Charles James, Major Morley, Major Beck, Qaseem and Kinders leaned over the map splayed out on the table in front of them. 'I've no need to tell you how much danger Dawes is in, we all know the Afghan insurgents opinion of women' He looked around the table and saw James 's guard drop, his eyes were haunted, his body bent double as though he was in pain. Morley refrained from voicing his fear about what they might do to Private Dawes. 'Qaseem, we think they have taken her into the mountains above the crossing where we intercepted Badrai but there's miles of terrain up there and we need to pinpoint the area.' 'Then we need to go immediately and talk to Bashira, she is the only one who knows where the stronghold would be', said Qaseem. Morley hurriedly rolled up the map as they all ran from the Ops Tent into the transport. He barked at his Special Forces: 'Follow us. Two jeeps, four men in each. Kinders you drive,' Kinders threw the truck into gear, but stopped suddenly, aware that 2 Platoon were standing outside their tent, watching. 'Woz 'appening Corporal', Fingers shouted. Captain James opened the back flap of the truck.'Hey Boss Man's in the back. Woz he doing here, he's supposed to be in re-hab'. They all looked at each other and instinctively knew something was very wrong. They saw two jeeps with Special Forces pull up behind Kinders. 'Sir, Boss, if you're going on a mission we need to be with you, we're your Platoon' James looked swiftly at Majors Beck and Morley. 'They're right , we'll need manpower' He looked from one to the other and Qaseem followed his glance. 'Captain James is right. This will be a covert operation but manpower is essential and besides Dawes is special to them' and catching James's eye said 'and to us'.
'Right lads, listen up' James jumped from the truck followed by Kinders. 'Dawes has been kidnapped by insurgents, the family of Badrai we think, and taken somewhere into the mountains above the river bed crossing where we intercepted the convoy all those months back.' 'Molly, our Molly? But she went back to England Sir' said Dangles. 'She did but she came back for a short tour to train the Afghan medics and persuaded Qaseem to take her to see Bashira. We all know how determined Dawes is'. He quickly told them what had happened and they were visibly shaken. Seeing the shock on their faces he assumed command. 'Right lads double up jump onboard and let's go, no time to waste' They all scrambled into the back of the truck. 'Go Kinders' shouted James ' and step on it. We need to find Dawes ' 'Sir' Kinders threw the vehicle into gear and stepped hard on the pedal. Morley, Beck, James and Qaseem sat apart from 2 Platoon talking in urgent whispers.
They had no plan as yet and couldn't put anything into operation until they spoke with Bashira. Only then could they scramble air back-up and put a strategy in place. For Charles this was all taking too long. He was haunted by thoughts of what might be happening to Molly, and of the unthinkable, what if she was already dead. He struggled to push this to the back of mind but knew if he was to find her he had to be strong.