Fortunate Sons

Chapter 23: Crouching Soldier, Hidden Monkey

The loud hack of a machete echoed through the jungle as Ogun cut his way through the thick foliage with the others behind him. For an entire day they had been following the trail of one of Cao's weasels, using their instincts to go along the trails that snaked through the forests over dangerous divets, rivers that ran out of nowhere and huge rocks that threatened to trip them if they didn't look carefully enough.

"They are here," Ogun said, his voice low and dangerous like rolling thunder. "I smell them. The coward sends his men scurrying like rats."

"Any idea where they are?" Taylor asked.

"I know they are here," Ogun said, his eyes scanning every inch of the jungle. "That much is certain."

Quietly, they snuck along and stopped when the hairs on the backs of their necks began to stand straight up. Taylor, Dix and Mitch shut their eyes, listening in for any signs of the enemy. Whispers filled their ears like the hissing of snakes, sharp and rough to those who were able to hear them. But there were others too. Desperate, frightened voices that struck them to their very core.

Help us!!!

Help us please!!

Rescue us!! Somebody!! Anybody!! Please rescue us!!

We're trapped and can't get out!!!

The minute they opened their eyes, the young men became rattled with the need to go further and rescue whoever had spoken to them. "You guys ok?" Ma Ahn asked.

"I think we've got a camp somewhere around here," Taylor replied. "There's people trapped there too."

"How far away?"

"Not far," Taylor said. "Maybe not even a mile."

"You sure?"

"Ma Ahn if we weren't sure we wouldn't have said anything," Taylor replied.

"Besides," Dix said. "Cao could very well be hiding out there."

Ma Ahn had a feeling that they were right. He knew that if he didn't say anything he might kick himself for it later. In any army there was a huge difference between bringing up concerns and complaining. Now was the time that concern took precedence.

"Ogun," he said.

"Aye?"

"Taylor, Dix and Mitch think that there may be a P.O.W camp nearby," Ma Ahn explained.

"Prisoners?" Ogun asked.

Ma Ahn nodded.

"Lead on then."

Taylor, Dix and Mitch led them all on through the forest, stepping over tangles of vines and exposed roots, repelled by the heavy reek of b.o coming off of them and dead enemies that had been left behind. The further they went the worse the stench became. Not only could they smell their own horrible odors, but the stench of blood was almost intolerable.

"Down, down all of you," Ogun ordered.

The soldiers crouched low in the growth, peering between the leaves with their stony gazes fixed on the clearing just a few feet away. The voices that were once a whisper were now clear, agonized by the awful tortures inflicted upon them.

"Prison camp?" Dix signed.

"Prison camp," Taylor replied.

"Strike yet?" Mitch asked.