Escape!
Desperation gave flight to their feet.
They flew through the forest, Zeb leading and dragging her behind him.
Swerving through trees. Zigzagging.
Rounds slapping into trunks, shredding branches, ripping through leaves.
A small clearing ahead.
He shoved her in front of him.
One step forward.
Pressuring down with his left foot. Leaping into the air.
Twisting, turning, to face their pursuers.
Two of them.
No, three, as another head appeared between the trees.
No others in sight.
The HK leaping into his hands with robotic efficiency.
A long burst streaking out. Hot lead pouring out at 950 rounds per minute.
Speeding out at 730 meters a second.
Death on steroids.
All of them went wide.
But they had the desired effect.
The terrorists slowed. Ducked behind trees.
Zeb landed. Swiveled on his foot.
Joined her. Running fast.
Then they were falling. Rolling on gravel.
A startled scream escaping from her.
His eyes taking everything in. Like a digital camera on rapid speed.
The treeline had given way to a steep bank. No early warning of it.
One moment, dense trees.
The next, a slope of stones and gravel that led to a stream at the bottom.
A range of mountains in the distance. Snow on a couple of peaks.
Standing tall. Proud. Arrogant. Uncaring about what happened to mere mortals.
Zeb dug in his heels. Slowed his descent.
‘Ma’am,’ he hissed.
Her strained face turned to him.
‘Trees. Go to the trees.’
The forest curved around the bank. To their left was the treeline.
A hundred feet away.
No shooters in sight at the top.
They would come, however.
And he would be ready.
She didn’t argue. She didn’t question. She got to her feet, stumbling.
And took off towards the sanctuary of the wilderness.
He marveled at her ready acceptance of his directives.
And then remembered she was an Iraqi Yazidi.
She’s probably seen more death than I have. She knows when to escape.
Then two heads appeared at the top. Rashly.
Not expecting him to be there.
He forgot about her.
His HK chattered. One man fell. The other tried to get back.
Lost his balance.
Rolled down.
Directly toward Zeb.