Effect of War
He hadn’t given up. After two days Book hadn’t stopped tapping. Constant tapping. Very persistent but considering his circumstance it’s probably understandable. “-.- .. .-.. .-.. -- .” “KILL ME”
***
The red light illuminates the cavernous space that is the cargo hold of a C130 Hercules. I watch as my unit check their equipment one final time, anxiously awaiting the green light. I stare out into the dark night sky, my face assaulted by the wind. It’s an overcast night, a perfect night for a covert jump. The green light goes on and I turn to my men for a final time and yell “Let’s rock and roll!” shortly before launching myself out the open door into the night sky.
***
The door hits the floor. “Flash bang!” I instinctively turn my head and squeeze my eyes shut, waiting. The explosion rocks the makeshift shelter as we file in yelling at any occupants of the house to hit the floor. I hear a burst of automatic fire from somewhere down the hall. “Tango down” a calm voice says over my headset. The yelling stops, “Number off!” I stand, listening to my unit call in. No casualties, that’s a good start. I order the men to move the prisoners to the front room and await extraction.
***
The bouncing of the truck is enough to make a grown man sick. These American 5 tonne trucks were not designed for the makeshift gravel paths that the Iraqis call roads. I look over at my men. Their faces might not give it away but they are exhausted, I can see it in the body language. Understandable after our first week in Iraq.
***
The crowd hurls abuse as we go through the most dangerous part of our drive. The city that we go through is one of the most dangerous parts of this journey. Every man in my team is on their feet, guns up and scanning, just they are trained to do. Book and I cover the prisoners. The suits want them alive; I suppose they are of some value then. Personally I would have rather put a bullet in each of them. “Grenade!” Something round bounces once on the floor of the truck. I dive away towards the edge of the truck. I squeeze my eyes closed, waiting for the end…
***
A muffled explosion fills my ears. I open my eyes and stare up at the sky. I roll over and check the rest of my unit. Every one seems ok yet I can still hear someone moaning in pain. I realise, to my horror that it’s Book. He is lying on the bottom of the tray looking extremely messed up.
***
Book lies on the hospital bed, incessantly tapping. He is a mess. The explosion ripped off both his arms and mangled his legs so bad that they were amputated. He lies on his bed; no arms, no legs, deaf from the concussion. All he can do is tap his head over and over with the same two words. “-.- .. .-.. .-.. -- .” “KILL ME”
