THERE BE DRAGONS Read Online Free PDF Page A

manage to carry this thing around the Highlands is beyond me. Make no mistake; this enemy is not to be underestimated. They are determined and ain’t afraid to fight dirty. Their use of booby traps is unparalleled.”
    The lieutenant colonel continued through all the weapons.
    Jacobs whispered to Lynch again, “I’m trying to make sure the info being imparted sinks within any recess of my brain that isn’t already overloaded with information. I’m making mental notes of anything that might prove useful in gaining any form of advantage. But all that keeps popping into my head is that sergeant telling me about the flying demons.”
    “The flying demons?” asked Lynch. “Sounds like a trapeze act … Maybe this is the circus.”
    They both smiled.
    “Remember,” said the lieutenant colonel, “when you’re in the field, if the shit has hit the fan—and it will—you have friends you can call. Their range, four hundred square kilometers. Call in a shower of the 105mm caliber artillery fire and watch the NVA crumble.” He smirked.

    • • • • •
     
    Jacobs went to the commissary to gather his kit.
    He was handed his helmet, poncho, boots, and the rest of its nonlethal components. He also picked up a combat knife, a Colt .45 Cavalry pistol, and an M-16.
    “Now,” said the officer who was doing the handing out, “you’ve probably heard stories that the M-16 rifle had a plagued start to the conflict cuz of jamming and malfunction.” The officer sighed. “That is true,” he continued. “A whole bunch of troops were killed by enemy fire cuz of it. Since then it has been upgraded with a chrome-lined bore and chamber to eliminate corrosion and stuck cartridges. The rifle’s bore and recoil mechanism has been redesigned to accommodate army issue 5.56mm ammunition. Rifle cleaning tools and powder solvents or lubricants are now issued. As long as you look after your rifle, it will look after you.”
    “Got it,” said Jacobs.
    “Don’t load your pack with anything but essential equipment. It’s hard enough with essentials on patrol; it would be stupid to hump around more. It could even be fatal.”
    “Thanks for the advice,” said Jacobs, and he left the commissary.
     
    • • • • •
     
    Lynch and the blaze of the sun met him. Lynch was wearing all his new gear.
    “I’m glad I found you,” Lynch said. “My orders have come in. The chopper is waiting for me. I fly out to my platoon. Now!”
    “Wow, so this is it. Good-bye?” asked Jacobs.
    “Not good-bye, remember? A … see you soon. Which I will do.”
    “Yeah, you’re right. Good luck.”
    “Luck has nothing to do with it, Jacobs. It’s all down to my skill.” He smiled. His big front teeth filled his face.
    They shook hands and Lynch ran away to board the chopper, his ride into the war.
     
    • • • • •
     
    The next night Jacobs was on perimeter defense.
    He was sat in a chest-deep bunker looking into the dark night through the slit window. Inside with him, another soldier was asleep, his helmet pulled down over his eyes.
    There was a bunker every forty-five or so yards, within shouting distance from each other. They had corrugated roofs, with sandbags on top of that, and more sandbags supporting the sides of them
    Jacobs’s looked over his shoulder at the rear exit then back out the slit. “Man, I’m tense,” he whispered to himself. “I need to crick my neck. I shouldn’t though. I need to keep the noise to a level below that of minimal. Not that the enemy has much chance of hearing a neck crick, but I need the security of knowing I’m as silent as possible.” He had to smile at that. “They probably have more chance of hearing me talk to myself. I sound like a crazy person. I should be in a padded cell, Lynch. Straightjacket and all.”
    “Hey,” a voice nearby drifted to Jacobs on the night air. It came from the other soldier in the bunker.
    Jacobs turned to him but the man still had his head down, his eyes