Babel Five -- The Prolouge

BABEL FIVE

Prologue

A fire searing pain burnt in my chest as I recoiled backwards about a foot from the stench of gun powder. I heard the gasps and shrieks behind me from the others. Those fools were cowards, acting like as chickens in a cage. Although, I felt the same about being in this dirt for floor confined wooden cabin for the past evening.

I looked to the floor and saw my blood dripping onto the ground. What had happened? I placed my hands on my chest; I touched the warm entry wounds. Where was he? My mind raced with thoughts. Five days ago, everything was scheduled. This was not in the plan. I had not gotten this far to lose it all.

Next I heard the foreign-tongue military Captain shouting; it must have been an order by his tone. The intruders to the cabin shuffled slow inwardly. I observed Ahmad, our trusted guide, speaking in multiple commands, but to no prevail. They had barricaded our only exit. I sensed a sudden cramp causing me to bend forward like having appendicitis.
         

Without warning my legs weakened and I dropped to the mountain terrain flooring. The soldiers retreated to the cabin entrance. It was bad. My body drained of strength. And for a moment, I wondered why Naomi had not attended to my injuries. She was our rescued medic. I could still remember her weeping over Michael's dead body as she tried frantic to save him, but what about me? Now I laid crumbled on the ground without a single person besides me sucking in dirt fragments.

There was another bark order from the Captain. Someone begun rolling me forward. Could it be? His once gentle hands feel like rose branches as he cradled me. I could hear him speak, but his voice seemed to be muttered for his presence. My sight flickered. The sunlit door frame casted shadows from the soldiers milling about, which did not help. Even without my vision, I smelt the musk of his hairy matted chest panting. His heartbeat was rapid. My body started to shiver. There was no warmth.

I tried to speak, but only coughed. It was a mixture of mucus with blood, which made me gag. I begun to panic. I raised my left hand to his open shirt collar and grabbed hold. After I spat from my mouth. I finally spoke to him, "You idiot."