Sgt. Hawk 07.Killers In The Fog by Patrick Clay

Author:Patrick Clay [Patrick Clay]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Rough Edges Press
Published: 2023-10-10T00:00:00+00:00

10

LANGUAGE BARRIERS

After the encounter at the waterfall, the patrol struggled to put as much distance as possible between itself and the river. The intense effort made time race, and the night approached all the more quickly. It had been a while since the Americans had been forced to spend the night in the wild and unfamiliar outdoors. The accommodations at the inlet, with the well-made shelter and park-like clearing, constituted pleasant comfort by comparison. This would be Vera Orr’s first night to experience Ayermo without a roof over her head. Nature relented somewhat, and it did not rain that night.

The idle moments before the fall of utter darkness reminded Hawk of how mysterious the nights could be here and called to mind the fate of Captain Orr, and his own suspicions about Clark, Brooks, and Vera Orr. Canlon had suggested Hawk question her further about the matter, and as his schedule seemed to be getting compressed, he decided that now was as good a time as any to talk to her. The subject could well become forgotten amidst some violent adventures very soon.

He inspected a domed bower, clear of growth on the ground under it, but arching to a height of four or five feet, and covered by thin, interlaced branches. The waning light grew even darker inside the natural enclosure. Since it lay a little apart from the camp and the others, it offered a degree of privacy.He approached his unsuspecting target with a purpose. Vera was speaking to Joe. Hawk had noticed that they were hitting it off.

“Hey, you got a second? I’d like to talk to you,” Hawk told her. She smiled at Joe, her eyes half closing, like a wink.

“Well, I suppose I am finished here. The Warlord of Ayermo has summoned me.”

He took her by the arm and hurried her to the bower. Hawk had no desire to enable her to impress Joe with her California wit at Hawk’s own expense. He gestured for her to enter.

“My, how romantic,” she said. “Could this be the interlude that I’ve hoped for?”

“I doubt it,” he said. “Have a seat.” He sat against a tree, facing her. He looked very comfortable, with every muscle in his body relaxed and drooping in different directions. She sat upright, folded back on her knees, looking rather stiff and less comfortable on the floor of dead leaves.

He decided to start out slowly; to see if maybe she would voluntarily offer anything. “You know that gun? That .45? That still bothers me.”

“I noticed that. I don’t know why it should. By the way, congratulations on your performance this afternoon, that was marvelous.”

“What, nearly getting stabbed in the back?”

“No, the whole operation. The way you handled it. Frankly, we all thought you were insane. But then it turns out, you knew we were surrounded on both sides and how to deal with it. Very clever. I was impressed.”

“I didn’t know anything. You were probably right the first time. Don’t be too impressed.”

“Humility under fire. Not very Hemingwayesque.

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