I surveyed my surroundings. The wall was easily eight or nine feet tall. Getting over it would be difficult but doable.But without something to help me over, getting over would be impossible without calling attention to myself.
I sneaked along the wall for a few hundred feet until I came across another truck.
Bingo!
This time, the truck was close enough to use as a ladder.
I climbed over the side of the truck bed. I waited for a moment, taking in my surroundings. When nothing moved, I did. I jumped to the roof, then to the wall, grabbing the edge. I hung there, biting my tongue, swallowing the scream that gathered in my chest.
I hurt everywhere. The gunshots I’d taken to the flank and thigh were hot with inflammation. My joints, muscles, and bones ached from the multiple beatings I’d sustained. The tremors that plagued me from the electrocution fucking sucked. They came and went. My aim and grip weren’t on point, but I couldn’t dwell on that.
Embrace the suck! Work the problem in front of you, Adam. Get back to Brock.
The hook Brock had in me, the one that tethered me to him… I would let it guide me back to him. Back to the life I’d rejected and denied. The life I wanted more than fucking anything.
I pulled myself up to the top of the wall before I slipped over the edge. Pain exploded through me, detonating in my feet and radiating up and out as I hit the ground. I held myself still, hoping to contain the agony so I didn’t give away my position.
Once the pain eased back to the level of excruciating I was used to, I got a move on. Following the stars and my compass, I headed north, banking on the fact that we were in the southern part of Afghanistan when I was taken.
I was about a klick out when I heard the prison camp come to life. Lights flashed on. Arabic voices filled the air, screamingand yelling back and forth. I heard Brock in my head yelling at me.
Double time, Woody. Time to haul ass!
The sound of his voice in my head reminded me of something I’d read from Tecumseh.
A single twig breaks, but the bundle of twigs is strong.
I wasn’t alone. My brothers were with me in spirit, and as long as I could hear their voices, I would never be a twig. I was the whole fucking bundle.
Hoo-yah!
I chuckled; maybe I was losing it, but that was a problem for another day. I picked up the pace. It wouldn’t take them long to move their search outside the camp.
After putting another fifteen or so klicks between me and my captors, I stopped and took a breath. I pulled my cantine out of my pack and shook it. Water sloshed inside.
Thank God!
Taking a few sips, I scanned my AO. I needed to find more water and get to higher ground. My E&E kit had some water in it, but if they came for me, I didn’t want to be fighting from the low ground and dehydrated. I took a bit more water and let my body relax a bit. I’d have to get back on my feet, putting some more ground between me and them soon.
Another scan showed me a vantage point. If it was as good as it looked, it would give me a bit of time to rest. Once the sun came up, I’d be able to signal ISR, hopefully. Scanning once more, I hoofed it up the mountain to the spot I spied. Nothing else looked as good as this did.
When I made it to the top, I settled down and pulled out my sniper rifle. Peering through the scope, I exhaled. They weren’t in sight. At least not yet. Hopefully they were looking for me in the opposite direction.
I had no fucking clue what time it was. My internal clock, which used to be so good, had gone to shit. From staring up at the sky, I guessed it had to be after midnight. Judging by the moon, I figured it was closer to dawn than midnight, so I had a few hours before the sun was high enough in the sky for me to signal ISR.
I pulled off my pack and leaned back against the rocks. Opening the pack, I sifted through for my IFAK and the energy bars that were in the E&E kit. I looked over my wounds. They weren’t in good shape. I popped some antibiotics and a pain pill. I’d save the saline lock in case the bullet wounds started doing more than oozing.
Rolling to my rifle, I took another peek through the scope.
All clear.
Sitting here, staring up at the stars, I second-guessed my decision to hunker down. I wasn’t in good shape. The leg I’d been shot in was dragging a bit. I was dehydrated and on the verge of starvation.
Stay.
Go.
My mind warred. Both made sense. I growled in frustration at my inability to make a fucking decision.
