The Genesis Plague

48

Reaching the top of the slope, Crawford caught his breath before summoning Staff Sergeant Richards from the cave entrance. ‘How much longer till it’s cleared?’

Richards pursed his lips. ‘Maybe a couple hours,’ he guessed. ‘I’m pushing the men as hard as I can. It’s too narrow in there to run a second line.’

‘Push harder,’ Crawford insisted. ‘I want to find out exactly what they brought into that cave,’ he reminded him.

‘I understand.’

Crawford looked over to Jason Yaeger, who was hauling buckets from the last man on the chain team and dumping them down the slope.

Richards picked up on the colonel’s preoccupation with Yaeger. ‘He was on his phone again,’ the staff sergeant told Crawford. ‘Didn’t seem to be talking to anyone … just fiddling around. And before that, I saw him go into the other tunnel. Disappeared for a good fifteen, twenty minutes.’

‘Nothing but trouble,’ Crawford said, shooting Yaeger a dirty look.

‘I heard he got up in your face in the tent.’

‘Certainly did. That boy has a problem with authority.’

With finesse, Richards asked, ‘Not to disrespect you, sir, but shouldn’t we be moving Al-Zahrani out of here? I mean, it’s not exactly safe—’

Crawford’s eyes drilled into him. ‘Don’t you worry, Richards. Everything is under control. I know you’re scared of the dark, but the sun will up before you know it.’

‘Yes, sir.’

Yaeger had jumped off the line and was making his way over. ‘Just fucking dandy,’ Crawford moaned.

Staff Sergeant Richards wisely left the scene as Jason squared up with Crawford.

‘Hazo tells me you weren’t able to get anything out of Al-Zahrani,’ Jason said.

‘That’s right,’ Crawford confirmed. ‘Not that it’s any surprise. Doesn’t need to be deaf to keep his mouth shut.’

‘I suppose.’

‘Find anything interesting while you were poking around in there?’

‘Plenty,’ Jason replied with defiant eyes. ‘But something tells me it wouldn’t be news to you.’

‘Is that so?’

‘Call it instinct.’

Crawford stood his ground. ‘I call it a loaded accusation, Yaeger. And one should be very careful jumping to rash conclusions. Could get one in a world of trouble.’

‘I agree. Just like I’ve already concluded that you didn’t call for backup. Isn’t that right?’ He crossed his arms over his chest.

Crawford grinned smugly. ‘That’s my call to make, not yours,’ he reminded him. Except this time, he was sure to provide a plausible rationale: ‘As soon as that tunnel is clear, shouldn’t take long to pull those other ragheads out. Then we’ll be on our way. I’m guessing it might take another hour or so. About the same time it would take for a support platoon to get here. Besides, my men have been monitoring the airwaves and haven’t heard a peep.’

‘An hour?’ Jason repeated. ‘We don’t even know what’s behind those rocks. So how can you be so sure it won’t take a lot longer?’

‘Call it instinct. And let’s face it, Yaeger,’ he said with forced diplomacy, ‘if there were miles of tunnel behind that rubble, Al-Zahrani wouldn’t have been heading for the front door. We’re close to extracting these sons of bitches and you know it. You’ve done your part, now let me do mine.’

Jason studied Crawford for a few seconds. Something wasn’t right. ‘One hour,’ he said.

Crawford nodded. ‘If we’re not done by then, you can make the call yourself. Call in the entire brigade for all I care.’