Free Run With The Brave Page A

eventually coming to a halt half buried on the valley floor some 100 feet below.
    An eerie silence engulfed the valley. Before the dust could settle, Ryder crawled from the debris, dazed but unhurt, amazed to still be alive, followed by a jumble of others from his truck. He recognised only Sicano, Brady and Kellar. All had suffered minor cuts and bruises.
    Survival instinct immediately kicked in and without a word, Ryder, the Americans, and others who were able rushed over to the nearest vehicle, its crushed rear protruding from the rubble. It was clear no one had survived inside the mangled wreckage. They removed what weapons and ammunition they could retrieve and sprinted to the next.
    Inside the twisted mess of the second truck some of the occupants were horribly injured and barely alive. Weapons and ammunition were again removed but not before the Iranian prisoners shot those that were still breathing, not out of compassion but out of revenge for what they had suffered.
    Hurrying back to their own vehicle, less damaged than the other two, Ryder and the three Americans checked the sprawled occupants amongst the debris. Captain Cane was clearly dead, half buried, head smashed to pulp; the other five Americans were somewhere beneath the pile of rubble; frantic digging exposing their crushed and lifeless bodies. Out of the nine who left the prison only Sicano, Brady and Kellar had survived. Seven Iranian prisoners, one a woman, had also survived. Most suffered cuts and abrasions, one had both legs broken, another lay in a pool of blood from a crushed leg. In the failing light the survivors looked at one another. Ryder knew they would not get far with the seriously injured men and the Iranian authorities would show little mercy to those left behind.
    Shocked by the swiftness of what had just happened, he tried to come to terms with the situation, acutely aware of the urgency to get away without delay. Providence had set them free, but in this vast, hostile mountain range, with hardly any food or water to speak of, he knew the situation was nothing short of desperate; the odds of escape and survival almost nil. The trucks would soon be missed and they would be hunted down. No choice but to run and put as much distance as possible between the valley and themselves before the sun rose. Ryder thought about making his escape alone but decided it was probably best to stay with the survivors – at least for the time being. In this environment there could be strength in numbers.
    â€œOkay, who’s taking command?” he shot at the Americans. It had been their operation; he was only support.
    They each glanced at one another. The lengthy silence that followed prompted him to think that perhaps without their officers these men might be losing a little of their nerve.
    Then Master Sergeant Brady said quietly, “I will.” He did not sound convincing.
    Ryder could hardly believe it. “How much do you know about this part of the world, Sergeant?”
    â€œNot a lot. Overflow would’ve been the first op here.”
    â€œWhat about you two?” He looked at Sicano and Kellar who both gave blank looks and shook their heads.
    Fuck! Am I going to risk my life following these guys? – Don’t think so.
    Ryder came to a decision; glancing at each of the remaining survivors, “We’ve been given this chance to escape; I suggest we take it and go our own ways. Grab what you can and split.”
    â€œWait!” shot Brady, “You’ve been here before, come with us.”
    â€œNo disrespect, Sergeant – but I prefer to make it alone. You guys know what you’re doing. Just head west.”
    Brady hesitated, glanced over at the other two Americans then said, “Look, we have to be practical here. If it’s a question of who leads; I understand you’re ex-Brit Special Forces, you take command.”
    Sicano and Kellar nodded in agreement.
    Ryder was a little surprised at that.