“It’s ok”, he said “I’m fine.”
Allison was fighting back tears and turned to walk away but Neil grabbed her and held her close.
Through soft sobs she said, “I was reading in my room when I heard we had soldiers with bullet wounds. I knew you were due to come back in today, and when I came in and saw you with blood all over your leg. It hit me hard that you could be hurt.”
Neil stroked her hair and kissed her forehead softly.
“I know it’s stupid because we haven’t known each other for long, but it scared me. I’ve been acting like a school girl and trying to hide it, bu t I just lost it when I saw you”, she said.
I was listening from around the corner smiling and shaking my head in disbelief. Neil had only met her less than a month ago, but already she seemed ready to say she loved him. Ready to say it or not, it was apparent to everyone else that they both felt it.
Neil just smiled at her, lifted her chin with his hand and looked her in the eye and said, “You can’t lose me. I’m not that easy to kill.”
She burst into laughter and wiped away her tears. Back to business she stripped away his pants and dressed his “scratch” that actually required a few stitches.
Chapter 23
"Our main agenda is to have all guns banned. We must use whatever means possible. It doesn't matter if you have to distort the facts or even lie. Our task of creating a socialist America can only succeed when those who would resist us have been totally disarmed."
Sara Brady
Chairman, Handgun Control Inc, to Senator Howard Metzenbaum
The National Educator, January 1994, Page 3
I decided to walk away from the lovebirds and brief Captain John. I found him in the mess hall and after a quick cup of coffee, we made our way to the briefing area. He was pleased to learn of our successes. The willingness of the locals to take us in to their homes was also a pleasant surprise. Most of us had expected the locals to view us as a nuisance, and more likely to bring them trouble, than to help them. He was particularly interested in the intelligence we were able to gather about the base. Gerome had agreed to take a small digital camera onto the base and had taken some great shots that would be invaluable for planning any type of action. What we feared most from the base was that it may be used to house suspected extremists and their families. We would need more Intel for that.
I told the Captain about our trip back and the random checkpoint that we had “negotiated .” While he was happy with the outcome, he was less than thrilled with my promise to help Matthew’s family. “You can’t make promises like that Chris”, he said. “You and I both know it would be stupid and almost suicidal to go back in there for a few days, for any reason.”
“I’m not p lanning to wait a few days boss”, I said. “I have to get them out tonight.”
He looked at me like I had lost my mind. Before he could object, I laid out my case. “They will find his van. We couldn’t destroy it well enough to hide who it belonged to. His family name and phone number is plastered on the side. He took a bullet that was aimed at me today. I can’t let his family be taken. I have to bring them back here, and I have to do it tonight.”
“This is crazy. I know you owe this guy, but have you even given any thought to how dangerous this will be?” he asked.
I had been thinking about nothing else since I made my promise to Matthew, and I believ ed I had a good plan. I laid it out for Captain John. To his credit he listened intently.
“…I guess I really just need a few guys crazy enough to go with me, and we should be in a nd out without a lot of trouble”, I said as Captain John rubbed his chin, his face showing the creases of deep thought.
“Well, WE need two more guys to make this happen.” I looked at him with a great deal of surprise. “That’s right, I’m going. I need to see