ACV's 1 Operation Black Gold (60 page)

CHAPTER 64

I waited a good twenty minutes before Davie was able to take couple of minutes between operations to talk to me. 

‘How are things going?’  I asked.

‘Hectic, but we’re managing.  How is everyone?  I heard you had a helluva fight.’

‘It was touch and go for a wee while but we pulled through, Buff got his nose broken, but apart from that we got away we a few odd cuts and bruises.’

Davie smiled, ‘lucky.’

‘Very; is there anything you need, food, drink?’

‘No we’ve plenty; it’s getting the time to eat it, that’s the problem.’

I looked round makeshift theatre, ‘you’re one of the senior men here, make time, before mistakes are made and that includes you.’

He nodded, ‘aye OK, listen the Yanks are offering to take off some of our wounded.’

‘No, tell them to go fuck themselves.  Arrangements to evacuate the wounded have already been made, but don’t tell them that.’

‘Alright; by the way they’re going nuts over that scanner.’

‘Are they, what a shame?’  I felt no spark of human kindness.

‘Jim!’

‘Leave it Davie; this isn’t the time or the place for a moral argument.’

‘OK.’

I knew by the tone of his voice it wasn’t the last I was going to hear of it. 

There were quite a few Americans going about.  I bumped into an angry Officer shouting at an SBS Private who was guarding a door, neither the guard nor the escort looked very happy.

The SBS guard clocked me passing and snapped to attention.  ‘Sir, maybe you could help this gentleman.’  These SBS boys never snapped to attention for anybody, it was a classic case of passing the buck.  I scowled at him but he just smirked.  The American Officer looked me up and down like I was a piece of shit.  My weariness dropped away.

‘Are you supposed to be an Offica?’

I winced at the deep southern drawl.  ‘That’s right.’

‘Whey’s your uniform?’

‘At the cleaners, it got a little stained during the fight.’

‘Most irregular, however you’ll have to do, I’ve been informed the personal effects of our dead and wounded have been collected together and placed in this room.  I demand they’re return immediately.’

I took a step towards him.  ‘Demand, you did say demand?’

‘Yes suh, I did.’

‘I thought you did, now please correct me if I’m wrong but, it’s those who win that dictate terms not the losers and you my good man lost, we, on the other hand won, so I’ll do the dictating.  The personal effects of the dead and wounded will stay in that room until members of our intelligence corps have gone through it with a fine-toothed comb.  Then and only then can you have it all back.  Do you understand?’  His face had gone beetroot with shame and anger.  He tried to say something but could only splutter.  ‘Good,’ I turned to his escort.  ‘Get him out of here, it’s obvious he’s one of their intelligence branch on a fact finding mission.  Put him on the next chopper out, he’s to speak to no one.  If he tries or refuses to leave throw him over the side and let the bastard swim home and that is a direct order, understand?’

‘Yes sir,’ he pushed the American officer.  ‘Move.’

The officer found his voice and turned on me.  ‘Damn you, don’t you even salute your fellow officers?’

‘We don’t salute anyone under operational conditions.  We also don’t salute without headgear on and lastly I’m out of uniform so your answer to that is a big fat’ no, get him out of here.’  The SBS man took him away and I turned to his friend.  ‘If anyone else tries hit them with the same routine.’

‘Got ye.’

I entered a corridor that was lined with wounded on stretchers.  I held the door open for a pair of medical orderlies who were moving a man.  I let them swing back on their hinges and turned to silence, as I moved into the next section, talking petered out again.  Halfway through I recognized a face and squatted down beside the stretcher.  His eyelids fluttered open and a half smile flitted over the pain-wracked face.

‘Hello Sunny, I passed on your regards to Mr. Cavera.  He sent his back.  You were right, he is a good man, he arranged all this help.’

‘I told you sir.’

‘Ye did that, is there anything you need?’

‘A drink of water but they say I’m not allowed.’

I crooked a finger at an orderly.  He came over.  ‘This man’s parched; he doesn’t have an abdominal wound, why can’t you give him a drink of water?’

‘Orders sir, I’m sorry, but I’ve got to keep them dry.’

‘That’s ridiculous; it could be hours before most of these men are operated on.’

‘I know Sir, but I can’t.’

I thought on it for a moment or two.  ‘Come with me.’

‘But I, I.’

The poor sod looked petrified.  ‘It’s alright; no one will bother you while you’re with me.’  I dragged him through to the kitchen and loaded him down with bags of ice.

*

‘Sunny boy, you’ve a lot of balls talking to that dude.’

‘Naw man, he’s cool,’ he replied slipping his piece of ice into his cheek.  ‘He even dressed my wound man, did a real good job too.’

‘Did you see the way he carved up them ol boys back on the chopper man?  Damn, I’m real glad I got shot.’

‘Yeah, me too.’

‘Do you think the scuttlebutts true?’

‘What about?’

‘Invading the mainland.’

Sunny shook his head.  ‘Man I fucking hope no.  If it is I’m going to get me the job of a sniper, I ain't ever going to get within arm’s reach of these mental mother fuckers again.’

‘Yeah, good idea man.’

Both men lapsed into silence savouring the cold liquid that soothed their parched throats.

*

‘Lt Murison, your birds are fuelled up and ready to go, you’re scheduled to leave in two hours and Colonel Hall would like to see you before you go.’

‘OK.’

‘Will I wake up Davie?’  Buff inquired.

‘No leave him sleeping as long as you can, and then drag him through a shower.  Has everybody got their gear together?’

‘Don’t know.’

‘Well fucking check, will ye, that’s fit Sergeants are supposed to do init?’

‘Fit are ye going to be doing like?’

‘I’m away to find Mike and plan our route home and see if we can get some proper air support.’

‘Ah, well I suppose that’s á right then.’

‘I’m glad my itinerary meets with your approval Sergeant George.’

‘Think nothing of it, someone’s got to stop you officer types slackening off Lt Murison, Sir.’  He grinned evilly at me, it was good to see him back on form, but I decided to move before he took a dig at me.  As it was, I just managed to get clear of the door before it slammed behind me assisted by Buff’s boot.  I contemplated going back in but fought down the rush.  I’d too much to do, but I never got much of a chance to do that either.

I was side tracked by the newsman; he was bleary eyed from lack of sleep.  ‘Tina was wondering if you could pop in and see her, she wants to discuss a possible interview.’

‘I could spare her five minutes.’

‘That’s all she wants, I’ll show you the way.’  We stopped outside a private cabin, he stuck out his hand and I returned the firm handshake.  ‘I know your leaving shortly so I’ll say goodbye now.  I’m off to get some sleep before I collapse, I maybe see you back on the mainland.’

‘Aye maybe.’

I knocked and went in.  She was lying in bed still wet from a shower and naked.  ‘Lock the door,’ she ordered.  My interview lasted more than five minutes.

‘You know you were right,’ she murmured sleepily as she snuggled in and played with the hairs on my chest.

‘What about?’

‘About what you said up there, never having lived so much before.  It’s been a nightmare, yet strangely.’

‘Exciting, a massive adrenalin rushes.’

‘Yes but…’

‘Yes I know, it’s terrifying but it can be addictive too.’

She shuddered, goose bumps rising under my soothing hands.  ‘I’m glad it’s all over.’

‘Over, I think it’s barely begun.’

She looked up at me, ‘do you think so?’

‘Aye it could be a long war yet.’

She stretched herself against me, hooking a leg over mine and pulled me on top of her.  ‘Think you could spare another five minutes before you go back to the war soldier.’  What could I do?  I mean war plays havoc with your metabolism.

CHAPTER 65

Tom quickly brought me up to speed on the previous evening’s events.  The cease-fire was still in effect and we still had American medical teams on board with some of their critically wounded.  They had been locked up the evening before while a careful deception plan had been carried out.  A tape of landing helicopters had been played on the top deck, while we sneaked our wounded out through the legs onto a sub.

There had been three subs, all bringing in fresh troops or supplies.  Tina had been told about our deception in private with the camera switched off.  She had been a little miffed at first but soon got into the swing of things when she realised how big a part she’d played in our small victory.  She had won the hearts and minds of these tough SBS men and they hers.  She would often spend time cheering up the wounded and letting them say hello and reassure their families on live TV.

By the time Buff appeared dragging the rest with him, the warm atmosphere had gone and I was in the middle of a heated argument with Tom and Mike.  Davie Whitton was looking damp but tired.  He gave me a nod to let me know he was all right.  Buff wandered over.  ‘What’s the matter Jim?’

‘Och this pair of fuckers winna listen to me.’

‘He’s looking for trouble where there isn’t any,’ Mike tried to explain.

‘Is he?’

‘Come here and look at this Buff.’  I took him over to the projected map.  ‘The American picket runs right along the top then right down the east coast.  When we sank the Rockwell it did two things, it pulled them closer together for better support and left them a ship short so their picket had to suffer somewhere and here it is.’  I pointed to the place on the map where the two lines of ships met.  ‘They’ve got one ship in the apex there running in a box pattern with a lot ó sea room round about it.’

‘So?’

‘Well that’s where they want us to cross.’

‘And?’

‘Look we’ve got to pick up an amputee from a rig down here aright.  The Americans ken that and have given us permission to do that.  We’re allowed to fly to our hearts content this side of the line but if we cross it, the cease-fire will come to an end.  We’ve been well warned about that so they ken we’re going to try and get through and this bloody great hole they’ve left for us is just a wee bitty too convenient for my liking.’

‘Fits that up there?’  He pointed to the symbol of an aircraft flying 50 miles beyond the apex.

‘It’s just a spare AWACS they’ve got up in case we down another one, it isn’t even switched on,’ Mike explained.

‘So why don’t we just go right down and round the end of their picket line and come home through England?’

‘Not allowed,’ sighed Tom.

That order had come straight from the Prime Minister and for once, I agreed with him.  Scotland and England were closer now than they had ever been in recorded history and the English hackles were beginning to rise.  English pilots had already clashed with American fighters at the end of their Patrol routes although no shots had been fired the war drums in Westminster were beginning to beat.  If we came racing in over England with a bunch of American fighters on our tails, the English pilots wouldn’t hesitate to fire on them to protect us and then they would become embroiled in the conflict.  In my mind, we would need them more when it was over.

‘So, why don’t we just dump the choppers and go home in the subs wee the rest?’  Buff suggested.

‘Orders direct from the Prime Minister, you have to return today.’

‘So we get it again eh, fucking great.  Do you think it’s a trap Jim?’

‘Positive.’

‘Good enough for me.’  He turned away and went back to the others.  Buff explained the situation to them.  I was left facing down both men on my own.

‘We’re scheduled to leave in ten minutes,’ Mike tried again.

‘If you want to leave Mike go right ahead, but there’s none of us going with you.’

‘There isn’t anything out there, the rig’s either side cover the whole area it’s clean, look.’  Tom tried to reassure me.

‘Look aye look, my father was a shepherd and I know when I’m being driven into a pen.’

‘We’ve got to go now Jim.’  Mike protested.

‘I am going nowhere, do you understand?  Nowhere until our arses are covered out there.’

‘Get your gear and get on that chopper now, that’s an order.’  Tom ordered.

‘Stick your fucking order up your fucking arse, we are going nowhere until I’ve worked something out, understand?’ 

I stormed off looking for something to kill.  I found it in the gymnasium; a damaged punch bag got the shit kicked out of it.  When I calmed down a bit, I squatted on the floor and began drawing in the scattered sand.  They had to have something somewhere, but what?

*

Tom broke the silence.’  OK you lot just get on the chopper, Mac get a detail together, find him, and put him under close arrest.’

Mac didn’t get very far before Buff’s fist knocked him cold.  Abie took three quick strides and a Corporal who had reached for a rifle found cold steel in his ear.  ‘I will blow your fucking head off,’ he warned.

Davie Whitton got up in the stunned silence and checked Mac.  He rolled him into the three quarter prone position.  ‘He’ll be fine,’ he declared yawning.  ‘Ah.’  He found a comfy chair and settled down in it.  ‘Wake me when Jim gets back.’

Tom found himself looking down the barrels of a row of levelled weapons.  ‘You can’t do this?’

‘We just did,’ Buff smirked.

‘Gentlemen,’ Gigs stepped forward always the diplomat.  ’This is how it is going to be, we’re going nowhere without him.  He’ll be back soon enough when he’s worked it all out.  Then we’ll go, not before.’

*

The air was rippling with tension when I got back to Ops.  Mac was sitting with a cold cloth to his face.  ‘What’s happening here, send somebody to arrest me did ye?’

‘Aye Me,’ Mac growled.

‘Well that was silly wasn’t it?’

‘I owe you,’ he growled at a smirking Buff.

‘If we get through pop in anytime.’  He came over and joined me.  Tom and Mike tagged on behind.  ‘Have yé worked it out yet?’

‘It’s not right bit the best I can come up with is maybe one of they, VTOL fighters or two if the ships big enough, ye ken vertical take-off things?’

‘Aye, I ken fit they are.’  Buff assured.

‘Where?’  Asked Tom

I drew a box round the ship on the apex.  ‘Here, the second we break their line they’ll come right after us.’  I eyed the second AWACS, something was pulling at my subconscious, but I couldn’t get a hold on it.

‘Mike?’

‘It is possible Tom,’ but he didn’t sound convinced.

‘Sir the American’s are on the line wondering what’s happened to our flight.’

I butted in, ‘tell them we’ve experienced some technical difficulties but we’re making repairs.  We should be able to leave shortly but when we do we’ll probably have to keep our speed down.’

He looked to his CO.  ‘OK Corporal do it.’

I could see none of them were happy about it.  ‘Alright, I’ll tell you what,’ I turned to my lot who were waiting expectantly, ‘you lot get your wallets out.’  We huddled together and pulled our cash.  We even nicked the sleepy Davies’s wallet from his pocket.  I slapped a wad of notes down on the table.  ‘You’re all so sure there’s nothing out there, I bet you £930.  There’s some kind of fighters waiting for us.’

My lot started laughing and jeering.  ‘Put up or shut up,’ Buff told Mac.

‘OK you’re on.’

‘I’ll have some of that,’ a console operator chipped in.  The news spread round the rig like wild fire.  Bruce and Gordon came over.  ‘We’re with you.’  Between them, they added another £70 to the pot rounding it up to a £1000.  Within quarter of an hour all, our bets had been covered.  I handed the pot to Mac.

‘You keep the pot and look at it this way.  You can’t lose.  If you win get, your boys pissed.  If we win, we’ll most probably be dead so get the boys pissed and give us a good send off.’

He grinned for the first time since my return.  ‘I can live with that.’

‘Right, can we get some help now?’

They still didn’t want to believe me but at least they were co-operating now.  ‘So what do you want?’  Tom asked.

‘Right, this is how I see it.’  I took them over to the board.  ‘Somehow they’ve got fighters in that area maybe VTOLS.  The minute we cross that line and break the ceasefire, they’re going to come after us, and claim it was our own fault.  We’re not going to do that, I want to force their hand and make them hit us this side of the line.  If we can do that and survive then we will have all the justification we need to cross over and try and make it home.’

We worked over a number of scenarios, before I was satisfied.  All I had to do then was get General Morris to promise us air support and it wasn’t easy.  In the end, I totally refused to move if he didn’t.  So we compromised, if we were attacked before we crossed then made it through the American pickets they would cover us home from there.