Insurgency Read Free Page A

commando stepped sideways and using a Sambo move hurled Black against the far wall. “Yes.”
    Baring his teeth, something inside told Black to attack again. “I’m going to kill you.”
    Black leapt and collided with Krasnov. The pair seemed to tussle in the air for a second before landing in a heap. Black now saw that the other man’s eyes were blood red and that he had fangs. Black hit him with force in the neck and rolled away. Krasnov got to his haunches, rubbed his neck and stared. Black scrabbled for the Makarov still lying in the doorway and pulled the trigger. The roar was ear-splitting in the small room. The round travelled across the space in a millisecond and hit Krasnov in the chest. The Ukrainian grunted and stumbled backwards. Black fired twice more in quick succession, a double tap to the head. Krasnov fell and lay still.
    “Shit.” Black wiped his brow and tried to steady his ragged breathing. The man had given him no choice. He prodded the Ukrainian with his boot although he already knew the man was dead. The Delta operative backed away shaking his head; whatever weird gig Krasnov had been part of was nothing more do to with him. He looked around the small room, his eyes seemed to be more adjusted to the gloom now and he started to search for anything that may be of use. He found a map on the table and was surprised to see that Firebase Python was clearly marked, circled in red ink. The map also showed the location of the target Taliban camp and caves. There were notes in Cyrillic at the bottom and a diagram. As he strained his eyes to make out the markings, the letters seemed to make sense and he was able to read them. Black turned the map to orientate himself and then smiled as he realised that he knew where he was. Looking around once more, Black saw nothing else of importance or anything intelligence worthy. As he left the hut the Afghan sun still burned but he no longer felt the heat. Map and pistol in hand, Black took a deep breath and started to walk he had a long way to go.
     
    Firebase Python, Pasaband District, Ghowr Province, Afghanistan
    “How ya feeling soldier?” Gonzalez asked as he and the rest of the team looked down at Styles.
    “Like I’ve been eaten, chewed up and spat out.” Styles held his hand against the bandage on his neck; he could feel the vein below throb.
    “You got a nicked artery, the Doc said you lost a lot of blood and were lucky you didn’t bleed out.”
    “What time is it?
    “Half three, but it’s gloomy as hell in here so you wouldn’t know.” Gonzalez moved to the widow and pulled the heavy curtain. Rays of bright sunlight streaked across the room falling on the foot of Styles’ cot. Unseen by all an imperceptible smoke started to rise.
    “Don’t! Don’t open them. The Doc says that my eyes need to adjust.”
    “Sure do look red.” Eaton peered down at his buddy, who’s head started to slump. “Whoa. You ok Marv?” Eaton moved his hand to place it on Styles’ shoulder, but before he could do so Styles’ left had shot across his body and grabbed his wrist. “Whoa, take it easy!” Styles looked up, for a millisecond his pupils were crimson before he blinked and they returned to their normal blue. Eaton unlaced Styles’ fingers from his wrist; they had left a red mark. “If you wanted to hold hands you should have joined the SEALs.”
    “Performing seals, maybe.” Flagon chuckled.
    “Yeah, yeah, make fun of the invalid!” Styles rubbed his eyes.
    Gonzalez became serious. “Do you remember what happened?”
    “Didn’t you see the film?”
    Gonzalez shook his head. “Taken and sent to the Pentagon.”
    “Oh.” Styles screwed his eyes up. “Something jumped on me, must have been a runner from the camp we missed. How many were there Ghost?”
    “I couldn’t tell, they kept moving. Sorry. I messed up.” Miller was despondent.
    “Hey we all missed him. The bastard was like an animal, clawing at me and then,” Styles touched his