"William King - Green Troops" - читать интересную книгу автора (King William)

Green Troops - a short story by William King



Green Troops
a short story by William King
1. The Drop
Travis shivered as he watched the helicopter take off. The Black Hawk
hovered low over the jungle canopy. The downwash from its rotors caused
branches to sway. He upped the magnification of his eye and saw Kyle, the
mercenary gunner, wave from the open door. He did not wave back.
It was early evening. The temperature was bearable. He clicked down the
magnification and scanned the clearing wearily. The four Greens were
picking up their equipment packs and checking their weapons. They all
looked alike in their fatigues and kevlar body armour.
Bill-boy started at the sound of a screeching bird and wheeled, bringing
up his captured AK-47. Travis caught the glitter of sunlight on his
necklace of human teeth.
"Careful, boy, it's only a parakeet," he shouted. Bill-boy grinned back at
him. It was a nasty grin, white teeth against green skin.
"Sure thing, sarge. it's good to be back."
Bill-boy was one of the bad ones. All the Greens were programmed to kill
but Bill-boy loved it. He took a feral joy in slaughter. Travis had seen
him take a flamethrower into a peasant village. It had not been pretty.
"Bill-boy getting easy to spook, sarge. Been here too long. Too many
tours." This came from Carlo, who smiled easily as he said it. Carlo was
good-humoured. Travis had done three tours with him. The scientists could
say that all the Greens were alike but he knew better. Carlo and Bill-boy
were as different as night and day. They all developed a personality after
a few tours even if they all looked alike. At least, the ones who lived
did.
Chad had finished loading his gear, hefting a rocket launcher as if it
were made of cardboard. He stood playing with a long knife. He was quiet
and reliable. Travis wasn't so sure about Stef, the new boy, straight from
the vats. His face held no lines. Whose bright idea was it to send a new
boy along on a deep penetration mission? Sometimes the stupidity of the
higher command was breath taking.
"Everybody got everything?" Travis asked. The Greens nodded. Good. Let's
hit the trail. Bill-boy, take point."
As his team left the clearing by the southward path Travis paused to take
one last look around. The chopper was gone, back to the Contras' hidden
camp in what had been Honduras when national boundaries had meant
something in Central America. It had taken with it any promise of safety.
Travis shivered again. He had a bad feeling about this one.

2. Sniper.
The darkness was an ally not an obstacle. The team moved through it like
ghosts. The Greens could see in the dark like cats. Their senses were
razor keen. Travis had to rely on the infra-red sighting capability of his
eyes.