GUARD OF HONOUR CHAPTER 7:
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CLARES POV#
I could not help but keep smiling upon setting my eyes on a bouncing beautiful boy the nurse standing next to my maternity bed held in her hands… How handsome he appeared, a true photocopy of Craig!
Being a mother had come with it’s own challenges… I had to gather my strength,sit up and br£-$tfeed my baby ba-rely an hour after delivery.. The joy that engulfed my soul was way too much that I forgot about the pain that had come with labour…There was no way that bright smile could escape my face, I wished Craig was there to see just how the baby Resembled him… Talk of the round face, cute cheeks and light complexion,this replication made me feel proud!
The nurse walked in smiling uncontrollably towards my bed where the innocent kid lay asleep following a lengthy session of suc-king….
‘You and your baby are healthy and ready for discharge ‘
She finally uttered upon standing at my bedside, in a cool and composed manner…. Much to my delight..
‘Thank you Sister’
I replied, forcing a weak smile… Trying to gather my lost strength from a rather tidious labour session that had left my bulged stomach feel as though had been tickled…
‘Your sister has gone to sign for the camp ambulance to ferry you home’
She continued… Much to my delight, I could not believe my sister had troupes in too from a neighbouring village where she had settled upon being paid her repatriation dues…This was sweet melody to my ears knowing people cared!
I sat down at the back of the ambulance, feeling overwhelmed,thanking God on my safe delivery,opposite my seat was my sister Mable holding the baby amid smiles as the vehicle rumbled it’s way towards home… I could ha-rdly wait to reach home and lay my hands on the phone..Breaking the news to Craig was the only thing on my mind!
CRAIG’S POV#
‘congrats Craig’
Uttered Colonel Mwango,much to my delight… Wondering what the congratulatory message was all about..
I have had quite a thought filled, stressful day preparing for the highly anticipated Banjul operation to take place later in the night… Now here I was, holding a heavy missile launcher in my hands, dressed in an heavily camouflaged regalia, with tracks awaiting to ferry us to the battlefield before the Colonel suddenly abrupted my battle mood little did I know he meant good…
‘Your wife has given birth to a boy’
He broke the good news m, leaving me gasping for words as I blus-hed round, feeling excited as though had clinched a million dollar contract…. I could already imagine the appearance of our long awaited kid I had always anticipated to be a boy… My prayers had been answered…
‘Thank you Sir’
I replied in an audible, yet joy filled tone.. As the colonel nodes on with a smile… This was sweet melody to my ears, I thought as I saluted before headed out of his office….one thing I had on my mind now, get into that operation and come out alive to see my kid and wife!
I sat quietly,with a rifle wrapped round my energetic palms… How surprising my face switched between fierce and smiles… I knew I was ready for this..one thing kept whispering into my ears how risky and deadly it could be while the strongest feeling kept as-suring I would come out alive!
Lights, Camera,action….This was not a movie anymore. No sooner had we parked our tracks on the infamous Danger hill that housed the rebels than we carefully moved out one by one, led by lieutenant Phiri,the signaller….
My heart thumped with fear as I jumped off the war track. .feeling like one of the celebr@ted Hollywood stars in front of Camera…I could see lights all over the Rebels’ camp down the hill as we descended towards the base in single line,holding our guns in ‘alert position ‘, ready to fire at any opposing movement… Clare and my newly born on my mind!
CLARE’S POV#
No sooner had we reached home than my sister went straight to the kitchen to prepare dinner.. I quickly reached out for my phone and tried to call Craig’s office line, only to be told he had gone on duty….
I knew my husband was in the deadly Banjul squad that had moved in to quench the dangerous rebels… Lord please keep my Craig, let him get to see his long awaited baby… I prayed silently,feeling emotional as I started at the innocent soul laying on the couch next to me!
CRAIG’S POV#
We had just finished capturing the most notorious rebels from their camp before the most tragic scene occurred ba-rely two metres away from where we had initially packed our tracks…. I could smell DEATH!
GUARD OF HONOUR CHAPTER 8:
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CRAIG’S POV# CONTINUES…
Stunned, astonished, I stood, in complete surprise on the scenes before us… Our patrol vehicles had been set ablaze!
‘Hands up! ‘
Shouted a fierce voice…
I tried to look around but to no avail… Seemed we had been drawn into an arm bush!
‘You all are ordered to ground your weapons or will have no option but to Fire!
Ordered a rather fierce voice which emerged from a nearby thicket… For once, I felt the real smell of death amid a swelling ice cold breeze that swept throu-ghmy soul, sending me into the most nervous feeling I had ever been subjected to..
I watched on helplessly as the platoon leader, Major Chilongo carefully lower down his G3 rifle in submission to the orders before each one of us followed suit as per military norm when the platoon leader surrenders…It felt as though all cameras on the planet were centred on me when it was my turn to surrender.. It was clear we were surrounded by the fierce rebels!
No sooner had the last marksman lowered his as-sault rifle than we were mobbed by a hundred plus fierce looking rebels all armed with the famous AK 47 rifles,led by a tall, hu-ge, masculine commander dressed in a camouflage combat with a red band wrapped round his head…The scam language and intimidation he spat on us whilst his troops collected our rifles suggested he was nothing but a ruthless man!
‘Who is your Boss? ‘
He asked in a fierce tone, making my adrenaline race even fas-ter!
The silence that swept throu-ghour squad triggered his temper to boil that he pulled out a 38mm pistol off his wai-st and buried it’s barrel onto the head of Major Chilongo…I could gauge his extent of fear just from the facial expression.. Only God knows how he was feeling…
I held my breath firmly, still on my knees as he slowly pressed his finger backwards,displeased with the Major’s resistance to point out the group leader… Off course he was the platoon commander and could not exp-ose himself just like that…
‘Sergeant Phiri Sir’,
Replied Major Chilongo…in a stammering tone, with a sense of panic written all over his face as he slowly turned round pointing towards my direction…
I could not believe it neither could I un-derstand his logic!
I froze in fear, whispering a short prayer, seeking divine intervention petitioning heavens to let the merciless commander spare my life…
CLARE’S POV#
I spent that evening sharing a light moment with my sister, who had come throu-ghto look after me and my newly born… How joy filled I was to hold Craig’s replica in my hands…
I spent my night crying to God to watch over my husband as he set out for that dangerous operation… The only wish I had was for him to see how the fruit he planted had blossomed …I could feel heavens shake as I rambled throu-ghprayer.. My meditation felt so unique this time around that I even felt relieved upon conclusion..
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I saw Craig come towards me, lean forward and ki-ss me on the forehead before lifting the baby off the bed… How bright he smiled, how excited he was upon setting his eyes on his son… How he shed tears of joy as I looked on in excitement… I opened my eyes only to realise it was all a dream! I felt bad though de-ep down my heart knew it was a prediction of what would happen!
CRAIG’S POV#
‘Well well Mr. Team Leader’
Uttered the commander, in a rather teasing voice…tickling my head with the barrel of his pistol…
‘Who is the co-ckroach that sent you to invade my camp? ‘
He questioned, this time scamming in his rage filled language…
‘I… I.. ‘
‘Speak, or I will blow off your br@inless head!
He cut short my stammering response,in a harsh voice…
‘No one dares ruin Barrow’s camp’
He continued with his intimdative language,this time co-cking his gun,still pointing it to my head, this time even ready to fire…
I could even imagine being dead before he finally pulled the trigger…
All I could see was my blood stained combat!
Tbc