28 Shot in the Dark
Disclaimer: I do not own The A Team movie or television series or any of the delightful characters found on The A Team.
Face carefully picked his way through the underbrush behind the cabin. In one hand he held an unlit oil lamp. In the other he carried a clear glass vase containing ten sparklers, their wooden stick handles tied together and poking up from the wide-mouthed opening. Reaching the outhouse, the Lieutenant checked his prisoner to make sure the belt still secured the man's wrists behind his back and the handkerchief gag was in place.
The last thing we need is for the guy in the van to get a heads-up from his buddy as to what we might be up to.
The man was not only tied and gagged but continued to rest in blissful unawareness of anything going on around him.
You stay that way. What you don't know won't hurt you or us.
Setting the oil lamp down in a spot where he could find it again, he continued through the brush, uncoiling a length of clothesline rope behind him. The paraffin Murdock used to coat the rope was still somewhat soft. Face wondered if the pilot was correct in assuming the candle wax would create a good enough accelerant to keep the rope wick burning to its end.
I hope so. What if the rope is too thick or Murdock missed a section of the fuse when he dipped it in the wax?
In the bottom of the vase five small novelty smoke bombs rattled slightly with his movement through the forest. Murdock had secured their fuses to the business ends of the sparklers so that all would be lit at the same time. The Lieutenant almost hissed the word "shush" at the noisy smoke bombs and then caught himself.
That's something Murdock would do. Maybe I'm about as crazy as him . . . or as the Colonel . . .
Face smiled when he remembered the expression of childish delight Murdock had gotten when he described what Hannibal's light and sound show would be like. Mildly delirious with pain from the gunshot wound, the pilot anticipated with glee what would happen when the fire traveled the lengths of the fuses.
"It's gonna be lahk th' Fourth o' Jooo-ly. Pfffsh . . . ssssss . . . fffsh . . . " With each sound he made, his hands made wild motions in the air. His grin grew wider when Hannibal patted him on the back.
"Nice, Captain. If our trespasser doesn't wonder what's going on, I'll have to assume he's blind. That should get him out investigating." The Colonel gave him an approving smile. Everyone but Melody knew both the A-team leader and their pilot loved anything that exploded, smoked or otherwise created a surprise for unaware bad guys.
For that reason, Murdock rigged Hannibal's Mason jar with the best fireworks. The Colonel not only had smoke bombs but also a whistling strobe and three large Roman candles in his jar. Hannibal's mischievous chuckle showed how much he appreciated the thought behind it.
His smile turned into a scrutinizing frown when the pilot slumped slightly where he sat and squeezed his eyes shut. A shudder passed through the thin body. Without another word, the older man pressed the Browning into Murdock's hand and whispered, "Keep her safe, Captain. We'll be back as soon as we can."
Giving the other two men a look that told them he was deeply concerned about the Captain, Hannibal motioned with his head and said in a huskier than normal voice, "Let's move out, guys."
Hannibal and B. A. sneaked out the front door into the shadows furthest away from the van while Face took the back door.
Face came to the end of the rope fuse. Setting the vase down on a level piece of ground, he placed the rope end in the glass container so that the fuse touched the fireworks fuses. The Colonel was sure to have finished doing the same thing with his Mason jar of fireworks and the rope fuse.
Then he retraced his steps to the oil lamp and waited for Hannibal's signal.
A loud series of quacks came from somewhere near the rotting rowboat. Face rolled his eyes.
Hannibal never could imitate a duck very well. The con man answered by taking the lighter from his pocket and holding the flame to the end of the rope. As soon as he saw the fire burn along the length of the waxed fuse, he fumbled the glass shade off the oil lantern.
Wait for it, Peck. Don't be too impatient.
A piercing whistle cut through the quieter forest sounds. A bright blinding light flashed rhythmically a few yards from the van. Brightly colored flashes shot up into the trees overhead with explosive pops and crackles. Smoke drifted up and out along the ground, partly obscuring the strobe.
A few seconds later Face's fireworks ignited, spitting sparks inside the confines of the glass. Smoke curled up from within the vase and drifted with the slight breeze. Almost as soon as the fireworks began, light from a lantern appeared near the old boat.
"Here goes, and let's hope it produces results," Face muttered as he lit his oil lamp and waited.
The interior light switched on as the van's side door creaked open. Seconds later, the Lieutenant heard a muffled yell and the sound of a scuffle.
"Got 'im, Hannibal!" B. A. yelled.
Face wondered for a moment if his buddy had been able to enjoy the sight of the two sets of fireworks from his guard post.
After all, it was Murdock's idea.
As Hannibal and Face hurried toward B. A. and the struggling trespasser a shot rang out from inside the cabin.
The Lieutenant dove for cover behind the van even as his heart sank within him.
Looking at Hannibal's stunned face, he knew the Colonel had not figured on any more than two attackers.
And the third one may very well have killed my buddy to get Melody.