Patrick McLanahan Collection #1 Read Online Free PDF Page A

infidels’ overconfidence would be their downfall.
    The scout vehicles deployed in front of the column were Russian BTR-40 and larger BTR-60 wheeled reconnaissance vehicles, fast and nimble and very well armed. They turned and scattered as soon as the first BMP exploded. Zarazi’s men started lobbing smoke grenades from all over the area—it took dozens of the things to create enough of a screen in the ever-increasing, swirling winds, but within moments visibility had been cut to just a few yards. The gunports were already open, the soldiers inside looking for targets.
    That was exactly what Zarazi was waiting for. His men dashed out from their hiding places under cover of the smoke, jumped aboard the BTRs, and stuffed tear-gas grenades into the open gunports. Within moments the drivers were forced to stop their vehicles to evacuate the soldiers inside before they were asphyxiated by the noxious gas. Soon all of the vehicles in the convoy were stopped, billowing with tear gas. The hatches and doors opened, and terrified and nearly suffocating United Nations soldiers and workers dashed out, their eyes swollen and burning. The battle took less than five minutes. Zarazi’s men had destroyed one BMP and one BTR and captured one BMP, four BTR scouts, and four five-ton trucks loaded with supplies. No casualties. Perfect.
    â€œWe hit the mother lode, Captain,” Zarazi’s lieutenant, Jalaluddin Turabi, said a few moments later as the crews and workers were being herded together. “Looks like they were going to set up a semipermanent outpost. They have two weeks’ worth of food for about fifty men, plus boxes labeled ‘Communications Equipment.’ I see power generators, fuel tanks, cold-weather tents and clothing, and fencing material. This stuff will sell for millions on the black market!”
    â€œStop gawking and start unloading those supply trucks, Jala,” Zarazi snapped. “If this detail has air support nearby, they’ll be on us any minute. We need to be out of here as soon as possible.”
    The United Nations soldiers were lined up kneeling in the snow, hands on their heads. Captain Zarazi paced back and forth in front of them, studying each man and woman carefully. Many nations were represented, mostly from the Northern Hemisphere: Canada, Northern Ireland, Norway, South Korea. Zarazi allowed his men to strip off the peacekeepers’ gloves, scarves, and parkas—many of his men had perished in the Turkestan and Selseleh’ye Mountains due to exposure, and keeping warm was more important than eating to most of them.
    â€œI am Captain Wakil Mohammad Zarazi, servant of God and commander of the Balkh Armed Resistance Regiment,” Zarazi said in Pashtun. He noticed the uncomprehending stares, then said in halting English, “Who is interpreter?” There was no reply. Zarazi continued to examine the captives, finally coming across one soldier in the robin’s-egg blue helmet, but with a beard, who appeared to be Afghan. Zarazi dragged him to his feet. “Do you understand me?” The man nodded. “Who is the commanding officer?” He did not respond. Zarazi pulled a long knife from his belt, turned the interpreter, and raised the blade to his throat.
    â€œStop,” a voice said. Zarazi looked around as one of the officers kneeling right beside the interpreter got to his feet, his bare hands still on top of his helmet. “I am Major Dermot O’Rourke, Republic of Ireland, commander of this detachment. We are on a peaceful mission on behalf of the United Nations Afghan Relief and Rehabilitation Council.”
    After the interpreter translated, Zarazi said, “You are spies for the Northern Alliance and their wild dogs from the United States of America, invading territory claimed by his holiness Mullah Mohammad Omar and his sword of vengeance, General Takhir Yoldashev.”
    â€œWe are not spies,” O’Rourke said.