Chapter Two

Lei Chung and Sergeant Kang were in the perfect hiding spot waiting for the Americans. They had originally thought they would come this way, but it was now obvious that they could not. That meant they would attempt to escape through another route. He decided that he and Kang would make their way back up the mountain road and relocate the Americans. Then he would begin his hunt.

Chapter Three

When Jake and the others got back to the Duck, Griff had it in the road and ready to go.

“Griff, you ready?” Jake said as he tapped the front tire.

“You know I am Reb.”

The Captain came up and stood next to the Duck. He looked at the men and at the vehicle. He had a blank look on his face and Jake noticed it.   

“Captain,” said Jake getting his attention. “Before we go can I address the men?”

There was a pause, “You may Sergeant.”   

Jake looked at him and then at the men. “Men,” he said.

The men gathered around, and Griffin stepped outside the Duck.

“Asking how you are holding up is a dumb question so I won’t ask it. But I do want to say that I am proud of every one of you. You’ve had your initiation into combat arena and you survived. You in essence have become Combat Security Police Rangers. However, that doesn’t make you seasoned so don’t get overconfident. We are still deep in enemy territory with 140 plus miles, or there about to reach Kunsan,” he let that sink in, “but we do have an advantage, the enemy doesn’t know we are here. That means we have a better than average chance of making it out of here alive, and staying alive so we can reach friendly lines is our primary objective and as long as we head south southwest, we are bound to find them. From here on out, we have to be nothing more than a shadow and a fleeting one at that. However, if we are found out we must be accurate and deadly. We are now, not fighting for this country or for ours, we are fighting for each other. General Patton once said that you don’t win wars by dying for your country. No Sir! We win wars by making the other guy die for his. Now we are not looking for a fight but if we caught in one, just do what you know to do. Also,” he paused for a moment. “We need to travel fast so I want everyone to be on their toes, we don’t want to be caught off guard. Next – the radio, we have the main one, which the RTO will maintain and I believe we have enough spare batteries, if we have to use them, to get us home. When we have to conduct a recon, the team will carry a handheld. Does everyone understand?”

Every one acknowledged.

“Good. Now make sure that you pack your rucks with enough food, water, and ammo in case we have to ditch the Duck and go it on foot. I want the sixty up top at all times and a man with a 203 covering our rear.  

“Whoo-ah,” Sledge Hammer said smiling.”

“That’s affirm,” George said as he looked at Hammer.

“Alright,” Jake said, “let’s load em up and get outta Dodge.”

Everyone got in the Duck and found a seat. Hammer took his spot up top with the 60 and Pierce, on the 203, opened the rear hatch and stood up through there. The Captain sat in the co-pilots seat while Griffin remained the driver.

“Here we go,” Griffin said and put the Duck in gear and slowly pulled off.

It was 09:30 as the Reapers moved up the road. Jake could sense the electricity of both excitement and the dark shadow that just seemed too wrapped around them. Jake recognized the feeling as anticipation of meeting the enemy which is enough to make any man cringe. He remembered the combat of Vietnam, the sights, the sounds, the smells, and the fear. No one can ever know what it’s like and really can’t describe it until they are in it. But these men can. They can now tell you because they have had their first taste of it and made it out alive. But his biggest question was their Captain. Will he get a grip on his fear, will he get them killed, or will he by some stroke of fate become a hero? Not a chance on the hero, Jake thought.

Griffin, with his head out the drivers hatch, could see a good distance up a head. He was looking for the road that Pete had mentioned and when he saw it, he called back.

“We are approaching our turn into the Valley.”

Pete tapped him on the shoulder. “Hold up, I want to take a quick look on foot.”

Griffin, driving slow and trying to keep the sound of the engine to a minimum, stopped.

 “Captain, with your permission I’m going to take a quick look.”

“Go ahead and as you said, make it quick.”

Pete got up and opened the side hatch. He locked it open and stepped out and down to the ground.

Jake came up to the open door, “hold on, I’ll go with you.” He stepped and they walked off.

Jake and Pete saw the road up a head and walked to it. They turned onto it and a slight wave of gladness went through Jakes mind, he was glad to be going south. The sound of armor moving down the main road continued to echo through the hills and down into the valley – Jake looked at Pete. That is what we are walking into, Jake thought.

They walked on for about 200 meters looking at the hills on both sides.  Trees and plenty of greenery and in some places, looked pretty thick filled the landscape. As Jake looked up through the trees, he could see several small foot trails. Pete saw the same thing on the left.

“Reckon we need to tell the Captain,” Pete said.

“Yes,” Jake said.

“I tell you what, seeing’s how we are out of site I could just slip on up, check it out and be back in line before he ever knew I was gone.”

“Okay, go, but do it fast.”

Pete took off up the hill to his right.

Jake kept walking straight ahead hoping that nothing would cause them to stop. Ten minutes pass, and then fifteen and still no Pete. Jake was getting a little edgy when he finally saw him up front. He smiled as he approached.

“Man I was wondering if those natives captured you or maybe that you were abducted by aliens.”

“Nope, but the way is clear.”

They headed back to the Duck.

Griffin was still sitting in the driver’s seat with his head out of the hatch when he saw Jake and Pete coming back, he told the Captain, “Sir, their coming back in.”

“Okay, get ready to move out.”

When Jake got back in he told the Captain that it was clear.

“Alright Sergeant Griffin, move out.”

“Yes Sir.” He put the Duck in gear and once again slowly drove up the road.

The turn came up quick and Griffin made the turn. When he did, he said to everyone in the Duck, “we are now entering the Valley of the Shadow.”

The atmosphere went suddenly somber as everyone considered the words, “Valley of the Shadow.”

Here is where death is. He is where we meet that death and here where we find out just how fare. Destiny is waiting.

The road or path the Reapers were traveling was a little rough in places, with stones, ruts, and just plain old holes, and the men felt each one, but the Duck was built for this type of rugged terrain, so, despite the conditions, we were making good time and so far, without incident. Earlier, the Captain opened the passenger seat hatch so he could look around and see where we were going.  We were in the enemy’s backyard and, if they decided to take to the hills, the odds of us being discovered are great. We were all hoping that would not be the case, at least not right now.