Page 13 of Lucky Charm
“Unknown. Stay hidden, Doc.” He gave a quick yet careful study of the weapon in the man’s hand. Ruger. Probably a family heirloom.
“In place, Alpha One.” Tommy’s voice sounded in his ear. “Weapons all around in the truck bed. Various makes.”
Tommy’s view from his sniper scope confirmed what Hunt had suspected. Either they were well-used and well-cared for weapons, or they were old and props, and ammunition was anyone’s guess. Given how long the conflict had lasted in this region, he’d guess well-cared for.
“Carter, hit the spotlight.”
“That’ll light us up.”
“And them. But they’ll see our red cross. Let’s not start on the wrong foot. Let’s try talking.”
Carter flashed the spotlight mounted to both sides of the vehicle. The added light brought some clarity to the dark day. Several of the “men” wereboys. Immaturity, radical ideology, and weapons. Great.
“Roll down your window and yell at these jokers,” Hunt ordered.
“In what language?” Carter rolled down the window to a blast of cold air. “We’ve got a few choices.”
“Let’s start with Pashto. Yell ‘medical.”
Carter did as he asked, his deep booming voice cutting through the morning silence.
The men stopped. Message received.
“Yell medical again.” Hunt kept his eyes trained on the front man. “Add Haquiri’s name. Tell them doctor.”
Carter yelled the three words in order.
The lead man started forward, yelling his own words. Carter turned his head and listened carefully. “He wants to search the vehicle.”
“No.”
Carter answered in the negative, adding the word village.
Another spat of words from the lead man caused Carter to vehemently shake his head.
“What?” Hunt frowned, sorting through some of the language.
“They’ll only let the doctor through, not us.”
“Not how this is going to work.”
“Hunt?” Doc’s voice came at him from behind the seat. “The boy needs help.”
“Your protection is priority, Doc. There is no way you’re going in there alone, as a military officer,as a doctor, as a woman, it’s a fuck no,” he said, roughly. “Tell me you understand that?”
Doc sighed. “Understood.”
Hunt wanted like hell to have a longer conversation to assure her he wasn’t discounting her medical mission, but there was no time. “Haquiri knew the conditions command put on operating on the kid. Tell them no, Carter.”
Carter leaned to the window and yelled more than no.
“What did you add?” Hunt’s Pashto wasn’t conversational.
Carter shrugged. “The boy dies. Seemed pertinent.”
The man started a long rant, but Hunt had listened enough. “Cut the lights and back the hell up to Alpha Seven.”
“Can do.” Carter flicked the switch, and the dismal day became dark again. Putting the vehicle in gear, he slowly backed.
