William Weber - Turning the Tide

“It’ll be dangerous, I’m aware of that.”

“Frankly, I don’t think you’re bringing enough men.” John’s entire assault force consisted of sixty-seven men.

“I’ve thought the very same thing,” John told him. “But there’s a higher risk of being spotted if we bring in too many. Besides, I’ve got a couple tricks up my sleeve.”

“Do you?”

“First off, I plan on arming as many of the prisoners as we can. I’ve already told you about having them scatter into the countryside to begin insurgency groups of their own, but before they do, we might be able to use their help in taking on the rest of the North Korean guards while we get everyone out.”

Colonel Higgs cupped his hands behind his back. “I suppose my reservation stems from the fact that this’ll be the first operation of its kind in the war to date.”

“You’re a man who knows his history,” John said, sitting down.

“I’d like to think so.”

“The Raid at Cabanatuan. That’s what I’m using as a model for this operation.”

In January, 1945, a few hundred American and Filipino guerrillas had stormed a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp near Cabanatuan City. The raid had helped to free five hundred American POWs and was a resounding success.

John turned to Devon. “Any word from Moss?”

“Not yet, sir.”

“The only issue still to be decided is how we’ll get there. I was thinking a combination of horses and dirt bikes.”

“Far too loud,” Colonel Higgs said right away. “You don’t want anything that’ll risk giving away your position. If you have to go the bike route, then you’re better off using mountain bikes. Even in a small town like Oneida, you’re sure to find several. In fact, I see people riding them around every day.” Higgs glanced down at the crude sketch John had drawn of the concentration camp. “So what exactly is your plan, John?”

“Six squads of nine men each.” John pushed his finger down on key locations. “Alpha, Bravo, Charlie and Delta will take up positions on the north, south, east and west entrances to the camp. Echo will set up along 1st Street to block any enemy troops coming west from Jonesboro, while Foxtrot does the same for enemy forces coming in from the east.”

Higgs was counting on his fingers. “That’s only fifty-four out of sixty-seven men. What about the rest?”

“Eight of the remaining thirteen will be tasked with bringing up the QBZ-03 assault rifles and ammunition we stripped off the dead Chinese who attacked us. Three others will stay in the forest and guard the horses. Reese and Hoffman will be with them, acting as overwatch.”

“Any intel on troop strengths in the area?” Higgs asked, studying the crude map.

“It’s sketchy, but we’ve estimated the camp doesn’t have more than a couple hundred guards with perhaps the same number headquartered in Jonesboro itself.”

Devon came to John’s side. “Moss is back.”

John found him at the stables with the rest of the team who had accompanied Moss to Huntsville. Altogether, they’d managed to get twenty more horses of varying quality.

“That town’s under occupation. We had a heck of a time evading a company of Chinese infantry that wanted us bad,” Moss said. “And when all this is said and done,” Moss told them, wearing a cocky grin, “I suggest you head down to Huntsville and personally thank those kind people.”

John’s brow furrowed. “Some of these horses look like they’re on their last legs.”

“Hey, beggars can’t be choosers,” Moss replied.

“We’re still short rides for thirty-five men.” Devon was nearby and John called him over. “Put together a team on the double to procure as many mountain bikes in town as you can. We’ll need extra pumps and tires as well. Some of the stores may still have that kind of stock on their shelves.”

Devon nodded and ran off.

Billy Ray showed up a short time later.

“Henry said you wanted to see me.”

“I need a favor from you.”

“Not Oak Ridge again.”

Growing somber as he thought about Jerry, John shook his head. “I’ll be happy if I never set foot there for the rest of my days. I need you to make another leaflet drop over Jonesboro concentration camp. Except it needs to be done tomorrow at exactly seven forty-five pm. Think you can do that?”

Billy Ray’s eyes narrowed as he folded his thick forearms over his chest. “There something you ain’t telling me?”

“I wish I could say more, but you’ll just have to trust me on this. Men’s lives will depend on you being there on time.”

“Be there or be square, right?” Billy Ray spat.

“Right,” John replied, shaking his hand. “Speak with my daughter Emma. She’ll make sure you have the leaflets you need and if she doesn’t have enough by then, you can drop blank pieces of paper.”

“Blank pieces… This is getting weirder by the minute,” Billy Ray said as he scratched the airplane grease off the tip of his nose.

John glanced at his watch. They were set to leave in two hours and there was still so much to do. Pushing the operation up would increase the challenge and the risks of pulling it off. Still, he couldn’t help wonder whether they would get there in time.

He headed to the greenhouse to find Diane before he left. She was directing workers who were installing old street lights inside the greenhouse. Seeing his wife taking charge always gave him a warm feeling inside.

“If we weren’t already married, I’d be tempted to drop down on one knee right now,” he told her.

Diane used a hanky to dab the perspiration around her neck. The dirt in her hair matched the black streaks running down the sides of her cheeks. “Lucky for me your standards keep dropping.”

“I see Ray’s windmills are still going strong.”

“We have enough juice now to power tools, and I’ve heard rumors they’re converting the old cookware manufacturer off Alberta Street into an armaments factory.”

John folded his arms. “That’s the plan. They’ve already started cutting up those destroyed Chinese tanks and fighting vehicles to use for making mortars and grenades.”

“I can’t imagine it’ll make much difference, John. Other than to paint a giant target on our backs. Don’t you think word of it will leak out from you-know-who?”

“That’s part of what I wanted to talk to you about,” John said. “We’re going on an important mission right now. Something very few people in town know about.”

“You’re worried Phoenix might have caught wind?”

“We can’t help but assume.”

“So what do you want me to do?”

“Just keep an eye out for anyone acting suspicious.”

“I’m already doing that,” Diane said. “We all are. I was lying awake in bed last night, listening to you snore when I thought of something.”

“I snore?”

She smiled. “Of course you do, but that isn’t the important part. I think I know a way to find our mole. Strategic misinformation.”

John took a step back. “That’s a mouthful, even for you.”

Diane grinned and swatted his shoulder. “It means you purposely let an important secret slip out to the people at the top of your suspect list, only each person is told a slightly different version. The enemy’s reaction should reveal which of the stories was leaked and by whom.”

“Sounds complicated, but I like it,” he told her, dropping down on one knee.

“Oh, stop it,” she said, yanking on his arm to stand him up. “I don’t know what foolhardy mission you’re heading on this time, but whenever you leave I keep hoping I’ll see you return with Gregory.”

John pulled her into a hug, feeling the beat of her heart as he pressed her into him. “I hope so too. Until then, pray that he be kept safe.”