The enemy within, p.4
The Enemy Within, page 4
The M2!
He cupped his hands and shouted, “Dan, the Browning. Cover me!”
He shouted something back that he missed, blood pounding in his ears, his lungs sore from sucking in much needed oxygen, and his body hurt beneath the Kevlar. But he was alive, he was armed, and he had a simple plan. The sonofabitch was going down, and he ran on. More bullets slammed into him, each one causing him to stumble as his body absorbed the impact, and then he was close to the cave. The enemy fire from behind had slackened. Maybe they were scared of hitting their boss, or maybe it was because someone was working the M2, bullets taking down enemy fighters like leaves before the wind. And then he was there, standing in the shadowed entrance, and the man who confronted him stared with hate-filled eyes. He wasn’t alone, an Afghan major stood next to him, his weapon aimed at Eddie. But Hosseini’s eyes were like twin coals of fire.
“You.”
It was like he’d entered a zone of silence. If there was shooting, he didn’t hear it. If there were shouts and orders given, he didn’t hear them. It was him and Hosseini. Even the major stood back, as if he recognized this was between these two men.
“Me.”
“You have come to die.”
“I’ve come to kill you.”
He chuckled, and it was like liquid disappearing down a drain. Blood, maybe, but whose? “You have made a big mistake. Major, kill him.”
He turned and strode back into the cave, disappearing into the dark depths. Eddie glanced at the major, and he displayed the vest that he’d carried over his shoulder.
“Mister, whoever you are, do you know what this is?” His eyes widened, and his skin paled, “Yeah, I thought you did. Here’s the deal. You can run for it and take your chances in battle, like a soldier. Or you can die here, with me. ‘Cos those’re your choices. Die now like the cowardly scumbag you are, or go down there and fight.”
He gave him a quick nod, and he was running down toward the battle, which was starting to fade as the Talibs died. He didn’t make it. A burst from the M2 almost sliced him in half, a warrior’s death. Hawkins started inside the cave, holding up the vest, ready to throw it and hit the button when it was on the way. Hosseini was waiting for him, a pistol in his hand pointed at Hawkins’ belly.
“You came.”
“Damn right, I did. I came, I saw, and …”
He threw, and the vest arced toward the traitor. He screamed in terror and tried to run, but the garment fell and entangled itself around his ankles. Desperately, he tried to free himself. Eddie pressed the button and threw himself backward, “I conquered.”
The explosion picked him up and threw him backward out of the cave. Dan and the others were running toward him, and he lay on his back, staring at their concerned faces.
“Is it all over?”
Dan nodded. “They’re either dead or running. We got most of ‘em.”
“And Hosseini?”
“They’ll have to shovel up the pieces.”
“Did we lose many of ours?”
“A few wounds, but no fatalities.”
“We had all the luck on our side.”
Winston hooted with laughter. “We didn’t have luck, my friend. We had Hawkins.”
He spent a single night in the base hospital, and the following morning Captain Rogers called the crew into his office.
“I have good news for you, Private Hawkins.”
Dan, Winston, and Al swapped glances. What would it be, a medal, a commendation, at least.
“We’re letting you off the night sentry duty. So you’re off the hook, although you men will be confined to base for a few days. I’ve been looking for someone to guard the installation of a new communications cable, and that’s your next assignment. Dismissed.”
They walked outside, and their expressions were like they’d been slapped in the face. “He didn’t even mention what you did,” Dan exclaimed.
Eddie was shaking with laughter.
“What is it?”
“The cable. I can go back to online gaming.”
“Eddie, you’re talking about a game. We’re talking about life or death.”
“Exactly. Me, too.”
Todd McLeod, The Enemy Within
