Jimmy Jane

Chapter 9 ~ The art of Checking someone out

Jimmy Jane

Chapter nine ~ The art of checking someone out

Timmy P.O.V

The dense canopy of the Vietnam jungle provides excellent protection from air raids. I mentally congratulate myself on picking this path. Our target is a Vietcong hideout towards the east of our borderline. I know it doesn’t sound that much but it has as much a risk as bombing the whole country with a nuke (nuclear bomb). Every mission offers a chance to die; every mission gives you a chance to be wounded. It is how you act in situations and how badly you want to go home that protects you. Jane protects me, her spirit, it is almost like she is here with me, although I would never want her here, this is no place for her. I couldn’t imagine if she died. It would rip my heart out.

The dense heavy mud squelches under our boots and makes every step feel like you’re trying to carry a tonne of lead on each foot. I don’t know about the others but my back is killing me, I am carrying all my food, weapons, personal stuff and other survival things. Of course we all spreaded the packs out evenly so we all have the same amount but I must say Jimmy’s and John’s packs look a hell of a lot bigger.

John and Jimmy seem to have made buddies really quickly. They are always laughing together, well who wouldn’t laugh when they are with John, he could make a nun laugh. When all the boys are tired he cheers them up. He really is a great person to be around, no madder how annoying he is.

“Oi Timmy, when are we setting up camp mate, my balls are about to burst from un wanted pressure.” John whines, quiet enough that the enemies can’t hear, loud enough that everyone does and laughs.

“Yeah, come on mate, it’s the second day, we have been walking for a whole twelve hours” William says. Well if William says we need to stop, I guess we do. I just want to get this over with. Going to a destination where you know the people’s specific aim is to kill you and they have many guns and booby traps set up. And to know the reason why you are going there is to kill them just breaks your heart. They are people to, no matter how bad they are, they still have families and they still have feelings and hopes and dreams, even if they are the wrong hopes and dreams compared to ours. I just wanna go home.

We walk into a small clearing. Thick under bush creeps up the sides of trees, creating vines, creating a nest like type of area. This place will be perfect it offers us protection and we can see enemies better than they can see us.

“All right boys, fall out for tonight” I order. Dumping my pack onto the ground. My army drab clings to me with sweat. All this trekking and the harsh humidity really kills your body. I walk around the clearing, dragging logs into place and making notes of nearest quick escapes in case of invasion. My mind has been trained to pick up the smallest things, the slightest disturbance in the air, even an unknown sent.

Ben starts collecting sticks for a fire. I am about to tell him not to when…

“UH Timmy, is it really a smart idea starting a fire tonight, you know being so close to enemy fronts and stuff” Speaks up Jimmy. I smile in surprise. He may be small but he is quite with it, you know smart.

“Correct, no fire tonight boys just the gas lanterns on low, William and John can you prepare dinner, the sun will go down soon, I don’t wanna eat in the dark. I’ll do first watch, you boys sleep you deserve it and Sam you take second.” They all nod in agreement. I catch Jimmy smiling at himself, congratulating himself for the comment. Wow I never thought I had that effect on anyone ecept, Jane.

Will and John start to rummage through their packs, taking out the freshest stuff we have before we have to move onto the freeze dried shit they feed us.