Page 39 of What is Found

“Meaning?”

“Let me tell story so you understand. I run away when I am nine. This happen the day after my father say I must marry old man. That man was fifty. My father...he need money. Too many mouths feed, and old mans always want little girl for wife.”

Just the thought turned his stomach. “Okay, so you ran away to join in the fight?” When she nodded, he said, “You were nine. How’d you even hold a rifle?”

“No can. Too small girl. I carry supplies. I scout. I quick, run fast, carry message. One day I get strong, I pick up rifle.”

“And?”

“Andwe fight different war. We fight for childrens here. Not with books or food but different way that Americans know about and help with us to do.”

“What?” He looked from Shahida to Driver then back. “You mean, American aid agencies or government?”

“In beginning, is aid withsomehelp.”

“Meaning some piece of government help.”

“Let us just say…some. But now Americans decide leave. You even tell Taliban when. But many childrens here still need help.”

He remembered the day that particular president had made that particular announcement. Talk about a strategic blunder at the highest level. The soldiers and line officers at Benning only shook their heads:The fastest way to lose a war is to tell everyone when you’re quitting.

“I still don’t understand. Are you like the Zeroes?” he asked. “CIA train you or was that Special Forces?”

Roni, who’d been completely silent, said, “John, you’re missing the point.”

That got under his skin. “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m a little sleep-deprived and a lot messedup after a not-so-little suicide bombing,” he snapped. “So, while I appreciate this lesson on Afghan civics and sex crimes, what does all this have to do with me? Or with you, Roni? With either of us?” Before she could answer, he looked to Driver. “Does this have something to do with why Macisn’there?”

“Like we said,” Driver replied, “he’s tied up.”

“Doing what?” John asked. “Or is it that he doesn’t want to be responsible for us non-spooks?”

“Driver and his crew aren’t with the CIA or JSOC either,” Roni said. “It’s a little more complicated than that.”

“I think I can handle complicated, thanks, seeing as how I’m a doctor and all. I’m used to really big words.” Ignoring the hurt on her face, he turned back to Shahida and Driver. “So, I ask again. What do you want? Why do you evenneedme or Roni?”

“For starters,” Driver said, “we’re down a man. We lost Harris. Besides being a friend and a good shot, he was our SARC.”

“He was Navy?” He felt his eyebrows arch in surprise. Having no medical branch of their own, Marines used Navy SARCs: Special Amphibious Reconnaissance Corpsmen. A SARC had the same training as his black ops or specialist counterparts and so could serve not only as the medic for a unit or squad or platoon but also take on various roles, including command, if someone went down. “That’swhy you need us? Because we’re doctors?”

“Because we need all the help we canget.” Driver paused then added, “Especially if that someone is just as good as a HOG.”

His heart did a convulsive flip. The acronym was a title bestowed only to those who passed the elite Marine Scout Sniper School. Upon graduation, a newly minted sniper was given a “Hog’s Tooth,” a 7.62×51mm NATO round which the M40A6, the primary sniper rifle used by Marines, fired.The tradition grew out of a saying,There’s a bullet out there with your name on it. Call it superstition, but so long as a Marine wore that tooth around his neck, the bullet with his name would never find him. Now, that didn’t explain why inShooter—a fun flick if you were into weapons and seemingly impossible shots at distance—Mark Wahlberg’s character, Bobby Lee, wore a Hog’s Tooth andstilltook a bullet. Of course, he didn’t die. Kill Mark Wahlberg, there’s no movie.

And you, my friend, are getting pretty punchy.

Aloud, he temporized. “I’ve never been to sniper school.”

“Coulda fooled me. You got your training from somewhere and, for my money, I think itwasfrom a sniper, but it’s fine, fine…” Driver held up a hand when John started to speak. “I don’t need all the details. All I’m saying is we saw you in action. You and Roni are both very good, and you are excellent, as good as if notbetterthan most professionally instructed gunmen.”

This, Dare once had warned him, was preciselythe kind of notice he’d wanted to avoid. “So, what you’re saying is you want me because I shoot well.”

“I’d be lying if I said that wasn’t part of it.” Driver shrugged. “But you’re a pretty cool customer, too. I need someone with skills, someone who can keep his head—and if things getreallyhairy, I need someone who can shoot from a fast-moving vehicle.”

“Fast-moving.” He frowned. “What is this,The Great Escape?”

“Saw that movie,” Flowers said. “McQueen was awesome.”

“Why would I be shooting atanyone?”

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