CHAPTER20
Colby
My heart wrenched in my chest knowing they were running away from me in order to lead the insurgents away from my position. I should be down there helping them. I was trained and had been one of the best shots in my platoon during basic training.
Mind made up, I slid toward the opening of the cave only to freeze. I couldn’t hear much over the thundering of my heart in my ears, but the low light revealed the men coming up the narrow path, following our trail.
I didn’t dare move back for fear of them seeing where I was hiding. I’d be a sitting duck up inside this cave if they found me. The darkness helped conceal me and I watched as they looked around through the rocks and brush below, looking for our trail.
One of them called out, having found the men’s prints in the sand, heading down into the gorge. The moon was just bright enough to see the scuffed earth and they began following the guys downhill.
One, two, three…
My belly clenched as I counted nine men. It was three to one odds. Everyone knew you shouldn’t start a fight unless you had more men than your enemies. You never wanted to get into a fight when you were outnumbered. I didn’t know how good my guys really were, but this wasn’t an ideal situation. Clasping my rifle to my chest, I waited until the last insurgent had gone down the path and out of sight before I made my move.
Rolling onto my belly, I backed out of the cave until I was hanging from my fingertips from the ledge. It wasn’t that far of a drop to the ground, but in the dark it seemed further than it was.
I dropped and had to muffle a yelp as the weightlessness shot straight to my nerves. Then I was on the ground and breathing hard. I kept my eyes scanning the darkness as I silently crept along behind them, looking for a place I could set up.
There!
An outcropping of rock hung out over the edge of the gorge. It was the perfect spot, if not a little terrifying. I shimmied my way out onto the rock that hung at least fifty feet in the air. It wasn’t that I minded heights so much. But I very much didn’t like dangling over a sheer drop off on a rock that could give way and send me plummeting to my death. I wasn’t sure if the darkness was more of a benefit at this point or not.
As though it were mocking me, the moon slid out from behind some clouds and brightened the area considerably. Now I had a great—dizzying—view of the terrain below me.
I sucked in a breath and gathered what little courage I had left and laid down on my belly. Tucking the rifle in against my shoulder, I turned on the scope. The night optics lit up the figures moving down below and magnified them. My men definitely had top of the line equipment, I was grateful for that. I could make out just enough to be able to differentiate what our enemies were wearing compared to my guys.
Not wanting to give away my presence too early, or start this fight before they were ready, I zeroed in on the leader—at least I assumed he was because he was out front—of the insurgents and waited with bated breath.
Hmm…no, better to shift to the rear guy, on second thought.If they were walking into an ambush, my guys would have a better line on the assholes leading them. The men at the rear were closer to me, easier for me to see. If this went right, we would have them not only in a crossfire, but their exit would be blocked as well.
It didn’t take long. A shout went up from down below and my men poked their heads up above a rock that they’d taken cover behind. Gunfire filled the night and I paused at the height of my breath, centering the target in my scope on the man’s chest, then slowly squeezed the trigger.
My drill sergeant’s voice was screaming in my head.Don’t you manhandle my rifle, soldier! I want a clean, smooth trigger pull or you’ll be doing push-ups until your arms fall off.
The weapon bucked in my hand, but butted up against my shoulder it was hardly noticeable. My target fell and I lined up on the next one. They were so focused on the gunfire in front of them they hadn’t noticed my shot. Maybe I could get a few more off before they realized I was here. Anything I could do to make things more even, I would. Together, we began dwindling down their numbers.
It didn’t take long for my luck to run out. The men down below realized there was a gunman—or woman—up top, because the insurgents sent two men careening up the path toward me. I followed the one out front with the barrel of my gun.
Line up. Exhale. Steady. Squeeze.
The first man’s gait stuttered, then he pitched sideways off the pass to land down in the gorge below. The second one poured on more speed and fear clawed at my throat. It wouldn’t take him long to find me.
A bullet whined as it ricocheted past me, bouncing off the rocks near my head. One of the enemies below was firing at me, trying to keep me busy so his buddy could find and dispose of me.
Ignoring the shooter, I focused on the guy who’d just hit flat ground as he came off the path. I’d had to shuffle my body around so I could aim in on him. He was running full speed at me, giving up stealth for a straight forward attack.
He was only about ten feet away by the time the gun kicked in my hand again. I continued pulling the trigger until he slowed to a stop and fell. I was still on my belly, braced behind my rifle. His body dropped right in front of me. He was lying with his eyes open, so close that I could reach over and touch him. That had been a little too close for comfort
My breaths came hard as I stared down at him. He’d been so fucking close I could see his face as my bullet ripped through his chest. Now I could see every hair on his beard. The expression of hatred forever burned into his face. Bile stung my throat, but I swallowed it back. There were still more enemies down there.
I was getting low on rounds, so I slinked off my rock and approached the body. Sounds of gunshots echoed through the mountains as I searched the insurgent for more rifle rounds. I found three magazines and I even took the one from his weapon.
Thankful that my men used the same rifles as the insurgents, I loaded a new—full—magazine. Making my way back out onto the edge of my rock, I used the scope and scanned the area. During my search everything had fallen silent.
Horror ripped at my insides. Had they been overrun while I was searching for more ammo? Why couldn’t I find them? My barrel whipped back and forth as I searched behind the rock they’d been crouching at. Nothing. There was no movement.
Hands wrapped around my ankles and I was proud of the fact that at least I didn’t scream. I was dragged backward a foot, rocks and debris slicing into my skin.