The valley floor was quiet.
Too quiet.
When the helicopters disappeared, so did the noise. Behr didn’t notice it at first. He was too busy staring at the rugged terrain, trying to secure his footing on the treacherous landscape. He had to watch every step. A twisted ankle was the last thing he needed on a mission, which could happen if he wasn’t careful. It seemed like rocks covered every square inch of the valley floor. There were beige-colored ones the size of baseballs and softballs and boulders, and others that looked sturdy until you stepped on them. Then the rocks would either sink in the muck by the fast-flowing river or would teeter back and forth, tossing soldiers who couldn’t keep their balance.
It was just another unexpected twist to the mission. Like many of the soldiers, Behr had studied the satellite images, which made the mountains appear ordinary. There was nothing to suggest just how steep they were, or how the surrounding peaks towered over the Shok Valley. That was the first thing that struck Behr after he jumped off the Chinook. You got to be kidding, he thought. They almost needed climbing harnesses and climbing rope and carabiners and even climbing holds to make it to their objective. These mountains were part of the Hindu Kush, with some of the highest elevations in the world. It should have been expected.
But as daunting as the terrain was, it was more unsettling to Behr that he didn’t hear noise. Something just doesn’t feel right, he thought. There was a compound built into the mountains. It was a little after 7 a.m. From intelligence reports, he knew people lived there. He should be able to hear some clatter in the distance. Maybe the baaaaa of goats. Or villagers talking. Instead, the valley was still.
As he moved toward the objective, Behr noticed that Carter was snapping pictures of the mountains.
“Man, they’re beautiful,” said Carter, momentarily breaking the silence.
Behr nodded in agreement. They were breathtaking—if you didn’t have to scale sheer rock faces with an automatic weapon and sixty pounds of equipment strapped to your back. Stay focused, he thought.
When they reached the base of the mountain where the targets were located, the soldiers split into teams. Behr’s squad of Walton, Carter, CK, and Rhymer followed Morales, Walding, and Sanders up the terraces leading to the compound.
The climb was strenuous, and they moved slowly and steadily as they edged up the mountain. Soon Morales, Walding, and Sanders disappeared from sight. Behr’s unit, though, was still struggling. And there were times when Behr didn’t know if he could take another step. But he kept pushing and pushing—just like he did during Selection. He wasn’t going to give up.
They had been climbing for what seemed like an hour and were about halfway up the mountain when he heard Morales’s voice crackle over the radio.