613 West Jefferson by D. S. Lliteras

Author:D. S. Lliteras
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hampton Roads Publishing

CHAPTER 20

“Sniper !”

Daylight awakened Rick from his unexpected sleep. But he didn't sit up until somebody nudged him.

“We're moving out,” Mormon whispered. “Say, what's your gear doing over there?”

Rick rubbed his eyes. “Ants.”

“Whoa. You okay?”

“Think so.”

Rick stood up, as Mormon moved onto pass the word. Then he went to his gear and inspected the area. The ants were gone as if it had been a nightmare. He put his gear on and picked up his rifle. It was time to go.

The hump started at a breakneck pace that knocked the wind out of him. Rick didn't have time to confide in Russo before they started, so he didn't understand the purpose of this push. It was too early for this kind of speed since the new day's surroundings were dangerously uncertain.

A scream, up ahead, confirmed his apprehensions and brought the team to a halt after a hundred meters or so. It was Sunny, the point man.

He rushed to his assistance. And when he saw the open sky behind Bearcat, he realized Sunny had fallen off some kind of ledge. Russo was already preparing a rope to send down to him.

“Don't say a word,” Russo mumbled. “It's my fault.”

Bearcat lay on his belly and looked down on Sunny. He'd been caught by a huge tree limb. And although it saved him from falling to his death, he was straddled on the limb writhing in pain like a broken-winged bird. Bearcat cupped his hands over his mouth like a megaphone. “Hey, Sunny. Sunny. How're you doing down there, guy?”

“Christ! I've busted my balls! Get me out of here!”

“Coming, Sunny. We're coming!” He turned to Russo. “He'll be alright.”

“Of course he'll be alright,” Russo said, as he started to lower the rope.

A ricochet pinged off a tree. They all hit the deck.

“Sniper!” Bearcat yelled. “Sniper!”

“Where the hell is he?” Rick shouted.

“I don't know, I don't know!”

“Get me the hell out of here!” Sunny screamed in a panic. Another bullet smacked the dirt wall in front of him. “Oh God, oh God, I'm going to die. Will you guys get me the fuck out of here!”

“Heads up, Sunny. The rope's coming down.”

They ignored the continued sniper fire as they lowered the rope; speed was the only defense against him.

Rick, Russo, Bearcat, and Kafka worked in plain view to rescue Sunny while both radiomen sat behind their rifles searching for the sniper; Happy stood watch to protect their rear from attack.

Sunny stretched out his arms to grab the rope and quickly secured it around his waist. And when another bullet smacked the side of the mountain a few feet away, it no longer bothered him. The odds were in his favor: VC Charlie was a terrible shot, and he had a rope around him.

“Coming up, Sunny!”

Rick saw Sunny's relief when the weight was taken off his groin.

“I don't think I've got to worry about birth control anymore,” Sunny said, as they hoisted him up. He had wild eyes and an evil grin when he finally reached the top.

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