The Scorpions Nest

The Scorpions Nest. Chapter I

1. Afghanistan. Modern Day

Between Kabul and Bagram

14.00 GMT/16.30 AFT

Dust and dirt whirls around the moving vehicles, on the bleak desert road. The sun sits alone high in the cloudless sky, beating an irrepressible heat down on the convoy, nothing but grey rock and blue sky can be seen for miles, the wind kicks up  sand like a waving flag, flicking it hard against the trucks with stinging enthusiasm.

Staff sergeant Hamilton steps out his Humvee "What is it? Why have we stopped" his asks, his face contorted with anger, not the usual jolliness associated with a man his size. As his size twelve boots lands on the dusty uneven road Corporal Jenkins jogs up to him, with fear and trepidation he delivers the piece of news that’s making his heart thump on his chest wall with such ferocity that he can feel it in his throat, "We need to turn around Sarge and go back to the safe zone!"

Both men are travelling in a six Humvee convoy on the A76 from the green zone at Kabul to Bagram Military airport to the north.

"What the fuck are you talking about boy, who says we have to go back?"

"Sarge" stutters Jenkins" We just got word on the radio, intelligence has discovered an attempt on his life".

"Firstly you will address him as Captain W, secondly we are two clicks North of Mir Bachen Kowt, it’s now closer to Bagram than it is to Kabul, were there any specifics on the location or type of the attempt?"

"No Sarge, the order was to turn around and come back immediately, and it came direct from Major Wallis" Jenkins raises his eyes going over the message in his head, the thin wiry corporal looks scared as much of Hamilton as he does of the news he just relayed.

"What’s going on?" Blurts Harry stepping from the Humvee and shielding his eyes from the bright burning sun with his hand.

"Please get back inside Sir, we have received news that there may be an attempt on your life, and we are returning to the green Zone" says Hamilton as both men salute the Prince of Wales.

"Cut out that saluting shit and lets go" retorts Harry stepping back into the Humvee

As Hamilton begins to step back inside he hears a whistling sound growing louder and louder, he turns around and watches as a rocket propelled grenade slam into the Humvee behind his, throwing it spinning ten feet into the air, and coming back to earth on its roof in a blaze of fire, It took just a split second for the horror he just witnessed to sink in, but it seemed more like minutes to him, Hamilton jumps quickly into the vehicle as it starts to accelerate away, he peers out of the windscreen at the Humvees already racing away in front of him, his eyes dart left and right scanning the surroundings for the slightest hint of movement, anything that would give away the location of the enemy, his breathing is becoming violently fast, adrenaline rushing through his veins with a mixture of fear and anticipation too.

What if it's a trap, what if they want us to high tail it back towards the green zone, his thoughts are disturbed by a deafening bang and the sight of the Humvee in front flying through the air and passing over his vehicle, he snaps his head round to see it land on the vehicle behind his.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck" he shouts getting very agitated and panicky, "go off road" he yells to the driver, "get off the road, go that way" he bellows pointing over to the west.

The driver immediately swerves left, throwing his passengers against the right hand side of the vehicle. "Go go go" says Prince Harry, he himself showing signs of fear, not unusual in a situation like this, but Prince Harry is one of the coolest military officers to ever grace the British uniform, calm and cool under pressure are the things that got him through officer training and to where he is today, yet for literally the first time in his life he is expressing genuine fear, maybe it’s because this time he knows its personal, its him they are after, not an attack on his forces, they have singled him out for the purpose of this attack.