Chapter 8 Camp Bastion
James led his section out of the rear door of the Hercules transporter and onto the Tarmac of the landing strip serving Camp Bastion. Although early in the morning, the day was already warm and a dry wind was sending clouds of dust billowing across the runway. Little grains of sand prickled James' skin and settled on his clothes and in his hair. Afghan grime was again working its way into his very pores.
The men of two section were quiet and pensive. The shuffling figure bringing up the rear of the short column of soldiers had cast a pall over the outward journey. No one seemed to want to go near Smurf. He was the subject of quick glances and furrowed brows, mumbled conversations and sad shakes of the head.
Smurf himself had sat impassive the whole flight, looking straight ahead. He reacted to direct commands but seemed oblivious to anything else. The burning red eyes were unreadable, his slow, rhythmic breathing ominous.
The section filed into a waiting bus parked on the edge of the runway which then drove slowly towards the main camp complex.
James gazed through the window of the bus at the passing buildings and parked vehicles. The camp was much smaller than when he had last seen it. The winding down of military activity now well advanced. He hoped he might catch a glimpse of Molly on the way through but there were few people about at this early hour.
The bus came to a halt at the edge of the main parade ground and the section piled out and organised their kit.
"Ok corporal" said James "get them settled in then get some scoff. Mission briefing at 0900"
"Yes sir" said Kinders, then hesitantly "Sir, will ...private Smith be sharing our quarters?"
Bas Vegas, who was standing nearby, said "Humans only isn't it sir?"
"Yer" put in Mansfield Mike "won't he need to sleep in a coffin with earth from Newport in it?"
"No, that's vampires you fuckwit!" Put in Brains.
"Settle down!" Ordered Kinders then he turned back to Captain James with a questioning look.
"He is a member of the section Corporal and is to be treated no differently" confirmed James
Kinders looked uncertain but then nodded and marched the section off to find their quarters and grab some breakfast.
James wished he was as convinced as he pretended to be but in reality he had deep misgivings. There was, however, a seed of hope buried deep within him - the memory of another new arrival who he thought would threaten the coherence and effectiveness of the section but who proved herself to be the best soldier amongst them...
James smiled to himself then strode off to find his quarters and dump his kit. After a hurried breakfast in a near deserted officers mess he went to find the central administration block and report in to his new CO Lieutenant Colonel de la Billiere OBE.
James was a little nervous as the Colonel had a formidable reputation as a leader of men, a real soldier's soldier and an utter lunatic.
James was ushered into the Colonel's office shortly after reporting in. His new CO was sitting behind a large desk, studying a file.
"Ah!" He said as he spotted James "welcome Captain errr"
"James sir, Charles James" said James
"Charles James what?" Said the colonel somewhat confused
"Nothing Sir, just Charles James" said James a little uncertainly
"Don't be daft man you can't have two first names and no surname, what are you royalty?" Said de la Billiere
"No sir, I ..."
"Listen" continued the Colonel sternly "you're not going to get anywhere in the army without a surname. I, for example, have three which is why I have progressed to Colonel while you are only a Captain"
"Errrr yes sir, of course sir" said James bewildered.
"Right, good. Now Captain, do you hunt?" Pursued the Colonel.
"Do I what sir?"
"Do you hunt man, you know ride with the hounds?"
"Umm no sir"
"Don't blame you, since the bloody ban its no fun any more, riding around the countryside chasing a smelly cuddly toy."
"Indeed sir" suggested James desperately trying to find a firm foothold in the swirling waters of the Colonel's conversational style.
"Anyway, you're here to run this zombie school, is that right?" Said the Colonel
James, somewhat relieved to be moving towards a vaguely coherent conversation answered in the affirmative.
"Good show. Never liked the living dead, no breeding."
The colonel picked up a document on his desk "You are to make contact with the ANA liaison officer, a captain...Azzizi, as soon as possible and take it from there"
James smiled "yes sir, I have served with Azzizi before, a good man"
"Excellent" said the Colonel "Any questions?"
"No sir, thank you. I just need to track down my medic Private Dawes and I will be all set" James confirmed
"Private Molly Dawes?" Said the Colonel
"Yes" said James somewhat taken aback
"Oh I can tell you where she is - in the custody of the Military Police"
James was fuming as he strode towards the detention block. Absent without leave! In Kabul! Visiting that bloody girl! Is there nothing that woman wouldn't do to make his life as difficult as possible.
He checked himself and took a breath. Charging in all guns blazing would not be the thing to do. He knew Molly well enough to realise that. She could dig her heels in and refuse to cooperate, compounding her offence. He had had enough trouble convincing the Colonel to sign the release form, arguing for some time that Molly was essential to the mission (which she was) and that she would not do anything so stupid again (which unfortunately she probably would).
He entered the main office and handed the release form to the staff sergeant who examined it briefly, grabbed a bunch of keys and asked James to follow him. They walked down a long corridor with cells regularly spaced along its length. The sergeant stopped by a particular door and opened a small viewing hatch. "On your feet" he called through the window "officer to see you"
He then unlocked the door and stood aside to let James enter.
"Thank you sergeant" said James, who took a breath and strode in putting on his sternest of stern faces.
The cell was small with a bunk at one end. By the bunk stood Molly at attention. James' heart leapt at the sight of her and his breath caught in his throat. His palms began to sweat and his legs trembled beneath him so he had to think hard about placing one foot in front of the other to avoid stumbling.
How could she have this effect on him? She had been living in his head for months, her features carefully preserved like a precious exhibit in a museum, to be occasionally turned over and examined in his minds eye before being returned to their place.
Now Molly was in front of him and he realised how inadequate memory was in the face of the living, breathing reality - the way the light played on her hair, the impossible green of her eyes, the subtle freckling around her nose...
Molly remained rigidly at attention, unmoving save for the subtle rise and fall of her breathing.
"Stand easy Dawes" said James. The movement was executed quickly and sharply. The eyes remained stubbornly focused on a point on the wall opposite.
James moved to intercept her line of sight and he detected a subtle flicker in her gaze as he entered her field of vision.
"Steady James" he thought, "this needs delicacy and tact with a good sprinkling of patience and understanding...oh bugger it"
" What in the name of all that is holy possessed you to undertake such an ill conceived, addle brained, half arsed misadventure?" James began "Have you even the slightest inkling of the danger you put yourself and Bashira in? Are you able to comprehend the smallest part of the repercussions your actions could have had on your family, your comrades and the success of our mission here?"
Molly continued to stare ahead but a quivering of her lips betrayed the inner turmoil she was feeling. She then looked at him for the first time and her eyes expressed a clear challenge.
"Are you surprised I did what I did?" She said.
This threw James completely. He opened his mouth then shut it. Was he really surprised. Was this not wholly in character. Would he have expected anything else. Didn't this response show a growing maturity and self awareness in the woman in front of him. Was he ever going to stop asking himself questions in the form of an internal monologue and get on with the story?
"No not really" he said eventually and let out a long breath. "Come on Dawes, if we are going to save the world from zombies we need to get you out of here and back where you can do some good."
With that he turned and left the cell. After a short pause Molly followed.
They made their way through the camp together in silence. James wanted to say so much but the restaurant incident was like a barrier between them. He knew he had to try and get over it somehow but couldn't find an appropriate opening. He resolved that the best way was to keep it professional, concentrate on the task in hand and take it from there.
"Briefing at 0900 Dawes" said James "we have a lot to do and not much time"
"Yes sir" returned Molly
"Better get yourself sorted and meet us all in the ops tent"
"Yes sir" again from Molly
"Oh this is going really well" thought James ironically "yes, sir, no sir, three bags full sir. Right, let's see her 'yes sir' me after this..."
"Oh and Dawes" said James aloud "Smurf is back as a zombie. He will be acting as a special adviser to us during the mission. He's got the whole living dead look but apparently isn't dangerous"
James glanced across at Molly but she wasn't there. He looked behind and found her stock still where she had stopped, looking at him in disbelief
"I'm sorry Dawes but there was no easy way to say it" admitted James
He then filled her in on the details. He concluded by saying "I know this is difficult. I know you and Smurf were good friends. I am not going to tell you how you should act towards him. You are more than capable of make your own choices about that ...and other things. But I need your help to make this mission work. I need the section to function properly as a unit."
James hoped she had spotted the indirect acknowledgement of his mistake at the restaurant. It seemed as if she had since for the first time her features softened.
She nodded and he thanked her then they parted briefly to make their own preparations for the briefing.
James made his way to the ops tent and set out the briefing material. Shortly after two section filed in and took their seats, Smurf shuffling in last and sitting apart.
Molly then came in and was quickly surrounded by her old comrades, keen to welcome her and ask how she was. James watched her as she smiled and joined in the banter. Molly then glanced at Smurf and walked over to him.
"Alright Smurf?" she said kindly "its good to see you again too. Wouldn't be the same without you"
Smurf looked up at her slowly his features unreadable.
Molly scrutinised his face closely. "Come and see me after the briefing. Think I might have some nasal spray which might help that. I'll also see if I can find some eye drops. Have you looking like your old self in no time."
James looked over at the rest of the section. They were taking note. "Thank you Molly" he thought.
James then called them to order and ran through the briefing. He summarised the aim and objectives of their mission and then allocated tasks, using various charts and diagrams to illustrate what he meant and wielding a long wooden pointer like a cutlass. Brains and Fingers would instruct on the preparation and filling of the pool. Dangleberries and Mansfield Mike would oversee the Equipment for Aural Attraction and Associated Repertoire or EAAAR for short.
When they looked confused Kinders confirmed "music and sound system" and they both smiled and nodded.
Molly would teach Post Immersion Care (PIC) and the rest of the section would run the Hostile Restraint and Immersion Procedure with Smurf acting as stand in Zombie.
"And what about you sir?" Asked Nude-Nut with a smile.
"I will provide oversight" said James. "...and teach the SHAAtt position" he added in an undertone to general hilarity.
"Ok" said James "settle down. I will make contact with the ANA liaison later this morning then lessons start this afternoon. Dismissed"
Their mission had begun.