The Bosnian Experience

by J E Higgins

  Frozen with shock, the colonel stood like a statue looking in horror at Abhajiri lying dead at his feet. The shouts of his men were like echoes in the distance as he tried to figure out what the noise was, where it was coming from, and what to do.

  Finally regaining his faculties the colonel shouted, “Sniper! Sniper! Take cover, everyone!” He didn’t even realize he was moving until he felt the road against his face, and Abhajiri’s blood oozing between his fingers as he made his way behind the cover of the destroyed truck.

  He climbed to his feet and attempted to regain his composure. Looking around, he saw his men diving for cover behind the other vehicles.

  On his order, soldiers fired across the ravine. Unsure of exactly where the shot came from, their gunfire was wild and sporadic.

  Mjovich peeked over the tire he was hiding behind in a vain attempt to locate the assassin’s position. His eyes darted as he looked about not even sure what he was looking for.

  The chorus of gunfire laid down by his men tore into the bushes across the way. The colonel couldn’t see anything but convinced himself that they had to have killed the sniper. He ordered his men to cease firing. He looked across the ravine and then down at the body of the Iranian advisor.

  “This is why I warned you of the Croatians,” he murmured with a mixed feeling of terror and vindication. This whole situation proved his point ─ the Croatians were a threat.

  In the confusion, Sauwa managed to escape. After her shot hit the Iranian, she took advantage of the chaos that ensued and lowered herself behind the berm. She discarded the cumbersome rifle in the bushes to make it easier for her to travel, grabbed her Bergen and low-crawled a good distance away before she heard the barrage of gunfire.

  She could hear and feel bullets flying over her and stayed low to the ground, the bushes and low plants swiping at her as she maneuvered through them.

  About a hundred meters away, Sauwa felt she was deep enough in the woods to maintain concealment. Slowly rising to her knees, she looked around.

  She could no longer see the ravine let alone the other side. The thickness of the vegetation was dense enough she felt comfortable going the rest of the way on her feet. She continued watching her surroundings to ensure she wasn’t exposing herself. Then confident she was safe, she quickened her pace.

  16

  There hadn’t been much of a celebration or much of a break. Sauwa had barely returned to the camp when she was accosted by Marko. He didn’t waste time with pleasantries and came right to the point. “You have concluded your mission. We need to get everything ready to move my cargo.”

  In between her other duties, Sauwa had been planning the cargo move for some time. She had predicted Marko would demand the movement immediately after the assassination. He was rather eager to obtain the goods his people needed desperately. He was also anxious about this first mission. It was so important for his people, he wanted it led by the experienced South African mercenary. He wouldn’t have her expertise to rely on much longer and was determined to gain as much benefit from her talents as possible.

  Tired and wishing to enjoy a hot meal and some sleep Sauwa wasn’t in the mood for conversation. She wished Marko had waited until the next day for this conversation. However, knowing he wouldn’t wait, she motioned him to follow her as she led him back toward his quarters. She wasn’t about to discuss such a delicate matter out in the open.

  His exasperated look was evident to anyone watching as he followed her. The image of the Croatian and the South African looked like an irritated father chasing after a petulant daughter. They made it back to his tent at the far edge of the camp. Along the way, Marko grabbed a couple of his more trusted men who he left to stand guard as he followed her inside.

  Sauwa had already made her way over to the large map spread out on the table as Marko came inside. She had spent so much time in the private office of the guerrilla leader that walking into the restricted area was second nature. She was intent on getting the briefing over with as quickly as possible. Marko stepped over to where she was and peeked over her shoulder to get a better look.

  “The way I see it,” she began, ignoring the fact that he was less than a few inches from the back of her neck. She could feel his breath down on her neck. “Going over land is out of the question. Between the Serbs and our situation with the Bosnians, any land route would invite trouble. These days there are enemy ambushes and patrols everywhere.”

  She didn’t have to look back to know the man was grimacing at her report. “Then what do we do?” His deep voice expressed a demand for an answer.

  “The river,” she replied curtly as she pointed to a thin blue line that weaved across the map. “The Neretva River is the route we should take.” Sauwa waited for Marko’s comments. There were none so she continued. “Rivers sit along large swaths of thick vegetation and forests. Because they are so thick and cumbersome, no one emphasizes patrolling them or worrying about them. Neither the Serbs nor the Bosnians have anything in the way of river patrols which will make things a lot easier. For added protection, I plan on moving mostly at night to avoid any unexpected patrols or prying eyes that would cause a problem.”

  The guerrilla leader remained where he was; his breath still heavy against her neck. “Even so, you’d be sitting ducks out on that river should you miscalculate and are actually accosted. You have nowhere to go.”

  “They are generally hard to monitor from land and the fast pace of the currents would make it even harder to ambush us. We’ll move through the towns and cities we come to at night to bypass any security. Like Jablancia, I would assume the security will be focused on staving off attacks from land, so it shouldn’t be a major problem. To aid us we’ll need a boat for hauling the equipment and another smaller boat that can run ahead and scout for any possible threats.” Sauwa pointed to the line denoting the river. “Boatmen and fishermen still use the river as a means to move about. I figure if we use a normal raft or flat bottom boat, we should be able to sail through even the shallower waters.”

  Marko said nothing though his breathing had become lighter. Sauwa took this to mean he was getting more comfortable with her plan. His arm reached around her with his index finger landing on the map where the river was identified. His finger slid across the paper as it followed the wiggly blue line finally ending at the point where the river came out into the Adriatic Sea. “But the river doesn’t end at Montenegro.”

  “No, it goes through Croatia into the Adriatic.” Sauwa had anticipated this observation. “That’s another reason I like the water. The Neretva River stays well within Croatian territory while in Bosnia and keeps us where the enemy still works but with limited means. We then enter into Croatia where we will be exiting into the open sea. From there, we ride the coastline staying in Croatian waters until we hit Montenegro. I like this route not just for our immediate safety, but also as a long-term plan if you are thinking about making any future runs. As I see it, this is the safest way to get there.”

  “Any attempt to move over land would undoubtedly place us in the gravest danger. It would also mean having to travel some distance into Serbian country where we would certainly be caught. Afterward, assuming we don’t run into any unforeseen problems, your men should be able to take the same route back. This plan should work as a long-term supply route.”

  Marko’s breathing again grew deeper. Sauwa kept silent as she waited while the guerrilla leader was thinking her plan over. She thought about moving out from under him to avoid the discomfort of him breathing down her neck. She decided against moving to avoid disrupting the man’s thinking. It was an unpleasant several minutes between his breathing and the silence. Then feeling his head move behind her, she figured he had come to a decision. “Well, what do you think?”

  Marko rose, leaving Sauwa a means to step back. “I think it is the most logical plan we have. What will you need?”

  “As I said, we’ll need boats that are big enough to meet our needs for this mission.”
Sauwa rubbed her face. “I’ll need some men who would know how to pilot such crafts, and Oleg or Enya to serve as an interpreter.” She looked around the tent as if expecting some further information to materialize from the display of documents lining the tent’s covers. “As for the rest, we’ll need weapons and supplies. We can calculate the amounts when we have the boats. I realize our resources are limited, so if we have to work with what we have, we focus on getting down the river. We’ll be well within Croatia by the time we have to contend with the Adriatic. It should be easier to negotiate a more suitable means of water travel from the locals. I will be honest. I don’t like how this plan is based on too many assumptions and not enough hard facts.”

  Marko’s face broke into a toothy grin. “Yet once more, you have proven yourself a most valuable asset for my people’s cause. It is a shame you are leaving us.”

  “I hope that’s not an invitation to stay,” Sauwa asked somewhat nervously.

  Marko shook his head. “I wish it were so. I would feel so much more comfortable with you here aiding us. However, this is not to be. I am aware of the conditions that brought you to us, and why you will not be returning to your old unit. I’ve been told they have been hindered considerably by your absence. I also know that a mercenary fighting against his or her will can be more dangerous than the enemy we fight. This is also why I would not think of holding you against your will. Someone like you, with your skills, also comes with your own motivation.”

  Sauwa didn’t argue. The unspoken words between them were that she had been preparing her escape and movement south in the event that Marko reneged on their agreement and tried to keep her. Both quietly agreed that this was the best option for all sides.

  With the guerrilla leader satisfied with her plan, Sauwa departed his tent and made her way to where a group was gathered around a kettle burning on an open fire. The aroma was not something one would describe as alluring; nevertheless, it smelled delicious to a starving mercenary who had been traipsing through the bush and fighting the enemy all day. She had no sooner arrived when Oleg, standing next to the pot, grabbed a metal bowl from a pile of bowls and poured a ladle full of the warm, mushy substance into it before handing it to Sauwa.

  She nodded her appreciation. He tried to get her to stay and join everyone in the conversation. Waving, she politely declined. She stepped away from the group and sat on the ground a distance away. Her stomach was growling loudly with a demand for sustenance. It was a dish comprised of meat from the latest hunt and vegetables that were whatever wild plants had been gathered in the woods. A little salt and some herbs made it more palatable. In her current state of hunger, it tasted like a five-star meal. She wasted no time in consuming everything in her bowl.

  Sucking down the last morsels she went back for a second helping. The group had largely disbanded leaving only Oleg and a few others to enjoy the small fire. Ladling another scoop into her bowl, she plopped down on the ground next to them and resumed eating. This time she ate more slowly enjoying the warmth and taste of the second plate.

  “You are showing your human side,” Oleg warned sarcastically. Sauwa chuckled in reply, as she realized she was practically sprawled out on the ground. A long day of combat and trekking around the rolling hills had taken its toll. It was in sharp contrast to the image she had unintentionally built up amongst the guerrillas. An image of being some kind of superhuman combat soldier who never seemed to tire and was constantly ready for action. Now she was feeling the exertions of the day catching up with her as she began feeling the soreness and felt her eyelids getting heavy.

  “What will your fans think?” Oleg pursued his original question with the same sarcasm.

  “I guess they’ll just have to be disappointed.” Sauwa leaned back against a chair one of the older men was sitting in. “I’m sure they’ll survive.”

  Oleg chuckled as he relayed her response to the rest of the group sitting by the fire. The older members rumbled with laughter while two of the younger ones gave her a shocked look. Sauwa caught the look of shock but decided to ignore it. She had no interest in becoming a celebrity. She finished her meal and leaned back enjoying the peace of the approaching night and the warmth of the fire. One of the gawkers, a young man in his late teens, was still watching her. She noticed but felt it wasn’t worth acknowledging.

  The older man who occupied the chair Sauwa was leaning against paid no attention to her. He seemed drained of any energy and had become mesmerized by the fire. Eventually, he stood up and started to leave but not before unfolding a wool blanket he had at his side and draping it over her. He muttered something to her in Croatian as he started to walk away. Slightly bewildered, Sauwa looked around confused. Oleg leaned forward to offer an interpretation. “His wife made that blanket. He gave it to you as a gift for all that you have done in helping us. He also was berating you. He said young ladies shouldn’t fall asleep in the cold.”

  “Well then, I wish I could offer my thanks properly.” Sauwa felt a little disheartened that she had been given such a gift and said nothing. But the man had already disappeared. She figured she would express her appreciation when she saw him later. The group began to dwindle until it was just Oleg, some of the younger people, and her. The young man who had been eyeing her the longest had been sitting by nervously biting his lip as if trying to work up the courage to say or do something.

  With everyone else gone, he was now able to speak up. Turning to Oleg he quickly spat out a litany of words that exited his mouth faster than machine gun fire. Sauwa watched this event with mild curiosity. Even when the young man nodded in her direction indicating the conversation had something to do with her, she was too tired to worry about it. Oleg blinked several times at the young man. Whatever was being discussed obviously took him by surprise. He apparently was uncomfortable being part of the conversation.

  In her semi-lucid state, Sauwa assumed the young man must be asking to propose to her or something. A question she would politely rebuke if there was a need to do so. Oleg was taking his time before explaining the conversation to her. With the glances the young man gave him and the continuing nods in her direction, he finally conceded. “Micha has a request,” Oleg began. He looked back at the young man as though giving him a chance to back out. The young man’s face beamed with excitement and a twinge of concern as he looked over at her. Whatever it was he wanted, he certainly felt it was important. Oleg continued. “You are getting ready to leave us. Micha wants to go with you. He wants to be a professional mercenary like you.”

  Sauwa looked at the young man trying to hide her confusion. At first, she thought she was hearing another sarcastic joke. She studied Oleg’s face to see if he was playing with her. She expected him to crack a smile and say that young Micha really wanted something more intimate. Oleg’s face didn’t change, he remained deadpan in his sincerity. She then looked at the young man. His face was slightly distorted as he nervously awaited her answer.

  Micha had gone on a few missions and with what little training he had he operated relatively well in the field. Still, he was a novice learning basic infantry tactics. She turned her gaze back to Oleg. “Oleg, are you serious? Why the hell does he want to become a mercenary?”

  Oleg shrugged. “He thinks he has tasted battle. He doesn’t want to return to the life he had as a farmer. He sees you living the life of intrigue and adventure, and he feels he’s cut out for that life. He thinks you have trained him well so far and can train him to be a world-class soldier. In short, Micha doesn’t want his old life when this war is over. He wants the life you have.”

  “No.” She looked over at the young man and violently shook her head at him. Before she could say another word, Oleg chimed in. “Can you and I take a walk?” He leaped to his feet. Sauwa threw off the blanket and struggled to stand up. Her muscles were sore and achy, so she was a little slow. She had no sooner made it to her feet when Oleg took her by the arm and escorted her away from a nervous Micha.

  Once out of ea
rshot, Oleg turned to Sauwa. “I understand your hesitation, and I agree with your response. But in this case, you need more tact.”

  Sauwa looked even more confused. Oleg continued. “Remember the sniper who attacked us that day when my ego got some of my people killed?”

  Sauwa nodded.

  Oleg twisted his hands slightly as he found his next words. “Sasha was one of the men killed. He was Micha’s grandfather ─ the man who raised him.”

  “Oh shit!” Sauwa said with a sigh.

  Oleg went on. “Since then, he has been on his own with no other family. He has envisioned himself fighting as a soldier. He thinks this is the path he wants to continue. To him, he is not making this request lightly. He doesn’t have anything or anyone to go back to after the war, and he thinks his destiny is as a mercenary.”

  Sauwa gritted her teeth. “Oleg, this is my life,” she said as she waved her hand in all directions of the camp. “Here, living in makeshift camps, living off whatever I can get my hands on. I’m a wanted fugitive in several countries and some very dangerous people are after me. When I leave you, I have no idea where I’m even going.”

  “To him, you lead a glamorous life of adventure ─ an adventure that takes you all around the world. While I know you have to decline his request, I’m only saying that with his only family dead and nothing to look forward to when this is all over, he needs something to hang on to. He has been giving this a lot of thought. I’m only asking that you do not just dismiss him as some kid with a childish plan.”

  Sauwa sighed, “What do you suggest?”

  “I’m asking you to take him seriously and let him down easily so he doesn’t feel like you’re mocking him.” Oleg looked at her sympathetically. He was not just concerned about the young man’s ego. Oleg had never gotten over how his carelessness had gotten some of his people killed.