The Genesis Illusion

Epilog

Golden Triangle, Northern Myanmar

Yeo and several of his crew discussed their next delivery of Magic as they gorged on lunch in the compound cafeteria. Regular shipments traveled the route to the China distributors without harassment from militias.

"It's almost fun now that we aren't attacked," Yeo said. "They've finished loading the truck so after we finish lunch we should leave. We want to get there before dark."

"That would give us time to have dinner and enjoy the local talent," a worker said. "Pretty, young, and cheap."

Several of them smiled nodding in agreement. Yeo joined in the conversation but wasn't interested. Married and faithful to his lovely wife, and their two young children, Yeo lived in a village near the compound.

The emergency alarm sounded alerting the staff of an announcement, "Get your weapons and take your security positions immediately."

Yeo and the others knew this wasn't a drill. They vaulted from the lunch table, running to the armory. Each one grabbed their assigned weapon and an adequate supply of ammunition. Yeo took up his position behind the low concrete wall near the corner of the main compound. The guard-tower next to main entrance gate was in his view. Several long minutes passed before he heard anything unusual.

Then, in the distance, the rat-a-tat-tat of sporadic small arms fire interrupted the sounds of the forest. Probably our snipers watching the road near the compound. Then Yeo heard something unfamiliar, rumbling like thunder but the sky was clear. The low rumble grew louder, slowly but steadily.

That's not the sound of pickup trucks racing toward them with machine-guns mounted in the back. The militia that attacked them several times, used those tactics. Yeo could see a reinforced A reinforced bunker to his right housed at least two RPG launchers. These were the heaviest weapons they had. They were quite effective against the lightly armored pickup truck attack vehicles.

The low rumble grew louder shaking the ground, but he couldn't see anything thing yet. Then, in the distance, outside the compound traveling down the road toward the gate he saw the long barrel of a tank.

Tanks, only the Army has tanks. Someone must've tipped them off about our location. Several tanks slowly but relentlessly moved in his direction. Our guns are useless against them.

Yeo turned to his fellow defenders shouting, "Tanks, tanks, it's the Army. Run for your lives."