Chapter Four

It was just two minutes after three when Sam decided to check their food situation. They had spent fifteen minutes wadding through mud, and over two hours washing and drying in the stream.

Now, almost covered to the knees in mud and twenty minutes away from the stream, they felt their strength fading by the minute. They had to manage their consumption due to uncertainty and caution.

As they sat on dirt and grass, each person reached for their bags, checking what was left of food. They rummaged through their bags, bringing out canned food and at least four bottles of water.

“Well, I’ve got two cans left and a bottle of water.” Kurt  said, putting each object back into his bag.

“Just two cans?” Leigh asked.

“Yeah, you got extra for me?” Kurt eased. “I gotta satisfy what’s here.” He slapped his midriff.

Leigh shook her head. “I still got about six Heinz and four canned beef.”

“Seems like you got enough to last you till day two.” Sam said.

“Yeah, hopefully.”

“I’ve got what Leigh has.” Tyler said, throwing her arms around Leigh.

“Same here,” Cory spoke. “just one can more.” He smiled.

“Winston, White,” Sam stared in their direction. “ what about you guys.”

“We got enough, depending on how you define enough.” White replied.

“Yeah, lucky you.” Kurt said.

“You know,” White started. “we wouldn’t have been in this situation if not for you Kurt.”

“And you’re welcome too.” Kurt eyed him then continued. “Try handling what I do and see for yourself.” The statement carried more sarcasm than he wanted it to.

“Oh like you have the hardest job.”

“Fuck you.”

“No, fuck you.” White returned. “why are you even here?”

“Hey watch it.” Kurt was standing, eyes glaring. “I saved your life twice. You owe me and you know it you do.” He turned, walking to no where in particular.

“I don’t owe you shit.”

Kurt turned, he had an eerie smile on his lips. “yeah you do. You owe me everything.” He walked to where White was standing. He tapped White in the forehead with his middle finger. Leaning close to his ear, he whispered. “You owe me.” He spoke the words slowly letting it sink into Whites head. He cocked his head, walking away from White with his back to him.

“White-”

Before Leigh could finish her sentence, White flung the stone he’d picked. The rock hit Kurt just below his head. Kurt swerved and lunged forward hitting the air. He and White were on the ground before anyone knew what was going on.

As they rolled and struggled, Whites fist caught Kurt just above his right eye. Kurt groaned. He was on White and was at the advantage, plus he had a bigger body and had been in the army longer than the man below him.

Kurt’s arm shot at White, hitting him twice in the nose with both arms. White’s body shifted into self-acting. He grabbed Kurt by the neck, ignoring the blows that flew at him, and strangling the larger man. The action caused Kurt to ease a little, just the chance White was looking for. He reeled, trying to force Kurt unto his back. Kurt noticed. He strengthened his grip on White. Just behind him, Kurt felt arms pulling at him and the pleas of Leigh and Tyler ripping through the air. He reached for the SAS knife strapped to his boots. Grabbing it, he aimed at White’s head.

“KURRRRRRRRRRT!” Leigh’s cry tore through his ears.

He stabbed, and then silence.

Kurt looked at the man below him. His eyes were tightly shut, he was palpitating. A bead of sweat coursed down Kurt’s head.  It clung to his clean jaw for a moment and fell to the ground.

He stood, pulling the knife from the ground, Kurt staggered backwards. He spat hard into the dirt and returned the knife to his boots.

“You owe me White.” He screamed. “And now, you owe Leigh. Don’t forget that.”

White lay there on the dirt, still shocked.

“What’s this huh?” Sam said smacking Kurt in the chest. “You almost killed him. What’s wrong with you?”

Kurt looked at Sam, his teeth grounding against each other.

“Let’s just go” Sam said. He grabbed his bag and walked away, fuming. “This better not happen next time.”

“Errr. Sir,” Cory called to Sam. “you’re going the wrong way.” he paused. “It’s this way.” He said pointing in the opposite direction.

Sam turned and walked in the direction Cory had pointed to.

“And stand up White.” He kicked White in the gut.

“Come on.” Tyler said, helping White to his feet.

                                             *****************************

Major General William Robinson stole into the kitchen of his six bed room duplex. The only sound coming from the house was the whistling of the kettle telling the General that his water was ready. He turned the cooker off, pouring the boiling water into a mug, he added two spoons of coffee and two cubes of sugar. He headed for his room, mug in hand.

As he made his way to the stairs, he heard the receiver in the living room ring. He walked to it, calculating his steps. He picked it up and waited. The voice on the other end was female. It was her. He knew it was her. His ex-wife. He stayed, taking deep breaths with each passing second. She never called for anything good.

Never.

Their relationship had been a rough one. She always had a devil-may-care attitude to things that he would have considered as important. To him, she was a bane in his life, and she knew it and she was proud of it. Their high school love which had seemed sweet at first turned sour two days after their wedding when he had to leave for a mission in Somalia, he stayed away for six months. Upon his return he met her with a bulging stomach, much to his surprise, she had blamed the child on him. He’d believed her, until twelve years ago when he found out the child wasn’t his.

He’d filed for divorce immediately.

“Hey.” He heard her say. “I’m dropping my niece at your place tonight.” She said.

“What time exactly?”

“Eight, have to be somewhere by nine.” She cut the call.

Typical. He dropped the receiver. Just beneath the receiver was an envelope, sticking out at one end. He picked it up, at the top left was an address. He flipped it and at the back was written to Jefferey Robinson. The letter was dated twelve years ago.

Placing the envelope back underneath the receiver, the General sighed and walked up the stairs towards his room.