anyway.”

  “I dunno. You were scared of seeing me this morning!” giggled Maya.

  “You said you weren’t gonna tell him!” groaned Jake.

  “Hey - if we’re all gonna plunge to our death, we might as well have a good laugh first and go out in style!” retorted Maya.

  “What?” asked Zac, eyeing Maya with unfeigned curiosity.

  Jake and Maya’s laughter echoed around them all.

  “What did you two do to each other this time?” asked Zac, a smile twitching at the corners of his mouth.

  “I’m not saying unless you promise not to tell dad.”

  “Sounds embarrassing.”

  “And you have to promise to put some chocolate in your gob. So you don’t rag me too much about what happened...”

  “Sounds mega-embarrassing. Okay - I’ll load up my mouth up with chocolate and promise not to rag you... Much!”

  Jake and Maya looked relieved as Zac put a chunk of chocolate into his mouth.

  “Well... Jake woke up this morning and chose this boulder to hide behind to use as his great outdoor change-room...”

  “Except the hidey spot I chose was already occupied. By her,” sighed Jake. “I was still only half awake and picked the same place where I got changed last night. And I’d kinda stripped off my PJ bottoms and was down to my jocks before she said anything!”

  Zac stifled a polite grin and stuffed more chocolate into his mouth.

  “Then she yelled ‘Jake!’ and her voice sounded shocked so I looked up without thinking. ‘Coz I thought something was wrong with her.”

  “Hmm-mm.”


  “Then I saw her... her...bra. It was white... and lacy.”

  “Most are.”

  “But her body was occupying it! It looked nothing like in the junk mail catalogues Zac... When you look at the real thing it makes your heart beat really fast.”

  Zac dissolved into laughter.

  “You should have seen the look on his face!” giggled Maya. “He let out this holler like he’d seen a bear and scrambled into his jeans! And fled without even zipping them up!”

  “I noticed you came back with burning ears Jake... Actually, now I think about it, I remember you came back giggling Maya...”

  Ω

  “They’re all laughing! And he’s not as pale anymore. It must be the chocolate,” murmured Ryan.

  “You mean Chocolate Charlie’s praying,” said Mike reflectively.

  “That too,” nodded Ryan, moistening his lips. “It was freaky what just happened Mike! They should be cactus. But they’re alive. And laughing. It has to be the prayer thing Charlie did. There’s no other explanation.”

  “Sounds like more than one miracle has happened in the last five minutes,” said John softly.

  Ω

  “So much has happened in the last few weeks. And none of it might have happened if you hadn’t helped me find the courage to stay that first night at the geophysics workshop Zac... I’ve made new friends... discovered my Dad’s alive... built an E/M weapon... blown a UN satellite to bits... travelled to another country...”

  “...and now you’re dangling over the middle of a gorge in Yellowstone Park helping me get my nerve back,” sighed Zac.

  “Cool eh? I’m having so much fun building memories with you guys. Even the embarrassing ones.”

  “Me too,” replied Maya, wrapping her arm around Zac and resting her head on his shoulder.

  “I’ve had fun travelling the world as a photojournalist... And seen some fantastic places... But it’s always been a kind of empty lifestyle... Always on the move. Never having meaningful contact with anyone... Never taking the time to just sit close like we are now... and build memories I’m going to treasure for years...”

  Zac wrapped his arm around Maya and nuzzled his nose into her cheek. Jake snapped a photo of them.

  “This is an interesting place to stretch your boundaries Professor Canney,” whispered Maya.

  Zac took a deep breath and started singing.

  What is it about a kiss that makes me feel like this?

  What is it that makes my heart beat faster when I’m in your arms?

  What is it about your touch that amazes me so much?

  How is it that your sweet smile can get me through the hardest mile?

  “That’s the first time I’ve heard you sing... You’ve got a pretty good voice,” said Jake as he took another photo.

  “Hey... the opportunity to try out an amphitheatre of this size is too good to miss,” retorted Zac.

  “I’ve never heard that love song before... It’s... beautiful.”

  “It’s by Stephen Curtis Chapman. It’s called Echoes of Eden... The song’s about how special God intended love to be between a man and a woman...”

  “Between us?” whispered Maya.

  Zac leaned closer and brushed his lips against Maya’s cheek. Jake snapped another photo. Maya sighed with contentment.

  “You’re turning me into a jelly-legged mess of boiling hormones in front of your teen prodigy, Professor Canney.”

  Zac laughed freely.

  “Hmmm... This is probably not the best place to turn you into a jelly-legged mess. Particularly as I’m just recovering from being a jelly-legged mess. Have you got enough photos Jake?”

  “Yes. I got some interesting panoramic shots of the canyon and some great shots of us enjoying the view.”

  “And the photo count is 1000, right?” interposed Maya.

  “1025 actually. But there’s heaps of room left on my memory card.”

  Zac chuckled.

  “Come on you two. Let’s all get off this crazy military proving ground and onto something that resembles terra firma eh?”

  Ω

  “Rad!” yelled Ryan excitedly from behind the binoculars.

  Mike fired John a questioning look. John smiled faintly.

  “What’s rad?” asked Mike.

  A flicker of alarm, then instant decorum. Mike gave Charlie an ‘I told you so’ look. Charlie’s eyebrows knitted together.

  “Er... I mean... something’s happened.”

  “What sort of something?” asked John casually.

  “All three of them are moving again Sir. The woman smiled at him and now he’s smiling. It’s like he’s a new bloke. He looks like he could handle Mt Everest. I wonder why?”

  John smiled at Ryan’s youthful innocence.

  “There’s nothing more irresistible to a man than a woman who’s in love with him. The endorphin rush is... rad! Like oxygen to the soul...”

  “What’s an endorphin rush?”

  “Didn’t they teach you that at the Military Academy, Captain?” jibed Jed.

  Raucous laughter. Ryan’s cheeks coloured and he looked crestfallen.

  “Let’s keep it friendly fellas... What lessons can we all draw as leaders from watching our intrepid civilians these last couple of days? Charlie, start the ball rolling for us...”

  “Well, watching them has reminded me that a good leader inspires people to have confidence in him, whereas a great leader inspires people to have confidence in themselves...”

  “Good one. Rod?”

  “Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength you can draw on. All the better if you’re in love with God...”

  “Amen... Jed?”

  “And loving someone deeply gives you courage... Because you desire to protect them and help them... and you’re prepared to extend yourself to protect and help them...”

  “Love’s certainly an incredible motivator... Mike?”

  Mike looked away. Fragile.

  Silence.

  John broke it.

  “Mike... You wrote on your application form that you were only coming here because some Airforce shrink insisted you participate in the programme in order to get your discharge. I’ve already signed you off as having participated ... So feel free not to say anything.”

  “You mean not participate?”

  “That’s how things work around here.”

  John handed Mike a document. Mike examined it with slightly trembling hands, then carefully put it in his pocket.

  “Are you saying I can leave on the next flight out?”

  “Yes... But don’t feel like you have to leave on the next flight out. Stick around for a bit and enjoy some no strings attached R & R with us first. There’s a secluded thermal spring down near the rope bridge. I thought I’d take Ryan nicky swimming there as soon as the civilians have left the area.”

  Ryan shot John a look of disbelief. John ignored it.

  “Where were we? That’s right... Sharing what we’ve gleaned from watching the civilians... Like to voluntarily add anything Mike?”

  Mike moistened his lips.

  “Um... Something happened when I was overseas... that nearly destroyed me... and when I watched the civilian leader use his initiative... and struggle to do something he obviously found difficult... then push through his fear... something went off inside me... Adversity causes some men to break and others to break records. It’s my decision to remain broken or to come out of this stronger. And I’ve reached a decision what to do... Now I just have to work out how to make it happen...”

  “Keep a hold of that new goal Mike... Ryan? Anything rad to add?”

  “We both know no one’s interested in what I say!” snapped Ryan.

  “Well I can’t speak for the others, but I’m intensely interested in what you have to say. You’re the nation’s top Academy graduate and you represent the current generation of young enlistees the Airforce is trying to transfer their vision to. Older leaders must be far enough ahead to
motivate the younger generation but still close enough to learn from them.”

  “Learn from me?”

  “The day I’m through learning Ryan, I’m through.”

  Ryan’s lips quivered.

  “Okay... I’ve learnt a good leader can coax people of average fitness into doing incredibly demanding things. And a poor leader can demoralize the most elite team... And I’ve learnt that I’m a poor leader... I wish... I wish I could turn back time...”

  “What would you change?” asked Mike.

  “Everything!”

  Ryan clenched angry fists and went to break away from the group. Mike yanked him back and forced him to sit down in front of him.

  “Physically restraining a command officer violates Section 16!” protested Ryan indignantly.

  “I don’t care if it violates every damn section of your rulebook,” retorted Mike, tightening his grip on Ryan and shaking him. “You and me are alike. We both want to turn back time. But no-one gets to live life backward... Regret is an appalling waste of energy. You can’t build on it. You can only wallow in it... And you can’t move forward if your thinking’s stinking either. Whether you’re a Captain or a flippin’ four star General.”

  Charlie and John exchanged secret grins. Mike got control of his anger and slowly released Ryan.

  “You can’t turn back time Ryan, but you can choose to be wiser in the future... And share your experience with others so they’re wiser... And choose to listen to that inner voice next time... The one that everyone’s been attempting to teach you to recognize, so you’ll have the edge as a leader.”

  Ryan cocked his head.

  “The edge?”

  “Yes... It keeps you alive when you’re in the thick of things... It’s like a sixth sense... It balances out rule books and procedures manuals. Sometimes even contravenes them.”

  “But if the rule book’s followed like the law, there’s no confusion. Everyone knows where they stand.”

  “That works at base, where life is regimented and predictable. But out in the field or in combat, when opposing spiritual forces are operating around you, your rule book won’t save your butt. What saves your butt is being able to sense the guidance of the Still Small Voice and act on it.”

  “How do you know?”

  Mike hesitated.

  “I came back from Jalalabad a fortnight ago. While I was over there, I ordered two blokes to retrieve the body of a U.S pilot killed in action. Except the body had been booby trapped... One of the blokes from my outfit lost his arms and the other’s gonna be disfigured for life because they obeyed my orders... What made it worse was, immediately before I gave the order, I had this gut feeling that I should lasso the dead pilot’s body and drag it towards us rather than physically retrieve it.”

  “Why didn’t you?”

  “I had external pressure from a deskie back at base camp. He’d called twice, demanding to know why my patrol wasn’t back for crib. He kept raving on about my outfit’s rights to R & R... My commonsense told me not to feel pressurized by him. We still had plenty of light before nightfall and no one was saying they were tired...”

  Mike wiped the corners of his eyes with his fingertips.

  “It would’ve taken me five extra lousy minutes to make a lasso... And two blokes would probably still have whole bodies if I’d followed my gut feeling... But instead I listened to that rookie officer spouting off about violating some ordinance in Section 9...”

  “Like I’ve been doing,” whispered Ryan shakily.

  Mike nodded and rested his hands on Ryan’s trembling shoulders. Ryan drank in the affection. He looked at Mike and became oblivious of everyone else.

  “I thought all this time they were just testing me. To see if I’d break the rules under pressure. But maybe they’re for real Mike... Maybe the rules have to be flexible.”

  Charlie and John exchanged elated grins. John gave Mike a victorious “thumbs up” behind Ryan’s back.

  “They’re for real mate,” replied Mike softly. “Succumbing to the pressure from that inflexible deskie is a decision I’m gonna regret for the rest of my life... But dwelling on it, isn’t gonna change what’s happened... Learn to listen to what your heart tells you to do and have the balls to do it Ryan. You’ll be a better leader for it. And it could be a matter of life and death one day. Your life... or someone else’s.”

  If we’re growing, we’re always going to be out of our comfort zone.

  -John Maxwell

  A lengthy silence. John broke it.

  “Private Paul? We’ve hardly heard a peep out of you since the chopper dropped you off. Have you got a tongue in that gob of yours?”

  “Yes Sir. But I feel too overshadowed to use it, Sir.”

  “Why’s that?”

  Paul chose his words carefully.

  “I came here to offset the lacklustre of my sedentary desk job. I expected there might be a couple of battle-weary heroes like Mike here... But the glossy brochure about this place gave me absolutely no warning that it’d be full of you guys!”

  Paul’s tone became progressively shriller.

  “First Sergeants don’t even breathe around you guys. Let alone talk to you guys!”

  A ripple of laughter erupted around Paul. Rod and Jed thumped him light-heartedly.

  “Hey... he has got a tongue in that gob of his after all!” ragged Jed.

  “Sounds like he wants to give someone back at Malmstrom a tongue lashing!” boomed Charlie.

  Unruly laughter. Paul glanced around the circle of men fleetingly.

  “I’m really sorry but I didn’t work out this was your private turf until I was already off the chopper...”

  Paul repositioned himself closer to Mike. Mike rubbed his chin pensively. Ryan cocked his head.

  “Ask the Major. He’ll tell you I tried to leave... Tell them Mike!” pleaded Paul.

  “Yeah, you tried to leave alright. Ya nearly decapitated yerself while you were at it.”

  All round laughter.

  “I was trying to get the chopper pilot’s attention to tell him I wanted to go back with him, but he must have thought I was just saying goodbye. Because he just waved back!”

  “And you’ve been running on adrenalin since?” guessed John.

  “Yes Sir.”

  “Come on Paul. You wrote on your application form that you wanted to come here for a challenge and a break from the humdrum. You got what you asked for! Out of curiosity though, how did you recognize us?”

  “Um... From the photo hanging in admin back at Malmstrom, Sir. The one of you all having dinner with the President.”

  Ryan looked taken aback. Mike inquisitive.

  “But that photo must be twenty years old!” laughed John.

  “You’ve got more wrinkles and less hair, but you’ve still got the mole on the side of your neck Sir.”

  “Holy Moley... Your cover’s compromised!” ragged Jed.

  John chuckled and took a half-hearted swipe at Jed.

  “How’d you recognize me?” asked Charlie.

  “Um... you’ve still got the same eyebrow expression when you smile Sir.”

  “And Jed and Rod?”

  “Jed’s still got that gold tooth. And Rod’s got that scar near his ear...”

  “All from one photo eh?” mused John.

  “Well the anomalies on the application form also clued me, Sir.”

  “What anomalies?”

  “Well I noticed the registration form didn’t mention rank, which I thought was unusual because every other Airforce application form does.”

  Mike and Ryan exchanged glances.

  “At first I thought it was a clerical oversight. But then I noticed the dress code - camo clothing which is issued on arrival - and it occurred to me that both variations from the norm might be a way of protecting people’s identities. And when I recognized you all one after another and saw how you were all dressed, it didn’t take me very long to work out whose identities were being pr
otected...”

  “You’ve got an obviously innate ability to notice small details,” smiled John. “What are you doing languishing in admin?”

  “I was assigned there after basic training Sir. I applied for a transfer to Air Intelligence a couple of times but I got knocked back due to my rare blood type.”

  “That was unintelligent of Air Intelligence.”

  Laughter rippled around the group.

  “We don’t get many guests through that recognize us Paul. We like to maintain our anonymity so blokes like Mike can spill their guts about what’s going wrong out in the field without fear of repercussions...”

  Mike cleared his throat softly.

  “...and it makes it easier for youthful planet shapers like Ryan to relate to us if they’re not worried about us pulling rank on them...”

  Ryan’s eyes widened. Paul nodded carefully.

  “I figured that might be the case Sir. That’s why I didn’t tell Mike what I’d worked out. Even though I really wanted to...”

  Paul glanced at Mike nervously.

  “Are you cross that I didn’t tell you?”

  “Course not!” laughed Mike. “I suspected they were brassies anyway.”

  “Why?”

  “Their misbehaviour in the bathroom gave them away. It was like showering with three General Madison clones.”

  “Robbie’s one of our finest graduates from lark school!” joked Charlie.

  “We taught him everything he knows!” added Jed.

  Raucous laughter. John glanced at Ryan’s wide-eyed expression and rested an affectionate arm on his shoulder.

  “Are you sinking or swimming there pup?”

  “I’ve just gotta get a drink of water...” replied Ryan, breaking away from the John’s physical contact.

  Everyone watched Ryan tear away.

  “That kid’s a bloomin’ onion,” murmured Charlie. “How many layers are we gonna have to peel off before we reach him?”

  “Patience Charlie,” replied John softly. “There’s light at the end of the tunnel...”

  Ω

  “We’ve made it across,” puffed Maya.

  “Course we made it,” shrugged Jake.

  “I didn’t think I was gonna make it. If it hadn’t been for you both I may not have made it... Thanks guys.”

  Maya and Jake beamed.

  “You two put on some lunch and rest up. I’ll just prepare for the next part of this crazy challenge... But it should be a breeze.”

  Jake looked up at the towering cliff-face as the stew heated. Zac smiled encouragingly.

  “Don’t stress Jake. It’s just a big kid’s playground, remember?”

  “Your map says this part of the big kid’s playground is for advanced climbing teams and I’ve never done any rock-climbing or abseiling before.”

  “The military obviously zig zag up this section of the cliff face as a team. We can’t do that because we don’t have enough carabiners or cams... I’m confident I can get myself to the top though. And once I’m up there, I should be able to utilize what we’ve got and get you two up...”

  There’s a way to do it better - Find it!

  -Thomas Edison

  “Gidday you two,” greeted John. “What are our civilians up to?”

  “They’ve just started making lunch Sir,” replied Ryan. “And the team leader’s sorting out their climbing gear for the next challenge...”

  “How will they do on the next challenge?”

  “Sir?”

  “What’s your gut feeling?”

  Ryan hesitated before replying.

  “I can’t see how they’ll get up the cliff face without our help. They just haven’t got enough gear.”

  “Mike - what do you feel?”

  “They’ll make it,” replied Mike confidently.

  “How can you say that?” frowned Ryan. “They haven’t got the right gear.”

  “That’s not what John asked,” replied Mike gently.

  Mike eyed John.

  “Young Zac’s been busy improvising again. I haven’t quite worked out what he’s up to, but he’s definitely got a plan. Take a look.”

  John peered through his binoculars.

  “I haven’t seen someone do that for years...” he murmured.

  He let out a low whistle. Three men fell into formation alongside him in an instant.

  “Well knock me for six!” said Charlie. “He’s building a German sniper ladder out of their rope pieces.”

  “Someone old school had to have taught him that,” mused Jed.

  “Someone who’s a pro themselves,” murmured Rod.

  “What’s a German sniper ladder?” asked Paul.

  “Here. See for yourself,” said Mike, offering him his binoculars.

  Paul shook his head.

  “I can’t use binoculars, because of my specs.”

  “That’s because you haven’t been taught to use them properly... Here... fold down the rubber eyecups. That’s what your glasses rest against... Now adjust the eyepieces to suit your face as though you haven’t got glasses... pull the barrels down slowly... and tell me when you see a single circle with both your eyes...”

  “I can see one now... Hey Mike, you were right. I can actually make out the three civilians... And the German sniper ladder is the thingy the bigger bloke’s making, right?”

  “Ah ha... Hey Ryan... Get over here with us, you tourist!”

  “I’m not a tourist.”

  “Well you’re looking through those binoculars like a tourist...”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Look at the angle of the sun. If Zac was our enemy, your binoculars would have given away our position.”

  “Like a signal mirror?”

  “Spot on... Observe our grey-haired friends who’ve been to spy school. They’re not standing up, so you shouldn’t be either.”

  Ryan joined Mike then eyed the group of men.

  “How do you know they’ve had surveillance training?”

  “Look at ‘em... Heads low in case of danger... Elbows propped on knees for steady viewing. Positioned in each other’s shadows so they don’t get sunburnt... They know their stuff... Actually, it wouldn’t surprise me if one of ‘em wrote the original AIA surveillance manual.”

  “That attempt at getting information was as about as subtle as a brick Mike,” said John, without looking away from his binoculars.

  “I’m not trying to pry gen out of you,” retorted Mike. “I’m teachin’ Ryan how to tune into his sixth sense.”

  John lowered his binoculars and made intentional eye contact with Mike. Mike returned the eye contact with a hint of smile.

  “Are you saying John might’ve been Air Intelligence?” frowned Ryan.

  “My sixth sense tells me they all might’ve been.”

  Deep laughter.

  “But how can you tell?” struggled Ryan.

  “Because they’re so comfortable in each other’s personal space...”

  “I don’t follow.”

  “One time I bunked with a paratrooper who’d worked with a group of AIA’s. He told me how different they were from other Airforce enlistees. Apparently their idea of mateship was something else... they sacked together, showered together... hugged and massaged each other... counselled each other...”

  “Sounds gay,” mumbled Ryan.

  “Doesn’t sound like the Airforce at all,” agreed Paul. “Are you sure the paratrooper wasn’t pulling your leg?”

  “Nah. He was for real.”

  “Well they haven’t done anything touchy-feely since I arrived,” ventured Ryan.

  “Maybe they’ve been holding back, ‘til you settle in... Although I think that’s about to change.”

  “Another gut feeling?”

  “Nah. An educated guess. John’s planning on taking you nicky swimmin’ remember? That’s his way of saying ‘let’s get to know each other.”

  A soft chuckle from John.

  “First Paul.
.. Now Mike’s onto us as well boys...”

  “Sounds like we’re gonna end up nicky swimming with all three of ‘em!” quipped Charlie.

  Ryan’s cheeks coloured and he slowly raised the binoculars back up to his eyes.

  “Sir. The civilian leader’s taking the wrong route up the cliff face. And he hasn’t got enough climbing gear. Shouldn’t we intervene?”

  “There’s no right or wrong way to tackle the cliff face, but I admit I’m interested to see how he plans to get up there,” replied John. “Has anyone worked out what that gadget he’s holding is yet?”

  “I watched him making it earlier. It’s some type of pulley,” replied Mike. “He made it out of two jars of skin cream joined together with duct tape. And he also made a makeshift Sticht plate from their stove top too for some reason.”

  “MacGyver in the flesh,” murmured Jed.

  “Or a chip off an old block,” replied John, rubbing his chin contemplatively.