Kill Zone (A Spider Shepherd Short Story) Read Online Free PDF

trafficking,
protection rackets, etc, etc, are being paid out to the local fighters to keep
them loyal. We believe there are around a dozen Taliban there. I’ve spent a lot
of Intelligence funds tracking Khan, and a fair bit of my own money too. Like I
said, I screwed up and I’m doing my best to put it right. Anyway, I have good
humint, that’s been assessed by the Boss as well as by me, that Khan is at the
clearing house.’
    ‘Right enough,’
Jock said. ‘Spend enough money, you can always get humint.’   Jimbo murmured in agreement.
    Todd took a deep
breath. He was clearly uneasy about speaking in public. ‘According to the
reports, one of the Taliban there has a curious eye defect - one brown pupil,
one milky-white one. The source got close enough to see a group of men in
Afghan dress outside the building. Most were holding AK47s, but one had an AK74
slung over his shoulder. I’m ninety per cent sure that we have identified Ahmad
Khan.’ He shook his head. ‘Correction, I’m one hundred per cent sure. It’s him.
And we need to take him out.’ He nodded at the Major, who had his chin on his
chest and seemed to be staring at his boots. ‘I’ve asked the Boss for the
chance to lead the group to do the job.’ He paused again, staring unseeing at
the wall at the far end of the room. ‘As you all know, I have a personal debt
to repay, but if you’re willing to be part of the team, I’d like you men
alongside me when we do the job.’ He looked directly at Shepherd and Jock.
    Shepherd nodded
immediately. Jock flashed him a sideways look. ‘Seriously?’ he whispered.
    ‘Why not?’ said
Shepherd.
    Jimbo held up his
hand. ‘Count me in,’ he said.
    Jock sighed and
slowly raised his hands. ‘In for a penny,’ he said.
    ‘Just like the
three musketeers,’ said Jimbo.
    ‘Make that four,’
said Geordie.
    ‘We’re all in,’
said Shepherd, and the Captain smiled gratefully.
    The Major stood
up. ‘Five should be enough,’ he said. ‘We’ll leave you to it. Considering this
is over the border, the less we know the better.’
    The Major left
the room, followed by the rest of the SAS troopers.   The Captain walked over to a table that was overflowing with
maps, surveillance imagery and intelligence data. Jock, Spider, Jimbo and
Geordie joined him.
    ‘What’s the
plan ?’   Jock asked Todd.
    ‘We take out
anyone in the building and destroy any money that’s there,’ said the Captain.
‘That alone will make the mission worthwhile. But there are some very heavy
hitters going in and out of that building and every one of them is a viable
target. But what I want is the chance to take out Ahmad Kahn. That’s the
mission, but obviously you guys have the experience so I’m going to be relying
on your know-how.’
    As the most
experienced man there, Jock took the lead but standard practice was for every
man to chip in if he had any suggestions or reservations.   ‘Usual rules,’ Jock said. ‘If you’ve
anything to say about the plan we’re putting together, say it now. If it all
goes tits up, and you’ve said nothing at the planning stage, you don’t get to
whine about it afterwards.’ All the men nodded, including the Captain.
    ‘Okay,’ continued
Jock, studying the map and frowning. ‘Insertion will be by Chinook and, given
the distance to the target and the time we’re going to need there, it’s going
to be close to maximum range even with an extra fuel tank in the cargo bay. So
we’re going to have to strip out everything inessential from the heli and make
our own kit and equipment as light as possible. It’s going to be a long and not
particularly comfortable flight, because the only place left for us and our kit
is going to be the tailgate, so we’ll either have to stand or lie on the floor.
I think six is the maximum we can take which means we can take one more.’
    ‘Who do you
suggest ?’ asked the Captain.
    ‘I’ll grab Billy
Armstrong,’ said Jock. He’s around