ACV's 1 Operation Black Gold (62 page)

CHAPTER 68

We weren’t home long before people started appearing, other soldiers, girlfriends, wives and bairns.  Marie gave me a big hug then scolded me soundly for taking risks.  Men laughed, women wept, children screamed and the cat yowled.  I was being demented.

‘Fritz, Reginald, Samantha,’ I called them over.  ‘Fritz, Reginald do a complete inventory, put the gear away and reorder anything we need, go.  Samantha, take this cash card, the number’s 3939.  Grab a these screaming geets, draw some cash and get them whatever they want, sweets, toys whatever, just get them out of here for a wee while.’

‘OK.’  She hurried off without even looking at me.

‘Buff, Marie.’  I gave them another card asking them to get some barbecue equipment, food drink, whatever we needed to feed the never-ending procession of guests.

‘Sounds good to me,’ Buff said, snatching the card.  He made an announcement, which seemed to go down well.  Then stole my car keys and left with a dirty grin on his face.  I had a funny feeling they’d be making a slight detour to somewhere quiet first.

I needed some fresh air and a lot of it, so I grabbed a Pt top and took off on a run with Boy trying to catch my heels.  We finally stopped high on a granite outcrop.  Boy promptly fell asleep on a hot rock, while I drew in deep lungful of mountain air.  After a while I began to unwind.  Combat has a way of drawing a man in on himself, now I could feel my senses begin to unwind and reach out, flowing down into the glens kissing the cold mountain streams.

‘Rowel.’

I opened my eyes blinking rapidly, had I fallen asleep. I wasn’t quite sure but I think so.  Boy was looking for some attention so for the next half hour man and cat chased one another around the heather.  When we got back the party was in full swing, anybody who was anybody turned up.  I showered and changed into civvies then went back outside.  Buff called me over to the barbecue and fed me.  Ali set up lights and ghetto blaster thrashing out a variety of music with Nommy doing the DJ bit.  After I had eaten, I found myself a quiet spot and cleaned my equipment.  I received the occasional visitor.

Someone would stop for five minutes for a chat; the only one of any consequence was the one I had with Davie McAlister.  He had been brooding and his thoughtful silence when he sat down spoke volumes.

‘Hello David.’

‘Hello James.’

‘Still full of envy?’

‘No!’  I waited in silence scrubbing a belt until he was ready to speak.  ‘How can, how can everybody be enjoying themselves?’

‘It’s hard to explain, do you remember when we first came back from Albania?’

‘Aye.’

‘Did we enjoy ourselves then?’

He thought it over.  ‘No ye didna.’

‘How did we feel David?’

He let go a deep breath and nodded.  ‘Like I feel now.’

‘That’s right.’

‘So it gets easier?’

‘No, if anything, I think it got a little harder.’

‘God I hope no.’

‘You’ve got to remember we had years to get used to it, you’re no going to have that luxury.  When the army sends round the compulsory shrink you’re going first.’

‘I don't need a shrink.’

‘Aye ye do, I wish I’d had one back then.’

‘Do you?’

‘Aye and your introduction to this evil was a lot more brutal than ours was.  But damn it you’re the best we’ve got at the hand-to-hand stuff.  We á needed you in there.’  I received our first smile in days.

‘I was just feart you were going to leave me behind again.’

‘Ye ken I should have left somebody.  If Abie had nae got caught up the way he did, that two could have capped the lot ó us.’

‘But they didn't Jim.’

‘No, not this time, bit it wiz a mistake I can't afford to make again, I’ve been away from this shit too long.  Tell me if I asked ye to bide back again would you still get miffed?’

He thought about it then broke into a grin.  ‘No, nae noo.’

I slapped him on the shoulder.  ‘The next time you’ll just be so happy to have survived again you’ll be able to enjoy yourself too OK!  That’s a promise.’

He stood grinning still.  ‘OK Jim, and thanks, I’ll see ye later.’

‘Se ye later mucker.’

He was never quite the same again, for amongst us all he was the only one that had ever doubted his own metal.  From that day onward, he never again hung on the fringes of an argument or was hesitant in his actions.  He had recovered the Arkansas toothpick from the pile of recovered arms on Osprey and before long had an exact mate made for it.  On idle afternoons he’d often practice with an old martial arts expert he’d hired and while we all had a go and I became bloody good, I never mastered it like Davie did.  We would watch in awe as the mated blades danced in a symphony of light around his half-naked torso.

I remember the day the shrink arrived; he sat forlorn on his bed growling at everybody waiting to be called through to the office for his consultation.  I sat down beside him.  ‘What’s the matter Davie?’

‘Nothing.’

‘Nervous?’

‘Aye, n´, no.’

‘So what is it?’

‘Och I don’t know, I just feel, so fucking old.’

‘A part of you will always feel old now David.  Like a part of your humanity died with those men on the Chinook.’  He nodded his understanding.  ‘Remember Davie we were all millennium babies.  We were supposed to grow up in an age of understanding and good will.  We were all brought up to believe that soldiers no longer fought wars.  They’re here to prevent war and police the peace.  In a different age, you would have been running around boasting of your victories and trying to make up new songs about your bravery and hassling the clan pipers to write a tune for you.  Don’t beat yourself to death for the baggage societies wrapped round your neck.  Our options are the same as it was for our clansman ancestors, kill or be killed OK.’

‘OK Jim.’

He went in first and stayed for over an hour, the rest of us were barely in ten minutes and the physiatrist almost ran from the building.  Davie went another six times to the shrink and give the man his due; he did a good job on Davie.  As for the rest of us, we all received official reprimands.

I kept a good grip on myself for the rest of that evening in case anyone else needed a chat, but no one did.  The party was declared an unqualified success with only one small incident marring it; I was the cause.  I had pulled out the black knife to clean it.  The first I noticed anything was wrong was when the record needed changed.  The silence was almost physical.  I looked up to find everyone staring.  My friends were looking round at their guests, confused by their behaviour.  Buff’s son ran up with Marie hard on his heels.

‘Is that the knife ye used to kill á they Uh!’

‘Leave Jim alone.’  There was a real hint of fear in her eyes as she dragged him away.  I caught Samantha’s eye for the first time that day and she looked away with disgust written all over her face.  Marie was whispering fiercely in Buff’s ear.  He rushed over.

‘Pit the knife awa Jim.’

‘Why what for, what’s going on?’

‘Come on inside.’  I followed him inside and he immediately started rummaging through the old newspapers.  By the time he found what he was looking for I had oiled the knife and sheath and packed all my gear away.  ‘Jesus Christ!’

‘Whit?’

He handed the paper over with reluctance.  I couldn’t believe what I was looking at.  The headlines read ‘Welcome to hell Yanks.’  Below it was a full-page photograph of myself.  I remembered the moment well.  I had just recovered my knife inside the Chinook and was picking my way carefully over the human debris to stop the cameraman filming anymore.  Someone had taken a picture of me from the film and digitally re-mastered it.

I was caught in mid stride at the moment I had swivelled my eyes upwards.  The camera had mostly picked up the whites of them and they shone out of my lowered head.  With my hair stuck up with congealed blood and the bloodied knife still dripping finishing the effect, I resembled a visitor from Hades more than anything to do with humanity.  I threw the paper onto the floor and sat down.

Buff sat down with me.  ‘You á right?’

‘Aye I’m fine.’

‘If ye want to bugger off for a while, I’ll make your excuses.’

‘Far on god’s earth can I hide now Buff?  I’ll be á right here.’  It was a long time before I was able to re-join the party.

CHAPTER 69

The political war raged on across the globe.  There were few countries that didn’t have a say and NATO’s foundations were badly shaken.  Within this turmoil, one man stood head and shoulders above the rest, Peter Grey, always cool, calm and dignified, a master in his arena.  Yet he still had time for us mere mortals even if it was for only an hour or so.  He took a good look around me to make sure I wasn’t carrying, before shaking my hand with a grin.  ‘It’s nice to see you again Lt Murison.’

‘And you sir.’

‘I will admit to watching your unit in action with my heart in my throat.  You and your men have already superseded everyone’s expectations of you, congratulations.’

‘Thank you, I’ve been watching you these last few days, a masterful performance sir.’

‘Thank you; may I talk to you later?’

‘Of course.’

He moved on.  I found Tom Hall.  He shook my hand warmly.  ‘I was wrong Jim, I’m sorry.’

‘Forget it, we got back safe and sound, that’s what matters.’

‘Mac’s got your winnings.’

‘Has he now, where is he?’

‘I’ve no idea.’

‘In that case, I suggest to you we head for the nearest pub after this and drink it.’

‘I’ll pass the word.  By the way I’ve recommended every member of your unit for a medal.’

‘I hope you recommended some of your own?’

‘Of course.’  We moved around blethering.

The Prime Minister cornered me shortly before he left.  ‘Will you walk with me for a moment Lt?’

‘Certainly.’  He guided me into the gardens.  ‘May I ask a question Sir?’

‘You can ask.’

‘It’s fairly obvious now we could stop them halfway across the Atlantic.  We have the weapons and the technology, so why are you still opting for a ground war?’

‘I’m sure with your talents you could find out the answer to that in a few minutes.’

‘I suppose I could but I made a promise to Andrew.’

‘I see, a man of honour, a rarity these days.’

‘I don’t know Sir; I know a few who are like minded.’

He smiled.  ‘Can I trust you Lt?’

‘With your life Sir.’

‘Good answer but the answer you seek is not quite as simple.  At this moment the American President has quite a number of ICBM’s arrayed against this small country of ours and unfortunately he has the gall to use them.’

‘I presume your 200% sure of that.’

‘Oh a lot more than 200%.’

‘So in the meantime we go about it the hard way and try and hold them in a static war.’

‘Hardly static Lt. the timetable of our defeat has been well orchestrated.  As you’ve said yourself time is their mortal enemy not us, even if we lose, we may still win the war.’

‘I do understand that, but you realise that the longer the war goes on the faster they’ll be able to counter our new weapons?’

He smiled.  ‘Yes we know that’s why the ones you’ve been supplied with are already out of date.’  Now that made me raise my eyebrows.  ‘But these things are all in the future.  I wish to talk to you about the present.  I’m sure you’ve been aware of the pressure arrayed against your unit by American diplomats?’

I had been watching the news.  ‘Aye there trying to say we’ve broken the Geneva Convention by arming a medical unit.’

‘Yes that’s right and a special committee has been set up to investigate these claims, until then I’m going to have to suspend your unit from action.’

I shook my head, ‘nightmare, these things can take years.’

‘I wouldn’t worry about that Lieutenant, the Americans are pressing for a quick resolution and I’ve been assured we’ll receive one.’

‘That isn’t so bad then, but just in case I’ll see if I can come up with something else to help out.’

He looked me straight in the eye, ‘that may not be possible.’

‘No, why?’

‘Because you may have to appear in person before the committee.’

I frowned not catching his meaning at first, ‘aye but if it’s over quick and they deem us illegal we can still turn our hands to something else.’

‘It’s not quite as simple as that.  You see if your unit is deemed illegal, you may have to face some kind of war crimes tribunal.’

I was shocked, ‘you’re joking!’

‘No I’m not.  We will all be held accountable to some degree.  That is myself the Government and your Mr. D’Ord for organising the unit and for sending it into what they are calling a disputed zone.  You on the other hand will be held accountable for your units actions on the day’s in question’

I took a deep breath to clear my spinning head.  ‘Well I’ve done nothing to be ashamed of but if I go, I go alone.’

‘We’ll have to see about that, but I promise I won’t put any more of your men at risk than I have to.  In the meantime I’m going to have to suspend you from all duties, I am sorry.’

I shook my head, ‘It’s not your fault sir, there’s no need to apologise.’

He sighed, ‘the king will be here soon.  Will you stay until then, he wants to assure you of his support personally.’

‘Of course.’

He left me staring at the trees for inspiration, but I found none.  I wondered off finding in my travels Buff and Mac, who had taken off to settle their differences.  Now battered and bloody they were sitting happily swapping stories and drinking beer together.  I took an offered bottle and downed it much to Buff’s surprise.  I told them what was happening and both men were incensed but I swore them to secrecy until tomorrow.

Even the Kings arrival and his warm praises couldn’t lift my spirits that much.  After the party was over we descended on the nearest hotel and blew the bet money and for all I had to drink I was still strangely sober.  The following day I was sent on indefinite leave with orders to call in, in a fortnight.  So I packed the cat and a few clothes into the Frontera and headed home.  That night I finished my old bottle of whisky.  I took the empty bottle into town, had it made into a table lamp and sent it to Mr. D’Ord.

It wasn’t long before the people who knew where I stayed started banging on my door.  To get some peace and quiet I bought some camping equipment borrowed a rifle from the farmer and took to the hills after a short visit to the local library to find out some facts.

When I got back a week later, my spirit was completely healed.

‘Where the fuck have you been?’  Abie greeted me at my caravan door.  ‘I’ve been here for three days they wanted you in Geneva two days ago.’

‘Tough, they can wait a wee while longer.’  I took a long shower, cleaned the rifle and gave it back to the farmer.  Boy of course was just delighted to see Abie and by the time we were ready to leave, I was in kinks at their antics.  Transport arrived and took us to Lossiemouth where a helicopter was waiting to take us to Edinburgh.  Boy was terrified of the sensation of flying at the beginning of the journey but he soon got used to it and spent the rest of the flight sitting on the pilot’s lap playing with the amazing array of wires and leads or just looking out the window.

They were all there when I got back and a vid phone had been installed in my absence.  ‘Where did that come from?’

Buff held up the cash card I’d given him on the night of the party.  ‘Ye forgot to take this with you.  All we had to do was forge your signature.’

‘Bastard,’ I accused without malice.  He pushed last caller redial and Mr. D’Ord’s face appeared on the screen.

‘Ah you’re back good, grab your ceremonials, there’s a fast plane waiting at the airport to take you over here.  Where have you been?’

‘In the Highlands.’

‘Yes but where?’

‘In the Highlands, you know, tent, rifle, cat.’

He shook his head with a sad little smile.  ‘I’ll see you when you get here.’

‘Your stuff’s a ready Jim, nae weapons.’  Buff handed me one of those coat hanger things with a cover and a couple of holdalls.  I checked it all anyway.  They’d even packed my good civilian clothes.  ‘Here’s your card and there’s a couple ó hundred quid in cash.’

‘Nice one, get everybody together, office staff too.’

I turned to Kenny Barron who had been put in temporary command in my absence.  ‘How long have we got you for Kenny?’

‘As long as you need me Jim.’

‘Thanks.’  Everyone arrived and gathered round.  ‘Everyone here, good, Kenny I want everybody back into full training immediately and…’ something wasn’t quite right.  I walked over to Samantha and plucked the sleeve of her jacket.  ‘Where’s your badge?’

Her eyes dropped.  ‘I, I…’

‘Fine this is how it’s going to be.  You have two minutes to make up your mind, if you have doubts or reservations about any member of this team then fuck off.  If you’re embarrassed or ashamed to be a member of this team, fuck off.  On the other hand, if you’re only horrified by what we’ve had to do in this war so far and disgusted by the slaughter then fine join the club.  But if you stay, you’ll be a fully fit and operational member of this team.  Mr. Barron.’

‘Yes Sir.’

‘If this woman stays, I want her fully fit.  I also want you to get a full physical and medical done on Reginald, find out what he is capable of and take him there.  I don’t need them carrying stretchers but I will need them to keep up and if necessary fight.’

‘Jim.’

‘No Fritz, you were sorely missed out there, that’s why I need these two.  You’ll have to be able to handle both their jobs if they make it, d´ye understand that?’

‘Aye.’

Fritz wasn’t very happy about it, but telling him we had sorely missed him had helped him bear his burden.  I don’t think there was one of us that hadn’t told him that.

‘Back to business, if were disbanded and no worse, I’m going to ask the Prime Minister to let us form a long range hit and run group to work alongside the SAS and help distract from their work.  I don’t mean deep penetrative stuff.  I mean working along a stretch of the front line bumping off sentries and knocking off their command posts (cps).  Stuff like that.  Making them think the SAS are moving back and forth across their lines at will, instead of sitting in their back yards.  Think about it.  I want ideas when I get back.  See you all later.’

I stopped at the door and pointed at Samantha.  ‘Oh, when I get back, I want to see you either sweating your tits off or gone and don’t put that patch on again until you’ve earned it.’