He lifted her hand to his lips and brushed his lips against her soft skin.
“Stop worrying. I’ll be okay,” he said. Because I’ve got you to come home to. I love you. He withheld those words he so badly wanted to share. These stolen moments fed his soul and soothed his yearning heart.
“I need to get back to HQ,” he told her, regret in his tone.
“Thanks for visiting. It was nice, Luke....” Megan watched him disappear as quietly as he’d come. She forced herself to remain alert, even with her stormy emotions. The Apaches seemed to have completed their mission and were now flying back toward Camp Bravo. The night suddenly quieted.
It felt as if a heavy blanket or pall had been thrown over the area. Megan knew the Marines in the towers all had NVGs on and could pierce the darkness. They would remain on high alert until dawn. The radio on her shoulder crackled to life. Lieutenant Speed’s voice came over it.
“All personnel, return to duty. Repeat, return to duty. Out.”
Pushing away from the dirt wall, Megan took off her helmet and drew in a deep, ragged breath. The lieutenant’s orders meant the assault on the enemy had been successful. She could go to bed. Her roommates would be coming to their hut.
She uncovered the leather flap to look at her watch: 0100. Dawn would come at 0530. Pushing the Velcro down on her watch to hide the faint radium light, Megan turned around and locked the clinic. She was grateful she wouldn’t have to use it on this furious night of killing. She hurried across the flat, sandy soil for the unseen home where she could sleep.
What would dawn bring? Megan had never been on the front lines of combat before. And even though she had a year’s training beneath her belt, this was all new to her. She felt destabilized.
Fierce night winds blew across the compound off the surrounding mountains. As she entered her home away from home, Megan’s nerves bristled. She felt danger stalking them even though she couldn’t identify what, exactly, it was.
This sense of instability, of turmoil, continued throughout the rest of the week.
Mina was depressed. The villagers had varying reactions to the attack on the mountain. Megan heard the many remonstrations of the village wives who brought their children for help at the clinic. To Megan’s relief, the platoons of Marines met no resistance. No one was injured, yet the carnage on the slopes was daunting.
The Marines knew the Muslim tradition of burying a dead person as soon as possible after death. The soldiers spent the day making cairn graves for four hundred deceased. It was a grim time for everyone. A Muslim chaplain from Bagram was flown in to help direct the Marines and pray for the souls of those buried.
“I’m worried,” Mina confided over tea after the clinic closed. She studied Megan and frowned. “It has been five days since the attack and I’ve not heard from Tahira. I feel as if I should ride over there to see if she’s all right. She’s pregnant. I’m worried that Jabbar was killed in the bombing. She may need my help.”
Megan nodded. “According to Luke, Jabbar was not found among the dead, Mina.” She saw the woman’s face show relief and then move into a fearful expression. “They have a photo of Jabbar, and the Marines were looking specifically for him. They didn’t find his body, so I’m assuming he’s alive.”
“That’s good news for Tahira and the baby she carries.”
“You seem frightened.” Megan set the teacup down on the white china saucer. “What’s wrong?”
“I worry about many things, my friend. Timor is on his way back to our village by horseback. Alone. He always rides his horse alone between all the villages he has responsibility for. I worry that if Jabbar survived, he’ll know...he’ll know Timor or I gave your Marines the information about the big attack.” She looked out the dirty window for a moment. “I know Jabbar will blame Timor,” Mina added in a strained tone. “Will he ambush him on the way home? Murder him in retaliation for working with the Marines?”
“Timor was found by our helicopters and was given the message of what happened on the mountain. He turned down the offer from the Marines to protect him from Gholam or his men. He felt he’d be safe. I know he’s due back here in a couple of days.” But Mina’s worry seemed to escalate. “You still feel Gholam would attack Timor?” Megan asked.
“Yes. The Taliban punishes us swiftly if we work with Americans.”
Megan reached out and touched the woman’s hand. “Could I bring your concern to Captain Hall? Maybe something could be done to protect Timor.”
“No...Timor knew the cost. This time, he put his people in front of his life. And he knows Jabbar could kill him.”
More alarmed, Megan sat up. “What about you, Mina? Would Jabbar try to kill you?”
Giving a shrug, Mina said, “Maybe. I don’t know.”
“That’s why the people are so on edge. I’ve seen it in the women’s eyes. The children are upset, too. They feel the threat.”
“Yes, we’re very agitated right now.”
Frustrated, Megan said, “I’m going to tell Captain Hall. Maybe there’s something he can do.”
“Our village is surrounded by five-foot-high mud walls with only two entrances. Jabbar, if he’s going to attack, must come in one way or the other. I think if Marines were in our village, that would infuriate him even more. We have men who have volunteered to stay awake and watch those gates. We’re as safe as we can be.”
Megan wanted to do more, but she had no ready answers. “I’m still going to tell Captain Hall, if that’s okay with you.”
“There’s nothing he can do. We must wait. And watch...”
* * *
Megan was awakened by nearby explosions. It was the middle of the night. Everyone sleeping in the hut leaped up, alarmed. More explosions occurred, and the hut shivered. Bumping into one another, they grabbed their boots and shoved them on. Buck turned on a small battery-powered lamp.
“Something’s under attack,” he growled, reaching for his weapon and putting on his helmet. “But it’s not us.”
A sudden spasm of fear arced through Megan as she hurriedly grabbed her helmet and medic bag. Running, she followed the sergeant out the door. She skidded to a halt as she passed the house. In the distance there were explosions...in the village of Lar Sholtan.
“Oh, God,” she cried out. “No!”
Luke caught up with her. “Come on, get out of the open!” He grabbed her by the arm and hauled her forward.
Megan ran quickly toward HQ. It was near dawn. There was bare light outlining the jagged peaks. Gasping for breath, she followed Luke. All the Marine sergeants were clustered and crowded into the office. Captain Hall looked as if he’d just awakened. The radios were squawking. Lieutenant Speed’s voice carried over the tumult.
“Lar Sholtan is under attack!”
“Get the Apaches,” Hall ordered.
“It’s Gholam,” Buck growled to no one in particular. “The bastard’s attacking the village because they helped us stop that attack last week.”
Megan bit back a sob. She was crowded into the confined space, glad to be leaning against Luke’s strong body. “Can we help them?” she called out.
“Not until dawn,” Hall said. “Sergeants Payne and Thornton, get your men mounted up on Humvees. Get that Stryker truck out in front to locate the IEDs. If Gholam is attacking the village, you can bet he’s sure as hell mined the road to it with IEDs. Get moving!”
Megan stood there, eyes widening in terror. The people of the village had no way to protect themselves. Oh, some of the men had ancient rifles, but few bullets.
“Sir, I’m going with Sergeant Payne,” Luke said.
“Yeah, get going, Doc,” Hall said, harried by the different reports now coming in. He grabbed a radio and called Camp Bravo for Apache help.
It was going to be too late, Megan realized. Tears flooded
her eyes as she recalled how terrified Mina was of reprisal. Pushing forward, Megan made her way to the table where the two Marine officers were intently studying the maps.
“Captain Hall,” she called out, her voice strong and carrying above the radio chatter, “I’m going with Collier. Those people are going to need every available medic.”
Barely glancing up, Hall said, “You’re staying here, Doc. That’s a firefight going on down there.”
“Sir, I don’t care. Those are people! They need help.” She stared into his eyes. “I’m a medic. That’s what I’m here for.”
“Okay, get your butt out of here,” Hall snapped. “And be damned careful, Trayhern. I don’t need you getting nailed by a bullet or an IED.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir! Can you call in medevac?”
“We will once the attack has been pushed back,” Hall told her. “Mount up!”
She hurried out of HQ. Running between buildings, she stopped and watched the village. She could hear gunfire. A lot of it. The explosions still rocked the area. Swallowing hard, Megan ran to the clinic and opened it. With unsteady hands, she packed more antibiotics, more dressings and bandages. After locking up the clinic, Megan ran as hard as she could toward the front gate of the compound.
In the bare dawn, a gray pall hung over the valley. She spotted Buck Payne standing next to the lead Humvee and went straight for it.
“Sergeant Payne. Do you have room for me?”
Buck turned and regarded Megan with a frown. “You going?”
“Yes. Captain Hall gave me permission.” She was gasping, her heart pounding with fear.
“Okay, climb in. You hang close to me.” He glanced toward the village, eyes narrowed on the firefight.
By the time they got to the village’s blown gate, Megan could see everything. They had to stop twice for IEDs that had been hastily dug and planted along the only road to the village. Frantic to help, she peered out the windows as the Humvees crawled cautiously into the village. Many of the mud homes were burning. Fire lit up the dawn sky. Buck had his rifle locked and loaded. Everyone was on guard. Tension thrummed through the growling vehicle as they traversed the main dirt road heading toward Timor Khan’s home.
Megan clenched and unclenched her hand. Her gaze locked on Timor and Mina’s home, which appeared to be standing. People were screaming, some running alongside the Humvee, begging for help.
“Drop me at the clinic,” Megan ordered the driver. “Get word out to the villagers that I’m here and can help.”
“We’ll drop both of you off there,” Buck said. He told the driver to halt in front of the locked building.
Climbing out, Megan could smell the thick, choking smoke. A number of frightened people raced toward the clinic.
Buck ordered two of his Marines out of the vehicle. “Doc, you two are getting bodyguards. We don’t know if Gholam is still in the village or not. His men could hide among the villagers and you won’t be able to tell them apart. I can’t let you remain here without protection.”
“That’s fine,” Megan said, hurrying to the door and unlocking it. Glancing to the left, she noticed a family of four running toward them. In the arms of the terrified father was his unconscious young son. Luke pushed the door open and followed her in. They had no time to speak and instantly set up two aid stations in the room. Wounded, burned and injured men, women and children pressed through the doors.
Pulling on her protective latex gloves, Megan called to the shocked villagers to line up. Very quickly, she and Luke moved through the twenty of them to triage the group. The children were crying and screaming. It was just like Iraq for Megan, when villagers would be wounded and brought by medevac to the combat hospital. She buried her emotions, focusing instead on saving innocent lives. Jabbar Gholam was a monster of another sort and more than willing to murder helpless, innocent people to get revenge. Choking on tears, Megan busied herself with saving lives.
Chapter 13
“Mina!” Megan called as she moved into the crowded medical clinic. Luke peeled off inside the door and went to one of the examination rooms. The place was overwhelmed with the injured and children crying over the attack.
Mina’s eyes were filled with terror as Megan made her way to her side.
“Jabbar has struck,” Mina said, quavering, standing beside Megan as she began to work over a young girl. “He’s still here somewhere in the village. I’m trying to get my men to find him, but he’s evasive.” The woman straightened and looked at the two Marine guards standing alertly at the door to the clinic.
Megan’s mouth tightened. “He’s getting even. I’m so sorry, Mina. Have you been able to contact Timor?”
“No, it’s impossible. He’s on a circuit to his other three villages.” Rubbing her forehead, Mina gathered her black robe more tightly around her body. “I don’t know if Jabbar is waiting to kill him, capture him or what....”
Hearing the veiled terror in Mina’s voice, Megan tried to focus her attention on the screaming child whose left arm and leg had been burned. “The Marines are in the village, Mina. Did Sergeant Payne get your permission to search for Gholam?”
“Yes, yes, he did.” Mina anxiously watched the door. “They have a picture of Gholam. But he knows how to hide among us. I don’t think the Marines will find him.”
Megan glanced over and saw men and boys lining up to be helped by Luke. He was just as busy as she was. Megan quickly wrapped the child’s reddened, blistered arm. “What is Gholam waiting for, then?”
“For Timor to return. He’ll be on a rocky goat trail that only other Afghans know. It would be easy for Jabbar or his men to hide and attack him. I told Sergeant Payne the name of the village he’s riding to right now. He said he’d try to find my husband to warn him about the attack.”
Torn, Megan reached out for a moment and touched Mina’s arm. “I just heard over the radio that Buck has called for an Apache helicopter to be sent to find him. They could easily spot him on the slope of the mountain and can tell us his whereabouts.”
Mina bit her lower lip. “What if they don’t find him?”
Megan knew that if they didn’t, Gholam had found Timor himself, killed him and dispatched his body. More than likely, the horse would be saved and used by the Taliban. “God, I hope they locate your husband soon, Mina.”
“How can I help? I’ve done everything I can for our people. I’ve told them to stay inside today. With Jabbar and his men sweeping through the area, there are people who are sympathetic to the Taliban. They will hide him from the Marines.”
Grimly, Megan nodded. “Let’s hope Buck and his men find him first.” There was little else she could do or say. Mina left her side to talk to the parents and crying children to try and soothe them.
Glancing out the clinic door, Megan saw more and more injured people crowding around. She was glad Luke was with her. Buckling down, Megan worked without rest to help the wounded villagers.
As soon as the little girl was taken care of, a farmer, his face dark and in pain, sat on the gurney next. He was holding his bloody right hand. Megan turned and spoke into her epaulet radio. “Blue Boy One, this is Blue Boy Four. Over.” She needed to call Captain Hall.
“Go, Blue Boy Four.”
Hall’s voice sounded grim. “Blue Boy One, we need medical backup here at the village. Can we get some medevacs in here? I’ve got forty villagers who are wounded. I have six cases that need to be flown to Bagram. Over.”
“Roger, Blue Boy Four. I’ll call. Out.”
Relieved, Megan returned her attention to the thirty-year-old farmer. Megan knew the Marine retaliation had set the wheels of revenge in motion against these villagers. All these people wanted was to be able to grow their crops and get enough food for their families. She wanted to cry for them, but couldn’t.
* * *
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By the time noon rolled around, Megan and Luke had gotten the worst injuries stabilized. People weren’t looking as worried or anxious as earlier. Wearily, Megan got a number of farmers to carry those who needed medical help at Bagram outdoors to the designated landing area. The medevacs would arrive shortly. Mina remained in the clinic with the widows as Megan led the men carrying the six litters outside the walls of the village. Luke got picked up by the Marines and was ordered to join the platoon for a patrol up on the slope of the eastern mountain.
There was a flat, clean landing area nearby. Megan spotted two medevac helos arriving, black dots against a blue sky. The sun felt good, easing the iciness she felt within.
When the first medevac helo landed, billowing yellow dust clouds erupted. For the next ten minutes, Megan worked with the crew to take three litters with injured on board. As soon as they were transferred, the door was shut and the helo quickly took off. Then the second medevac landed. The same hurry to land and transport the wounded took place.
The rolling clouds blinded Megan as the second medevac rose into the sky carrying the injured villagers. Choking and coughing, her eyes watering, she stumbled back. Once the litters had been transferred, the other villagers ran back behind the walls, no doubt aware that the American helicopters were targets of the Taliban.
Megan stood still, the clouds swirling violently around her. The blades of the helicopter made it impossible to see. She knew enough to wait as the helo lifted off. Good feelings threaded through her. They had been able to help those who had been severely wounded by Gholam.
Her heart and her thoughts turned to Luke in those moments. Was he all right?
The dust cleared. As she walked toward the walled gate, Megan glanced up at the mountain that had been on fire last night. The snowy peak thrust skyward into the light blue sky. Its blue granite flanks were so large and sprawling she couldn’t see the Marine platoon that was somewhere up there. She said a quick prayer before trotting through the gate and hurrying to the clinic.
Beyond Valor Page 18
