No Place for Females

Chapter One

It was quiet when we pulled up to the compound. I tried to focus on the mission, to keep swiveling my head and to stay alert, but I found myself unable to stop thinking about what I had just shared with Ben.

Ben.

"This is no place for females, Lena," he had told me as he kissed the top of my forehead. "I don't want you here. I want you home. Safe. Away from this."

"You think I don't want the same for you? I have to do this. No one gets a break out here. Besides, it's not all that bad. I would have been bored to tears at the clinic."

He looked annoyed when I said that.

"You know what I mean. Last—"

"No. Don't do that.  We don't do that."

Then he’d kissed me. I had nearly jumped out of my skin, excited and scared that someone would see us. Though I don't think Ben cared much about that.

It would be OK.

I smiled at the thought of him. The weight of his lips was still present on mine. But I needed to stop thinking about that. The faster we could get through this mission, the faster we would return to camp. Then I would see him.

But first, I needed to concentrate on the mission.

"Clear,” shouted the lance corporal, as he stepped out of the vehicle. Williams, I think, was his name. He was a young guy, part of our combat escort team. I opened the door to my Humvee and climbed out, switched the safety on my rifle to red and hoisted my pack onto my back.

Rojas was at the door of the compound, talking with Maria, the female translator.

"We're good to go in," she said, turning to Captain Andrews.

"Ladies, you got twenty minutes max. Get the intel and get out of there," said Lieutenant Grayson. He was the mission lead of our combat escort team. Technically, women weren't allowed on combat missions, so we had to have Lt. Grayson and three of his guys here in case we got into a firefight. Someone had forgotten to tell Congress that Taliban bullets don't discriminate. Not that I wanted to be in this fight in the first place, but that was a different matter.

"Call the cell phone when you’re ready. Only use the radio as backup. We’ll be no more than five minutes away," said Lt. Grayson.

Capt. Andrews nodded and the five of us entered the compound. Rojas, our team gunner, was with us, as was Alexa, our ammo holder, and Maria, our translator. The men had driven away to wait nearby, because they weren't allowed into a home with women, and they didn't want to alert anyone that the women of the house had visitors.

A woman with a dark hijab walked in front of us, and Capt. Andrews followed. We were led into a room where several candles burned. On the floor were carpets, and a small table. The woman made gestures indicating that the others should sit down. Younger women appeared, wearing hajibs of various colors, and also motioned for us to sit.

As the women took their seats, the woman who had led us into the room began to speak.

"She welcomes you to her home," said Maria, our translator. "She says she would like you all to share a cup of tea."

"We thank her for her hospitality, and for her time this evening," said Capt. Andrews.

Maria translated, and the woman responded. After a moment, Maria turned to Capt. Andrews.

"She says there isn't much time. Her husband will return soon. She knows where the insurgents are keeping their supplies."

The woman spoke again, and Maria translated. "She says that she wants the supplies gone. Too many children have been killed by the bombs."