Operation

by Tony Ruggiero

  “He insists they were creatures. Like vampires. They sucked the blood out of the people,” Brosnev said quickly, spitting the words out as if he had tasted something he did not like.

  “What?” Block was incredulous. “What kind of fools does he think we are to believe that story? Tell him to get the hell out of here and stop wasting our time!”

  Brosnev spoke harshly to Laupki, telling him what the captain’s reaction was to his statement about the creatures. Block was about to return to his desk when Brosnev spoke again.

  “He says he can show us where they are,” Brosnev said, his face losing its color as if he had just received some form of shock.

  “The vampires?” Block said mockingly.

  “Both. The bodies of the victims and where the vampires live…” Brosnev said, ending his statement as if there was more to say.

  “What?” Block asked, seeing Brosnev’s hesitancy, “What else did he say?”

  “The dead girls…they are his two daughters.”

  Block looked at Brosnev and then glanced at Laupki and shook his head.

  Murphy strikes again.

  Chapter Two

  The vehicle bounced over the rutted road as Captain Block, Sergeant Estefan, Corporal Brosnev and Idriz Laupki headed for an area located outside of the city of Kacianik. The village, considered part of Kacianik, was less then fifty miles from Camp Bondsteel.

  Block, seated up front with Estefan, was quiet after receiving a painful dissertation from the base commander of what should and should not go into the desk log report. Colonel Antol, the Camp Bondsteel commander, had tried to instill upon him that he should remember in the future to be more careful, and as a reminder, he could think about it during his trip in the cold and over the terrible roads to investigate the civilian’s claim.

  The report from the night before had generated some interest from somewhere up the chain of command. Secure computerized versions were immediately available for review by appropriate levels within the military organization. Block had simply categorized the report as unsubstantiated and refused to investigate the incident based upon the civilian’s wild accusations of blood-sucking creatures. Now, less then twenty-four hours later, they were on the way to investigate the absurd claim.

  Brosnev and Laupki conversed about directions, then Brosnev relayed them to Estefan. They had been on the road for two hours averaging a speed of twenty-five to thirty miles per hour because of the poor or non-existent road. Between the bumpy slow ride and the cold, everyone was ready to get out of the vehicle.

  Spring was not anxious to arrive in this mountainous area and the winter was bitter. The roads had been bombed earlier in the vicious air campaign by the allied forces, and repair was slow and tedious, hampered by bad weather. Although the bombings had destroyed many areas, the countryside with scattered homes and farms was still beautiful and picturesque. Historical landmarks were plentiful in this area. Many soldiers spent what little free time they did have in exploring; Captain Block, however, was not one of them.

  “How much further?” Block asked, irritated. He had just smacked his head for the third time on a side support strut of the vehicle.

  “Just about there,” Brosnev responded as they topped a rise that offered a view of the surrounding area.

  Block saw some ruins in the valley below. “Is that it?”

  “Yes, sir,” Brosnev answered after Laupki confirmed the site by pointing at it. Laupki looked up at the sky, his expression tentative and his manner nervous. He spoke to Brosnev in a hurried manner. Brosnev questioned his statement for clarity before he translated it.

  “Now what?” Block asked sarcastically. His mood worsened with each passing moment. He was cold, uncomfortable and still thinking about his dressing down by the Colonel.

  “He says we can’t stay long because it will be dark soon.”

  Block uttered a sound of disgust that reflected his frustration with Laupki and his story of vampires. “Go ahead and take a quick look-see and get back. We’ve wasted enough time,” Block said as the vehicle stopped about thirty yards from the ruins. He was certain they wouldn’t find anything; he saw no point in personally climbing over rocks and tramping around anymore than was necessary. Knowing Murphy’s Law, he would probably fall and break an ankle.

  As soon as the vehicle stopped, Laupki jumped out and ran toward the first outcropping of standing walls, screaming what sounded to be names. Estefan and Brosnev jumped out of the vehicle and raced after him. Block stepped out of the vehicle, but he did not move. His head throbbed from the rough ride and he had already had enough of this escapade.

  “Let me know if there is anything,” Block called to Estefan. He lit a cigarette as he resigned himself to being part of a wild goose chase.

  * * * *

  As Estefan and Brosnev turned the corner, they stopped. Laupki kneeled at two bodies on the dirt floor, moaning and crying out the names of his daughters.

  “Damn,” Brosnev whispered. “He was telling the truth...”

  “Easy, Brosnev,” Estefan said, as he clasped the younger man’s shoulder. “Start taking notes about the scene.”

  “Shouldn’t we get the Captain?”

  “In a bit. Let’s examine what we have first. Take some notes as I look at this.”

  Brosnev retrieved a notepad from his inner pocket with a shaky hand and started writing.

  Estefan moved closer to examine the bodies. His previous assignment had been with the Mortuary Corps and he had assisted with autopsies during the Gulf War. Part of his training included being able to make fast and reliable reports of the body condition and characteristics for general classifications of casualties. Bodies were placed into categories by type: military/civilian, friendly/foe, sex, age, types of wounds and so forth.

  “My guess for their ages is nine and sixteen,” Estefan began. “You can confirm that with Laupki later. They appear to have been dead for maybe a day. But the low temperatures may have prevented any serious decomposition. I don’t see any obvious wounds, or any blood on the ground around them; maybe they were killed somewhere else and dumped here.”

  Laupki screamed at Estefan as he hugged the stiff and pale body of the younger girl.

  “He says look at their necks,” Brosnev translated.

  Estefan looked at the girl’s neck and saw two punctures in the flesh about the diameter of a pencil that had been hidden by the girl’s long dark hair.

  “There are small punctures, maybe a quarter of an inch in diameter and spaced apart about two inches.”

  Laupki again called to Estefan, then showed him the wounds on the other girl. The marks looked identical. Laupki’s voice was weak but he managed to mutter some words to Brosnev.

  “That is where the creatures bit into them and sucked their blood,” Brosnev said. Estefan stared at the girls then at their father.

  “The girls look pale, much paler then the ones I saw in the Gulf, but I’m not the expert in these types of medical matters. For all I know, some snake could have bitten them or the cold turned them to their current color condition.” Estefan turned away from the bodies and looked at Brosnev.

  “Ask him if he would mind if we took them back to the Camp to have an autopsy performed.”

  Brosnev relayed the information. Laupki wiped the tears streaming down his face, then nodded his approval and added some other comments.

  “He agrees, but he says we must leave quickly. It will be dark soon and this is not a safe place.”

  “Why not?” Estefan asked.

  “He says the creatures live in the old catacombs underneath here.” Brosnev pointed toward the ground. “They will be coming back soon…to finish what they started.”

  “I don’t know what to make of any of this. Dead children and stories of vampires. It’s beginning to sound like a cheap horror movie. What I do know is that these bodies need to be examined by a doctor or other expert who can determine the cause of their deaths.”

  Estefan looked at the c
hildren, Laupki and then Brosnev.

  “Come on,” Estefan said. “Give me a hand covering up the bodies and putting them in the vehicle.”

  Estefan and Brosnev removed folded emergency blankets from the pouches attached to their web belts. At about the same time, Laupki removed a bottle of dark liquid from inside his coat and began splashing its contents on all of them.

  “What the hell is that? Oh man, it stinks!” Estefan said as he gestured to Laupki to stop. Brosnev wiped droplets from his face as he spoke to Laupki. Words were quickly exchanged.

  “He says it will ward off the creatures. It is a poison he’s made from a recipe passed down through his family over many generations.”

  “If that’s the case, why didn’t it save his daughters from these supposed creatures?” Estefan said.

  Brosnev asked the question and then translated the man’s response.

  “He thought the creatures were dead. When he found his daughters, he made more and carries it with him. As long as we have it on, it will protect us. It is death to the creatures if it comes into contact with them.”

  “Let’s get going,” Estefan said, dismissing the story with a wave of a hand. “It’s time to brief the Captain.”

  Chapter Three

  Captain Block felt his stomach lurch when he saw Sergeant Estefan and Corporal Brosnev carrying a body covered in a blanket from the ruins.

  “Son of a bitch,” he cursed, immediate shame for not believing the civilian’s story running through him. As soon as Estefan was close enough, he spoke. “Sergeant, tell me everything.”

  “There’s one more body, sir.”

  “Damn! It was true then?”

  “It appears so, sir.”

  “Have Brosnev and Laupki bring it while you brief me on what you saw.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  While Brosnev and Laupki retrieved the second body, Estefan told Block what they saw at the scene. When the second body was in the vehicle, Block called for Brosnev.

  “Tell Laupki I’m sorry for his loss,” Block said. Brosnev immediately translated Block’s condolences; however, Laupki’s gaze never left the ruined buildings.

  “Shock probably,” offered Estefan.

  “When we get back, make sure he gets to medical,” Block said.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Did you remember to photograph the site?”

  “No, sir,” Estefan replied. “I’ll go back and do it now.”

  Block knew photographs would be required for the report. Any incident involving mysterious deaths was highly scrutinized. He had to examine the site personally so that his report would be accurate. The last thing he wanted to do was piss off the Colonel again.

  “Stay here. Keep an eye on Laupki. I don’t like the way he looks. Where were the bodies?”

  “Right by the first standing wall you come to. They were lying directly in front of it.”

  “I’ll be right back,” Block said as he removed a camera from a case in the vehicle and headed toward the ruins. Laupki reached for his bottle, but Block was gone before he could use it. He spoke with urgency to Brosnev, grasping the lapel on his jacket.

  “He says we need to get the Captain out of here right now! He’s quite adamant about it. He doesn’t have the elixir to protect him and—”

  “He’s just going to take a look, and be right back; it should only be a few minutes. Tell him to calm down or I’ll put the cuffs on him.”

  Estefan reached for the captain’s pack of cigarettes lying on the seat, took one out, and lit it with his own lighter.

  * * * *

  In the approaching dusk, Block hurried to the site. Murphy’s Law once again reared its ugly head.

  I can’t screw this up. I’m not an incompetent fool like the Colonel thinks. I’ll do this one by the book and show him.

  He stopped in front of the wall that Estefan had indicated while also searching the surrounding area. He started taking pictures. There wasn’t much natural light left so he used the flash. He was just about finished when he turned and saw a dark shape of someone standing not far from him.

  “Who’s there?”

  No answer.

  “I said, who’s there?”

  Still no answer. He thought he perceived a shifting in the shadows. The one figure appeared to have been joined by another, maybe more. He let the camera hang by its strap around his neck as his hand moved to his holster.

  “I have a weapon. Identify yourself.”

  The dark figures said nothing as they slowly moved toward him.

  He took his weapon out of his holster.

  “Stop! I have a weapon!” He didn’t want to shoot. He had one murder investigation already. If he killed a national, scrutiny would fall heavily upon him. If he called out for Brosnev to translate, it might be interpreted the wrong way and provoke them.

  Flipping the safety off, he fired a shot into the air.

  “Stay where you are,” he said.

  They stopped their approach.

  Good. They know I mean business.

  Block’s hopes were dashed as he heard the laughter of the men as they moved toward him.

  He started to backtrack as quickly as he could without falling, but they surrounded him. Seeing no other alternative, he stopped and began firing at them. The camera bounced wildly on its strap as Block fired. With one hand, he grabbed it, removing it from his neck and throwing it on the ground. When the camera struck the ground, the electronic flash went off continuously, casting a strobe light effect on the area. What he saw made him keep firing until the clip was empty. He slid out the empty clip and inserted another. He fired until that one was empty. At about the same time when he exhausted the second clip, the flash on the camera gave out. Still they kept coming.

  Block’s last thought was that he was glad for the darkness. What he had seen by the light of the flash he wanted to forget. He had seen their faces and the unholy red glow of their eyes and their fangs.

  “Oh my God!” he screamed.

  Chapter Four

  The sound of gunfire rang out from the ruins. Sergeant Estefan automatically drew his weapon and looked in the direction of the sound. In the distance, he could barely make out Captain Block running backwards toward them, firing his gun repeatedly at someone chasing him.

  “What the shit?” Estefan said.

  Brosnev, his weapon drawn, also watched what was happening, and came to stand beside him.

  “They can’t be more then ten feet apart, point blank range. Whoever it is should be down hard!” Brosnev said. “Shouldn’t we shoot?”

  “No! They’re too close together. Might hit the Captain. Look! The son of a bitch is still up and coming, gaining on him! The bullets have no effect!” Estefan added. “Look, there’s two of them, no, three...four altogether!”

  In a matter of seconds, they watched as the mysterious attackers pounced on the captain. His screams lingered on the night air as they began to tear him limb from limb; the shreds of flesh and bone appearing like streamers in the early evening light.

  Laupki took the bottle and handed it to Brosnev as he spoke. Brosnev handed it to Estefan and said, “He says to throw it at them! There is not enough to kill them, but it will slow them down long enough for us to get away!”

  Estefan stared at the black-burgundy colored liquid in the bottle. His other hand clasped the butt of his gun. He’d seen the captain empty two magazines into…whatever they were without any effect. He took a few steps away from the vehicle and hurled the bottle toward the attackers who now eyed them as the next target. The bottle struck the hard ground about five feet in front of them, causing a spray to splatter them. They recoiled with a screeching sound that Estefan had never heard before and would never forget for the rest of his life.

  “Get in the vehicle—NOW!” Estefan screamed.

  Everyone scrambled inside. Estefan jumped into the driver’s seat and drove as fast as he could, much quicker than the roads allowed. They were tossed about the veh
icle like rag dolls, Estefan constantly fighting to keep control of the vehicle from going off the road and into a ditch. The creatures did not pursue them, trapped by the mysterious liquid. He tried to erase the horrific images from his mind, but the sight of the captain being torn apart refused to subside from his thoughts.

  * * * *

  Corporal Brosnev sat quietly as Sergeant Estefan drove the vehicle to Camp Bondsteel without saying a word, despite the corporal’s attempts to communicate with him. Brosnev wondered if Estefan was in some kind of shock. He hoped Estefan would be able to finish the trip to the base camp. Idriz Laupki sat silent in his seat, sporadically glancing at the bodies of his daughters and verifying that the creatures had not followed them.

  The vehicle proceeded to the gate of Camp Bondsteel; the guard recognized Sergeant Estefan and waved them through. Estefan stopped the vehicle at the medical tent, just outside the main entrance door. He turned off the engine and became immobile, staring straight ahead.

  Brosnev jumped out, shook him and yelled at him. There was no response. He told Laupki to stay put and went inside the tent for help. He returned with a doctor and an MP; they helped get Estefan out of the vehicle and into the examination room.

  Taking a moment to rest, Brosnev realized that he was the senior soldier left from the ill-fated mission, and it was his duty to make a full report on what had happened as soon as possible. He located a telephone and called Colonel Antol. As he waited for the colonel to answer, he rehearsed in his mind how he was going to explain what had happened.

  When he heard the colonel’s rough “yes,” Brosnev stuttered through a brief explanation of events. The colonel ordered him not to say anything to anyone until he arrived.

  Brosnev went back out to the vehicle where Laupki waited with the corpses of his daughters. Grief-stricken, he stroked their hair and quietly spoke to the dead girls. Brosnev placed his hand on the man’s shoulder, trying to offer comfort.

  “When will the horrible beasts be killed?” Laupki asked in his native tongue. “I have tried so many times—I thought they were dead…”