by W. R. Benton
“I'd hoped he'd live, but suspected they'd shoot him dead.”
“They did, and where are the other two?”
“Resting; we've been moving a great deal lately.”
“Here,” Sandra said, “eat this as I fix your wound. Now, there isn't much there, but if I give you too much too quickly, it might kill you. I'll feed you off and on all day. Tomorrow you can start on three meals a day.”
Smelling the stew from an MRE, the Colonel said, “It smells heavenly to me, but I've had nothing this rich in over six months.”
Sandra replied, “You wouldn't have lasted another six months. I think you would have starved to death within a month, two at the most.”
“Looking thin, Colonel.” Tom said from beside the fire.
She handed him the MRE entree and watched as he took the first bite. He smiled and said, “This food even feels good in my mouth. So many things involved with eating that we don't consider. The scent, texture of the food, and even the juices come to mind. I've almost forgotten what real food tastes like.”
John said, “Hell, I guess so. Did I hear you say you were called Colonel?”
“I am retired Army, thirty years, full Colonel, and have command experience. My real name is Larry W. Tate, but just call me Colonel.”
Willy stepped forward, offered his hand and said, “I'm Colonel Willy Williams, John and Tom are both Captains, as well as Sandra, the woman working on you. She's the closest thing we have to a doctor. The ugly black man by the fire is Top and as you may guess, he'd my top enlisted Sergeant. Welcome to our group. Eventually, you'll be the second in command, but right now, I want you to eat, rest and try to recov—”.
The loud whine of a jet engine in a dive was heard and then a huge fireball erupted just north of Willy's group. It was followed almost immediately by a second fireball.
“Grant's group was just hit with Napalm!” Top yelled as he stood.
“Either they've a traitor with them or the Russians have a team on the ground. I've heard no choppers moving in the area, so no infrared images were taken. Top, get our people up and ready to move.” Willy said as he watched the big fireball roll into its self. Black smoke was rising to the sky as the second jet hit. The aircraft then came back around and shot up the ground, a short distance from the sides of the flames, to kill anyone attempting to escape.
As Top moved among the partisans, questions were being asked, but he had no answers. The top Sergeant suspected the Russians had a group on the ground, only he wasn't sure, and without real knowledge, he'd learned years ago to say nothing.
“How large a group did Grant have?” the Colonel asked.
“Close to 250 people would be my guess. Usually we aren't bunched up like we are now, but we'd planned to strike the gulag in a day or two. Now I'm not sure what to do.” Willy replied.
“I'd suggest you break your people into small cells and disperse them for a few days. In the meantime, you can try to determine how badly Grant was hit.”
Turning to John, Willy said, “Release our people into their protective cells. Six days from today we'll meet back at the old junk yard where you took on the tank that day, remember? Take Mollie with you and once safely away, see justice is served. She is to die for spying for the Russians and betraying her country.”
“Oh, yeah, I remember the junk yard. As for Mollie, I'll see it's done.”
“Colonel, you go with John and his cell. While we're gone, I want you to think a lot about the gulag. Try to remember the strong and weak points, security wise, about the prison. Think of anything that may help us attack the place. I will not sit on my ass and allow Americans to die of starvation.”
“I'll do my best.” the Colonel replied.
Minutes later, as the groups dispersing, John returned and said, “While you're the second in command, sir, I run this cell. While you are in my cell, I give the orders and you will obey them. Any questions?”
“No, that's typical. You'll have no trouble with me, Captain.”
“Saddle up, we're leaving.” John said, and then added, “Bring Mollie with us. Once out of danger, we're to see justice is served, by order of Colonel Willy Williams. Tom, take the point and Margie, you bring up our rear.”
Unknowingly, they moved straight toward Master Sergeant Rusak and his men. Just as Rusak was about to detonate a series of mines, John said, “Tom, swing to the north and I'll tell you when to head west again.”
Tom waved in understanding, but didn't reply.
Master Sergeant Rusak gave a loud sigh a few minutes after Margie brought up the rear. Ten minutes later, Rusak said, “Gather the mines and gear, and lets get to the pickup point.”
A mile from Rusak, John stopped and called Tom to him. Once they were together, John said, “Did you see those Russians back there?”
“I saw two, but unsure how many were there. I was one happy bastard when you told me to move west. They had a team on the ground and if one had not been wearing a silver watchband, I'd have not seen them. The morning sun gave the man's position away.”
“I'm sure they had defenses in position, so I wanted to avoid a fight.” Pulling a map from his shirt pocket, John said, “I expect them to be picked up either here or here, since both are wide open areas.”
Tom studied the map and then said, “The first place is more likely, due to poor hiding places for an ambush. If you notice it's on flat land and trees are a good quarter of a mile off. I suggest we get in the center of the field and see what happens.”
“Lead the way and watch your ass, because there's a good chance we'll run into the Russian team that's on the ground.”
As John and his team moved for the field, Rusak was having radio problems. Each time he attempted to discuss his pick up with base, static would fill the radio, and he'd have to break off the conversation. Finally, he looked at his watch, estimated a good pick up time and said, “Ten hundred.”
Base, obviously having the same problem said, “Copy.”
“It is the atmosphere.” the radio man said and then added, “At times it happens everywhere, but not usually this bad.”
“They will be here in less than an hour. Let us move to the first field and get ready for pick up.”
John and his people threw Mollie in the waist high grasses and covered her up with brush they cut with knives. They then camouflaged their positions and settled in to wait. John had a LAW extended and ready to use.
“The team.” Tom said in a whisper and pointed at the approaching Russians. He counted only four of them.
John whispered, “Wait until the chopper nears.”
Minutes later the chopper was heard nearing and John became concerned, because he heard three aircraft. Glancing in the direction of the sound, he spotted a Ka-60 rescue bird and two Black Sharks, which concerned him. The Sharks were equal to the old American gunship helicopters and they'd cause a lot of damage if they started shooting. Maybe I can down the Ka-60 and we can escape, John thought, but suspected a fight. We'll not stand much of a chance against these birds, if they locate us.
A smoke grenade was popped by one of the Russians on the ground and the big chopper began an approach.
The Colonel, who was beside John nodded, as if he was reading his mind. Then whispering he said, “To down a chopper is worth all our lives.”
While John nodded, he strongly disagreed about the worth of a chopper in lives, but he would try to knock the Ka-60 out of the sky.
I'll wait until the chopper is almost on the ground or loading and then fire, he thought as he rose from the grasses and sighted the big chopper in well.
A crew member on the big chopper stuck his upper torso out and motioned with his arm for the four Russian troops to hurry. Just as the second soldier entered the aircraft, John fired the LAW. The aircraft was sideways and he struck the aft section of the aircraft, knocking the tail rotor off. The chopper began to rotate 360 degrees, because the tail rotor kept it stationary. One trooper jumped from the out of control c
hopper, then a second, and John yelled, “Fire!”
With all his cell firing, it didn't take the Russians long to spot where the danger was located and John prayed the radio was damaged or destroyed. If the Russians on the ground contacted the Black Sharks the party was over. Dolly sat patiently as they fired at the aircraft.
The Ka-60 began to smoke as round after round struck the engines and a few minutes later the main rotor blades struck the ground when the aircraft tilted at an awkward angle. The blade disintegrated, sending pieces in all directions. The chopper fell to it's side and lay still for many long minutes. Suddenly a loud whoosh was heard and the aircraft burst into flames. Screams were immediately heard coming from the downed aircraft. Dolly's ears pointed straight up when the yells sounded and it was obvious to John that she heard it all.
A man climbed from the rear door all in flames. Once on the ground, he began dancing madly, until John sent a bullet into the man's chest, and a short time later, a loud explosion was heard. Lowering his head, John waited long enough for anything blown into the air to land and then took a quick glance. A fireball was ascending to the sky; black oily smoke was mixed with the flames.
The Black Sharks, unsure what had happened suddenly lined up and made an approach toward the downed aircraft. Obviously someone on the ground had a radio because, as the aircraft cleared the burning chopper, two rockets were released. The rockets went over John's people, but the resulting explosions were loud.
“Into the grasses! Burrow in deep, so they don't see us.” John yelled. He suspected the surviving Russians on the ground had no clear idea from where the LAW had been fired. What concerned him was the attack helicopters might have seen the blast of the LAW firing.
On the next pass the Black Sharks fired Gatling guns, throwing clumps of soil a good ten feet into the air. An explosion was heard of the other side of the field, causing the ground to shake. The attack helicopters must have been confused, because they'd overshot the target and then attacked the other side of the field. The only explanation was the Russians on the ground must think the partisans were fleeing.
Most attackers would flee, but by staying in place, this time, we may have saved our asses, John thought. In a few minutes, we'll move back into the trees and then make tracks north. I need to get to the old garage in a couple more days.
Across the field, now in the trees, Master Sergeant Rusak was in pain, as were the other two men. All three had sustained burns and the man John had shot earlier, after he climbed from the rear door of the burning helicopter, was the Master Sergeant's radio man. Rusak was afraid to move, because he had no communications with the Black Sharks and suspected they'd fire on anyone on the ground.
His burns were to his hands and legs, but a portion of the main blade had slammed into his right foot and he felt blood in his boot. The boot was cut and twisted, but he'd look it over once they were safe. Sergeant Bluska was burned badly on the left arm and the same side of his face, with the flesh black. The Private was the worst burned of the three, with a good 80 percent of his body badly burned and still smoking.
Whispering, the Master Sergeant said, “Give the Private a shot of morphine. It should be in the medical supplies you have.”
“What about us?”
“Hell, no, do not give us any. We need to have our shit together if we want to survive this. Now, one of two things will happen. The Colonel will either send a team out to recover the bodies and look for us, or he will just write all of us off as a combat loss.”
“W . . . what do you think will happen? I am hurting pretty badly.”
“I suspect he will come for the bodies and hopefully look for us. We are the only witnesses to the killing of all the Americans with the napalm. And, if you will listen, the Black Sharks have not left the area yet. We have no idea what hit the helicopter, unless one of the attacking Black Sharks knows.”
“Partisans were shooting at us, because I saw the helicopter take hits just before it crashed.”
“I did too, and suspect they downed the helicopter as well. We will remain in place for 24 hours, if need be, and see what the Colonel does.”
“Damn, I do not know if I can take this pain for that long.”
“Bad, huh?”
“Worst I've ever felt.”
“Wait until the Black Sharks leave or a helicopter arrives and then use the morphine. If the partisans attack us, I cannot protect all of us by myself.”
“I will do what it takes, Master Sergeant.”
“Good lad.”
An hour later, suspecting the partisans were gone, Rusak said, “Sergeant Bluska, give yourself a shot of morphine, because I suspect the risk of being attacked is low now. If they wanted us, we would be dead already.”
“T . . . thank you. I . . . hurt . . . so . . . much now.” Sergeant Bluska managed to get out as he pulled a syringe of the strong pain killer from his medical pouch.
It was then Rusak picked up the sound of an approaching helicopter and as he concentrated, he heard a number of aircraft headed toward him. He wanted to dance for joy, but instead, he scanned the area and glanced at Sergeant Bluska. The Sergeant was sitting against a tree, his eyes glassy and dilated. At least he is out of pain; my foot is killing me, but I will wait and let the medics treat me. I do not think it will be long now, Rusak thought.
Ten minutes later, a Ka-60 landed and Russian troops dispersed. Rusak and his men were quickly found, morphine was given to the Master Sergeant, and he was whisked away by a medic to a chopper. He glanced around and counted eight the of the big choppers and knew they were sending a team after the partisans. As the chopper lifted off, a medic was cutting his shoe off and another was treating his hands. He closed his eyes briefly, because they felt heavy, and before he knew it, he was asleep.
The next Rusak knew, someone was calling his name. He opened his eyes to find Colonel Dubow and Colonel Sokol in his room. Sokol was calling his name, as a doctor protested, “This man has been seriously injured and needs his rest, Colonel.”
“It is important that this man answer a few questions about his mission, doctor.”
“Talk then, but make it a short conversation.”
“We will not take much of his time, doctor, but it is important and could save lives.”
As he walked away, clipboard in hand, the doctor was mumbling to himself about rude people.
Colonel Sokol asked, “Master Sergeant Rusak, can you understand me?”
“Yes, sir. I am just so sleepy.”
“Try to stay awake for a few minutes.” Colonel Dubow said and then asked, “Can you do this, Sergeant?”
“I will try— sir.”
Dubow asked, “How many Americans were killed in the early morning attack?”
“At least 200, but maybe more. Too much fire and smoke, but many were killed, so many.”
“How many attacked you at the helicopter?”
“F . . . few, sir, maybe, uh, a dozen or less.” His mind was starting to clear a little.
“You had two men missing, do you remember what happened to them?”
“One died on the jump in, when his parachute failed to open. The other was in the helicopter when it blew. I had a badly injured private, did he make it?”
“No, Master Sergeant, he did not survive his burns. Can you think of anything else we should know?”
“I think there are a hell of a lot more partisans than your intelligence people are telling you. Right after the jets left, the woods became alive with Americans, and they were still moving when we left.”
“What would you estimate their numbers to be?”
“In that one area alone, I think there were well over a thousand left, after the bombing.”
“I find that hard to believe, and they were this close to Edwards?”
“My thoughts, sir,” Rusak said, “is they were massing to attack something.”
Sokol locked his hands behind his back and walked in a circle as he thought, The partisans are known to atta
ck the trains at times, fire at the base and even at an occasional guard at the gulag, but why the massing of so many? What target here could they seriously feel they could overrun or damage severely?
“It must be the air base.” Dubow said.
Sokol thought for a few minutes and then said, “That is the only target in the area that would be worth the lives of so many men.”
“What of the gulag?” Master Sergeant Rusak asked.
Colonel Sokol laughed and once sober, he said, “Surely you jest, Rusak; why risk lives to free criminals?”
“Maybe they do not see them as criminals, sir.” the Master Sergeant said.
Dubow said, “I agree with you, Colonel, and I want to increase security at the base. If you run short of men, take them from the gulag. Sergeant, how the partisans see the prisoners does not interest me in the least. You are not aware of the big picture.”
“Colonel Popoff will shit when you start taking his men, but you know that, right, sir?” Sokol said.
“I do not care what he does, personally or professionally, because the airbase is of greater importance than his gulag. In the past, the partisans have taken over airbases, so we have to treat the threat as very real. Move the men to the base this morning, and I want more teams out looking for the partisans.”
CHAPTER 10
“This is far enough,” John said as he and Dolly sat in the thick grasses beneath a huge oak tree and caught their breaths. They'd been moving at a much faster rate than usual and the effort had paid off; as far as they knew no Russians were still on their tails. Tom was still a good half a mile behind them, bringing up the rear.
“When are we going to do something about Mollie?” the Colonel asked and then continued, “I'm not much for killing folks, not that she ain't deserving of death; it's just she's a chore to guard and whatever is goin' to be done, needs done now—today.”
“We'll do it as soon as Tom gets here, after we talk.”
“Talk? What in the hell is there to talk about?”