"McCormick! It's me, Fenix!" he yelled. "Fenix?" McCormick questionable exclaimed, still aiming his weapon at Evan. "How….?" "A story too long to tell standing out here, McCormick. Let's get in the vehicle and keep moving." Evan cast a notice-me-not on the vehicle as he jumped in the back. He pushed open the sliding window of the rear window – "McCormick – we need to find temporary shelter and plan our way back." He said. The time: 16:30 (4:30pm)
June 18, 1996. 16:00 (4pm), International Peace Keeping Compound. Tactical SitCom room. "Sparrow 3, Sparrow 3. Sit Rep" The Commander waited a moment, then repeated "Sparrow 3, Sparrow 3. Sit Rep" "Radar, any transponder signal?" "No, sir" the radar man responded. "Keep an eye out for it" the Commander replied. He waited a few more minutes, and repeated the call. With no response by 16:30 the Commander logged the mission as 'F AILED'. "Radar. Keep an eye out for Sparrow's transponder. Also continue trying to reach them. Call me if you get anything – I will be in my office."
CHAPTER BREAK
June 18, 1996. 19:45 (7:45pm), Aleksinac/Bosphorus, Serbia. They found shelter in a near-ruined shed on the outskirts of town. The sun was sinking behind the mountaintops. They had remained on the road as much as they could, but they had observed an increasing amount of military, and felt it prudent to seek shelter for the night.
After McCormick parked the truck out of sight of the road, they off-loaded everybody. Evan began re-evaluating the wounded. LT and Cross were still unconscious, with seeping wounds. "Ambassador. May I check your wound?" he asked. The Ambassador, Merjem, looked at him harshly in the eyes. Seeing only a stony passive face, she nodded. Evan gently unwrapped the wound, recleaned it and re-packed it with new dressing. He then went on to check Tristan and Xavier's arms. They were already swollen from the breaks, but otherwise color and pulse appeared fine. Lastly, he checked Bremmer. "Bremmer – I'm going to check your pupils for concussion". Bremmer nodded. "Look straight ahead" Evan asked, as he shined a small light at his eyes. He then moved the light and saw the pupils dilate again. "How are you feeling?" he asked as he checked Bremmer's pulse. "All right, I guess. Heads cleared up a bit." Bremmer responded. "Good. Give me a hand changing the dressings for LT and Cross?" Evan asked Bremmer to clean Cross' wounds while he did the LTs. They then re-packed the wounds and dressings, cleaned their faces and made them a bit more comfortable. Evan then dug three sets of two holes, approximately 8 inches apart and approximately 16 inches deep, and dug a connecting tunnel between the two holes of each set. He gathered pieces of wood, branches and brush from nearby, and set about staring some fire. Evan then placed the wood and tinder in one hole of each set of holes, and lit a small fire in each. The heated air pulled air/oxygen from the second hole, resulting in a clean-burn fire, with little to no smoke. Being depressed below the ground surface, there was no reflection of light, thus reducing its visibility from the road. While Evan was making the fire, Bremmer set about putting a meal together. Tristan and Xavier kept their eyes peeled on the road – they may have broken arms but they were Royal Marines! McCormick in the meantime had finished camouflaging the truck a bit, and set up some primitive perimeter alarms using string, empty cans and pebbles. Evan went around the perimeter wandlessly casting notice-me-not charms. Then they sat down to eat and brainstorm.
"Fenix, what's the status on the LT and Cross?" McCormick asked. "Still unconscious. Bremmer and I cleaned their wounds and re-packed the dressing. Pulse and breathing appear to be good, considering. I don't think any shrapnel penetrated the lungs – there is no frothing or wheezing sounds. I'm a bit concerned they might develop fever in the next day or two if we don't get back to base. I'd like to go into town and get some herbs to help draw out the infection." Evan responded. McCormick, Bremmer and Ambassador Merjem nearly snapped their necks to check he was sane. "You what!?" McCormick whispered harshly. "Look" Evan began; "I grew up in the streets. You learn things. I can easily make a poultice of onion, ginger, Yarrow leaves, and turmeric – depending on what I can find. Pack that around the wounds and it draws out and kills the bacteria, and reduces inflammation. This entire valley is agricultural. I am sure they sell this stuff, or I could steal some. It would definitely improve LTs and Cross' chances of survival." Evan responded. "Let's let the thought simmer in my mind for a bit, then revisit later." McCormick responded.
"Ambassador – what are your immediate and short-term needs? Besides getting you home, how can we help you now?" McCormick asked. "My immediate need is to notify my superiors the outcome of my meeting today. Beyond that it is to get home as soon as possible." She responded. "Madam Ambassador. If I could find a means of making contact to our base, is there a message you would want me to pass on?" Evan asked. "I haven't decided if you're going yet, Fenix" McCormick said. "I can give you a contact number and a message, if you can make contact" she replied. "McCormick – ball is in your court." Evan said. "We don't have a secure means of communication, Fenix. What were you thinking? Making a collect call? I am sure all the telephone lines are monitored, don't you?" McCormick asked. "But what if I could?" Evan replied. "It'd be best if I do it in the dark – less chance of being caught." he continued.
McCormick gave it some more thought and then said "OK. Fenix. Go – but be back in no more than three hours. It's now 20:30 – be back by 23:30, copy?" "Copy" Evan replied.
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