by Jim Eldridge
It was in their alert manner, the earpieces they wore, and the unmistakeable outline of a gun underneath their jackets.
‘How come they get that job?’ asked Two Moons.
‘Apparently, the prime minister was so impressed with the job we did at the hospital, he insisted on Delta Unit protecting him for this conference.’
‘So how come we ain’t up there as well?’ scowled Two Moons.
Mitch grinned and pointed to the plaster cast on his ankle, and the walking stick propped up beside Two Moons’ chair.
Two Moons shook his head.
‘You may be an invalid,’ he said, ‘I ain’t.’
‘Then why did the hospital issue you with a stick?’ asked Mitch.
‘Some stupid regulation,’ grunted Two Moons. ‘I can walk perfectly well without it.’
To prove his point he stood up and began to walk around the room. Just then the door opened and the rest of Delta Unit came in, including Gaz, complete with one arm in a sling. Two Moons swung round and looked at the TV screen, where the soldiers were still apparently standing on duty.
‘I thought those pictures were live!’ he said accusingly.
‘Recording,’ said Tug. ‘The session ended five minutes ago and we’ve been released from duty.’
‘So we thought we’d come down here and see how the invalids were,’ said Benny.
‘I was just telling Mitch, I ain’t no invalid,’ complained Two Moons.
‘You are until the medicos give you the all clear,’ said Nelson. ‘And that’s an order.’ He strode towards the vending machine in the corner of the room. ‘Any of you guys care for a cup of coffee?’
There were murmurs of assent from the others.
‘So, it’s all over,’ smiled Gaz. ‘The treaty’s signed. Case closed.’
‘Any news on Deacon?’ asked Mitch.
Nelson frowned. ‘It seems the authorities don’t want him to come to trial,’ he said. ‘He knows too many secrets they don’t want to come out in court.’
‘So what are they going to do with him?’ asked Mitch.
‘A secure mental hospital,’ said Nelson. ‘Indefinitely.’
‘It’s the best place for him,’ said Gaz.
‘In Texas he’d be on Death Row,’ grunted Benny. ‘And it’d serve him right!’
Two Moons shook his head. ‘I know he was wrong, and I’m sure as hell glad we did what we did, but I still can’t believe that it’s the same man who saved my life in that jungle.’
‘The main thing is: we did our job,’ said Nelson. ‘The treaty’s signed, the prime minister’s alive, and so are we.’
‘Damn, we’re good!’ grinned Two Moons. ‘There ain’t no other outfit as good as us!’
‘We’re the best!’ agreed Gaz with a smile.
Mitch pushed himself up out of his chair and raised his coffee cup. ‘Gentlemen, I give you a toast!’ he said. ‘To Delta Unit. The best there is!’
The others lifted their cups in the air in a toast.
‘To Delta Unit!’
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