Distant Boundary by D.I. Telbat

Author:D.I. Telbat
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: action adventure, zimbabwe, inspirational fiction, refugees, christian suspense, christian persecution, christian action adventure, hyenas, rhino poaching, humanitarian relief
Publisher: D.I. Telbat

*~*

Chapter Eleven

Gezahgne stood in the same place as he had the day before. Gazing to the northwest, he imagined the parcels and their parachutes floating to the earth. And then one parcel falling without a chute.

"About there." Geza used both arms to indicate the direction for his lieutenants, all seven with their own vehicles. "I'll take the center track. Spread out to my left and right to comb the ground."

"Geza, we only drove this far because we knew the route. No one's ever taken trucks into those hills. There are no roads, only trails for bushmen."

"Then go on foot, you fool!" Geza adjusted his canteen, suspecting he'd be on foot soon enough himself in this terrain. "Just get to that parcel before anyone else. Whatever fell from that plane is worth it. The man who fails me gets the tree for a day."

"Yes, sir!"

Geza smirked at his most loyal men as they saluted him. He kept them rich with money, women, and land. The promise of adventure and the threat of torture tied to the camp tree kept them in line.

"Radio me when you find something. If Americans are involved, then we're on the international stage today. Do not fail me! Let's go."

He climbed into the lead Land Cruiser and checked ahead for a way through a grassy ravine, its dangers veiled by the brown foliage.

A muffled gunshot made him jump. He threw open his door and marched to the next vehicle where a man screamed incoherently.

"What's the meaning of this?" Geza shoved one soldier aside to see the screamer, who was doubled over, his booted foot a bloody mess. "How did this happen?"

"He shot himself, Geza," a recent recruit said. "It was an accident."

"Get him out." Geza moved back and unclipped his holster. "Hurry up! Set him here."

Four men lifted the wounded soldier, as young as twenty, and positioned him in the shade of the vehicle. Blood seeped through the man's torn boot. His fingers trembled inches from his foot.

"Clumsiness is a liability!" Geza glared at his troops. "If you're clumsy, you'll be left behind." He drew his sidearm. "I'm saving this fool hours of suffering and bleeding to death. The hyenas would finish him off otherwise. We are moving out!"

Geza took the wounded man's canteen, placed it in front of his gun muzzle to silence the shot, and pulled the trigger. The handgun still made a loud noise, but nothing that would attract the rangers. Besides, the rangers were most concerned about poachers inside the reserve, not outside.

With his boot, Geza kicked the body into the mopani scrub. Trumpeter hornbills, startled by the commotion, darted into the sky and flew toward the mid-morning sun. The rest of the soldiers stared at their dead comrade.

"Don't ruin this for me!" Geza holstered his weapon and tossed the ruined canteen onto the body of its owner. "Move out!"

While Geza returned to his vehicle, he happened to glance behind the convoy. Movement! He stared at the tan hillside. A bird or a

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