Fortunate Sons

Chapter 19: Behind Enemy Lines

The team inched their way through the murky waters of the river, climbing quietly up the banks when they reached the other side, hand over hand as they gripped the rough, ropelike vines that snaked through the dirt. The tall grass partially concealed them from view, just tall enough to reach their waists..... but they wanted to hide and for that the boys would have to resort to extremes.

Using what little they had, they managed to cover themselves well. All of the green they wore blended in perfectly with the jungle foliage, their bodies barely noticeable by anybody who might happen to cross their paths.

Taylor and his team crawled their way through the jungle grass along the ground, inch by agonizing inch like a group of slow moving turtles. They kept a sharp eye out for tripwires, booby traps and anything that might indicate landmines in the area, a dangerous threat to the whole mission as well as their lives.

For a brief moment, they poked their heads above the grass and as far as the eye could see was nothing but surrounding jungle and fields of tall grass. The mountains jutted out of the earth like the sloping backs of huge sleeping dragons, the steamy mists curling and swirling around the crests like smoking breath. Occasionally they glimpsed the dirt roads and a few village huts but not much else. No movement, no villagers wandering about.....nothing.

"I think he might have hopped over again," Taylor said to Mitch as they ducked into the safety of the grass.

"He's got to be here," Mitch said. "He has to be. You sensed it didn't you?"

Taylor peered through his binoculars but still didn't see much. If they wanted to see anything they would have to go further. But going further meant leaving the safety of their hiding place. It wasn't a risk he wanted to make, but if he wanted it to work it had to be done.

"Let's move," he said. "We'll crawl a bit further. Maybe see if we can see better."

The sudden crack of gunfire in the distance and screaming alerted them to the danger, filling them with panic and alarm. "Go, go, go back," Taylor whispered urgently. "Go, move it, move it!"

Inch by inch they crawled their way back through the grass, moving at a snail's pace with only their knees and elbows to keep them steady. Panicky and shaky breaths left their lungs as they padded backwards towards the treeline. By the time they got to their cover, they were furiously beating feet, running fast and hard to get as far away from the place as possible.

Taylor ran, ran and ran as fast as his feet would carry him with the others well ahead, over rocks, tree roots, through ferns the size of cars until he felt himself stumble. The ground came right up on him in seconds as he rolled at a frightening speed down the gully and right into the shallows of the river with a sudden *SPLASH!*.

Hoisting himself onto his elbows, Taylor shook off the shock of the impact and stumbled to his feet, soaking wet and with dirty, brown water dripping from the ends of his hair. His knees wobbled as he stood and wiped away the water that had gotten into his eyes and blurred his vision. Taylor stumbled along and found the others moments later as they headed on back to a much safer place to take cover.

"You ok?" Ma Ahn asked him.

"I feel like I got hit by a bus," Taylor groaned.

The team took cover amidst the jungle growth, taking a bit of time to rest and regain their strength. It wasn't an ideal place to be, but it would have to do for now.

"The hell was that?" Taylor asked, trying to calm his shaken nerves.

"Probably Khmer Rouge," Thom replied. "Those assholes are worse than the enemies we've been dealing with lately, if not worse."