It wouldn’t do him any good to let her know how she affected him, not now, not when they were ready to land in enemy territory.
Kong cleared his throat as he looked away from Sam. “Look, I didn’t mean to suggest you’re some girly girl. I just wanted to make sure…”
“You wanted to make sure I didn’t leave you and your men hanging when something went wrong,” Sam interrupted. He was doing it again, going from hot to annoying in two seconds flat.
Sometimes we all need a little reassurance.
Sam rolled her eyes to herself and pulled back on her temper. The whisper was right. He was no different from what she was. “I’m sorry,” she said in a kinder voice. “I don’t know how to prove to you that I know what I’m doing. I know it’s asking a lot for you to just trust me, but it’s all I’ve got.” She ran her fingers through her hair.
His body under control now, Kong turned to her. “Yeah, it is a lot to just take you at your word,” he said, then looked over at his buddies. “But they trust you, so I’ll give it a shot.”
“That’s all I can ask for,” Sam muttered to herself.
Awkward silence stretched between them for a few moments. Neither of them was sure what to say. Sam had seen a slightly different side to Kong for a few moments. Then he was testing her again.
“Maybe we should wake them up, show them the maps. You know, give them a chance to see what’s up,” Sam said turning toward the paper spread out before her.
“Let them sleep a few more minutes.” Kong wasn’t ready to share her with her two biggest fans yet. He liked being able to talk to her on his own, he liked how fast she could respond to his needling.
“Suit yourself,” Sam said, continuing to study the map.
“What happened to you when you were eight?” Kong asked boldly.
The question froze Sam for just a moment. Where warmth had once spread through her body from looking at him, ice took its place. This was something she didn’t share with people, especially people who didn’t trust her.
Chapter Seven
“Hey!” came a groggy shout from where the two men had been sleeping. “What’d you throw at me?” Ricochet asked.
Kong looked over at him with a confused look on his face. “What’re you talking about? I didn’t throw anything at you.”
“Someone sure did. It smacked me in the ear.” Rubbing his left ear, Ricochet stood and stretched. “If ya wanted me up, all ya had to do was yell.”
Sam grinned to herself. Was that you? she thought in her head.
Now is not the time for talk of the past.
Got that right, Sam replied to herself.
Kong saw the whimsical, knowing look on Sam’s face. He knew she didn’t throw anything at Ricochet, yet she looked like she knew who did. Damn if she wasn’t mysterious and didn’t it just make him hotter for her.
“What’s going on?” Ricochet asked as he adjusted himself, then sauntered over to join them.
“We were just going over the maps we have,” Sam replied, shaking her head and turning away. Why men needed to do such things in front of women simply amazed her.
“Might as well wake Boomer up, fill him in too,” Kong grumbled. He would get his answer to his question before this job was over. Come hell or high water, he’d find out what gave her such nightmares and what made her who she is today.
Kong rousted Boomer, while Sam and Ricochet chatted about the single piece of paper with the intelligence on it. Ricochet made some colorful remarks about the less than abundant amount of information, causing Sam to laugh. Her soft throaty laugh cut through Kong like a knife. He needed to get out of this plane and get some distance between them before he did the unthinkable and embarrassed himself in front of all of them. His body didn’t seem to be his own since his sparring match with her. A good old-fashioned battle was exactly what he needed to get back on track.
When Boomer joined them, they all reviewed the map and discussed what their first moves would be. Sam listened as the men decided where they would go first, who would take point, and who would bring up the rear. It seemed they had forgotten they had a fourth team member.
Boomer looked over and saw Sam’s stone face and blazing eyes.
“What do you think?” he asked her with a gentlemanly tone.
“Excuse me? Where you talking to me? I’m sorry, I thought you all had it under control. Just let me know when I come into the picture.” Sam made it clear she was irritated with them.
The three men looked at each other, then back at Sam. “Um, what would you like to do?” Kong asked sheepishly, suddenly realizing he’d taken over the team.
Deep breath. Calm. Patience, the whisper said.
Sam took a deep breath to calm herself, then began to speak. “I know you aren’t used to working the way I do. But I feel it might be in our best interest to let me take point. I’ve had experience with this.”
Kong began to object, when Boomer spoke. “I think that‘s a good idea.” When Kong glared at him he continued, “My buddy said you were like magic in the field. Always knowing what obstacles were ahead long before they got there.”
“You and I should have a talk about what all your buddy told you about me,” Sam said in a dry tone. She didn’t like the idea of people talking about her that way. “Anyway, I know you probably have a problem with that,” Sam said looking at Kong. “But I am good at it.”
Kong couldn’t peg the feeling building inside his gut. It was a mixture of anger at her for trying to take over his team and the need to keep her out of harm’s way. Why he didn’t know. She’d been doing this a long time and he knew she was skilled—if she wasn’t, she wouldn’t be alive. Biting the inside of his cheek, he nodded.
“Okay, you’re point. For a while anyway.” He’d see just how good she was, then make his decision on who took point the rest of the way.
Relief swept through Sam like a wave, nearly knocking her off balance. She’d been prepared for a fight, but it didn’t happen. This man was not predictable. She felt as though she was under a microscope most of the time. One minute she was acceptable, the next she was diseased.
“Now that we have that hammered out,” Ricochet said, “let’s plan our route of attack.”
Boomer leaned against the crate and began to look over the map, while Kong and Sam continued to eye each other skeptically. Neither sure what the other was thinking, yet neither wanting to be the first to look away. Power struggle was all that came to Sam’s mind.
Let it go Samantha.
Not on your life, she thought to herself. No way was she giving him the satisfaction of being the first one to move. She was just as proud as he was and she intended for him to realize it.
Will this help your objective?
No, she thought, but it would make her feel better.
A light musical laughter floated through her head. She’d never heard her whisper laugh so much as she had over the last twenty-four hours. This was out of character and when something was out of character, it put her on defense.
You want to tell me what’s so funny lately? Sam asked inside her head.
You.
Great, Sam thought, I’m glad I provide you with amusement.
Kong watched as Sam’s eyes flashed, rolled and showed irritation. If he hadn’t known better, he’d swear she was holding a conversation with someone. Even at this very moment, it seemed as though she were looking right through him. Without realizing it, he’d tipped his head sideways and studied her.
You are being watched Samantha.
When the words sunk in, Sam focused on Kong. He was watching her, not staring like they had been earlier, but actually watching her. Studying her. Oh God, she thought to herself, he must really think I’m crazy.
No. He is not sure what you are yet.
Boomer and Ricochet looked at the other two, then at each other. They weren’t sure what was happening between them, but it was definitely something that needed to wait until this job was completed.
“You two gonna join the party, or just stare at each other all day?” Ricochet barked.
His tone snapped Kong back to reality, causing him to blink a couple of times, then look at the two men watching him. By the looks on their faces, they were as confused as he was. Sam smiled to herself, it was a small victory, but one nonetheless. He’d looked away first and she’d held out. Full of herself, she leaned against the crate and began looking at the map with Boomer.
Ricochet continued to eye Kong. He wouldn’t say anything now, but when they had a chance, he’d no doubt nail Kong to the wall about what his problem was.
Kong leaned against the crate with the others and tried to focus on the task at hand.
Unfortunately his brain wouldn’t let go of the sight of Sam. He could swear she was talking to someone, or to herself. She just kept getting more mysterious as the hours passed.
It took them an hour to map out the route they’d take, along with several alternatives in case things didn’t go well. Sam was a stickler for having several backup plans and it seemed Kong felt the same way. At least there were some areas where they could see eye to eye.
“Hey, when we land, are you gonna just pop outta the plane with us in your black garb, or what?” Ricochet asked Sam.
“Nope, I’m gonna change into one of your uniforms. I’ll blend in until we get off base.” Sam replied with confidence.
“One of our uniforms?” Kong asked with a grin. “You think you’ll fit into one of our uniforms?”
Sam looked over the three men, her eyes moving up and down from head to toe. When she looked over Kong, she couldn’t help the tingle she felt in her stomach, but pushed the feeling aside. “Ricochet’s will work.”
He grumbled to himself as he pulled his spare shirt and pants from his pack. “Don’t rip it or nothin’. It’s the only spare I brought with me,” he mumbled as he handed it to her.
“Don’t worry. I won’t have it on long.” Sam pulled the shirt on and buttoned it, then pulled the pants on over her black ones. It was still too large, but she could make it work for a few minutes.
The men watched as she tucked the shirt into her pants then pulled the excess material behind her and tucked it into her black pants. Then she did the same with the trousers. To keep from walking on the hems of the pant legs she had to roll them up underneath. It wasn’t a comfortable getup, but it would serve the purpose for the time being.
Kong watched in awe. From the front it looked slightly baggy, but pretty good. For as long as she needed it, it would pass. When he looked at Boomer and Ricochet, he could tell they were impressed as well.
“Well,” Sam said looking at the three faces watching her, “will it do?”
“Works for me,” Boomer told her.
“Damn girl, where’d you learn to do that?” Ricochet asked in his high-pitched street tone.
“A girl has to learn all sorts of tricks with clothes when she’s small.” Sam told him with a smile.
Kong lowered his head to hide the smile on his face. He hadn’t thought of it before, but she was small. He imagined her tucking and pinning all sorts of outfits to pull off some of the jobs he’d heard she’d done. He had to admit, if he hadn’t watched her, he would never have guessed she was wearing Ricochet’s uniform.
A red light came on in the cargo bay, indicating they were getting ready to land. It seemed Cannon had everything worked out for them. Once they got off base, they’d be on their own.
This reality had Kong going into soldier mode.
“Okay people, it’s almost show time. Let’s gather our gear,” he barked.
Boomer, Ricochet and Sam all slid easily into work mode as well. They put their packs on their backs, then moved to rear of the plane and sat. No words were spoken. They all knew what to do. Kong took a brief glance in Sam’s direction. Her face mirrored his two comrades’—a soldier ready for action.
They felt the drop in altitude, felt the plane bounce as the landing gear hit the runway. When the plane came to a stop, it was a good fifteen minutes until they heard voices on the other side of the door. Kong looked over at his teammates and nodded. All three nodded back, indicating they were ready.
When the door finally opened, they were greeted by one soldier. He quickly stepped inside the cargo bay and inspected the four soldiers he encountered. His eyes lingered on Sam, looking her up and down. Kong felt a strong twinge in his gut and his hands balled into fists. When he looked over at Sam, he could tell it didn’t bother her to be scrutinized in such a way. Still, that twinge wouldn’t let up.
“I’m Commander Hollis. Cannon has filled me in on your mission. If you need to use any of the facilities on base before you set off, feel free,” he said aiming his eyes directly on Sam.
“You’ll be picked up at these coordinates in three days,” he told them as he handed Kong a piece of paper. “The time is there as well. If you can’t make those coordinates at that time, one more extraction point has been listed with a day and time.”
When the four simply looked at him without comment, he continued. “Are there any questions?” he asked in true military fashion. When none came, he said, “Good luck then and Godspeed.” With that he turned and disappeared.
“Let’s rock,” Ricochet said. And all four left the cargo plane.
Boomer walked in front of Sam and Kong followed close behind her. No one paid any attention to them, but Kong felt better with her sandwiched between them. It wasn’t usual for four people to get out of a cargo plane, so if anyone noticed, it would cause suspicion. And having a small woman with them would look even more peculiar.
Sam looked at the men and women wandering about, moving crates, fueling vehicles—just going about their daily duties. She felt a small pain in her heart for these people and wondered how long they’d been here. What struck her the most was how young they looked. Most didn’t look much older than twenty.
As they walked further, she noticed she could tell the ones that had been there the longest.
Their faces were drawn and tired-looking. Many had dark circles under their eyes. The newest on the base still found it easy to smile and laugh. But she knew time would soon take away the easy smile, the bright look in the eyes.
They’re so young, she said inside her head.
Yes, they are.
Why, why does war have to happen? she questioned.
War happens because it happens. Sometimes it takes a drastic action to stop another.
That made sense to Sam, but she couldn’t help the heartbreak she felt for these people. Just then a young soldier walked by and glanced at her. He looked like he should be home making plans for a night out with his girlfriend, not here baking under the hot sun. Not wondering day in and day out if he would go home at all.
Those that are meant to return home will.
Sam closed her eyes a moment and thought about that. How many faces she saw today would return home to the arms of mothers and fathers, girlfriends and boyfriends and how many would return home in a box? How many good lives would be thrown away instead of them becoming something productive? Her stomach rolled with the sadness she felt.
“Sam, Sam!”
The voice shook her from her torment. “What?” she snapped back.
“I asked if you need to, ya know, do anything before we head out?” Kong asked in a loud whisper.
“Like what?”
“Ya know, use the facilities?”
Sam rolled her eyes. “No. Let’s just get the hell outta here.”
“I’m for that,” Kong replied and backed away from her. He wasn’t sure what had her so snippy, but he could guess. Probably the same thing that was eating at him. She wasn’t the only one affected by the young faces around them.
When the four reached the edge of the base, they stopped and gathered together. From the map they’d been provided they found a gate that had only one soldier guarding it. When the man saw them he turned his back and took several steps away. Sam smiled at her
team. Walt had arranged their exit for them. From here they could head out into the desert away from the population.
“Once we leave base, we’re on our own,” Kong reminded them. “Sam’s point. We follow twenty yards behind. Let’s hook up our radios and do a check.”
All four hooked their radios around their ears and turned them on. Each one worked with sure, fast movements.
“Boomer.”
“Ricochet.”
“Kong.”
“Smoke.”
Their voices sounded in each other’s ears with remarkable clarity. But Sam knew not to get used to it. Once they were out in the desert, the blowing sand and heat would wreak havoc on the equipment.
“When we get far enough away from base, I’ll peel this uniform off and drop it on the ground, Ricochet can pick it up as he follows,” Sam said to them. She knew it would be getting dark soon and her black uniform would serve her better.
When Ricochet groaned, Sam smiled to herself. It would mean he’d have a spare uniform full of sand, but it couldn’t be helped. She’d make it up to him, somehow.
“Okay Smoke, you’re up,” Kong said looking at her with a stern face.
Without a word, Sam slipped by the guard shed and seemed to disappear. “Hold your position,” she whispered over the radio. Just ahead of her were three Afghan men huddled together and talking.
What are they saying? she asked her guide.
These men are harmless. They feel safer when they are near the base. Also, they hope to be given odd jobs and paid.
“We have three Afghan men off to my left just fifty yards from the shed. Harmless. Just keep quiet,” she informed her team.
“Roger,” came over her earpiece in a whisper.
Can you keep them occupied? she asked.
I will.
Sam moved forward, never once doubting that her team members would be invisible to the three men hoping for work. Not only would she be watched over on this mission, but they would as well. If she was meant to do this job, that meant they were meant to do the job and return home with her.
Black Smoke Page 7