Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Black (10/15/09)
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TITLE: Coal Black Night | Previous Challenge Entry
By Linda Boutin
10/22/09 -
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The rain never seemed to stop here. Humidity created a mist keeping everything sticky, wet and uncomfortable. The lush landscape would have been beautiful had it not been for the mission the men were on. The village two clicks to the north had become a harbor for the enemy helping them in trying to defeat the American soldiers
Heart racing, head pounding with adrenaline, Cole pushed some vines out of his path. Suddenly the ground dropped out from under him, he’d fallen into one of the spider holes. He found himself in a narrow tunnel at least six feet below the ground level. He flicked on the small flashlight he carried, chasing away the darkness he’d fought all night. He surveyed his surroundings. Not much to see, just a narrow, short tunnel leading in two directions. He headed the way he hoped was the village.
In his head he recited what he could remember of the 23rd Psalm, “Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I shall fear no evil.” That’s all he could remember and it ran through his head over and over. He remembered his mother reciting the Psalm word for word to banish away his night terrors as a child. One thing Cole never did like was coal black nights. As he crawled forward with slow deliberate movements, he realized it was drier and cooler down here under the earth.
His mission was reconnaissance this night. Dropping into the tunnel had been a happy surprise. Now all he had to do was determine how many soldiers were hiding out in the village and report back to the lieutenant. He listened carefully for sounds of activity while slowly making his way forward. A small cache opened up to his left. The entire area was filled with food, ammunition and weapons. Alert to any sounds or movement, he continued forward until he heard voices. Dousing his light, he peered into the darkness just able to discern the light of a fire ahead. He counted a group of 38 ragtag men clustered in a small underground cave. Weapons, ammunition belts and the smells of cooking confirmed his suspicion that this was their sanctuary.
He backed up slowly and silently until he reached a spot wide enough to turn around. With his back to the Vietcong, he prayed even harder for God to get him back to his platoon with the critical information he’d discovered. Panting he slid faster than he knew he could to get out of this hole. He made his way back to where he’d fallen in and pushed his way up and out. As he cautiously peeked above the edge of the wall, he found his platoon in disarray. The snipers had found his comrades.
He saw the newest recruit in the platoon fall down. He’d not yet learned the technique of keeping his head down in a fire fight. Cole closed his eyes and said a silent prayer for the new guy’s soul. He waited for the shooting to stop, watched and listened for his opportunity to make it out. He heard rustling coming from behind him in the tunnel and knew it was now that he must make his escape.
He dove quickly from the hole into the underbrush. His breath came in short and shallow gasps as he made his way back to the lieutenant and the field radio. After the information was safely relayed in to HQ, he thanked God for keeping him safe in the warren of spider holes and tunnels that lay under the landscape in Vietnam. He made a new notch on his rifle butt, number 24. The notches represented the number of times he’d gone underground and come back out.
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