Chapter 4 - Leave Her
Captain Silas descended until he stood directly over Sarah.
“Your feelings do not override approved intelligence.”
“Footprints aren’t feelings.”
“The Brigade cleared the eastern saddle.”
“They cleared it from a screen.”
Silas stepped closer.
“My report cleared it.”
There it was.
Not the Brigade.
Not the mission.
His report.
Sarah looked up at him.
“You’re protecting a signature.”
He snatched the Fence Post from where it lay across her back and drove the wooden stock down against the rocks near her damaged thigh. The movement sent another wave of pain through her body.
Miller caught his arm.
“That’s enough.”
Silas pulled free and grabbed Miller by the front of his tactical vest.
“Leave her, or you’re both insubordinate. I’ll have your rank before we reach the valley floor.”
Miller looked at Sarah.
For a second, she saw exactly what the order cost him.
She also saw the platoon climbing farther away.
If Miller stayed, Silas would take the rest of them into the ambush without the only team leader they still trusted.
Sarah made the decision for him.
“Go.”
Miller shook his head.
“Sarah—”
“Take the backup frequency. Keep them below the saddle until I call.”
Silas stared at her.
“You won’t be calling anyone.”
Sarah looked toward the notebook inside her vest.
“You’d better hope I do.”
Miller followed the platoon.
He looked back once.
May you like
Then the mountain swallowed them beyond the ridge.
Sarah was alone on a ledge barely wide enough to sit on, with a broken leg, an old rifle, a dying radio battery, and the knowledge that her unit was walking toward prepared guns.
