SEALs

Chapter Three

Christ it was hot. I reached up with one hand still on the wheel to wipe the sweat dripping down my forehead. We had the Jeep's windows opened fully but even the wind was hot. It blew against my face like steam and my eyes burned even with my sunglasses on. Was it the weather or lack of sleep that made me feel this way? I blinked repeatedly and kept my eyes on the barely there two lane road.

It was practically deserted on the Ungana highway, which led north. Only a few 4X4's zoomed past us, giving me a relief with a burst of cooler air. But as soon as they passed it was back to steam. The northern part of Tembo Bara held a small portion of the Sahara Desert which was where the little village of Tenga was located. How the people lived with this suffocating heat was amazing. But I supposed they had got used to it after a while, kind of like Frank who looked quite comfortable with the map on his lap and his arm hanging out the window. Bastard grew up in Texas so it figures he'd feel right at home with this weather.

Surrounding the Ungana highway was orange sand dunes, bald shrubs, dead grasses, odd shaped trees and rocky grounds. It was a sight to behold, even when you passed randomly placed signs that warned you to keep to the speed limit. Like there were any cops hiding out here in the dunes. Animals were hard to spot out here since most lived in southern Tembo Bara, including the famous elephant herds. But I did see a few vultures flying over head in those ominous circles. A bad omen?

"Ugh!" Joe's loud groan came from the back seat. "It's so fucking hot!"

"No shit," I laughed, looking into the rear-view mirror. My eyes rested on Ali who was leaning against her door and staring out into the desert. She'd taken her sunglasses and baseball hat off after a few minutes on the road, keeping them in her lap instead. I watched closely as the wind played with the wisps of hair that fell into her face before she tucked them behind her ear again. My fingers clenched on the wheel as I turned back to the road. Focus, Drew.

I heard Joe's groaning again and the sound of Mamun slapping him on the back. "Hold in there, big guy," Moony chuckled and Joe just grunted in response. I grinned, my eyes going back to the rear-view mirror to see Joe's face but instead I caught something else that made the grin fade from my face.

Ali shifted uncomfortably and crossed her legs while clearing her throat. She was embarrassed because of the asshole sitting next to her. Locke was openly staring at her, his eyes no where near her face. I gritted my teeth and sucked in a quick breath. I wanted to pull this damn Jeep over, get out and kick his ass but I stayed calm and breathed before looking back at the road.

"You know, Locke," I began calmly. "You might become better at your job if you actually kept watch outside the car rather than staring at Miss. Turner's legs."

There was a silence in the Jeep before Joe went into hysterics, even Frank was chuckling lightly, and I couldn't help but check the mirror again. Locke's face was beat red and he had moved as far away from Ali as he could with his nose sticking out the window. Ali had brought her hands up to cover her pink face before she put on her sunglasses and hat again to hide. Smirking I looked back at the road, feeling good about myself even though I knew I was acting childishly like Joe.

"Burn!" Joe laughed, dragging the word out for a while before his booming laughter slowly got quieter. He sighed and we were silent again.

It was only a few minutes longer until Joe spoke again. "I'm bored as shit," he said.

"That doesn't make any sense, Joe," Mamun contradicted.

"What doesn't make sense?" he asked, actually confused. I rolled my eyes before focusing on the road again.

"How can...well..." Shit, Mamun. Just say the word. "That. How can that be bored?" Ooo, so close to an actual swear. We'd break him one day.