Sam approached cautiously, keeping out of Raynor’s reach. But Raynor caught Sam by surprise, sweeping his leg and catching Sam behind the knee, taking both legs out from under him. Sam fell forward and had to use both hands to stop his fall. He rolled away from Raynor, and managed to get back on his feet.
‘I don’t want to kill you Sam, but I don’t have a problem doing it. Anything to make the mission successful. I have to stick to the brief’
‘Is this what this is to you Raynor? A bloody mission?’
‘Of course it is Sam, what do you think it is?’
They circled each other, each waiting for the other to make his move.’
‘I think it’s madness, Raynor. You’re not right in the head.’
‘Are you questioning my mental wellbeing Sam? Because I take offence at that. And I’m not the sort of person who likes being offended.’
‘So why are you doing this?’
‘It’s my mission brief.’
‘So you’ve said, but people have died.’
‘Collateral damage. Unavoidable.’
‘You really believe that?’
‘Of course. The mission comes first.’
‘Why?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Why does the mission come first?’
Raynor stopped pacing, Sam followed suit. Raynor looked confused. It was as if he’d had the message drilled into him so many times over the years, the mission comes first, but he’d never taken the time to question the reasoning behind it. His brow furrowed and he looked down at the ground. Just for a moment. But a moment Sam could try to take advantage of.
The side-kick connected with Raynor’s chin and Sam lunged forward while bringing round his left arm in a ridge-hand strike that connected with Raynor’s throat. Raynor let out an angry cry. The rain pounded the street around them as Sam followed up with a hook from his right hand that connected with Raynor’s temple. The big man started to stagger. He was losing concentration. He was losing the fight. He took a couple of steps back, making sure he was out of range of any attack Sam could make. His sight was starting to blur. He decided to try and give himself a bit of time.
‘I will kill you Sam. Then I’ll kill your family.’
‘I’m not going to give you the opportunity, Raynor.’
‘Oh yeah? You think? Then it will be your mates. Mickey Purver and Dave, the mouthy smart-arse, Sykes. I’ll enjoy that. Then maybe the lovely Ms. Virani. Who knows?’
‘I do.’ Sam said, in a matter-of-fact tone, followed by, ‘Tonight.’ He pointed at the ground to emphasise the place which would accompany the allotted time before saying. ‘It ends.’
Raynor charged. He lowered his shoulder and connected with Sam’s stomach, knocking the wind out of the smaller man.
Sam was on the ground, rolling in agony.
Raynor stood over him and kicked him in the side.
‘You want to know why the mission must come first? You really want to know?’
Sam didn’t have time to answer, even if he could have.
‘Because the one time I deviated from a mission, most of my squad were wiped out. Five men. In Afghanistan. Taken out by an RPG. I bet your research never uncovered SCU10 did it?
Sam managed to shake his head before Raynor kicked him again. He let out another cry of pain and shut his eyes attempting to block it out.
‘SCU10 was made up of ex-SCU members. Your mate Bushy was in it.’
A young couple, rushing down the street arm in arm, snuggling under an umbrella noticed the commotion.
‘Are you okay, mate?’ The man shouted to Raynor.
‘Yeah, we’re fine, this one can’t handle his booze, that’s all.’
‘Do you need any help?’ The over inquisitive man asked.
‘No. Thank you’ Raynor replied as he turned and glared at the couple who had dared to come closer. They took one look at the hate and rage in Raynor’s eyes and turned away. They scurried off in a hurry. Raynor turned back to Sam. He bent down and grabbed Sam by the scruff of his neck and effortlessly lifted him to his feet. Sam wobbled, he couldn’t focus on anything. The pain was taking over.
Raynor held Sam up with his left arm and threw a punch with his right. Sam staggered back and collapsed once more.
‘Oh no you don’t.’ Said Raynor. ‘You’re not passing out on me. You wanted to know my story. Well here it is.’
Chapter Forty-Eight
The temperature had dropped from the highs of the afternoon, but not by enough. Even a drop of over fifteen degrees Celsius left the temperature hanging at around twenty-three degrees.
The eight-man squad had started the day in the small town of Asadabad in Afghanistan, the capital city of the Kunar Province, about six kilometres west of the border with Pakistan. A CIA operated transport helicopter picked them up at 08:00 and carried them the three hundred kilometres into Pakistan where they would receive their mission brief. Raynor was in command of the British support unit simply known as Banquo Squad, but changed to Bravo Team for the operation.
Their function was simple. Mop-up. The SEALs were to take control of the compound of Osama bin Laden and apprehend him and anyone with him. Intelligence reported that there were only a handful of guards and bin Laden’s immediate family in the compound. Bravo Team would keep a safe distance from the compound perimeter and shoot anybody attempting to flee. Operation Neptune’s Spear was go.
It should have been so easy.
The SEALs approached by helicopter from Jalalabad in eastern Afghanistan. Two stealth Black Hawks were to deploy the American Troops who would zip-line into the compound. Nobody expected the mission to go wrong so soon.
As the first Black Hawk hovered above the compound, adverse airflow coupled with the high compound walls stopped the tail rotor from operating at maximum efficiency. The tail rotor brushed against the compound wall forcing the pilot to soft land just inside the perimeter. The second helicopter landed outside of the compound, forcing the SEALSs to scale or breach the wall in order to gain access to the compound.
‘Bravo Team. This is Neptune. Come in. Over.’
‘Bravo One. Copy. Over.’
‘Bravo One, the mission parameters have changed. I repeat, the mission parameters have changed.’
‘Negative, Neptune, Bravo Team mission parameters do not change. Bravo Team does not report to Neptune.’
‘Neptune to Bravo Team. Neptune assumes all control for operating parameters. The mission has changed.’
Raynor removed his helmet and motioned for Bush to do the same. He covered his microphone with his hand.
‘What do you think, Bushy?’ Raynor asked.
‘Dunno mate. It’s your call. Me? I’d stay put and do as I was told. Thomas told us not to deviate.’
‘I know, but man, bin Laden’s in there. This is history being made. Shit, I might even get a chance to slot him.’
‘In your dreams Nate, the septic’s will make sure they get that honour. They’re the hero’s mate, we’re just the hired help. Here to take out the trash.’