Rock Her(56)

Kip, could not see how many were behind the three he could see. But Kip was working out a gamble in his head. He knew that when he walked into the place, Jack and everything behind him was well lit. The odds of anyone hiding back there were slim to none. He was willing to risk it all on the gamble that all of the tall man’s muscle was in the shadows behind him.

Kip lowered his weapon across his chest and down, until it was pointing to the floor. As he did so, he pulled one of the grenades from his belt, yanking it from its pin.

Just then three more men, Taliban, from the looks of them, stepped forward to just behind and on either side of the tall man.

“Drop it all the way!” Reynolds yelled. So Kip let go of it and it clanged to the floor. The timing was perfect, as Kip had planned. The grenade’s clip flew away and the grenade hit the floor at the same time as the rifle, so the sound of it impacting the concrete was unheard. Unheard, that is, until it rolled to their feet.

Kip heard an ‘Oh, Shit!’ And he threw himself across Jack’s body to protect him from any shrapnel. He placed his hands over Jack’s ears just before the grenade detonated.

Kip felt impacts of shrapnel hit him in the back, his vest taking the bulk of it. He also felt small pieces rip through his arms and legs, but he held tight to Jack.

When the concussion was over, he turned around to find all of the men in pieces, spread out across the room. All of their bodies were torn to shreds. No one could have survived such a close detonation of a grenade.

“Jacky, you alright?” Kip asked Jack.

Jacky nodded and grunted that he was okay, at least not wounded from the grenade.

Kip stepped away from him and toward the six bodies that littered the floor. He looked at all of them and then stepped to the body of the dead doctor. He stood over him and spit on what was left of his face. “Good riddens to you, asshole! I hope you enjoy fucking old whores in hell for eternity.”

Then he walked back to Jack and helped him down from the steel rack.

“I wish I had a cell phone now!” Kip said. “I’ve got one, or I had one, but they took it. Not sure where they put it. Kip looked around the room. He saw a table behind where Jack was hung on the rack. On it was Jack’s flask and his cell phone. He ran to it and check for a signal. Nothing. But he had different plans anyway. He went back to the ruined bodies and opened Jack’s phone. He took pictures of all of their faces, taking extra care to make sure that Reynolds and the tall man were clear and well lit by the flash. When he was sure he had what he needed, he flipped it closed and picked up his rifle. He made sure he had a chambered round and that there was no damage to it from the grenade, then he threw his arm around jack and helped him up the stairs.

Kip and Jack made it out to the road without incident, but a crowd was beginning to gather. Another explosion in the Serena hotel was nothing to get excited about, but there were still rubberneckers in Afghanistan. He and Jack hurried across the street and took cover in and alley between buildings. Kip reminded himself that there was still danger. Lone Americans should not be walking the streets in Afghanistan.

“Kip, buddy,” Jack said, Panting. “Leave me here. You’ve got to get back to base and save Annie. I am just slowing you down.”

“Hell no, Jack. I don’t leave men behind.”

“I’m not one of your men, Kip,” Jack stuttered. “We’re civilians. You’re not in the Marine Corps anymore.”

“You’re as much one of my men as I have ever had, Jack,” Kip said to him. “I won’t leave you on the street. These people are animals. They find out you’re American, they rip you to shreds.”

“Then get me to the whorehouse, Kip. I’ll be safe there. I’ve made friends.”

Kip looked at Jack to see if he was serious. He looked it.

“Are you sure?” Kip said.

“Well, if not, at least I’ll die happy.” Jack laughed. Kip smiled at him, and lifted him to his feet. Jack did not look badly damaged. But he limped and was in extreme pain at being beaten.

Kip and jack made it to the whorehouse and Kip burst through. The same old bearded man jumped to his feet when Kip dragged Jack through. Kip propped him up against the wall just below the man’s desk. Then Kip took the man in his grip, pulling him close by his collar.

“I am leaving my friend here for a good time. He better be here and alive when I get back, understand?

The old man nodded.

“And bandage him up! Understand that, too?”

The old man nodded again.

Kip kneeled down to say goodbye to Jack. “I’ll be back for you, you got it?”

“Yes. Go, Kip, go. Annie needs you,” Jack hissed.