Henry nods his head solemnly and states grimly, “And it was hot, damn hot. Steam was rising from the ground from where it must have rained earlier, and the bugs, they were everywhere.”
Radclyf grins and adds, “Yeah, it was hot, and muggy.”
Robert leans in and questions Radclyf, “What mission could be so important, that you kept going?”
“Hostages my friend. A small group of extremists decided to hijack a tour bus in order to ransom off the passengers.”
Robert frowns in confusion and says with a doubt filled tone, “A tour bus, in the jungle?”
“Yeah! Some safari expedition for a group of upper crusts.” Radclyf frowns as he recalls more events of the day, and then continues. “One minute we were in the thick undergrowth, the next we were all standing on the edge of a clearing. A half dozen small watch towers surrounded three single story buildings in the distance.”
Those listening to Radclyf’s story lean in even closer. The empty chairs are filling up as people throughout the ship get wind of the warrior’s tale being told.
Radclyf feels his adrenaline kicking in as he recalls, then recounts, the events of the day. “We wanted to wait ‘til nightfall, but that plan was blown when a truck entered the compound from the far side. It was difficult to see what was going on in the distance. But none of us could mistake the hooded figures that were being prodded with guns for anything but captives. We made double time through the heavy foliage, searching for the road. What we found was more like a goat track, winding its way down a small hillside. But it had to be what we were looking for, because there were deep, fresh, tire tracks in the damp mud.”
“No one saw you?” Calls a curious, and skeptical, voice from the crowd of listeners.
“We must have gotten lucky,” Radclyf replies with a shrug. With growing excitement, he continues. “We set up a couple of hand grenade traps and didn’t have to wait long. Before all of us could secure our spots in the undergrowth for the ambush, a truck appeared around a bend. The driver had coasted down the slight incline, and then popped the clutch to start its engine. He must have been busy with something in the cab, ‘cause he never even noticed us diving for cover. The truck started up loudly, then just as the driver revved the engine, he set off the grenade trap.”
Henry grins and adds, “The front of the truck blew up through the cab, going straight through the driver, and ripping its roof clean off. I can still remember how bits of truck were still falling down all around us when the camp’s guards came running down the trail.”
Radclyf glances at Henry, who goes silent, allowing him to continue. “Anyway, we let them get close, really close, then let them have it. We must have taken out at least twenty of them before they knew what was happening.” He shrugs his shoulders once more and adds, “They must have thought the truck blew up, ‘cause none of them had their weapons ready. Before any more could come, we opened the back of the truck up and released the hostages. We then...”
Robert interrupts the story telling with his questions, “How many hostages were there? Was there a guard in the back?”
Radclyf stares blankly back at him. It is obvious he does not remember.
“Nine, and no,” Henry replies for him. He then motions for Radclyf to continue, which he does.
Radclyf continues as if the interruption had never happened, “We moved down the road as fast as we could. We had stirred up a hornet’s nest, that’s for sure. All we could hear from behind us were the sounds of gunfire and revving engines. We didn’t get far before I found what I was looking for. We had flown over a river earlier, and I had noticed a number of streams that led to it. Coming to one of these streams, I got everyone into the water. We stepped into the creek as if we were heading toward the river. Then, instead, we ducked under what passed as a wooden bridge, and headed upstream through the thick overhanging branches and shrubs.”
Paul grins as he shakes his head, “I can still hear the posh buggers complaining about the way we were shoving them.”
Henry chuckles as well, and adds, “What was the name of that one we gagged because he wouldn’t shut up?”
The room goes quiet for a few moments, as those listening anxiously wait for the answer.
Radclyf shakes his head and replies, “I can’t remember.” After a brief pause he continues, “It wasn’t long before we could hear vehicles stopping, and someone loudly giving orders. I could hear people sloshing through the water, they were heading downstream, and away from us. It was right about this time, when one of the upper crusts sneezed. Then the bloody idiot apologized! The sneeze was loud enough, but the boisterous twat raised his voice, just to make sure that we all heard his sincere apology. Pompous arse! I could have shot him right there and then.”
Robert listens in disbelief. He has a million questions, but remains quiet. He gazes around the room at the growing crowd, and then refocuses on Radclyf.
“We all stood quietly and listened,” Radclyf continues in a softer voice, as if those pursuing could actually hear him. He rubs his thigh once more as he adds, “All of a sudden Kip took a round to his head. An unlucky shot really. They couldn’t see us, and were blindly firing upstream. We hurried to the banks of the stream, and ran as fast as we could. We didn’t get far before another one of the posh buggers demanded we stop. He wanted us to protect him while he got his breath.”
Paul grins widely as he adds his comments, “I can still remember the look on his face when you told him he could wait for the next rescue team.”
Henry nods to Radclyf and says, “That’s when you took a round to your leg, wasn’t it?”
Radclyf glances down and replies slowly, “Yeah, and I also recall ordering you guys to leave me behind. Instead, these clowns,” he motions a thumb to Henry and Paul, “decided to carry me. So there I was, slung over Paul’s shoulder when one of the bad guys comes running up behind us. He was lifting his rifle, while I was grabbing Paul’s handgun out from his holster. We both fired our weapons. I am happy to say that he missed.” With a grin Radclyf adds, “But I didn’t. I dropped him like a stone.”
Paul snidely adds, “I couldn’t carry you like that anymore though, you must have put on fifty pounds since then.”
“Hush up,” Radclyf scolds, “I’m only twenty over my joining weight, and still fitter than most new recruits.” He stares defiantly at Henry, their medic, daring him to comment.
Henry shakes his head, but instead of confirming or denying Radclyf’s statement, says, “It’s your story, and you can tell it however you like.”
Those listening are not disappointed when Radclyf returns to the jungle scene. “We ran upstream, well, I was being carried. Not long after, we came across a bloody cliff face, complete with a waterfall and all. Damn thing must have been a hundred feet tall.”
Paul interrupts and asks, “It was Dan who found the cave, wasn’t it?”
Frowning, Radclyf replies, “Yeah, and we got lucky. The cave was well hidden behind the waterfall. It was deep, and had a couple of good twists and bends in it too. Everyone got inside, and waited.”
Robert cannot help himself, and questions, “What would make you go into a cave?”
With a sigh, Paul adds, “Radclyf here never could fill in combat reports properly. We were being followed so closely, that every now and then, bullets would zing past us. If it weren’t for Mitch and Gary slowing the pursuers down, they would have been on us in seconds. And even if Radclyf could walk, there was no way in the world that we would have been able to climb that cliff, or go around it. If we were going to have to fight with our backs to the wall, well, what better place than behind a waterfall?”
Radclyf grins then says, “Besides, Henry here was getting worried about my leg, and wanted to treat it.”
“Worried,” Henry retorts with a snort. He shakes his head and states candidly, “even a blind man could have followed the blood trail you were leaving.”
Radclyf sighs, and then with a shake of his head, continues,
“So there we were; in a cave behind a waterfall, and running low on ammo. Luckily for us, a half dozen bad guys came charging in...”
Robert is unable to remain silent any longer, and blurts out, “Lucky! How the hell was that lucky?”
“Well, they brought with them six rifles, ammo, and a few grenades. As soon as we took them out, we grabbed their gear, and threw the bodies back out through the waterfall.”
With a leering sneer Paul states, “They didn’t try that again for a while.”
Henry nods in agreement, then his expression turns serious as he adds his commentary, “And you’re fortunate too, Radclyf! That bullet had lodged itself right next to your femoral artery, and every time you moved your leg, you risked puncturing it. As it was you bled like a stuck pig. The bullet was deep, and it took me ages to dig it out.”
Radclyf replies solemnly as he rubs his thigh, “I remember. I also remember that it hurt like a son of...” he quickly glances around at the mixed audience, then changes his intended reply, “You left me with a hell of a scar with your butchery.”
“You lived,” Henry responds with a grin.
Robert glances around and says excitedly, “You can’t leave us hanging like this! What happened next?”
With a nod, Radclyf continues his narrative, “I guess they must have had standing orders to take the hostages alive, because they could have sealed us in with explosives. Instead a large group of them came charging in. They were shouting and screaming at us as they came, which only served to warn us, instead of intimidate us. We must have killed fifteen of them, at least, before they stopped coming.”
Henry frowns, then looks at Radclyf as he adds, “Then they wised up. For three whole days we sat in that cave. It was dark, damp, and hot. That was when you got a nasty infection in your leg. We only had one day’s supply MREs left, and I was all out of bandages.”
Paul adds his woes as well, “I couldn’t set any explosives, in case I brought the roof down on us, so we took shifts watching the waterfall.” He frowns as he recalls the events of long ago, “I think it was the third night that they hit us.”
“The third night?” Radclyf questions, “I always thought it was the second.”
Henry shakes his head, “You were getting delirious. It was the third.”
Robert almost shouts in frustration, “Who cares what night?”
“Don’t get your knickers in a twist!” Radclyf states with a grin. He quickly continues, his tone turning solemn. “Snipers took out Dan and Garry before we even realized that we were under attack. Then they tossed a flash grenade into the cave. Mitch and Paul held them off by tossing grenades back out through the waterfall. A risky move to be sure, but we were left with few options. We were all running low on ammo, and were conserving every shot.”
Robert’s eyes are wide as he imagines the chaotic scene. The sound of gunfire in the cave must have been deafening, he thinks.
Radclyf grins, then with a shake of his head continues, “We were done for. Mitch took a round to his chest, I was out of ammo, as was Henry. All of a sudden we could hear the sound of heavy machine gun fire coming from outside. Then we heard the best sound you could ever hear. It was a man hollering that he was friendly. In through the waterfall strode a British soldier. He told us his name was Jim, and we were being extracted by his four-man squad of volunteers.”
Robert smiles and says, “Wow. That was a great rescue.” Like so many others around the room he relaxes and reaches for his recorder.
“Oh no! That was when the shit really hit the fan.” Radclyf states. Then with a mischievous grin, he pauses while he chugs down some coffee.
Everyone stops at his words, including Robert, whose hand is poised over his recorder. The room becomes so quiet that the steady hum of the life support system can be heard. People hold their breath as Radclyf continues. “We all stepped outside the cave and into the nighttime jungle. I expected to find a helicopter waiting, but nope. Instead, there were a half dozen ropes dangling down the cliff. Thanks to my leg, I had a lot of trouble climbing to the top, but not nearly as much as the civilians.”
Robert blinks in surprise as he pulls his hand back, and then sits down once again. Others around the room move even closer, to hear the rest of the story.
Radclyf does not disappoint the listeners, and continues with relish. “There was nothing at the top of the cliff either, except the narrow river which fed the waterfall. Jim took point and moved at a fast clip, too fast. I was making better time than the civilians, but barely. The other three squad members kept our rear and flanks covered as we hurried through the dense foliage. We walked for about an hour, until we came to a small lake, where we stopped and waited. There was a small tree covered, hillside nearby, and just beyond the jungle, a decent sized clearing.”
“That doesn’t sound too bad,” Robert states with a hint of disappointment.
Radclyf’s gaze is so intense that Robert blanches, and then looks away from the forceful stare. Radclyf leans back, and speaks in his low gravelly voice once more. “The sun was coming up when we heard the helicopters approaching. Jim’s team got us moving towards the clearing on the double. We still couldn't see them, but they were definitely getting closer. All of a sudden four helicopters came in low over the tree tops. At Jim’s signal we all ran forward. Two of them came in to land in the clearing, while the others circled. None of the crews had a chance. Dozens of anti-air missiles streaked out from the far side of the clearing and blew them all out of the sky in seconds. Someone opened up with a fifty caliber on us. Luckily, all they did was shoot the shit out of the tree tops. By the time they realized their mistake, we had retreated back into the jungle.
Henry glances at Radclyf, then tells Robert, “By the way, he didn’t run anywhere. His thigh was too messed up. Paul and I had to carry him practically everywhere. You would have thought he was King Tut.”
Radclyf shakes his head, “Anyway. We followed Jim to the hillside, and then at a crouch, we entered a small cave. The cave was really nothing more than a hole in the ground. We slipped and slid our way down, and at the bottom came to a pool of water. Prior to getting us, Jim’s team had scoped out the area. At his insistence, we dived into the water and swam underneath a rocky outcropping. We came up inside a larger cave. The posh safari men refused to follow, at first anyway. However, the sight of the first grenade tumbling down the hole gave them renewed incentive. This new cave must have been a smuggler’s hideout at some point in time. It was littered with old crates, along with the remnants of a fire pit. I remember looking up and seeing small cracks in the ceiling, through which the smoke from the fire could presumably escape. The cave also had a collection of old lanterns, one of which still worked.”
Robert frowns then asks, “What about the grenades?”
Paul chuckles and replies, “They were only stun grenades, but they still shook the cave pretty well. Each one caused a fresh shower of dust to fall from the ceiling. After a few blasts they stopped.” He shrugs his shoulders and adds, “I guess they still wanted the civilians alive. Dead men are hard to ransom off.”
Radclyf nods in agreement, and then picks up where he left off. “We were in real trouble this time. Jim’s radio had been shot clean through, and his was the only one with satellite range. On top of that, the grenades collapsed the water filled tunnel, sealing us in. We began to search the cave for anything useful, but didn’t find much. It was about three hours later when we heard the first diesel engine overhead. Our thoughts of rescue turned sour, when as a final insult, the guerillas began to taunt us using megaphones. They were going to dig us out.”
Many of those listening are on the edge of their seats as they wonder how Radclyf and his men escaped. Robert has always been able to sense if a story is being overly embellished, but not this time. He frowns as he ponders. Either he is a well practiced liar, or this is really what happened. He shudders at the thought, then turns his attention back.
“The lantern was running out of oil
, and to top that off, the sounds of earth moving equipment could be heard getting closer. We would hear an unusual scraping sound, followed by a fresh shower of dust from the ceiling.”
Henry picks up when Radclyf pauses, “The infection in your leg was spreading, too. Just to add to our woes.”
Paul chuckles as he adds his commentary, “And, oh what was his damn name? The posh bugger who wouldn’t shut up? Anyway, he kept hollering, ‘we surrender, my family will pay you whatever you want’. He was ridiculous. He complained about the failed rescue, the lack of food and water, everything. He was going to sue us.”
Radclyf grins as he adds, “The idiot shut up when Jim spoke though. Jim was amazing. You see, he had spent the entire time finding tiny bits of wire, and had pulled his radio apart. To top it off, he managed to reconnect a few bits here and there. It looked incredible. The table was covered in what looked like useless junk. But Jim was grinning like a crazy fool when he said he could send a Morse code signal. Mind you, we couldn’t receive, but we could send. He began touching a wire to his hodgepodge of parts. A tiny light would flash each time from a section of the circuit board.”
Paul shakes his head as he recalls, “The artillery strikes nearly did us in. We all hugged the walls of the cave with our backs, as great chunks of the ceiling collapsed. The roof couldn’t take the pounding, and finally caved in. The sound of shells impacting, and machine gun fire suddenly got a whole lot louder.”
Radclyf’s smile widens, “From Jim’s signal, until we were rescued, only took about thirty minutes. It seems that our friends were waiting for any sign that we were alive, and the second they got that message, they were ready. By the time they were done, the place looked like a serious warzone. There must have been a hundred bodies, all bad guys.”
Robert frowns doubtfully as he states, “I don’t recall reading any of this in the news? Surely that much fighting would have drawn some attention?”
Alliance (Terran Chronicles Book 4) Page 19