NERVES OF STEEL

CHAPTER 11- AT KUNDAL

              The very next day, with the sun streaking in through the window and still half asleep, Diane could feel a presence approaching her in the small room she had slept in the night before.

              Swiftly reaching for her weapon on the other side of the bed, she grabbed it, flashed open her eyes and pointed the rifle at whoever she perceived to be an attacker but much to her dismay. It was just him.

"Drop your weapon, Major." Came Russo's voice.
"Forgive me, Commander." She apologized, putting the weapon away as she immediately got to her feet. "I had no idea it was you."
"We're leaving in five minutes. Get ready." He said, curtly."
"Yes, sir."

                He left the room and Diane looked around for atleast something to clean her mouth with. There was a couple of brand new toothbrushes in the bathroom cabinet along with some and toothpaste she had to make do with the stored up water.

              Russo was waiting for her outside by the time she got to the door. She locked the front door as they had met it and began on a walk into the woods with no destination in mind.

"Do you think the men will find us here, sir? Are we lost?" Diane asked after a few minutes.
"They definitely will but for now, we'll have to make it easier for them." He said.

          There was a formal and strict edge to his tone now. The pleasantries of last night was gone and it was back to the normal. She expected no less.

"So what do we do? It's a shame we lost our pagers in the ship. We could have easily sent for help." She said.
"Last night, I couldn't see clearly but as dawn came, I realized that I knew this area." Russo said.
"That's a good thing, then. So where are we?" Diane asked.
Russo stopped to pluck a thin branch from a tree. He crouched down started drawing her a rough map on the ground.
"Apparently, we're at the north. This is the ocean." He pointed out. "And right now, this is where we are." He further explained and she peered down, attentively.
"Those boxes suggest habitations?" She asked.
He nodded. "A few kilometers from here and we should be arriving at Kundal Village. A small settlement."
"I see. Then we're in luck. How much longer till we arrive Kundal?"
"Fourteen hours no less." Russo said, getting to his feet and throwing the branch away.
"F-fourteen." She repeated, nodding her head.
"And no breaks in between." He ordered, making her stare up at him like he had just passed on a death sentence and Ofcourse He noticed.
"What?"
"Yes, Major. We walk fourteen hours straight. Do you understand?"
"Yes sir!"

            Damn him! She cussed within herself as they resumed walking again. Was he doing this to test her? Oh well, this should be a small task consider the training she went through at military school but oh!

            How about the fact that her Father made sure she never participated in any intensive exercises because he feared she wouldn't have the physical strength to carry on because she was a woman and that was even more possible given that he was their lead trainer. So he made her focus more on combat. This was going to be a very long day.

          Russo was way taller than her. He was a six foot, six and by virtue of this, he took longer strides than she did as a five foot five. Not to mention he walked faster, leaving her trailing behind. Sometimes she'd have to hop or even do a half run just to catch up with him only for her to fall behind once again in a matter of minutes.

               She was getting tired but she wasn't going to give up. It was a long walk alright and they reached Kundal by nightfall. By that time, Diane was worn out and breathing heavily behind him. He could hear her struggling and it brought a faint smile to his lips even if he couldn't explain why.

"How are those legs coming along, Major?" Russo asked.

           It was the first thing he had said in the last ten hours and she could perceive the obvious hint of mockery in his tone. She was worn out and it would appear he noticed. He didn't have to be an ass about it.

"I'm fine." Replied Diane through clenched teeth.

                As they arrived they were met with the rustic village gate which wasn't more than. four feet tall. The soft moonlight was casting an ethereal glow on the gate. He reached out and tried to open  it but realized it was locked. Ofcourse it would be. The village was asleep as it was already ten in the night. He held the metal handle and tried to yank it open but it wasn't forthcoming.

"Fuck!" He cussed silently. Diane could see he was having trouble opening the gate.
"It's locked." She said.
"I know that, goddamn it!."
"What now?"
"At first, I wanted us to go in nicely but it seems we'll have to jump over." He said.
"What? Do we really have to break in? Can't we just...."
"....knock and see who comes out." He cut in, sarcasm in his voice. "Cut the crap. We're going over." He said.
She could only watch as he jumped over to the other side and she had to do the same.

                  A narrow, winding path, lined with towering pine trees, stretched into the darkness, their branches swaying softly like nature's lullaby. As they walked further on, several huts came into view and dim lit lanterns, hung from wooden posts, cast warm, golden light on the path, guiding travelers through the darkness.

         It wasn't long before footsteps could be heard hurrying towards them. Alarmed, Diane took out her pistol and held it firmly with outstretched arms, ready for any attack. Approaching them were five men which appeared to be the village's security guards.

"Who are you two and what do you want?" The first man who seemed to be their leader asked.
"Мы приходим с миром." (We come in peace.) Russo spoke in Russian. The men let down their guard a bit, realizing they were one.
"Who are you?" The supposed leader asked.

             Russo sighed, hesitantly and Diane wondered why he was reluctant to introduce himself. No doubt these people would without a second thought let them stay if he told them who he was.

"I'm Russo Fedorcenko." He said. But that only seemed to further agitate the men. 'Russo Fedorcenko, son of the Army General of all of Russia and Sole Commander of the Russian Army.' The realization stung their ears.
"Give us one reason why we shouldn't kill you here and now! You sodding fucker!" The other man spat.
What? Diane looked confused. What was going on? Was there anyone that didn't want this Man dead?
"You have stolen our land, sent in the army and reduced us to this." The leader started. "What happened to all the shitty promises your father, the General promised us?"
"We thought things would change when you got to take over the northern region but it only got worse!" Another man lamented bitterly.
"Forgive me this had to take off at a wrong start." Russo apologized before turning to the Leader. "What do they call you?" He asked.
"Sebastian."
"I'm a man of actions more than words...." Started Russo. "....and at this point it is obvious that mere words won't satiate your rage."
"Damn right you are."
"But I give you my word when I say, things will change for the better when I become the next General. My sincere apologies for whatever harm my father might have done but all this ends with him. My reign will be different." He said