Operation Pink Elephant

by Stephen Dando-Collins

  ‘The trail led him to this dung heap,’ said Ben, deep in thought. ‘You know, in Afghanistan, the Taliban would use animal dung to try to disguise the scent of explosives. But they couldn’t fool Caesar.’ He gave Caesar a pat. ‘Could they, mate?’

  Caesar looked around at him briefly, before resuming his stare at the dung heap.

  ‘So, what’s Caesar telling you now?’ Charlie asked.

  ‘I think Zuba’s under there.’ Ben nodded to the dung heap. ‘See that spade? Zuba could have got someone to cover him with this stuff.’

  Charlie snapped his fingers. ‘Aha! His deputy said that only the flies knew where Zuba was. I reckon the deputy hid him under there.’

  The others looked at each other with distaste.

  ‘Okay,’ Charlie said with a sigh. ‘It’ll take us a week to get the stink off us, but come on, you blokes, you know what we have to do.’

  So, using the spade and their gloved hands, and grimacing at the foul smell, the men began to drag away pieces of dung. Before long, they uncovered a boot and a leg clad in camouflage trousers, followed by the rest of filthy, stinking Abraham Zuba.

  ‘I always thought this bloke stank,’ said Baz, pulling a face. ‘But this is ridiculous.’

  Ben bent down and patted Caesar with glee. ‘You’ve done it again, Caesar! Well done, mate! Well done!’

  Caesar’s tail began to wag with delight, and he jumped up at Ben, seeking more praise.

  ‘Yes, yes, you are a clever boy!’ Ben said with a laugh, pulling Caesar’s head into a cuddle.

  Charlie was looking at the sad figure who now sat up, wiping dung from his face. ‘Colonel Zuba, I presume?’ Charlie reached down and removed the man’s dark glasses. ‘Commander of the Revolutionary Army of Tanzania and ivory poacher.’

  ‘I demand a lawyer!’ Zuba declared, turning his head away from the beam of Charlie’s torch.

  ‘You’ll need one, buddy,’ said Hazard. ‘On a hostage-taking charge alone, you’ll spend the rest of your life behind bars.’

  Ben called over Brian Cisco and asked to be put through to Major Jinko. Taking the handset, he said, ‘Papa, from Oscar Zulu One. Game Boy secured. Oasis secured. Bullseye secured. Request extraction by Sally. Over.’

  ‘Roger that, Oscar Zulu One,’ Jinko replied. ‘Well done, Operation Pink Elephant team!’

  Koinet pulled on and did up his new boots, smiling at Lucky and Chief Ranger Springer. ‘They are a very good fit,’ he said. ‘Thank you.’

  Lucky patted him on the back. ‘Come on, Koinet, you can drive me to the airport.’

  Springer watched Lucky and the young ranger tramp out the door of the Wildlife Service headquarters and climb into a four-wheel drive. As the vehicle drove off, Springer stroked his chin wistfully. He had taken Lucky’s recommendation to accept Koinet back into ranger service.

  ‘Koinet has learned a big lesson these past few weeks,’ Lucky had told his boss. ‘I think he’ll make a fine ranger.’

  There was a party at 3 Kokoda Crescent in Holsworthy. In a way, it was a combined welcome home and farewell party. Lucky had been home to New Zealand to see his parents and to reassure them he was fine, and had stopped over at Holsworthy on his way back to Tanzania to resume his job with the Wildlife Service. Joining Ben and his family, along with Lucky were Charlie and Baz. Nan Fulton had cooked a roast, followed by her classic pavlova dessert, and Ben, Charlie, Baz and Lucky had all cleaned their plates.

  The grown-ups sat talking at the dining table after lunch. ‘You mean to tell me that Captain Chawinga was Zuba’s uncle?’ said Nan.

  ‘Turns out that way,’ said Ben.

  ‘Chawinga had ignored Zuba when he was a boy,’ Lucky explained, ‘but once Zuba was famous, and making money from ivory poaching, Chawinga joined his gang.’

  ‘To exploit him,’ said Baz.

  Nan shook her head in disgust. ‘I feel sorry for Zuba in a way. He was very badly treated as a child.’

  ‘Feel sorry for all the elephants he butchered instead,’ Lucky suggested.

  ‘Too right!’ said Baz.

  ‘Of course,’ Nan agreed.

  ‘And feel sorry for the boys that Zuba and Chawinga kidnapped and forced to become soldiers,’ added Lucky. ‘At least those boys have been released and are on their way back to their families now.’

  ‘Zuba took the easy way out, using violence, fear and intimidation to achieve his objectives,’ said Charlie. ‘And look what that got him. He and Chawinga are facing life in prison.’

  ‘One more poacher removed from the picture,’ Lucky said with a sigh. ‘But there are plenty of others out there. We still need governments to outlaw ivory sales.’

  ‘We should all petition the Chinese Government,’ said Nan.

  Everyone nodded soberly, before a young voice interrupted the conversation.

  ‘Everyone come see!’ Maddie called. ‘Josh and me have stuff to show Lucky in the garden.’

  So, the adults got up and trooped out into the garden. There, they found Josh and Kelvin Corbett.

  ‘Dad, Kelvin and me want to show you something Sergeant Kasula taught us,’ said Josh. ‘We’ve been practising like mad.’

  ‘Go ahead, Josh,’ Ben said, not knowing what to expect.

  As the adults watched, Kelvin bent down and, like a monkey climbing a tree, Josh clambered onto Kelvin’s shoulders. Kelvin rose up gingerly. And there they were, with Josh standing on Kelvin’s shoulders, both of them beaming as the adults applauded.

  ‘It’s all about balance,’ said Josh.

  ‘And teamwork, Mr Fulton,’ said Kelvin. ‘Isn’t it cool?’

  ‘It is cool, Kelvin,’ said Ben, smiling wide.

  ‘Teamwork’s what us blokes are all about,’ said Baz, nodding to his three best friends.

  Josh jumped back down, and Lucky shook both boys by the hand. ‘Well done, the pair of you,’ he said.

  ‘Sergeant Kasula decided we’d do better working together than fighting each other,’ said Josh.

  ‘And there’s a lesson for life,’ said Nan.

  ‘My turn now,’ called Maddie.

  Everyone turned around to see Maddie leading Caesar out from behind the garden shed. She had tied one of Josh’s long soccer socks under Caesar’s head and filled it with other socks, so that it drooped from his chin.

  Everybody laughed. ‘Is that supposed to be a beard that you’ve given Caesar, Maddie?’ Baz asked.

  ‘Don’t be dericulous, Uncle Baz!’ admonished Maddie. ‘It’s a trunk. Caesar’s an elephant. Look!’ With that, she began to sway her head back and forth. ‘Sway your head like I taught you, Caesar. Just like Maddie, sway your head.’

  The ever-obliging Caesar swayed his head, making his trunk swing back and forth, bringing hoots of laughter from the audience.

  ‘Who would ever think that elephant is the best war dog in the world?’ said Baz, reaching for his phone to take a picture of the scene.

  As he did, his, Ben’s and Charlie’s phones all rang at once. It was a text message from Liberty Lee in New York: Rice for water.

  ‘GRRR needs us again,’ said Ben.

  ‘Calling in now,’ said Charlie, immediately dialling Liberty’s number.

  Baz grinned. ‘Sorry you can’t join us on this one, Lucky!’

  ‘I think you can handle it without me,’ Lucky replied with a wink.

  Caesar came at once to Ben’s side, his makeshift trunk falling off. Looking up at Ben, he seemed to be saying, Ready when you are, boss.

  * * *

  LIST OF MILITARY TERMS

  Abram M1 tank

  main battle tank of US and Australian armies

  AK-47

  automatic Kalashnikov rifle, designed by Russian Mikhail Kalashnikov in 1947. Over 35 million have been produced.

  ASR

  air-sea rescue

  bear

  military intelligence personnel

  Bell Jet Ranger

  civilian helicopter sometimes used by police and milit
ary

  Black Hawk, S-70A

  military helicopter used as a gunship as well as a cargo and troop carrier

  Blaser

  sniper rifle; range 1500–2000 metres

  brass, the

  military slang for senior officers

  Bushmaster

  Australian-made troop-carrying vehicle, four-wheel drive; can carry eight troops plus a crew of two

  C-4

  plastic explosive frequently used by military

  carbine

  rifle with a shorter barrel than an assault rifle

  clicks

  kilometres

  collateral damage

  unintended injuries to neutral persons or damage to neutral property

  copy that

  ‘I have received’ or ‘I understand’

  CPO

  chief petty officer in the navy

  doggles

  protective goggles for war dogs

  drone

  unmanned military aircraft used for reconnaissance and bombing raids; officially known as an unmanned aerial vehicle, or UAV

  DZ

  drop zone

  EDD

  explosive detection dog

  ETA

  estimated time of arrival

  ETD

  estimated time of departure

  extraction

  pickup of troops from hostile territory by air, land or sea

  fixed-wing aircraft

  any aircraft that relies on wings for lift, as opposed to a helicopter

  flat-top

  aircraft carrier or helicopter carrier

  French Foreign Legion

  French Army unit used for special operations; traditionally accepts foreigners without asking questions

  HALO

  high altitude low opening; parachute jump from high altitude followed by freefall, with the parachute opening at low altitude

  HE

  high explosive

  heelo

  helicopter, also written as ‘helo’

  Hercules, C-130J

  four-engine, propeller-driven military transport aircraft; pronounced ‘Her-kew-leez’ and often referred to as a ‘Herc’

  hostiles

  enemy fighters

  Hunter Corps

  special forces unit of the Royal Danish Army

  ID

  identification

  IED

  improvised explosive device or homemade bomb

  insertion

  secret landing of troops behind enemy lines

  insurgent

  guerrilla fighter who does not use a regular military uniform or tactics and who blends in with the local population

  intel

  intelligence information

  Interpol

  international police organisation, with headquarters in France

  Kalashnikov

  see ‘AK-47’

  LHD

  Landing Helicopter Dock ship of the Royal Australian Navy, such as HMAS Canberra and HMAS Adelaide; large helicopter carriers, with docking facilities for amphibious landing craft

  loadmaster

  crew member in charge of cargo and passengers in military cargo aircraft and helicopters

  LZ

  landing zone

  M-16

  American-made 5.56mm assault rifle

  mess, the

  a place in a military camp where troops gather to eat

  Met

  meteorological; weather

  MRE

  meal, ready-to-eat; a sealed military ration pack of pre-cooked food

  operator

  Australian SAS Regiment soldier

  op(s)

  military operation(s)

  RAAF

  Royal Australian Air Force

  roger

  ‘yes’ or ‘I acknowledge’

  Romeo

  latest version of MH-60 naval helicopter

  round

  bullet

  Royal Marine Commandos

  commando unit of the British Navy’s Royal Marines

  RP

  rendezvous point or meeting place

  RPG

  rocket-propelled grenade

  Seahawk

  MH-60 Seahawk naval helicopter, the maritime version of the Black Hawk

  Sea States 1–9

  the international description of sea conditions, with Sea State 1 being ‘calm’, and Sea State 9 being ‘phenomenal’

  secure comms

  communications that can’t be intercepted

  seek on

  a handler’s instruction to an EDD to find explosives

  SOCOM

  Special Operations Command

  Special Air Service Regiment (SASR)

  elite Special Forces unit in the Australian Army

  Special Boat Service (SBS)

  special operations unit of Britain’s Royal Navy, specialising in small boat ops

  Special Operations Engineer Regiment (SOER)

  Australian Special Forces unit that specialises in military engineering and that trains and operates EDDs

  special ops

  special operations or secret missions

  squadron

  a small unit of Special Forces soldiers in the SAS; in the armies, air forces and navies of the world, the primary operational aircraft unit, often made up of a dozen aircraft or helicopters

  Steyr

  5.56mm assault rifle, Austrian design, made in Australia as the F88S Austeyr

  Tiger

  Eurocopter two-seat armed reconnaissance helicopter (ARH)

  trooper

  lowest rank in the SASR, the equivalent of a private in other army units

  UAV

  unmanned aerial vehicle, also known as a ‘drone’

  VC

  Victoria Cross for Australia, the highest-ranking Australian military medal for gallantry

  ward room

  the officers’ mess, or dining room, on a warship

  XO

  the Executive Officer, second-in-command aboard naval ships

  yomp

  forced march with full equipment

  Zero Hour

  the time set down by military for an operation to begin

  * * *

  * * *

  FACT FILE

  Notes from the Author

  If you have read the first book in this series, Caesar the War Dog, you will know that a real war dog named Caesar served with Anzac troops during the First World War (1914–18). That Caesar, a New Zealand bulldog, searched for wounded men and carried water to them. Another war dog named Caesar, a black labrador–kelpie cross, served with Australian forces during the Vietnam War as an Australian Army tracker dog.

  The fictional Caesar in this book is based on several real dogs of moden times – Sarbi, Endal and Cairo – and their exploits. Here are a few more facts about the real dogs, people, military units, places and equipment that appear in this book and inspired the stories in this series.

  EXPLOSIVE DETECTION DOGS (EDDs)

  The Australian Imperial Force used dogs during the First World War, primarily to carry messages. Sarbi was preceded by a long line of sniffer dogs used by the Australian Army to detect land mines during the Korean War (1950–53) and, later, in the Vietnam War. In 1981, the current explosive detection dog program was introduced by the army’s Royal Australian Engineer Corps, whose base is adjacent to Holsworthy Army Barracks in New South Wales. In 2005, Australian EDDs were sent to Afghanistan for the first time. A number have served there since and several have been killed or wounded in action.

  SARBI

  Sarbi, whose service number is EDD 436, is a black female labrador serving with the Australian Army. She began the EDD training program in June 2005 and graduated from the nineteen-week training course with Corporal D, joining the Australian Army’s top-secret Incident Response Regiment (IRR) – now the Special Operations Engineer Regiment (SOER) – whose main job was to counter terrorist threats.
In 2006, Sarbi and Corporal D were part of the security team at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. In April 2007, the pair was sent to Afghanistan for a seven-month deployment, returning to Afghanistan for their second tour of duty the following year.

  On 2 September 2008, Sarbi and Corporal D were members of a Special Forces operation launched from a forward operating base a hundred kilometres northeast of Tarin Kowt. The operation went terribly wrong when five Humvees carrying Australian, American and Afghan troops were ambushed by a much larger Taliban force. In the ensuing battle, Corporal D was seriously wounded and became separated from Sarbi, who was also injured. Nine of the twelve Australians involved were wounded, as was their Afghan interpreter. Several American soldiers were also wounded in the battle. So began Sarbi’s time lost in Taliban territory, a saga imagined in the first book of the Caesar the War Dog series.