Chapter 4 – Jungle Fever
B.A. had taken the first watch followed by Murdock, Face and then Hannibal. So when the sun is just coming up, Hannibal comes into the hut to awaken the others. Face, as usual, makes complaining noises about it being too early, but B.A. sits up, and Murdock practically jumps out of bed ready for the day.
"Come on, Facey, rise and shine. Don't ya want some breakfast before the bad guys come pouring in?
"No!"
"Aw, come on. I can smell the bacon frying and the eggs are probably sizzling right now in the pan."
"Murdock, shut up. Face don't need your jibber jabber in the morning and neither do I."
"Okay guys, let's get moving, and that means you too lieutenant. I don't want all of us in the same place anymore, so B.A. and Murdock, go eat. Face and I will eat with the next shift. We don't want the whole camp in the same area where it would be way too easy for them to take us out with one rocket launcher."
"Did you have to say that Colonel? Now I've lost what little appetite I had."
"Come on Face. Grab a gun and let's get moving. You and I'll walk the inner perimeter then go eat."
Murdock and B.A. fill up with grub and then go out to help keep an eye on the jungle and see what other defenses they can set up. Hannibal and Face eat and then go out to join the rest of the team.
"Murdock, why don't you go up the derek and see if you can find a nice place to set up and keep an eye out for our "friends" out there.
"Sure, Colonel, be glad to."
Hannibal lights a cigar and walks over to the truck. "B.A. did you bring any tailing devices? You know something we could attach on to one of their jeeps as they head back to their compound."
"Sure Hannibal. You said bring the toys, I always pack a few, just in case. I'll grab one for ya." B.A. strolls over to the truck, climbs in and starts digging around for the trace.
"Colonel, how are we going to attach one of those when they play these hit and run games? I mean, they're not going to just drive up, let us stick it on the jeep, say "thank you" and drive off!"
"Now Face, you know me better than that, but I think, if one of us was out in the jungle and can jump out, and catch a jeep going by, he can plant it on the jeep's tail end."
"Oh, I see, just run out, stick it on the jeep and then run back to the jungle without getting shot, and not let the device be seen while doing it. Is that what you have in mind?"
"Yeah, something like that." Clapping Face on the shoulder, "I'm glad you volunteered for this. You have the concept down pat."
Face starts to protest, but Hannibal walks off. B.A. tosses him the device, jumps from the truck and follows Hannibal, giggling and looking back at Face. Face just shakes his head and rolls his eyes and then heads off to find a good hiding spot to pull this one off for the Colonel. "How do I get myself into these things anyway?"
Murdock has one leg wrapped around a post on the derek and is trying to fashion some kind of seat to keep him more comfortable on his perch. He catches a flash of light in the jungle out of the corner of his eye, and turns his full attention to that spot. "Hannibal, we got company coming."
"Where?"
"Coming from the southeast, looks like maybe five, no six jeeps of men. They've got a 50 cal. mounted on the front one."
"Ok, better get down here pronto." Hannibal yells out, "Face, are you ready?"
His answer comes from somewhere out in the jungle. "Yeah, as I'll ever be."
"Good! Ok Tom, get your men into the buildings we barricaded for this and keep low. We'll handle this. Okay guys, it's show time!"
Murdock gets down from the derek. They each get behind a barrier to protect them from the gunfire, and get ready to bring on the fight. The jeeps head straight for the compound, when one hits another of Murdock's mines. This forces the jeep to run head on into a tree, spilling the men inside all over the ground. Unfortunately, it wasn't the one with the machine gun. It blazes into the compound, bullets flying, where Hannibal, B.A. and Murdock open fire and try to put it out of commission. They aim for tires as much as anything. Hannibal manages to hit one of the jeeps, not the lead one, but it flips up and over and lands upside down where its occupants climb out, and run toward one of the other jeeps that are still maneuvering around. After five minutes of intense gunfire, the loss of two jeeps and almost no ammunition left, El Capitan calls out and the group heads back out the way they came in. Face, lying in wait in the jungle, tries to jump out and plant the device, but he misjudges the jeep's speed, falls down and has to roll out of the way of one of the trailing jeeps. He lays low as one of the bandits turns around and lays down a few more bullets in Faceman's direction. Face lies still a few more minutes, then stands up and starts to brush off his pants and shirt front, when Murdock runs up to him to make sure he is alright.
"You okay, Face?"
"Oh yeah, just great, until Hannibal finds out I didn't get the transmitter planted."
Hannibal is next to get there, his eyes following the trail left by the retreating jeeps. He heard what Face said about the transmitter, but just lights up a new cigar before he speaks.
"Not to worry, Lieutenant, I have made a slight alteration to the plan. Now all I need is for B.A. to get that jeep up and running," he points to one of the two jeeps that they took out during the fire fight.
"Great! You couldn't of come up with this before I almost got killed?"
"Nah, it just came to me, but you looked real good diving out there trying to attach it. I wish I had a camera on you, flying through the air, then hitting and rolling. It was great!"
"Glad I could entertain you", Face says dripping with sarcasm.
They walk back to the compound where B.A. is helping the workers clean up. Face is still dusting off his green khakis and looking rather rumpled.
"B.A., I have a job for you. Can you take those two jeeps and put them together to give me one working one?"
"You got ta be kiddin'!"
"Now B.A., we all know you can do it, the only question is how fast, cause I need it pronto."
"Right, I'll get to work." B.A. drops his head, starts walking toward the first jeep and yells at Murdock to come give him a hand. "Come on fool, I cain't do it by mself."
"Really, B.A.? You want me to help? I can do some welding, or work on the engine, or help lift it up for you?"
"You ain't no mechanic! And you cain't lift a jeep! Just cool it fool, or I'll get one a these other guys to help me. Don't know why I even thought a askin' ya. Now turn off your mouth and help me roll this jeep back over."
B.A. and Murdock start to lift up on the jeep, when several other men show up and help out. They get it righted and B.A. sets to work with Murdock right beside him, being way too much help. When B.A. can take no more, he threatens Murdock and he leaves to go find somewhere else to be useful.
Meanwhile, Hannibal had takes a few puffs of his cigar, watching the two of them and then heads into the cabin where their gear is stored. Once inside, he opens the make-up kit and starts to work. Thirty minutes later he walks out, and Murdock points his gun at him for a split second, until he realizes its Hannibal.
"Colonel, you almost got shot. I thought you were one of the bandits!"
"Good, it means my disguise is working."
"What are you planning, Hannibal?" Face asks as he walks back up in a clean outfit. He had taken the time to freshen up after the mornings "exercise".
"Well, since we didn't get the tracking device on the jeep, I'm going to drive out, following their path and hopefully end up back in their camp by nightfall. That way they will have a harder time recognizing me, and then I'll signal you guys in. I'm sure they won't be expecting us and we can take them by surprise."
"Oh right, that sounds like a wonderful plan. Only one problem, what if they do recognize you as an outsider?"
"Well, you'll just have to come and get me, which will still take them by surprise. Right? Right! Now, I need to get going cause it is hard to track them in the dark. You guys follow along, but stay back about a mile. You can track me with the device and when I'm ready for you, I'll send up a flare. If you don't see the flare go up about an hour after dark, come in guns blazing. Got it?"
"Got it", they all say in unison, but not very enthusiastically.