Bashira

They finally reached the school and James was the first to leap out of the truck, followed by Qaseem

and Majors Beck and Morley. 'Kinders you and 2 Platoon remain in the truck until we call you' instructed James. 'Sir'. Kinders watched them approach the heavily guarded gate. Qaseem spoke to the guards, the gates were opened and they went in. They walked quickly towards a heavy wooden door. Qaseem spoke again to the guards outside the door. The door was opened and they pushed through. A tall dark haired bearded man looked them all up and down. 'Salaam' they all greeted him and he them.

Qaseem then started speaking rapidly, pointing to each of them in turn and introducing them to the Head of the school's security, Abdul. His face portrayed no emotion. He shouted to the guards outside. 'Bashira'. They all stood in an uneasy silence waiting for her to come. Finally the door opened and Bashira came in. She looked frightened and said 'Mollee, where is Mollee'. Qaseem spoke gently but urgently to her. Her face crumpled and she began to cry. 'Mollee'. Qaseem knelt down in front of her and held her hands. He spoke again and gestured towards James, Beck and Morley. She looked beyond them at Abdul fear on her face. He spoke brusquely to her and she said in English 'I think I know where they take Mollee'.

James, Beck and Morley exchanged glances and Morley moved towards a table in the corner of the room, hurriedly unrolled the map he was carrying and laid it across the table. 'Come here Bashira' he said gently. Qaseem stood up and led Bashira to the table. James, Major Beck and Abdul made their way to the table.

'This is a map and here is the bridge and the checkpoint' he showed Bashira. She studied the map intently and speaking to Qaseem started pointing to various areas. 'She says in the hills above the checkpoint there are some buildings and the men of the village often go up there for a long time in 'soldiers clothes' with guns. Sometimes they don't all come back and she has seen the women crying. The men all looked at each other. Were the men from the village going to fight alongside the Taliban and going to the hills for training and then into combat. That would account for not all of them coming back.

'Ask her if she knows how to get to the place where the buildings are and if she can show us on the map' James asked Qaseem. Qaseem pointed at the map and spoke to Bashira. She leaned over the table 'pencil, I need pencil' she looked at Captain James. He pulled one from his pocket and handed it to her. She smiled and said 'Mollee, pencil' James grinned and patted her head.

She looked down at the map and drew a line from the checkpoint up to the top of the map, then speaking to Qaseem she rolled her hands in a circular motion which seemed to be saying that the buildings were higher than the map showed. Qaseem questioned her and they went into a deep conversation. Abdul listened intently. The others could only watch in silence, picking up on the odd word they understood. Finally Qaseem turned to them . 'She said way up in the hills, higher than the map goes, is a small village with about 6 buildings. She knows about it as her father took her one day when he went up there.

She said it took a long time, that they left in the morning and it was getting dark when they reached there'.

'Looks like we need air transport to drop us in' Captain James said looking at Beck and Morley. 'Agreed ' said Major Beck. 'I'll arrange it' said Morley and hurriedly left the room. 'James, call in 2 Platoon' said Major Beck. Captain James went outside to summon his men in for an Ops briefing. Abdul, Qaseem and Bashira remained in the room with Major Beck.

'Gather round lads' ordered James. Kinders and 2 Platoon came into the room and looked at Bashira, Qaseem and Abdul. Major Beck was looking over a map when Major Morley came back in and joined them at the table. 'At ease' he said 'I have spoken with Special Services and you can be airborne in one hour, that will give us time to plan a strategy'. We have just one problem, we can't risk Bashira's life by letting her go with you so we are going to have to work as best we can with the information she has given us, to locate the village'.

'I can help' Everyone looked towards the corner of the room at Abdul. 'I know of this area as I have been working with Afghan Special Forces and we knew the Taliban were recruiting locals and taking them up into the mountains for training. We went on patrol a while ago but they were alerted by someone and the village was empty when we arrived there.' Majors Beck, Morley, James and Qaseem looked at each other. 'Then you will take us there'. It was more of an order than a question from James. 'I will' replied Abdul. 'Right lads, listen up' James spoke rapidly outlining a plan and looked at Morley and Beck for affirmation. 'Agreed' they both said.

'I come and show you where is Mollee' said Bashira pulling at James's arm. James turned ,squatted down and took Bashira's hand. 'We will find Molly and bring her back to see you but it's far too dangerous for you to come with us' his deep brown eyes softened and he stroked her head. 'We'll bring Molly back, I promise' he whispered.

I have to bring my precious Molly back, I need to see her , to hear her, to touch her. His head was filled with Molly. Nothing else mattered to him but Molly. He hadn't known such love existed until he met her. He now knew what 'all consuming' love meant and how it had taken over his very being.

He stood up, back to the others in the room, taking a few seconds to regain control. He then turned, his deep brown eyes holding a steely resolve. 'Double up 2 Platoon. Move outside and prepare to board the transport' The lads stood to attention directed by Kinders and swiftly left the room. 'We'll be monitoring your progress James, good luck' said Major Beck. Major Morley saluted. 'Bring her back James' he said. 'Sir. I'm not coming back without her' he said looking directly at Morley, turned on his heel and left the room followed by Qaseem and Abdul.

They all boarded the chopper in silence and there was little or no conversation, each one, with the exception of Abdul, lost in their personal thoughts of Molls. Their Molls. Gutsy, mouthy, brave Molls. After a bad start she had more than proved herself, was always there for them and loved being part of their banter, giving back as good, and more than she got.

Captain James called Kinders, Qaseem and Abdul to the far end of the chopper, he had to focus up, he had to. 'When we land, according to Abdul, there will be rugged terrain with cover from trees and ditches and we will need to move forward during the night as our drop will be at least 90 mins from the target. Kinders you and Abdul will be upfront and Qaseem and I will bring up the rear. I've no need to remind you that speed is of the essence and that this is a highly dangerous mission. We need to be in sight of the village by daybreak'. They all nodded as the chopper put down in the blackness of the mountains. Everyone was off and the chopper gone in a matter of 3 minutes. The silence was unnerving and everyone was momentarily taken aback. 'Right Kinders, you and Abdul up front followed by 2 Platoon. Qaseem and I will be at the rear.' 'Sir. Right lads, move out follow me and Abdul, we've got a 90 minute eta to our target and we need to be there before daybreak so let's get a move on' Kinders addressed the lads.