Kyle Pratt: Through Many Fires

“So did I,” he grinned. “Well, congratulations on the promotion, but I can’t say that I’m happy to see you here.” Caden wanted to draw out the conversation so he said, “I thought they sent you to Korea.”

“It never happened. The Defense Department is pulling troops out of there and Japan.”

“Are you still able to get letters from your wife?”

“Yeah,” he smiled, “the post office is functioning.” Then the humor drained from his face. “I have orders from the Commander-in-chief to assist with the arrest of Governor Monroe….”

“I no longer recognize the orders of President Durant.”

“I don’t want to fight you, but if you block the convoy, I will. It will be bloody for both of us.”

Caden nodded.

Turner looked frustrated. “A lot of good men will die today.”

“I know that. Don’t attack. Durant wasn’t elected and what he is doing is unconstitutional and violates everything that….”

Turner threw up his hand. “That’s treason and I won’t hear it. I’m going back to my convoy and you should return to your rebels.”

“We’re not rebels…”

Turner already had his back to Caden and walked away.

Reluctantly, Caden climbed into his jeep and the two men parted company.

Back in his foxhole a few minutes later, Recon 3 came over the radio, “Vehicles are moving forward with troops along the side of the road. We’ve got to move.”

In the distance came the sound of gunfire. Recon 3 fell silent.

Through the light of early dawn, Caden saw five Humvees pull up and stop on the opposite shore. Turner’s troops hurried into positions as gunfire from both shores commenced. The rest of the convoy must be behind the trees.

Pings and thuds sounded on both sides as he lowered his profile behind the rocks and dirt at the edge of the foxhole. A tree limb fell in front of him and a bullet ricocheted off a nearby rock. Gunfire became a continuous roar.

They’re expending a lot of ammo. Do they think we will return fire and run out first? Just in case he turned to a nearby soldier. “Unless you have a good shot, hold your fire. Pass it along.”

Turner can’t get by us this way. It’s three hundred yards across the lake. We could shoot back and forth all day to no great effect and, apparently, he doesn’t have mortars.

Gradually the soldiers from the armory slowed their pace, but the troops on the far side continued and roared the engines of the Humvees.

The sun was still behind the trees, but daylight now illuminated the battlefield. Caden spotted a soldier running along the tree line of the far shore. He fired and missed. The man raced for cover.

“…come in. Please Caden, come in.”

Was that Maria’s voice on the radio? “Maria? Is that you?”

“They shot two of your men near the farm. After they left I went to help them but they’re dead.”

“Get away from there!”

“I will but I’ve got to tell you—the convoy is heading down the road by the farm. I think they’re going to the logging road where the men removed the culvert.”

All this shooting and noise—it’s a diversion. “Roger, thanks. Now, get away from there.”

His mind raced. Caden ran to Brooks. “Keep fifth squad here and hold this position. I’m taking the rest of the soldiers to the logging road.”

Caden was leaving only ten men to guard the causeway. Turner had been outmaneuvering him all morning. If Caden was wrong this time and Turner attacked across the causeway his men would be overwhelmed, but decisive action was required.

Two deuce and a half trucks carried all of Caden’s soldiers down the bumpy logging road. They stopped about a half-mile from the river. Caden heard a bulldozer nearby. With point men in the lead, he deployed the squads perpendicular to the narrow dirt road.

Progress through the forest was slow. The bush, knolls and trees provided many places for an opponent to set an ambush. With each yard forward the bulldozer roared louder and Caden’s apprehension grew greater. Each twig that snapped under his feet sounded to him like a thunderclap.

A gunshot.

The men dropped to the ground.

Rapid fire.

The guardsmen shot blindly into the forest.

“Cease fire! Cease fire,” Caden yelled. He listened. The steady roar continued, but it came from hundreds of yards in front of them. They’re not shooting at us, but if Turner’s men didn’t hear our shots, this is our chance to get close. Then together they moved out.

By the sound of the dozer and gunfire, Caden knew he was only a few hundred yards away so, with the First Sergeant and a few other men, he crawled ahead. Seeing two soldiers about thirty feet ahead, they stopped.

Caden signaled he would shoot the one on the left, Fletcher should get the other.

That accomplished they quickly moved on to the ridge line above the river. Peeking out from there they could see the main body of the convoy. Turner had about 100 soldiers firing as they moved up the slope from cover to cover toward the opposite ridge. Near the top was a dump truck at an angle across the road blocking any retreat of the convoy.

They don’t know we’re here. Caden had no idea who his allies were, but he was thankful for the help.

The bulldozer worked to narrow the river where the culvert had been. Logs had been cut and brought down to the shore. One already spanned the opening where the culvert had been. Caden wasn’t sure if the plan was to make a temporary dam or a bridge. In either case it wasn’t complete and he was there to stop it.

Turning to Fletcher, Caden said, “Get the men and deploy them along the ridge. Tell them not to fire until I do.” Then he waited anxious minutes as the men came up and positioned themselves along the edge.

Finally Fletcher gave him the thumbs up.

Caden took careful aim at the dozer driver. He pulled the trigger and the man dropped.

All the guardsmen opened fire.

Many of Turner’s soldiers fell. The others scurried for cover.

The sound of gunfire rose to a constant thunder.

Bullets pinged on both sides as dirt flew up in Caden’s face.

A man to his right rolled down the slope and lay motionless.

Bark and tree limbs fell like rain.

It was clear to Caden that he held the superior position and Turner’s losses were much greater. After a few more minutes he shouted, “Cease fire.”

The crescendo of fire peaked and faded into silence.

“Your position is hopeless,” Caden shouted, “Throw down your weapons and you will not be harmed.”

There seemed to be confusion from the convoy, and then a female voice shouted, “We surrender.”

“Pile your weapons in the road and line up along the shore.” As the soldiers of the convoy stacked their arms, Caden, had the medic check the wounded and, with the rest of his men, crossed to the other side of the river. “First Sergeant, secure their weapons and search them.” Looking at the soldiers he had just been fighting he asked, “Where is your commanding officer?

In a shaky voice a young woman said, “I guess that’s me.”

“Where’s Captain Turner?”

“We don’t know, sir.”

Pointing to her he said, “Come with me.” Together they checked the wounded and the dead.

Caden found Turner half-submerged in the river. He pulled him from the icy waters and collapsed alongside him. Cold fingers checked for a pulse, but the gaping wound to the neck told him the sad news. Gently he closed the eyes and cradled the body in his lap. You said a lot of good men would die today. I knew it would be true, but I swear I never thought one of them would be you. I’m sorry.

He didn’t know how long he sat there, mourning the death of his friend. Hearing movement behind him he rested the head on the shore, stood and saluted a fallen comrade.