Lost in the Jungle of Insanity [Short story]

The platoon in the jungle

The leaves and sticks crunched beneath my feet. I have to shove an extruding leaf or branch every here and there. Beads of sweat run down my face. Cap's leading us to a potential bunker spotted by a drone team. 

Throughout the months I've been working with this platoon I haven't been this deep into the jungle. All tensions are raised my heart weighs heavy on my chest. All of us are sweating out here like we're in the Sahara. Edward follows close behind me

"Anyone hate snakes?" He asks with a bit of mischief in his voice.

I ignored him at first but when I heard slight hiss coming from his location I turned. I almost jumped when I was met with the head of some snake looking at me. Its body twisted around the tip of Edward's rifle.

"You know that could be venomous," Using a stick I ripped off a tree I shoved the snake off the gun. With an unhappy hiss, the serpent slithered away.

"You're no fun man," Edward gives a small chuckle.

"Both of you knock it off," Captain Arnold commanded.

I silence myself, Ed does the same. I respect the captain. He was just our platoon leader before he got promoted. Although he still leads us like he did before. brave man he is. All of us owe our lives to him for what he's done. A story for another day though.

We continue to march our war, ignoring other fauna we run into. We all know that being eaten whole by an anaconda is a better fate than what we're risking. In my peripheral vision I spot one of the traps that are covered all over this place. I simply ignored it since it was already sprung.

However the Viet Cong know where all their traps are. So we weren't the only Americans who've been here. I decided to keep an eye out. Every nook and cranny meets my eye. However I spot nothing. For now the trees are empty. But we do need to worry about trap density nevertheless. Spotted another one about 30 yards to my right. 

Ed decided to open his bib mouth again, "Glad I was good at those I-spy books when I was young."

No one told him to hush this time. I just heard a quiet chuckle radiate from our group, myself included. A rumble silences us. It doesn't stop as more follow. We feel the smallest of tremors beneath our feet.

"Bombing runs still going?" Asks out new rifleman, Jerry.

Arnold doesn't turn around, "Been going off for a year now. The States say this could be going off for many more."

Jerry nods and returns to his silence. Ed continues to mumble something about the mosquitoes. Which I do say, are quite annoying. Bug spray doesn't help much either.

"Bit young to have a ring like that aye Ben?" I hear our snide grenader.

No one likes him. But he is real good at what he does, so I give him that much. Even if he drives us all to boiling rage in a matter of seconds. Ben was out RTO so he know how to deal with the radio systems. All those buttons give me a headache. I could do it if I wanted. If.

"None of your concern Mack," Ben bites back.

Ed decided to heat things up, "At least he's gonna die a married man. Not that you have any chance. Better odds as a corpse," He ends with a grin.

Mack started rapidly approaching Edward, "Why you little..."

I was about to step in but I was just late. With a violent shove Edward was sent flying back a few feet. However in panic he probably clenched his hands.

Right around the rifle trigger...

Precisely 6 rounds went off. Our hearts rattled each time that gun let loose a thunderclap of noise. There is onerule that we all respect. There is one rule that we all respect: If you are undetected. Stay silent. At all costs. And Ed just shattered that into a thousand pieces.

Edward looked like he was going to puke, his fave turning a sour shade of green on top of his already pale skin. Mack lost whatever anger he had left and it was to, replaced with fear. I felt my own face drain of blood. A cold sweat dripped down my forehead.

A rustle in the trees startled me. My head snapping in its direction. I hear the captain scolding the two men behind me. But I didn't pay any notice. I do know they were getting quite the session judging by tone alone.

More rustling. I try to find the source, but alas I see nothing. It sounds like something is moving. Something big. Larger than your average mammal or bird. No. This is bigger. A human...

There! In the corner of my eye. A dot of gray. The barrel of a gun... pointed at me. Whatever of the little color left in my face was gone in an instant.

My fight or flight instincts kicked in, and I bolted. A hundred claps of thunder followed. The trees and dirt were blasted with led. But nothing hit me.

I quickly see my comrades, "RUN!!!" I yell at the top of my lungs.

They don't question as they already know what's happening. An ambush. I run with all the soldiers I call my brothers. A cry of agony grabbed my attention. I looked and saw Edward fall to his knees. A red stain on his shoulder. And an exit hole.

Without much thought I run up and hoisted him onto my won shoulders. Grunting as I duck and shove my way through the dense jungle. Gunfire still raging behind us. This carried on for 10 minutes.

10 whole minutes of nonstop running.

10 minutes where I pass my own fallen brothers.

10 minutes carrying a man my own weight.

10 minutes of burning muscles

10 minutes where we both weeped.

10 minutes of pure insanity.

Then, after 10 minutes. Just ahead I saw light. I breached the treeline. A river where our boat is docked. With my last bit of strength I dragged my friend and myself onto the boat. Where I fell limp. Arnold assured me I'd be safe. Or at least that's what I put together from the few things I managed to hear.

"Don't worry Andrew, we got a team on their way," Were his words I heard.

We lost half our platoon. Only one newbie got back. And he's in no good shape either. Radio got back though. Ben called in a chopper. The corner of my eyes started to darken.

A few minutes later the ear bleeding sound of a helicopter came into earshot. Edward and the rest of the injured who made it were flown out. I was left with Cap and a few others as we were in good enough condition. Tired, but nothing sleep can't fix. If we manage to sleep that being said.

Although only when we made it to the hospital did I hear that the helicopter convoy went under fire. A large scale ambush caught them. All 12 huey copters downed. Military and medical. No survivors. The start if what is called the Tet offensive I'm told.

I had cried myself to sleep that night.

(Don't expect any more added to this)

(It is merely something from school I thought you guys might like)

(I do hope you enjoyed this)

(1214 words)