The Forgotten

CHAPTER 78

They had two pistols and a jammed rifle between them.

Puller led Carson to cover behind a dune. It wasn’t perfect, but it didn’t need to be. They looked at each other as they heard people running toward their general position.

“Tight spot,” said Carson.

Puller checked the pistols. “We’ve both been in tighter. They haven’t located us yet. It’ll take some time.”

“But they will.”

“Yes, they will.”

“Superior numbers and firepower.”

“We’re the underdogs, certainly.”

“I don’t mind that. It’ll just take a little figuring to move us to the top of the food chain.”

“I like your confidence.”

She looked at her phone. “Can’t call in the cavalry. No service.”

“I know. I already checked mine.” He hunkered down, looked around.

He said, “We need higher ground.”

“Soldiers always want higher ground.”

He looked at her, apparently sizing her up for the question he was about to ask. “You mind taking orders from an enlisted?”

She managed a smile. “Under the circumstances I think I’m going to insist that I do. I’ve sat behind a desk too long. Your combat boots are fresher than mine are.”

He rubbed a bead of sweat from his eye. “You think you can hold this position alone?”

In response she scrambled up to the top of the dune, surveyed the beach, and then rejoined him.

“If they have another RPG round to fire, no. But if it’s gun to gun, I can. For about ten minutes if I manage my ammo properly.”

“I won’t need that long. And I’m leaving both pistols with you.” He handed the weapons to her. “What are you going to do?” she asked.

“Get to higher ground.”

“As a sniper? But the rifle jammed on me.” Puller cleared the rifle’s breech, checked the firing mechanism, and pronounced it workable.

She said, “You think anyone heard what happened? The guns, the explosion? We’re not that far out of town.”

“We’re too far out. And the breakers make a lot of noise.”

“Okay.”

“We’ll make it, General.”

“No doubt. But then every soldier wants to believe that. Good luck.”

“It’ll be about more than luck.”

She touched him on the arm. “Counting on you to come back, John.”

“There’s only one thing that will stop me.” Carson knew what that was.

Death.

She drew a long breath and nodded. “Okay.”

Puller slung the rifle over his shoulder and in a few seconds was gone.

Carson blinked. It was like he had simply vanished. And for a man as big as he was, that took some skill.

But then again, he's a Ranger, she thought. That's what they do.

She gripped her Glock, racked the slide, slid her secondary weapon, Puller’s Mu, into the back of her waistband, and took up her defensive position in a slot she burrowed on top of the dune. She was trying to make herself as invisible as possible. You couldn’t kill what you couldn’t get a bead on.

Gun on gun she could hold this piece of sand for a time. But after that it would just be inevitable.

She would die.

And if they fired another grenade she would be blown into little bits of organic matter.

She crossed herself, settled in, and took aim.