A Time to Die - Smith Wilbur - Страница 138

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"You can see why I'm such a crazy mixed-up kid," she told him.

"Why I have to strive to be the best at whatever I do, and why I'm always drawn to try and protect the underdog. Half the time I'm still trying to win Papa's approval, while the other half of the time I'm trying to flout and reject his elitist materialistic view of life."

She snuggled against Sean. "I truly don't know how you are going to handle me."

"Handling you will always be a pleasure," he assured her. "But keeping you in your place looks like a full-time job."

"That's just the sort of thing Papa would have said. You and I. are in for some rip-roaring fights, mister."

"Ah, but just think of the reconciliations, what fun they will be."

In the end they managed a few hours of sleep and awoke surprisingly refreshed and clearheaded to take up the training where they had left off at nightfall the previous day.

While Claudia ran the last of the trainees through the attack sequences on the simulator, Sean and Job squatted beside the model of the gunship laager and Sean explained his plans for the attack. Job listened attentively and made the occasional suggestion, until at last they had it all clear in their own minds--the approach march, the attack, and the withdrawal together with the alternative actions to be taken if there were a hitch anywhere along the line.

"Okay." Sean stood up. "Let,s give it to the lads."

The Shangane troopers watched, totally absorbed, from their perches on the rock slopes of the amphitheater while Sean and Job described the plans for the raid. They used river pebbles to denote the various units of the raiding party, moving them into place around the laager. When the attack began, Claudia manipulated her model Hinds and there were enthusiastic cheers from the watching Shanganes as one by one they were brought crashing to earth by volleys of Stinger missiles.

"Right, Sergeant Alphonso." Sean replaced the counters in their original positions. "Show us the attack again."

Five times they went over it. In turn each of the section leaders described it to them, and the final cheers as the Hinds were destroyed lost none of their gusto for being so often repeated. At the end of the fifth show, Sergeant Alphonso stood up and addressed Sean on behalf of the entire unit.

"Nkosi Kakulu, " he began. He had never before used this form of address to Sean. Wsually this was reserved for very high-ranking tribal chieftains. Sean was aware of the honor, and this proof that he had at last won the full respect and loyalty of these fiercely proud and hard-bitten warriors.

"Great Chief," Alphonso said, "your children are troubled."

There was a murmur of agreement and nodding of heads. "In all that you have told us of the battle, you have not assured us that you will be there to lead us and put fire in our bellies as you did at Grand Reef Tell your children, Nkosi Kakulu, that you will be with us in the midst of the fighting and that we will hear you roaring like a lion as the hen shaw fall burning from the sky and the Frehmo baboons run from us screaming like virgins feeling the prong for the very first time."

Sean spread his hands. "You are not my children," he said.

"You are men of men, just as your fathers were men before you."

There was no higher compliment he could Pay them. "You do not need me to help you to do this thing. I have taught you all I know.

The flames in your bellies burn with the same fury as the fire in the tall dry grass of winter. The time has Come for me to leave you.

This battle is yours alone. I must go, but I win always be proud that we were friends and that we fought side by side as brothers do."

There was a low chorus of dissent, and they shook their heads and spoke together in low rumbling tones.

Sean turned away and saw that while he had been speaking, General China had come up and now stood quietly among the him trees at the riverside, watching There were a dozen officers in all wearing the and men of his personal bodyguard beh d him, same maroon berets, but somehow they seemed insignificant as China stepped forward and instantly commanded the attention of every person in the amphitheater.

"I see your preparations are complete, Colonel Courtney," he greeted Sean.

"Yes, they are ready, General!" ain for my benefit."

"Will you please go over the plans ag Sean singled out Sergeant Alphonso. "Describe the raid for us again," he ordered. General China stood in front of the mock-up laager with the swagger stick clasped behind his back and watched with quick bright eyes, interrupting sharply to ask his questions.

"Why are you using only half the available missiles?"

"The raiding column has to get through the Frelimo lines undetected. The missiles are bulky and heavy. A larger number would be superfluous and make discovery by Frelimo much more likely."

China nodded, and Sean went on, "You also have to take into account the possible failure of the raid. If that happens and you have bet all your Stingers on one throw of the dice Sean shrugged.

"Yes, of course, it's wise to keep half of the missiles in reserve.

Even if the raid fails we will not be left entirely helpless. Carry on."

Alphonso went through the plan step by step, illustrating wi lo red pebbles how the missile teams would move into position and he in readiness five hundred meters from the perimeter of the gunship laager, two teams confronting each sandbagged emplacement.

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