The Trek: Darwin's World, Book II (The Darwin's World Series 2) (45 page)
Read The Trek: Darwin's World, Book II (The Darwin's World Series 2) Online
Authors: Jack L Knapp
I didn’t remember drinking but my canteens were empty. When had that happened? They’d been full when we took off. I was thirsty by the time the Chinook delivered us back to our Forward Operating Base, FOB. That was my first lesson; QRF duty educated me. I was more careful with my water after that.
Whatever the MOS claimed, after that first deployment I was an infantryman and soon after that I became a true veteran, a combat infantryman. I got my baptism of hostile fire.
I went on my first combat patrol with the 3rd platoon. The platoon leader was experienced and his platoon sergeant even more so. I watched and learned. I gained more experience working with third squad for six weeks, then transferred TDY to a Stryker unit.
I worked with the Stryker Troop for a couple of months. I managed to fit in well with the guys in the Stryker I rode before transferring again, still TDY, to a transportation company for convoy duty. That assignment lasted for almost five months.
During each of my abbreviated tours of duty, I used my developing Talent, moving things from time to time and keeping my ability secret. I don’t know that the PK helped much, but I got stronger with exercise. I suffered fewer headaches too.
The troops in the new units understood I was no rookie even if I was some kind of spook. There was too much ingrained dust in my BDU’s, my boots were too scuffed by the desert sand; no, some kind of weird intelligence dude but not a rookie.
I expected the compound would be my final operational assignment. Even if I had no alert orders and was still showing up on the patrol roster, I’d been in-country now for more than a year. The Army, the School, hadn’t forgotten about me, had they?
Concentrate, it’s time to concentrate. There’s still a patrol to lead. These guys depend on me.
That cardboard box was still there although the dog had moved on. Maybe he’d learned to be wary of soldiers. The box was now less than two hundred meters ahead.
Books by the author:
The Wizards Trilogy:
Combat Wizard
Wizard at Work
Talent (forthcoming)
The Darwin's World Series:
Darwin's World
The Trek
Home (forthcoming)
About the Author:
Jack Knapp is a former soldier and teacher and is now a novelist. Four books in two series are currently available from Amazon and other publishers.
Jack retired (twice) before becoming a full-time caregiver for a disabled adult son, now deceased. That kept him at home, but didn't occupy all of his time, so he turned to writing.
A member of Mensa and the Society for Creative Anachronism, Jack's married; the Knapp's have two sons and three grandchildren. He's invented himself a number of times over the years. Currently Jack is a blogger, scientist, musician, photographer, birdwatcher, and commentator on current affairs; he also continues writing fiction. Talent is almost finished and will likely be published in June of 2014; Home will be published by September.
http://jacklknapp.com and http://jlknapp505.com
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