Priest said nothing. “What, nothing funny to say? No little quips or bouts of jocularity?” Thomas asked in a patronizing tone.
“I – I would, but I’m trying to hold everything in so I don’t shit all over myself. Leave me a little dignity, would you?” Priest whispered out.
Thomas let out a huge belly laugh. “Mr. Priest, you never disappoint. I sure wish you had joined our group. I know you would keep us in stitches”
“I was thinking about it, but then you guys kicked the shit out of me. That hurt my feelings.”
“I guess that’s true. Well, Mr. Brody enjoys his work. He may get overzealous sometimes.”
“Speaking of stitches, give me five minutes with Brody and I’ll think about joining you.” Priest said while trying to smile through his destroyed lips. Thomas looked over at Brody and smiled.
“Ok, forget about it. The shape I’m in, I doubt I could whoop a paper bag,” Priest joked.
“Well put, Mr. Priest. I guess....”
BABOOM! The building shook and debris rained down on them from the ceiling. Weapon’s fire followed immediately the explosion. The firing was repeating after each other, so it was definitely a fire fight. Priest’s ears knew exactly what that sound was.
Thomas’s eyes got wide, “What the fuck!” That was the first time Priest had heard Thomas curse. He and Brody exchanged looks before Thomas ran to the door and opened it. Men were running back and forth.
“What the hell is going on?” Thomas asked one man.
“We’re being attacked from the front, Brother Thomas,” the man said. Thomas let him go and looked back at Brody.
He caught Brody’s eyes, “Kill him and then meet me up at the mountain post.” Then Thomas took off running.
“I hope this works,” Doc said as he fired an 40mm high explosive grenade from his M203 into the front door. The blast took out the door and part of the frame and wall on the right side. Neville scoped out the remaining windows for faces. He saw two appear in the left window. Pop, the one man went down. Neville put the round through the wall about mid-ways down on the left. Doc sent another grenade through the door, BOOM!
Shaw heard the second explosion and kicked in the back-door. He rotated out and Webb entered the doorway. Two men were running for the back door before Shaw kicked it in. They stopped in surprise, but Webb didn’t give them any time to think. He fired at them on full auto and cut them down in seconds. They heard a couple of yells from farther down the hallway, then running footsteps approaching.
Shaw entered through the door, squatted and trained his rifle down the hallway. A man poked his head around the corner of the long hallway in front of them. Webb squeezed off a few rounds at the man, but he ducked back just in time. Shaw trailed some rounds through the wall and they heard a scream. A body fell out from the corner and hit the ground. More yelling could be heard from down the hall
way.
Webb pulled a grenade from his vest, pulled the pin and let the spoon fly. He waited a second, then threw it. It hit the left wall just before the corner and bounced to the right into whatever room or space was there. Yells and shuffling were heard, and then nothing but the explosion. The dust settled, but they heard no more voices.
Brody stood up from his chair and reached for his pistol. He took a couple steps toward the open door and raised his pistol. Voices yelled “grenade” and then there was an explosion. Brody was stunned and was stumbling around. The hand holding the gun dropped to his side and Priest decided it was now or never. With every ounce of strength he had left, Priest lunged for Brody, putting one of his hands on the wrist of the hand which held the pistol. With his other hand, he snatched the blade Brody stored in a sheath on his side. Priest let out a yell, swung the blade around and plunged it into Brody’s neck. He gave it a quick twist and then fell away in exhaustion.
Brody’s jugular vein spurted blood out like water from a garden hose. He dropped the gun and wrapped both hands around his neck. Priest watched Brody’s life literally drain from his face as the blood rushed out onto the floor. Priest was staggering from the effort of swinging the blade, but could lean close to Brody, who was trying to keep as much of his blood in his body as he could.
“Next time you take a prisoner, make sure they’re tied up or dead, before getting close to them, you fucking piece of shit!”
Brody was stumbling and slammed against the wall.
“Where is Thomas?” Priest yelled into Brody’s face. Brody tried to articulate something, but all he could manage was a gurgling sound. Brody then collapsed to the floor and Priest soon followed.
Priest was exhausted, in pain and couldn’t hold himself up. He heard more voices outside the door, so he crawled over to Brody’s lifeless body and took his pistol. He used the wall to prop himself against and stood up with great difficulty. He stumbled to the door and cracked it, looking out into the hallway. His sight wasn’t the best, but his ears were as sharp as ever. Minus the slight ringing from the earlier grenade blast. He could hear footsteps coming toward him from down the hallway. Three men ran by the door. Priest leaned against the doorjamb with his should and unloaded on each of them. All three dropped to floor, dead. Immediately, Priest heard footsteps echoing from the opposite end of the hallway, coming toward him.
As the footsteps came closer, Priest threw open the door and stumbled out as fast as he could, holding the pistol up as high as his broken body would allow him. A large figure raised its rifle, but then stopped. Priest and Shaw were facing each other standing within 20 feet. Priest recognized him instantly, but it took Shaw a couple of seconds for things to register.
“Jesus fucking Christ!” Shaw thundered. Priest, recognizing his friend, had all the strength rush out of him and his legs gave way. He dropped to his knees, and the pistol fell out of his hand and clattered against the wall. Shaw ran over and caught Priest before his face bounced off the floor.
Webb appeared behind Shaw. “Oh my God,” is all he could say.
Shaw was in tears, “Mother fuckers, what did they do to you?” Shaw was holding Priest up looking at him.
Priest raised his head and spoke in a raspy voice, just barely above a whisper, “H-H-Hey, big man. It’s-It’s that really you?” Priest had tears in his eyes, which were basically shut now from the swelling.
“Yeah, it’s me, Alec. I’m here, man, I’m here. Shaw was holding Priest’s broken body.