JACKAL

Returning to Camp

"I understand you ooman."

Simmons had been caught off guard by this. Him and Orville both. The female's image was haunting enough, but the fact she could talk and understand perfect english was enough to send a surge of fear down the back of someone like Simmons, a battle-hardened military officer. Gathering his thoughts, Simmons had raised the female beast to her feet whilst still holding a knife to her back. "Frederickson, get a tow cable and tie her up." He ordered the young tanker. As the young tanker climbed the back of the tank to undo the tow cable, Simmons had pulled the female humanoid closer so that the blade of his knife had been poking her back. "Don't even think about pulling a fast one." He had said in an assertive tone. "Truly a noble warrior you are for the other warrior to follow you." The female had said sounding impressed by the soldier's compliance to his commander. Simmons didn't respond to this.

After unhooking the noose from the hull of the tank, Orville would come back carying a 20 foot metal cord. At this time, Simmons had made the female climb aboard the back of the sherman tank. The female being made sure to watch her step and avoid destroying anything important to the crew. Hooking down one end of the cable, Orville began to wrap the cable around the female being's arms and torso. It was clear this young individual feared the female being in front of him. His dark brown eyes were fixated on the female being as he carefully tied the cable around her. While Orville had tied up the female being, Simmons had emptied a duffle bag stored on the back of the tank. Seeing has he couldn't blindfold the beast, he put the empty bag over her head in an attempt to obscure her vision. Once that was said and done, the two entered the metal beast they called home. After dropping back in, Simmons shut the hatch with a clank.

"Find anything?" Low had asked Orville as he came in. Orville didn't respond. He looked disturbed by something. "We have a guest with us." Simmons spoke up, answering Low's question. "What kind of guest?" Ross asked, his book put away. "Well they ain't human whatever they are." Simmons had spoken. The crew had fallen in silence at the sound of this. What could Simmons have meant by not human? "Now I've heard it all." Morales spoke up. "That reminds me..." Simmons had said as he worked his way over to Morales. Raising his foot he gave one great big kick into the southerner's back. "What was that for!?" Morales screamed as he turned towards Simmons. "Don't ever fucking mention Kasserine." Simmons growled. "IS THAT CLEAR?" He then barked. "Yes sir!" Morales responded trying not to mumble.

A few moments passed before Morales had closed up the battery compartment. "That should about do it. Low, start her up." Morales said. Low had donned his jacket and turned to the instrument box on his left. "Hier geht." He said as he switched on the ignition switch, then starter switch, then radio switch. The tank's mighty engine roared to life as Morales moved away from the bow and to his seat in the turret basket. In buisinesslike fashion, the entire crew donned their helmets. Simmons had opened his hatch once more, radio in hand, and stood out of his cupola to give out commands. "Driver, traverse left." He spoke into the radio. Shifting the gear into drive, Low had pulled back on the left steering lever to turn the tank around. The left muck-covered track had moved backwards as the entire tank slowly turned itself around. Once the tank had been facing the direction of their destination, Simmons had ordered: "Full ahead Driver!" Low pressed his foot down on the petal and the tank began its return back to allied lines.

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What seemed like hours had passed. Morales had been in the hatch left of Simmons, the M2 browning machine gun had been down behind him with the barrel aimed towards the heavens. As Simmons had scanned the horizon with his binoculars, he finally saw the Regiment's campsite. "Where are you taking me?" The female beast had asked. She had been quiet for most of the ride, hearing her gravelly voice again was unexpected. Simmons had turned around and answered honestly. "We're taking you back to our camp." The word "camp" had sent visible chills down the female beast's spine. Low and Orville both had their hatches open. Low had his goggles down while Orville had his goggles up. In several minutes, they were entering the area.