Warrior Demoness - TI6

by Heckrotte, Fran

  Giving her the time and location, Gary left. An hour later, Lubrette followed, making sure she wasn't being followed. The Viet Cong had spies everywhere. Most knew Lubrette Sabnock. More than once, she had been targeted for assassination but had managed to thwart each attempt. The assassins paid dearly for their mistakes.

  * * *

  Ringing the small bell outside Gary's door, she glanced up and down the hall, checking to see if anyone else was around. At four in the morning, most people were in bed. When Gary answered, he also looked around and then motioned her inside.

  "Drink?"

  "No thanks. I'm at my limit now. What's up?"

  "Straight to the point. I like that. Let me show you something."

  Walking to a small makeshift desk, he unrolled a map and pointed to a spot.

  "Quang Ngai. You know this province?"

  "Yes. Why?"

  "Well, we hear that the VC's 48th Battalion is in that area. If we can take them out or at least inflict some serious damage, it'll be a major blow to the Cong. We need several guides who know that area intimately. Ingram said you were the first on his list."

  "You want me to find them?"

  "Yes and no. We think they've holed up in a small village called Son My. If we can get to them without being discovered, we can surround them and wipe them out."

  "And the villagers?"

  "We're just after the VC, not civilians," Gary said, sounding indignant.

  "Right. Who do you have in the area now?"

  "You mean units? The 1st Battalion and 11th Brigade. Why?"

  "I've heard rumors about them. They aren't very discreet about their hatred for the VC or anyone else that gets in their way."

  Gary nodded. He had also heard about the group, particularly C Company. Ingram had assured him the men were good soldiers as long as someone kept a firm hand on them.

  "I'll be heading up this assignment. They'll do as they're ordered and nothing more."

  "Okay. How long before we leave?"

  "In three days. Meet me at hanger 31 and we'll helicop to Quang Ngai City. From there we'll finalize everything."

  "And who am I suppose to ask for? I'm sure there are a lot of Garys around."

  "Oh, right. Major Gary Stanley, Special Ops."

  Lubrette left without saying anything else. Gary shook his head and wondered how he was going to introduce the handsome woman to his men. Women were usually considered a liability on the front line.

  * * *

  When Lubrette arrived at the hanger, she was dressed in green cammies, a utility belt holding two semi-automatics, several clips, a large hunting knife and several small leather cases attached to the belt. Her right boot had another knife sheathed on the outside near her calf. The men would have been surprised at the things they didn't see. Her backpack carried everything needed to take care of wounds, disinfectant, water, and several magazine clips for her M-16A1 rifle, which was strapped to her pack. Food wasn't a problem for her since she could live off the land.

  Major Stanley had updated his officers on Lubrette and her credentials. Apparently some had heard of her already and were curious about the woman who was going to help them defeat the VC. The skeptics were quickly silenced by their CO and told to get over it.

  The flight to Quang Ngai City took about four hours. From the base they caught two more helicopters to the C Company's camp. Lubrette was introduced to the soldiers that evening after mess. Several of the men protested, declaring they weren't following a woman. Others made the typical male lewd remarks, wanting to impress their buddies. Lubrette took everything in stride, ignoring everyone until one soldier walked up to her and ran his eyes up and down her body as if she were a piece of meat.

  "I ain't goin' nowhere with you, except maybe in my bedroll," he said, glancing cockily at his buddies.

  Lubrette snorted and turned to walk away. She hated stupidity and was more than willing to let the idiot's arrogance slide. Unfortunately, the soldier was more stupid than she thought. Grabbing her by the shoulder he spun her around and tried to capture her in a crude embrace. Before he knew what happened, he was lying on the ground on his back, with a knife pressed against his neck. Two men jumped up to rescue him when Lubrette pulled out another knife with her left hand and threw it at one while glaring at the other. Letting out a scream, one of the rescuers found his boot pinned to the ground, the knife imbedded in his foot. Before anyone could react, she had pulled her gun and was pointing it at the second man, her other knife still pressed against her assaulter's neck.

  "I wouldn't!" she hissed, her voice low and angry.

  "What's going on here?" Major Stanley demanded, walking toward the group of men who were now grumbling.

  "Nothing," Lubrette said, holstering her gun and sheathing her knife.

  Standing, she brushed her pants off and walked away.

  Several minutes later, Gary caught up to her and handed her the second knife.

  "I think you lost this," he said, guessing at what had happened. None of the men wanted to talk about being bested by a woman.

  "Thanks."

  "I'm not sure how it got into Kappleman's boot, but he's going to be out of commission for a few days."

  "Accidents happen."

  "Yeah. Well, hopefully, there won't be any others. We need everyone we can get."

  "Guess it's up to the guys to watch themselves then."

  "I guess. We'll be moving out tomorrow. Do you need anything?"

  "No. Just make sure we have plenty of ammunition. I don't want us to come up short if we get trapped somewhere."

  "I thought it was your job to keep that from happening," Gary teased.

  "I'm a scout and guide, not God."

  "Too bad. I have a feeling we could use him about now."

  Major Gary Stanley didn't know how prophetic his words were.

  CHAPTER 11

  LUBRETTE HAD been to Quang Ngai several times. It was normally a quiet place. The villagers spent most of the time growing rice and tending their livestock. If the VC were hiding there, there wasn't anything the people could do to stop them. The Viet Cong were notorious for their brutality.

  Pointing to the map on the board, she quickly outlined the topography of the area, making sure the unit commanders knew the areas most likely to be booby-trapped and the ones they could pass through with little resistance. Pointing to the rice fields, she explained they would be the easiest spot to begin the assault.

  Taking over the meeting, Major Stanley asked if there were any questions.

  "Good," he said when no one said anything. "Now, I want you to go in there fast and hard. Make sure the men take out any VC. Don't chase them into the jungles, don't leave any hootch unchecked... and be careful. These guys are good. They are experts at booby-traps. Finally, I don't want any civilians harmed if possible. We are here to fight the Cong, not the villagers."

  "Look Major, the men can't be expected to mollycoddle villagers now."

  "I didn't say mollycoddle, Sergeant. I said our targets are the VC. Are you having a problem understanding the difference?"

  "No sir."

  "Good. Now, move out."

  Lubrette knew about warfare. She had fought in so many battles, she understood and recognized the telltale signs of men on the verge of losing control. C Company was almost there.

  "I hope your NCOs keep a strong grip on your men, Gary," she said after everyone had left. "One mistake and this could get ugly."

  "They're good men, Lubrette. Trust me on this."

  Lubrette did trust him, but she knew he had put too much trust in his soldiers. Once this was over with, hopefully they would be reassigned and fresh troops brought in.

  * * *

  With orders to move in rapidly and secure the area as quickly as possible, C Company arrived at the outskirts of the village around 0730. Offloading, they spread out and headed for the village. Everyone was pumped for the fight, hoping to kill as many VC as possible. Several days before, several of their
men had been killed in an ambush and the soldiers were looking for revenge. Given the right incentive, they intended on getting it.

  * * *

  "Out! Out! Out!" Major Stanley yelled, signaling for the soldiers to leave the helicopter after he and Lubrette had jumped from the platform. Spreading out, everyone crouched down and waited until all of the men were on the ground. Raising his arm, he waved them forward. Minutes later, an elderly man came running toward them, his arms waving in the air. Before the major could send someone to see what was up, a shot was fired and the villager fell.

  "Who the hell fired that shot?" he yelled angrily.

  No one answered. Shaking his head, he looked at Lubrette, wanting to reassure her it had been an accident. Deep down he knew better and felt uncomfortable, hoping it wasn't a sign of things to come.

  * * *

  Lubrette wasn't surprised when things started to go horribly wrong. She had sensed the deep-seated anger in several of the men. It was like a virus and almost no one was immune. The raid on the village was a failure. The VC had received word of the coming attack and had disappeared into the jungles, leaving only the villagers and some booby-traps behind to greet the Americans.

  Killing the old man was the first step down a short path to devastation. Several minutes later, other villagers who had run out to see what was happening were slaughtered. Terrified, the rest hid in their huts. Frustrated the soldiers began firing rounds into the huts, killing anything and everything they saw. Men, women, children, it didn't make any difference.

  "I don't know what to do," Gary said, turning to Lubrette for guidance.

  "There's nothing to do," she replied. "They're beyond listening to you. These aren't men anymore. They're animals."

  "They're soldiers," he cried. "They're trained to obey."

  "They were never soldiers. These men are brutes. It was only a matter of time before they reverted to their true nature. I'm surprised you didn't see it."

  "No!" Gary said, refusing to believe it. "No!"

  Running toward a small group who had pushed a woman down on the ground, he grabbed one by the shoulder and pulled him away.

  "Stop it! You have your orders," he yelled, stepping between the woman and the soldiers.

  "Get out of the way, Major," one of them growled.

  "No. This stops now."

  Pushing past him, the soldier began removing his utility belt. Gary lunged at him and pulled him backward. Without thinking, the soldier pulled his knife and stabbed the major in the stomach. Stunned, Gary looked down at the knife and then back at the man. Clutching his stomach, he fell to his knees and tumbled onto his side. Seconds later, a shot rang out and the killer collapsed next to him.

  Turning to see who had shot their companion, the remainder of the men saw Lubrette standing several meters away holding her rifle. Before they could react, she opened fire and killed them all. Afterward, she motioned for the villager to run away and then knelt next to Gary.

  "I... thought they... were... sol... diers," he gasped. "We... were sup... posed to be... better... better."

  Holding his head on her lap, Lubrette looked at the carnage around them. Shaking her head, she wanted to tell him he was a fool but realized it would serve no purpose. He already knew that.

  "War brings out the worst in us," she said softly, stroking his hair.

  The sound of a helicopter caught her attention. Turning in the direction, she noticed one of the pilots had positioned the vehicle between some villagers and the soldiers. The crewmen had their guns pointed at the Americans, threatening to shoot if any more civilians were attacked.

  Holding Gary up so he could see, she pointed to the helicopter.

  "Look. There are your soldiers, Gary."

  It was the last thing Gary saw before he died. Lowering him to the ground, Lubrette stood and disappeared into the jungles. For the first time in her many lives, she walked away from a fight.

  The soldiers never knew what happened to Lubrette Sabnock. The men involved in the incident were afraid if word got out about the incident they would be court-martialed. It was in their best interest not to mention the female scout and so no record of her participation was ever entered into the records. Once they returned to base, a few tried to find her, hoping to make sure she didn't open her mouth. After several months and no success, they assumed she had either been killed or captured by the VC.

  Gary Stanley's body was returned to the states to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery with full honors. His parents were informed that he had been killed in action and presented several medals honoring his sacrifice. No one noticed the tall, redheaded woman standing several feet away from the friends and family until after the services were over. When she turned to leave, Gary's mother walked over, curious about the stranger.

  "Excuse me," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "Did you know my son?"

  The woman stopped and turned.

  "Yes. He was a good man and a good soldier; someone to be proud of."

  Mrs. Stanley gave a weak smile.

  "I know. Gary always had a sense of duty. He hated this war but... well, you know how it is. We raised him to be proud of his country. I just wish we knew how he was killed. No one will talk about it."

  "He died saving a villager. He believed it was his job to protect the innocent."

  Tears streamed down his mother's cheeks. Taking the stranger's hand, she clasped it tightly.

  "Thank you," she whispered. "I'm sorry. I didn't get your name."

  "Lubrette Sabnock."

  Had Mrs. Stanley looked behind her, she would have seen several soldiers stiffen when they heard the name. Fearfully, they glanced at the woman with the angry eyes. As if an illusion, those who had participated in the slaughter saw the color change from an angry green to a raging dark brown. Some imagined they saw flames burning brightly within the darkened pupils and swallowed nervously. Dropping their gazes, they suddenly had a feeling they had looked into the fires of hell. When they glanced up again, Lubrette smiled and walked away knowing they had.

  Saira shook her head and moved on. She never understood humanity's need for war. For all the pain and suffering, it rarely solved anything. Traveling backward in time, she stopped to observe another of Sabnock's lives.

  CHAPTER 12

  SHE WAS AN anomaly more than capable of holding her own in battle. Perhaps that was why the braves never complained. Or maybe they were just afraid of her. It was rare that a woman was allowed into the circle of warriors. From the moment she had arrived in their village, she had established herself as equal to their bravest and most skilled. Although they didn't know from where she came, nor did they care, they were curious about her skills in fighting, weaponry and especially in handling the wild ponies they captured and trained for battle.

  It was early in the spring of 1869 when she rode into the village on a coal black horse. Dressed in a deerskin top and loin cloth with a bow and quiver of arrows strapped across her back, she looked stoically at the squaws and children who watched curiously from their tents. The braves had been aware of her approach for several minutes, having been warned in advance by their lookouts. Now they waited to see this intruder who dared enter their small community uninvited.

  Stopping just short of the chief's teepee, the woman dismounted, looking neither left nor right. She knew that to do so would reduce her to the level of squaw in the tribe and make it more difficult to be accepted as an equal to the men.

  * * *

  Minikajau was enjoying freshly roasted rabbit and rattlesnake when one of his braves informed him of the woman's approach. As the son of Crazy Horse, he was in charge of the village while his father was away. The Lakota grand council had called a meeting of all the tribes to discuss the new treaty agreed upon by Red Cloud and the Great White Father.

  Although quiet and reserved, Minikajau was highly respected by the members of his tribe. His prowess in battle and common sense approach to problems made him a good leader. He was the vo
ice of reason when it came to settling disputes between warriors or tribes.

  The soft sound of horse steps brought him to his feet. Pushing aside the colored fabric draped across the opening, he stepped into the cool morning sun and watched the strange-looking woman approach. Red hair was virtually unheard of amongst the Indian nations. For a woman to wear hers so short reminded him of some of the white men who were now invading his land. Copper-colored skin glistened in the light. Only when she was close enough for him to get a good look, did he realize she had a fine coat of golden hair on her arms and legs. Watching her dismount and ignore the others of his tribe as if they didn't exist was impressive and showed bravery and he unconsciously nodded his approval. When the woman turned from her pony and made eye contact with him, Minikajau's eyes widened in surprise. Pale green eyes stared unblinkingly at him. He would have sworn he saw fires burning deep within the pupils. Shaking his head slightly, he told himself it must be the sun's reflection.