haven’t been able to prove it. The file’s unclear whether they have any role in supporting foreign terrorists.”
“You must have read the file. I first happened to meet Aly Kassim on the plane when I was flying out to visit my daughter,” Sam replied. “I told him I was retiring from the Army. He said that if he could help me out to let him know. When this operation started, Bob O’Brien came up with a name I used as a reference name that rang a bell with Kassim. He hired me and brought me on the payroll about a month ago.”
Sam glanced at his watch. “I’d better get moving. I need to stop and pick up some communications gear, then drive back out to the farm. It’ll take me some time to prepare for my class.”
She handed Sam a card. “Call this number when you want to set up a meeting.”
Sam glanced at the card. It read Barnes & Noble, and listed Alex Prescott as the community manager.
“Give me twelve hours if you can, but I can make it with a couple of hours’ notice in an emergency.”
Sam nodded.
She put her hand over his clenched fist. “Remember, you’ve got a whole support chain behind you. Just be careful. These guys won’t hesitate to kill you if they suspect the truth.”
Sam enjoyed the feel of Alex’s fingers on his hand. He rose, patted her shoulder, and walked toward the door. On the way by the “bestsellers” table, he stopped and stood next to Bob O’Brien.
O’Brien fingered a new Robert Parker book. “Alex’s a treat, isn’t she? You’ll find she’s good. You can trust her.”
Sam headed out the door. He’d find out about Alex soon enough.
CHAPTER NINE
S am worked all that afternoon to develop lesson plans for the next four nights. Oliver insisted that he complete the training in one week, which put the pressure on to prioritize issues. Sam had to figure out Oliver’s proposed target.
For purposes of the practice sessions, Sam divided the twenty-two men into two groups, Popeye supervising one and Sam the other. He watched for men capable of leading a five-member fire team. Sam wanted to be able to expand the two groups if others showed up. He planned to provide the names, along with an analysis of each man’s strengths and weaknesses, for Alex at their next meeting.
That night they worked on arm and hand signals. Sam spent the first hour inside the conference room going over a chart of a dozen key signals the men would need. After he was satisfied, he moved them outside and spread the group around the perimeter of the largest of three fields on the west side of the road.
The icy wind penetrated his field jacket. Sam didn’t like it that a few of the men seemed lethargic. They’d need to be able to focus even in the cold. Sam did what he had learned in the Army—he drove them harder. Maybe he could get some of them to quit.
For the most part, they responded to his challenges and learned quickly. Marshall took a terrible razzing. He couldn’t seem to do anything right. Buster stayed on his case, and Sam could only protect the young man so much.
After completing arm and hand signals, Sam introduced the subject of cover and camouflage. He picked a hill just west of the barn. Snowflakes landed on his shoulders while he talked. The icy wind blew the flakes off before they could accumulate.
“I want you to remember this lesson.
Camouflage
simply means that you can’t be seen. If you hide behind a bush and the enemy can’t see you, you’re camouflaged. Remember, someone can shoot you in the ass.”
A few of the men chuckled.
“Cover,
on the other hand, means that you can’t be hit by enemy fire. If you’re behind a rock, you’re camouflaged and also under cover.”
The men nodded.
“When I was stationed at the Infantry School at Fort Benning, the commanding general of the training and doctrine command published his rules for survival. I want you to memorize the list. These principles have served me well, and I’m sure they’ll serve you,
“You must have read the file. I first happened to meet Aly Kassim on the plane when I was flying out to visit my daughter,” Sam replied. “I told him I was retiring from the Army. He said that if he could help me out to let him know. When this operation started, Bob O’Brien came up with a name I used as a reference name that rang a bell with Kassim. He hired me and brought me on the payroll about a month ago.”
Sam glanced at his watch. “I’d better get moving. I need to stop and pick up some communications gear, then drive back out to the farm. It’ll take me some time to prepare for my class.”
She handed Sam a card. “Call this number when you want to set up a meeting.”
Sam glanced at the card. It read Barnes & Noble, and listed Alex Prescott as the community manager.
“Give me twelve hours if you can, but I can make it with a couple of hours’ notice in an emergency.”
Sam nodded.
She put her hand over his clenched fist. “Remember, you’ve got a whole support chain behind you. Just be careful. These guys won’t hesitate to kill you if they suspect the truth.”
Sam enjoyed the feel of Alex’s fingers on his hand. He rose, patted her shoulder, and walked toward the door. On the way by the “bestsellers” table, he stopped and stood next to Bob O’Brien.
O’Brien fingered a new Robert Parker book. “Alex’s a treat, isn’t she? You’ll find she’s good. You can trust her.”
Sam headed out the door. He’d find out about Alex soon enough.
CHAPTER NINE
S am worked all that afternoon to develop lesson plans for the next four nights. Oliver insisted that he complete the training in one week, which put the pressure on to prioritize issues. Sam had to figure out Oliver’s proposed target.
For purposes of the practice sessions, Sam divided the twenty-two men into two groups, Popeye supervising one and Sam the other. He watched for men capable of leading a five-member fire team. Sam wanted to be able to expand the two groups if others showed up. He planned to provide the names, along with an analysis of each man’s strengths and weaknesses, for Alex at their next meeting.
That night they worked on arm and hand signals. Sam spent the first hour inside the conference room going over a chart of a dozen key signals the men would need. After he was satisfied, he moved them outside and spread the group around the perimeter of the largest of three fields on the west side of the road.
The icy wind penetrated his field jacket. Sam didn’t like it that a few of the men seemed lethargic. They’d need to be able to focus even in the cold. Sam did what he had learned in the Army—he drove them harder. Maybe he could get some of them to quit.
For the most part, they responded to his challenges and learned quickly. Marshall took a terrible razzing. He couldn’t seem to do anything right. Buster stayed on his case, and Sam could only protect the young man so much.
After completing arm and hand signals, Sam introduced the subject of cover and camouflage. He picked a hill just west of the barn. Snowflakes landed on his shoulders while he talked. The icy wind blew the flakes off before they could accumulate.
“I want you to remember this lesson.
Camouflage
simply means that you can’t be seen. If you hide behind a bush and the enemy can’t see you, you’re camouflaged. Remember, someone can shoot you in the ass.”
A few of the men chuckled.
“Cover,
on the other hand, means that you can’t be hit by enemy fire. If you’re behind a rock, you’re camouflaged and also under cover.”
The men nodded.
“When I was stationed at the Infantry School at Fort Benning, the commanding general of the training and doctrine command published his rules for survival. I want you to memorize the list. These principles have served me well, and I’m sure they’ll serve you,
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