Liberators

Friend or Foe?

 Chapter Seven: Friend or Foe?

 Renechev, Rivymiyitevko

October 4, 2008 1715 Rivymiyitevko time (1315 Krakozhian time)

"Is there any reason why you brought us out here, Mr. Kostelnikov?"

"I am sorry if my actions have been questionable," replied Yuri Ivanovich Kostelnikov, "but if Krakozhia is to take this town, a few obstacles must be cleared."

Kostelnikov, who was being escorted by Lieutenant Lev Arigov, who in turn was accompanied by Lieutenant Maria Atolova, was walking down a dirt road which led from the local harbor to the town of Renechev. A few hours ago, after being guarded closely for two days, he approached Arigov with an offer to remove what he called "obstacles," which Lev and Maria had taken to mean mines and booby traps. Why they had to take the dirt road towards the town instead of Highway Two, they didn’t know, but they did know that they had to keep a wary eye on Kostelnikov.

“I believe that you are thinking of asking me why we didn’t take Highway Two to Renechev,” said Kostelnikov. “That is because—stop!”

Arigov and Atolova stopped, weapons held ready. Before they could say anything, Kostelnikov said, “Now, if someone could trust me with a knife…”

Arigov hesitated, and then he reached into his pistol belt and retrieved a hunting knife, which he handed over to the Rivymiyitevko sub-colonel. He took a few steps back just in case the man had second thoughts, but he need not have worried about that, because Kostelnikov was already kneeling down on the ground, carving a line across the dirt. And then, taking a big step, he did the same a few inches in front of the first line. He then divided it into four segments. He carefully brushed off the dirt from the first segment, revealing what looked like an explosive with a pressure-sensitive trigger.

“One one-pound block of C4 explosive,” said Kostelnikov, “attached to a pressure-sensitive trigger by duct tape. A clever design, but easy to disarm once you cut the tape keeping the trigger and explosive attached.” He immediately cut the tape. “Once the tape has been removed, you can now extract the trigger.” This he did, revealing a short, black tube protruding from the below the trigger. “This is the blasting cap,” he said, pointing at the tube. “Once pressure is applied to the trigger, a current will begin flowing towards the blasting cap. When the pressure is lifted, the current breaks, and the mine explodes.”

Kostelnikov did the same to the other mines, and then he threw the pressure triggers away. Only then did the Krakozhian soldiers notice that they were standing on a bridge spanning a small but deep gully. “Ah, yes, you see it now,” said Kostelnikov. “The idea was that a column of tanks and men would pass over the mines and trigger them. The resulting explosions would destroy the bridge, forcing the invaders—that would be you people—to reroute to either Dosservich or Ibrotich, where the real defense of Rivymiyitevko would begin.”

Kostelnikov piled the C4 blocks into a neat stack, which he placed on the side of the road. He then waved for the two to follow him into the town, where the dirt road finally became a paved one. They entered a building on the intersection of the road and Highway Two, and they went up to the third floor, where the Rivymiyitevko officer stopped in front of a writing desk, complete with a lamp, paper, and a pen. “Many a soldier had stopped and written letters to their loved ones once given the chance,” he said, toying with the pen. “Safe or unsafe? A soldier should always ask that whenever he is inside a building once occupied by the enemy. For instance, is this pen safe or unsafe?” The two couldn’t think of what to say.

“Of course, Lieutenants. Unsafe!” Kostelnikov threw the pen at Arigov and Atolova, who ducked down to avoid the explosive. Despite the confusion, they could see the man’s legs as they ran into an adjacent room.