Chapter Seven
Grim Brotherhood
North Africa 1992
Just as Rios had predicted it turned out to be a long month. The men, while more tolerant of Salem, still hesitated to accept him. Guidry, Pedro Ramos and Heckler, came around first and began to work with the new man little by little. Guidry, a silent loner, who was older the rest of the group having entered the Army when he was twenty-eight, took a keen interest in Salem's hand to hand fighting skills. The way he'd handled himself against the mercs had impressed him. The man had heart and viciousness about him that Guidry knew if honed and tapped, would be a huge asset to the team. The minimal hand to hand instruction Salem received in training was nothing compared to what Guidry could provide. He'd trained in several martial arts and immediately began helping Salem with techniques to counter his smaller stature.
Two weeks after returning, the rest of the squad sat around watching the new friend's train. Rios especially took interest in the pairs burgeoning friendship. Although Elliot and him were getting along and despite switching rolls of spotter and shooter until Salem's hand healed, working well as a sniper team, he worried that the young man's focus on Guidry might derail his own efforts at bonding with him.
"Ok Salem, good, good; now set your left foot here, no here." He repeated kicking Salem's foot into the proper position. "Yea, feel how this all feels. Sure, I'm a fuck of a lot bigger, but feel how now, with my center closed off you have control. Now step, pull and roll out left."
Salem followed the instructions and Guidry went down onto the training mat. Salem stood over him letting the move settle in his muscle memory. They repeated the take down over and over until the smaller man could do it at speed, flawlessly.
When they'd finished the session Rios walked over to them and clapped his hands together.
"You look good man, just two weeks in and you've really learned a lot."
Salem wiped his face down with a towel and gapped at Rios. Had the man just complimented him? He smiled and pointed to Guidry.
"It's all Giddy. He's good, Rios. This stuff, it evens my size out you know. It's just smart stuff. Be even better once I lose this damned cast."
"Yea missed my chance, guess I should've kicked your ass sooner."
"Guess so, Hey Gid, we gonna hit the weights tonight or no."
"Ah," he said looking at his watch, "I need to pass, Elliot. I have to see Top about some plans for the patrol, next month. So it'll have to be tomorrow."
"Sure, thanks, guess it's a shower then, well good night."
They watched Salem leave the training room, avoiding the squad by going the long way around.
"Look Giddy, gimme a hand with this will you." Rios started.
"What's up?"
"It's Salem. I'm trying damned hard to fix it between us. You've got this whole hand to hand thing going on let me take the weight training. It'll gimme some extra time with him, so I can get to know him better. Aside from you, Pedro, and Heck, the guys man they're just not havin' it."
"Yea no problem just figure how you want to play it. Nice and easy you know don't want to start anything with him."
"No I'll talk to him, come up with something, thanks. You need me in the meeting or is it strictly supply stuff?"
"Supply shit. That patrol they want next month, we'll be in an advanced position for a few weeks. We're just going over my lists. You think of anything though gimme a heads up."
"Roger that, good night."
Rios headed back to the room, mulling over what excuse he'd use to take over as Salem's gym partner. If he'd learned nothing else about the man he'd learned that he had a short fuse. The training with Giddy was keeping him focused but he was still waging a running skirmish with half of the squad. Rios hoped that Salem's new skills would be useful when the fighting started, which he knew it eventually would, but hoped the younger man could avoid that scenario. The team had about a week and a half left of carrying their bricks and the guys were getting sick of the extra weight.
When he got to the room Salem was getting out of the shower. He had only a towel round his waist and Rios could see that most all of the bruising to his ribs had healed. He was starting to put on some weight too which was good, it meant he could stop force feeding the man. Salem had, by his own admission, a lackluster appetite, and the Bosnia mission had ruined that.
"Hey." He said surprisingly cheerfully scrubbing at his wet hair with a second towel.
Rios tossed his keys on his desk and crossed to the window. Below he could see Bentley, Mendelssohn and Franklin playing cards at the picnic table and smoking. The squad had spilt down the middle and Rios knew that Benedict expected him to fix it.
"You're gonna have to teach me some a that fancy shit Giddy's showing you. Push comes to shove, I'm gonna have minimum four of those sorry fucks to kick the shit outta."
Salem tossed the towels over the back of his chair and grabbed a pair of sweats from his locker. He slid into them sans underwear and joined Rios at the window surprised that the big man was offering to fight over him.
"Fuck 'em. Just sucks for me because I can't afford the trouble. I fuck this Army gig up and get sent home, I go straight back to Louisiana State Penitentiary for the rest of a ten year stretch, which is eight. I survive this shit and I'm a free fuckin' man, pardon from the governor and all. I just hate not fighting my own battles."
Rios pulled the blinds closed and walked to his desk. Salem went back into the bathroom to clean it up and comb his hair then returned with two bottles of cold Corona. He pulled a bottle opener from his locker, opened them and handed one to Rios.
"Where in the fuck did you get this shit, Salem?"
"What's the name of that new policy they're working on for the gays? Don't ask don't tell. Well Sarge, don't ask and damn sure don't tell."
"How much you have?"
"Enough. Did a little plundering last week. There's plenty where this batch came from."
"Salem, the only guys, and I mean the only guys drinkin' this on the base are those shady SSC mercs."
"Yup, and now their six cases light. Like I said bro this is our stash, no one else."
"And how in the fuck are we supposed to throw out the bottles?"
Salem flipped his desk chair around and sat down with his forearms on the back of it.
"Dude, that's the best part." Salem said smiling broadly. "Don't. We put them back into the empty cases and I switch 'em when I get the next load. Then those pay for hire fuck faces think they've got more than they do till they open 'em, but better yet they start tearing out each other's throats trying to figure out who's jacking it. It will be primo, bro."
"And where for Christ's sake are you stashing it?"
"Enough on ice here for a day or so, and the rest; don't ask…"
"Right, I got it."
"Bathroom ceiling over the shitter, the A.C. duct runs through there, keeps it chilled."
"You're unbelievable, corporal, un-fucking believable."
Later after they killed six or so beers a piece and lay in bed. Rios finally asked the question that had nagged him all evening.
"Yo, Salem."
"Yea."
"Ten years, you did two, your only what man twenty-two or three and been Army long enough to get all the training you've got, don't add up."
"Went in at sixteen, adult facility, gen. pop, no place for kids. Fuck, damn sure thought I was a man, sick fucks cured me a that quick though. Army got me at seventeen."
Rios thought it through. "Ok and can I ask, what in the fuck did you manage to do, to piss 'em off enough to hit you so hard, Kermit? Fuck, damn sure had to be a bit more than stealing beer."
"Just a bit, murder. Tyse, this is between us two, bro. Those fucks can't ever know or they'll play me that much harder man, swear it."
"Swear, I got your six man, we're tight. Get some sleep now."
But Rios didn't sleep. He laid awake tossing and turning, picturing Salem, a skinny punk kid, fending off grown men in a prison. No wonder the man had a mean streak a mile long. Finally around sun rise he dragged himself up and went running.
Three days later the team went on a routine patrol and ran into unanticipated hostiles. The gun battle waged for several hours and the extraction choppers couldn't get in until they regrouped and cleared the LZ. Salem and Rios had exhausted all of their sniper ammo trying to pick away at the targets and finally fought a grim battle hand to hand for three blocks to reach the rest of the team to add their support. Salem's viciousness both disturbed and impressed Rios. Mendelssohn and Guidry had bunkered down, trapped several hundred yards to the team's right flank and Rios worked a plan out with Benedict to go after them so they could regroup and wait for the choppers.
"Take Salem, take half of Bentley's 50 cal. ammo and Salem, set me down some defensive sniper fire with that light fifty a yours, from there, in that pink building. Looks like from that second floor corner window you can get a good line on the bitches firing that MMG. I need that sucker eliminated, Salem. Pedro, you and Heck cover 'em. Bentley as soon as they hit the street let fly at that APC with that fifty and don't stop till there inside. Mark it Rios 'cause I'm gonna throw smoke too and if the wind shifts you two'll be running blind. Salem how's the hand?"
"Fine. Here, Top."
"What the fuck's this?"
"Three Incendiaries, new generation. Next time those fucks make a pass with that fifty cal. lob a couple in. It'll take that APC outta play. Short as fuck fuse though so watch it." Salem said loading Bentley's ammo into his pouches. "I've got one more. After we tag those bastards in the MMG, I'm gonna go for that second APC. These babies are beautiful. I love 'em."
"Yea where the fuck you get them?"
Salem grinned and slung his M107 around to load it.
"Ask Rios."
"Don't ask don't tell, Top. Salem's favorite new policy."
On cue the pair took off running. The smoke spilled out onto the street and the guys laid a fine line of cover.
"Fuck, that fucker Bentley didn't shoot me in the back!" Salem hollered as they dove through the door. "Sure as hell expected him to. You see the look on his face when top told him to hand over his ammo."
"Shut the hell up, pay attention and move up those stairs."
"Was like he was giving me his right nut or something. Oops, sounds like that APC crashed. Where you going, it's this way Rios, this corner."
Rios turned and followed Salem glad for the man's sense of direction.
"Here it's this one second floor corner. Take that window and cover me while I get set."
"Sure you can shoot that fifty with your hand? Cast's beat to shit, cracked."
"Roger that."
"Yup, Top got the fifty; it's smoking like a bitch and looks like they capped the tangos. Hurry up; you got eyes on him yet?"
"Yea, light him up; get him to rotate our way."
"What?"
"Yea clean shot through the peep hole between his bursts, works every time; just aim that way and keep your fat head down, Tubby."
"You are crazy, you truly are." Rios snapped back, ducking as he let loose a volley of rounds toward the MMG.
It roared to life and the wall around his window started to come apart.
"Any time Salem, I'm running outta wall here man."
"Chill bro, in between like I…"
Rios stopped firing when the MMG paused, then looked to his left when Salem's rifle cracked off a shot. There was no mistaking the sound of the light fifty.
"Target eliminated. Now get your fat ass moving I got an APC to kill and an incendiary burning a hole in mine."
Rios stood and followed Salem from the room, down the steps and out into a hail of gunfire, some theirs and some the hostile's. He ducked down an alley, cut through a building and headed up another flight of stairs. He could hear Rios talking to Benedict and knew that Giddy and Mendelssohn had rendezvoused with them. On the third floor Rios finally saw what the man had planned.
"Yea I saw you slink down here you sorry fucker. Welcome to the BBQ, baby. You're about to be the toast of the town. Can you drop it straight down into it? Bastards don't even know we're here. Then I'll cap the fucks if the make it out. Don't miss."
"You drop it, asshole. I'll cap em."
"Deal." Salem pulled the pin and burned a precious second or two, scaring the hell out of Rios. "On my count one, two, three."
They watched as the grenade fell straight down into the open turret of the old personnel carrier. Then it detonated just as it was fully within it.
"Sucks for you, Tubby. You zero, me three more. Ain't nobody crawling outta that bitch, let's move. Hmm, it's a lot quieter now."
"When Salem, did you start giving me orders?"
"You snooze you lose, Sarge. And tell Bene to send Giddy to get that MMG with the last one of those grenades. It'll make quick work of it."
Back at base the squad debriefed and wound down in the rec center. Bentley was irate. The idea that Benedict had passed him over and chosen Salem to take out the MMG galled him. The fact that the younger newer, man had done it with one shot, with a cast on his arm then took out the second APC didn't help matters. He was also now pretty much on his own when it came to hating Elliot. Mendelssohn and the rest of the team had congratulated Salem and accepted him. So it was now Bentley and Franklin on the outside looking in but he wasn't going to let that ride.
Benedict broke the group up around 2100 hours and told them to fall out by the flag pole with their bricks. He too had a surprise for the team. Rios called them to attention then fell in behind his rucksack.
"We had a tough one today. We pulled together and fought, for the first time, in a long while like a true team. We used our resources wisely, TAC and personnel both. Bentley I heard your bitching and I don't want to hear any more of it. It was my call to make, I made it, and it proved to be the correct one, which is precisely, son, why you are standing there and I am standing here.
Now, to reward your good work, we will divest ourselves of the blocks tonight in a little ceremony of sorts. Each of you will read your apology to Corporal Salem. If you've not written one do it now. Rios, fetch water for the cement, the two four by fours and those posthole diggers from the utility shed. Giddy you're with Rios; I know you've finished your block."
While Rios, Top and Giddy prepared the spot for the little wall the men worked on their apologies. Some were longer than others but as the team would discover all but Bentley's seemed sincere. One by one each Ranger stepped forward to the wall and read the note aloud before setting it in the cement and shaking Salem's freshly casted hand. The blocks would surround a central one that stood for Salem and Benedict and Rios also added one each. When Benedict's set his block the final one, Salem stepped forward and opened his rucksack. Then he placed ten red fire bricks atop the wall.
"I couldn't carry ten big ones, but I hope this is ok, Top."
"How long have you been toting them, Salem?"
"Since you guys left. Took them out on patrol, even. Just seemed fair. I did miss the road march after all."
"I see. Well done soldier. Pick them up and let's set them."
All in all Rios headed back to their room feeling as though unit cohesion had been re-established. All he needed now was to get Salem eating with the team and hopefully that would clinch it.
"Hey man." He said, pushing aside the ceiling tile over the toilet and getting them fresh beers.
He laughed noticing that the lid now sported footprints Salem's size. He just had to reach up but the smaller man had to stand on the lid.
"Tomorrow why not eat breakfast chow with us, man."
"I think that might be pushing it, bro."
"Look, Elliot I can't walk over and eat with you. That sends a fucked up message. Most everyone except Bentley and Franklin are ok now; just sit with us."
Salem took the beer and sat down on the floor, leaning against the wall with his elbows across his knees. He hated eating alone. Hated hearing the men laugh while he sat feeling sorry for himself.
"Yea I guess man, fuck if Bentprick doesn't like it I guess he can up and leave."
"That's the spirit, to us then. You better clean that toilet seat of too, man; footprints are a dead give- away to our little hidey hole."
"Right, Tubby. I acquire you clean that's teamwork."
Later after they'd settled in their bunks Rios roused Salem.
"Yo Elliot."
"Why do you do that? Why do you always wait until I'm nearly out to think of one last question Tyse, why?"
"Don't know. Hey man, those grenades, there aint any hiding around our room anywhere are there?"
"No not yet but you fucking wake me up again maybe I'll stash one under your pillow and go bunk with, Guidry. Good night!"
Morning came and the pair, lifted weights, the transition from Giddy to Tyson had gone smoothly, ran two miles, showered and headed to chow. Salem was upbeat but tense. Rios was learning to read the man's moods and right now he could see that one wrong word and Elliot would go ballistic.
"Just relax man it'll be fine."
"I was more relaxed running across that street yesterday in a hail of bullets."
"Look I got your back. I'll handle it, so even if it gets shitty, you're covered, you aint going back to jail. Don't worry."
Salem went through the line. He collected his obligatory strawberry, banana and peanut butter protein shake, the first of four he choked down per day. Grabbed a plate and got a triple serving of scrambled eggs drenched in white gravy sauce and two biscuits. He added five strips of bacon and a glass of orange juice.
"Damn Salem." Hill said looking at the overfull plate. "You usually don't eat that much in a week's worth of breakfasts."
"Yea burned some calories yesterday in that cluster fuck, and already worked out and ran this morning, guess I'm actually hungry."
"Good that's good. When do you see Vickery to weigh in again?"
"Next week, hopefully no more shakes after that. God they are disgusting, no offense to you man, they just suck."
Salem hefted the tray and headed toward the table. Rios was behind him in line and he hesitated debating waiting for him. He shook the idea off though fearing it would make him appear scared. As he approached the table he could see that Giddy had moved over and the chair next Rios' stood vacant. He set the tray down, pulled the chair back and froze.
"Guess that spot's taken hunh." Bentley sneered.
On the chair was a tiny white pebble. The group with the exception of Giddy, Heckler and Pedro burst out laughing. Rios looked up just in time to see Salem lift and drive his tray straight into Bentley's throat, then leap onto the table and take him down with a well- placed front snap kick to his face followed by a right footed, un- chambered side kick. Bentley went over and backwards with Salem following. They smashed into the table behind them and men scattered everywhere.
"Salem!"
Rios dropped his tray and bolted toward the fight. Bentley was tough and the kicks failed to knock him out but he was scrambling to get some distance between himself and Salem. Elliot, no fool to fighting, pressed his advantage and sent him reeling again with a third brutal front snap kick. Then he grabbed the men in a choke hold and started to squeeze.
Rios got there just ahead of Giddy and they tried to pry him away from rapidly suffocating man. Guidry finally chopped at both sides of Salem's neck, popping both carotid arteries knocking him out.
"Get him outta here, Rios. I'll manage Bentley." Giddy snapped. "The rest of you Pedro, Heck get this shit cleaned up."
Then Rios slung Salem over his shoulder, Giddy grabbed Bentley and they left.
Back in their room it didn't take Salem long to come around and the man was livid. Rios blocked the door and tried to get him to calm down.
"You set me up you, mother fucker. You set me up! Oh fuck I can't believe I trusted you!" He wailed tears streaming down his face. "I trusted you, I trusted you! I trusted you!"
He started punching his locker then began ramming his forehead into it when the cast cracked. Rios wrapped him up in a bear hug to hold him still.
"No, I didn't know. I told them you were eating with us that's all, Elliot stop it man! Your hands already broken, fuck Salem just listen to me, man stop it!"
"I can't do this. I can't take this, I can't! I've fuckin' had enough!"
Finally he stilled and slumped into Rios' arms and Tyson let him go. Elliot unlocked his locker and began throwing clothes into the empty rucksack.
"The Grenades are a bit further back in the ceiling. I'm outta here."
"No Salem. That's not the answer man, you can't run bro there's nowhere to go."
"Tyannikov, he'll hook me up. Never have to go home again. Nothing there anyway, nobody, fuckin' got nobody anywhere. Fuckin' so tired. Just have to run. Not going back to jail. I came here, wanted a team, wanted to work hard and just make my fuckin sad life right but they won't, fuck, fuck, fuck! Let me!"
He stopped and spun away from the rucksack as if it were going to attack him, sank down onto the floor, drew his knees up to his chin, buried his head in his arms and started rocking.
An hour later, Benedict came into the room quietly. Salem was still huddled on the floor and Rios was sitting on his bunk watching the man rock.
"Bentley's in the brig."
Rios looked up. "How'd you manage that?"
"Eight guys told the MP's he started it. I started the paperwork to get the sorry fuck out of my squad. Enough's enough." He looked down at Salem. "Elliot?"
"Guess I just have to wait him out. Packed and said he was hauling ass over to Tyannikov. I know that's not what he wants. Then he sat there, like that. Just gonna let him wear down, he smashed the cast again I need to get him over to Vickery a.s.a.p. I don't know what else to do. I doubt he'd talk to the chaplain or anyone. He's got so much going on, Gabe. It's a good thing Bentley's locked up I wanna kill that bastard. Salem thought I set him up."
"That's fucked up. Gimme a minute with him."
Rios stepped out and Benedict sat on the floor next to Salem.
"Look at me son." He began and squeezed the back of Salem's neck. "You did great work yesterday. You did good this morning. Bentley's gone as of now. He's in the brig then on the first flight out of here. The team to a man defended you and said he started the fight. You're clear of any trouble. Franklin and the others have been dealt with as well. This is a clean squad now, no more dead weight. Maybe I should have done it sooner. I just thought I could make better men out of them, better soldiers, I was wrong. We'll bring in new blood. I need you here, Salem. I've wanted a soldier of your caliber for my entire career, I'll be damned if I'm gonna lose you. I'm here. Talk to me, to Rios, to Giddy…we're here son. Understand?"
Salem nodded and sighed. He was exhausted, hungry and in pain.
"Need to see the doc. He's gonna kill me. This will be the third cast."
"He's not allowed to kill you; he took an oath to do no harm. Get up get moving. We'll get you fixed in time for lunch chow.
Later that night Rios awoke to find Salem's bunk empty. He panicked at first then saw Salem had left his wallet sitting on the desk. He threw on a jacket and headed out to find him. It didn't take long to locate the young man sitting down at the newly built wall, drinking beer. Rios sat down beside him and stuck his hand out for a bottle. Salem obliged him and then surprised him by slumping to his left and leaning against Rios' broad shoulder.
"Was a long day, Tyse."
"Yea that it was, Ellie."
"Sorry I doubted you. I just get out of control sometimes. I always have. It's caused me trouble all my life."
"You might want to work on it, Ellie. There's a time and a place for berserker mode."
"Yup."
"This too man." Rios added holding up the bottle. "Can be a long climb back out if you get down in it far enough."
"I know. Anyway doc Vick said the cast can come off in two weeks, and I'm off my feeding instructions."
"Well that's good news. Tired of feeding you six times a day."
"Four."
"Four, six same difference. The little wall's pretty slick."
"Yup." Salem yawned and stretched. "Let's go, Tubby, your falling asleep and I can't lug your fat ass up two flights."
He stood and extended his hand to Tyson who grasped it firmly and let Salem haul him up.
They hit their bunks as soon as they got in. Salem fell asleep quickly bundled in his blankets.
"Yo Ellie."
Salem wanted to be angry and tried. But Rios calling him Ellie touched a chord in him.
"Yea?"
"Man, do really have Incendiary grenades in our bathroom ceiling?"
Salem burst out laughing. For some reason the idea that Rios had even believed for a second he'd keep grenades in their room struck him funny.
"Sure Tyse, they're right next to my cache of C-4."
What the man didn't know wouldn't hurt him.
NOTE: This has a rough end to it but I need to break it off. Maybe something will click and I'll touch it up later. This is a long chapter but we'll look in on the fellows in Louisiana soon enough.
