Taken

memory of the events of hasn’t returned. She is surprised to hear about the long time frame of her memory gap.

“So, your dad is still around, huh?” Their mom asks.

“Yeah. He is. Robert thinks he is nearby and will be here with the other soldiers soon,” Bri answers.

“Ma’am, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Corporal Gonzalez,” Gonzalez says introducing herself.

“Call me Julie,” she responds taking Gonzalez’ outstretched hand.

Julie looks around the table after their stories are finished. Bri knows exactly who she is looking for. Tears come to her eyes thinking both about Nic and how this will devastate their mom. She doesn’t want this happy moment to have unhappiness intrude but knows the next question.

“Mom,” Bri says sniffing, “There’s something…” She doesn’t finish as she feels Gonzalez touch her good arm.

“Julie, I have some news that Robert and Bri didn’t share with you. I hate to bring sorrow into this happy moment,” Gonzalez says staring into Julie’s eyes. Gonzalez sees Julie’s eyes tear up once again as she knows the words that will come next, “but, I don’t know how to say this, as if there’s really any way to say it.” Gonzalez sighs heavily. “Nicole died saving one of the soldiers.”

Julie stays silent a moment and then erupts in a keening wail that pierces the heart of everyone hearing. She grips her stomach and folds over crying so hard that she has a hard time catching her breath. Robert wraps his arms around her and Bri her good one as they join her; crying for the loss of Nic.

Into the Lion’s Den

Lying on the dry ground under the trees, shielded by bushes, the sound of vehicles in the distance intrudes upon my thoughts as I run through various scenarios. I picture in my mind the buses arriving, proceeding through the gate, and shoveling everyone out for the evening routine. I’m assuming it is a routine as we’ve only monitored them for a very short time, but the process did seem to flow smoothly. The smoother something like that happens, the more likely they’ve done it that way for a while. I don’t want to make any assumptions about anything but I like to keep all of the players in my mind as to their possible locations at all times. Noting routines, where people go or should be at a particular time, helps keep situational awareness. That, however, doesn’t make everything written in stone.

My chief apprehension centers on the night runners behaving themselves. Yeah, when have they ever done that? I don’t want to be caught outside with a horde of night runners closing in. I’d rather have a prostate exam although it really amounts to the same thing.

The noise of air brakes squealing, people gathering, and doors opening in the distance goes on for some time and settles down as the sun sinks behind the hills. It’s as if the day waits in hushed anticipation of the night to come.

The sky above darkens to a deep blue and the first stars shine. Generators start up in the compound and the perimeter lights flash on; flickering at first and then coming on with their full intensity. Armed guards walk across the fields in the gathering gloom, mount ladders leading into the towers, and, just as last night, pull the ladders up with them. I see the gap I noticed from the overlooking hills just off to my left almost in front of the third tower. I pull back into the trees and move over adjacent to the gap.

Aside from being out in the gathering darkness, I am also not so keen on having to traverse open ground in front of a guard tower. Guards typically tend to focus their lights on the area immediately in front of them. It’s a psychological thing; that’s where they think the greatest danger lies. Hopefully they sweep their spotlight over a wider area. I take the remaining grass talks I gathered and quietly tape them along my arms and legs so they are pointing to my rear. Lying down, I want to look as much like the grass field as I can. Luckily, they haven’t cut or burned the tall grass. This will give me a little advantage should a spotlight come across me.

The twilight deepens into the darkness of night. A few faint shrieks sound in the distance as the night comes on fully. They seem as if they are coming from the south, in the direction of the main town. Nothing too close. The stars are out, twinkling brightly across the black sky. I wait a moment for the guards to get settled into a routine. Spotlights from the guard towers move erratically through the night air. The one in front of me transitions slowly from left to right and back again without any noticeable pattern. I lower my NVG’s. It’s time to move.

“This is Jack, I’m heading in,” I radio whoever has the radio watch.

“Copy that,” I hear Greg respond. I should have known he’d be up if a member was out. I’m guessing he’ll be up all night.

The crickets and other night animals pick up their evening sounds. They are comforting as I know nothing in the predator category lies near. It’s a two-edged sword however because if I happen to get close to them, then they’ll go silent and notify anyone that something lurks nearby. I watch the spotlight trying to gauge a pattern but I don’t pick one up. With a deep sigh, I sink to my stomach and edge out of the trees.

I slowly part the grass ahead of me and wiggle forward, coming to a rest after my movement. I can’t see the guards in the tower past the light so I have to assume their eyes are following the path of the light. Another parting of the grass and movement brings me a foot and a half closer to the fence. That will be the most interesting part, getting through the fence directly ahead of the tower. Timing will be critical.

The only pattern of light I notice is that its beam stays mostly outside of the fence line. Once inside, I should have no worries about it. Then it will be primarily keeping quiet as I make my way past the tower. The beam swings in my direction. Here’s the real test. It will either pass over me or a shot will ring out that I will never hear. I try to wiggle even closer to the ground; trying to press my rear end through the hard surface. I fold the grass stalks over me without bending them too much. The light draws ever closer. I bury my head both to remain invisible and to not cause a white out of the NVG’s. I also don’t want the light to reflect back off the glass front.

I notice my headache coming on again. Great, like I need that, I think with head pressed into the dirt. I watch to the side for the light to come and pass. As the light draws closer, the dirt and grass begin to lighten. My body tenses anticipating the light stopping and a searing pain to enter my body. It grows brighter and the dirt below my eyes suddenly becomes like day. I’m just the grass, I think. I’m afraid the black of my fatigues might be too black. I always preferred a charcoal gray at night as black is sometimes bright and easy to see in the light. The brightness seems to linger forever. Pass on, I think putting all of my focus into not moving. I only exhale in short breaths not wanting any steam to escape. It’s not cold enough for that but old habits die hard.

The light fades, passing off to the other side. I raise my head catching sight of the light transiting to the right. I part the grass ahead and maneuver ahead. I keep a look out for any freshly turned earth or mounds of dirt. I wouldn’t think they would have mined the outside. They would have had to raid an armory for that and their weapons don’t indicate they had but one can never be too careful. Especially when it comes to explosives and the possibility of having one’s limbs being separated from the rest of the body. The light stops and swings back, this time focusing further in the trees. I freeze as it crosses above me, once more pressing down into the ground. This cat and mouse game continues for a period of time until I find myself next to the fence.

Several shrieks pierce the night. Some close and others answer from far away. I don’t know if it’s me they’re howling about or if it’s just my anxiety of being out in the night with them. Either way, I’m ready to be on the other side of the fence. The grass truly is greener on the other side. The light pans out to the left focusing on the tree line. I take out the can of chemical spray and spray upward close to a fence post. Spray is a misnomer as it actually comes out in a stream. Reaching a height tall enough to sidle through, I start across the chain links; they separate immediately. The spotlight begins in my direction again and I bury myself in the grass that abuts the fence. Once it passes, I quietly push the “door” through the fence inwards lifting it slightly to minimize any noise. The light comes back and stops on the trees to my immediate rear. I crouch through and close the “door.”

I’m hoping they haven’t spotted a trail I left but I don’t dare move to see what they are focusing on. I hear voices drift down from the tower twenty yards ahead of me. It’s too faint to hear any definitive words. I ready myself for any alarm. If it comes down to it, I’ll do what I can and slip back through the fence and lose myself in the woods. The game will be over though as they’ll know we’re here. Plan B will then be in effect. Plan B is