Shadows of War - [Red Dragon Rising 01]
Page 51
“I’m not leaving any of you behind.”
“You aren’t.” Kerfer leaned over the side, his head at her window. “Just keep going.”
“Okay, okay.” She downshifted to take the next curve. “I hate manual transmissions.”
~ * ~
They crested the hill. There were no lights in front of them, no gun flashes, no explosions.
“I’m going to check on Mạ,” said Josh. He left the gun and climbed back.
Mạ was sitting between two of the SEALs, watching as they performed a silent puppet show with their fingers. The girl started laughing as the fingers crashed into each other. They’d finally won her over.
Things are going to be all right, thought Josh.
Then he realized that wasn’t quite true. They had escaped, but things weren’t all right. They were going to be very messed up for a long time.
Maybe forever, as far as Mạ was concerned.
He had to get back to America. Once there, he’d tell his story. A lot of people weren’t going to believe it. They’d see the video, and probably think he’d faked it.
He’d make them believe. This was a world war, bigger than anything the world had confronted in decades.
Bigger. Neither side could wipe out life on the planet then. They sure could now.
“How you doing?” asked Zeus.
“I’m doing okay, Major. Thanks for coming for us.”
“You can call me Zeus.” He stuck out his hand. “We should be back in a couple of hours. I just talked to my general. Another truck is going to meet us at Tuyên Quang. He’s driving it himself.”
“Good.”
“There are no Chinese troops between us and Hanoi. We’re home free.”
Josh nodded.
“Hey, cheer up,” said Major Christian. “It’s over, right?”
“No,” said Josh. “It’s just beginning.”
~ * ~