Free Black Market by Donald E. Zlotnik Page A

everybody wanted them. “I’ve already been briefed on that, Sergeant Arnason,
     and I’ve made up my mind.”
    Arnason stopped walking.
    “I’ve decided on making your team a
heavy
team. I’m not going to make too many changes in the Company’s organization, but the one thing that I’m going to do is form
     light and heavy recon teams. The light teams will have three men and an NCO team leader and the heavy teams will have eight
     men and two NCOs, the team leader and an assistant.”
    “That’s a damn good idea, Captain.”
    “I know.” Youngbloode spoke without any modesty. “I’ve been thinking about it since I was in the States and I’ve talked to
     a lot of ex-recon people about it. We need a heavy team with enough firepower to bail out our own light teams, or even to
     take on the tougher missions along the border.” Youngbloode felt the mud suck at his boots when he tried walking again. “So
     you don’t have to worry about anybody breaking up your team.”
    “Thanks sir.” Arnason started drifting away from the captain. “I’d like to tell the men; they were worried about being sent
     to other teams.”
    “Before you leave…” Youngbloode used the index finger on his right hand to rub under his nose. “What do you know about what
     occurred between Captain Gouch and Sergeant Shaw over at the supply tent a couple of weeks ago?”
    “Just what happened at the poker game: Shaw won about eight grand off the captain.”
    “Eight thousand dollars?”
    “Yes sir. The captain wrote a check for the money on his account back in the States.”
    “A check?”
    “Well … there might have been a
couple
checks involved.”
    “Were those checks drawn from stateside banks?”
    “I’m almost sure sir that I saw an Oklahoma address on the check nearest to me.”
    “Thank you sergeant and I’ll get back with you as soon as we’re given mission orders.” Youngbloode adjusted his holster. “You
     can start getting your men ready.”
    “Yes sir.”
    Captain Youngbloode watched Arnason walk through the mud to his bunker and enter. He was very concerned over what Arnason
     had told him about Shaw and the checks. The supply sergeant had submitted paperwork for his signature that authorized him
     to buy money orders so that he could convert the MPC into funds back in his personal accounts in the United States. Shaw had
     claimed winning twenty-four thousand dollars that night and had not mentioned any winnings paid off in checks. The sergeant
     had done nothing illegal but there was something that didn’t quite make sense.
    Youngbloode took his time inspecting his company area and gave orders to his officers and NCOs concerning the rebuilding of
     his perimeter and hooches.
    Woods followed Arnason into the bunker as soon as he had returned. “Well? What did he say?”
    “Relax, David. We’re going to be staying together as a team. The captain is going to start using what he calls heavy and light
     recon teams. A heavy team will be eight men.” Arnason couldn’t hold back the smile. “We’re going to be the
first
heavy team.”
    “Great!” Woods slapped the sandbags next to the door.
    “We’ve also been placed on alert for a mission back in our old
favorite
area.”
    Woods’s face turned pale. “Not…”
    “The la Drang Valley.”
    “Whew! I thought you were going to say up in the A Shau Valley.”
    “Not today, sport!” Arnason tried knocking the mud off his boots and then gave up. “Wait until after supper to tell the men
     about the mission. We’ve got a lot of work to do before then and I’ve got to make a couple of business calls.” Arnason strapped
     his NVA pistol belt on and adjusted the holster on his hip. “Do you think you can handle things for me this afternoon?”
    “Sure.” Woods’s face reflected his joy. “I was worried that they were going to give me my own team. I don’t think I’m ready
     for that kind of responsibility yet.”
    “You cut yourself down too