Part 14 (1/2)

”One person at a time will be on sentry for two hours, starting with Roberts, and no falling asleep,” growled Cole, still p.i.s.sed that the dog was with them.

Sheridan removed his helmet and pulled out a chair so he could sit down. He looked over at Cole. ”Sergeant, I know that you're not happy with my decision. And a day ago I would have agreed with you. But we both know that Roberts wouldn't leave his dog behind. With all of the losses we've suffered, I couldn't just let him go.”

”Sir, death is part of the job. The sooner we all get used to the idea the easier it's going to be to accept the loss of those people we serve with.”

”You may be right, but at that moment in time I just couldn't say no.”

”It's what makes you human,” said Cole, patting Sheridan on the arm. ”If you aren't conflicted when you have to decide whether someone lives or dies, you've lost your soul and are no better than a mindless automaton.”

”Thanks,” replied Sheridan.

”However, just to be clear, sir, if I were in charge, I would have ditched the dog and Roberts if need be, but you're the boss.” With that, the conversation ended.

Chapter 19.

Tarina sat on a red and white chequered blanket holding a gla.s.s of white wine in her hand. Sheridan had picked a shaded spot on a hill overlooking his family's home in Plymouth. He smiled at her before playfully rolling over on his back until his neck rested on her lap. She smiled at him, leaned down and delicately kissed his lips. Sheridan thought her lips tasted like strawberries. He had never been happier in his entire life. The last few years with Tarina by his side had been a blissful blur. Every weekend they could manage to be together was spent way from the academy.

”Penny for your thoughts,” Tarina said.

”I was just wondering how a guy like me was so lucky to find a girl like you,” replied Sheridan.

”It must be your very large family trust fund that makes you handsome.”

”That's not even funny,” Sheridan said, hitting her on the arm.

”Will your parents both be home tonight?”

”Yes, I called. They're on their way to meet us at the house for supper.”

Hesitantly, Tarina asked, ”Do you think they'll like me?”

”Sure, why not? I'm head over heels in love with you.”

”Yes, but you're not your parents, just like I'm not mine. People can be judgmental even if they won't say so to your face.”

”It'll be alright. You know, you worry too much sometimes.”

Sheridan reached up with his right hand and placed it on the back of Tarina's neck. He could feel the warmth of her skin on his hand. Gently, he pulled her mouth down towards his.

”Sir, you need to get up now,” said Tarina with a serious look on her face.

”Why would you say that?” mumbled Sheridan.

A hand shook him. ”Sir, you're dreaming. Wake up!”

Sheridan opened his eyes and saw that he wasn't on a hill with the sun s.h.i.+ning down on him. Instead, he saw a troubled expression on Cole's face.

”What's up?” asked Sheridan as he sat up in the seat he had fallen asleep in.

”Thank G.o.d for that d.a.m.ned dog,” said Cole barely above a whisper. ”She heard it long before any of us did.”

Sheridan was confused. ”What did she hear?”

”Listen,” said Cole, pointing up at the roof.

At first, Sheridan didn't hear a thing, only his own breathing. A couple of seconds later, his ears picked up the faint sound of something mechanical rolling over the debris-strewn floor over their heads.

Sheridan's eyes went wide.

Cole nodded his head and then mouthed the initials HK. Rather than risk any more casualties, the Chosen had begun to inspect houses they had pa.s.sed for any Marine stragglers using armed robotic vehicles known as hunter-killers.

Sheridan whispered, ”Can it get down the stairs?”

Cole shrugged.

Everyone in the room, including the dog, stared up at the roof. Even their breathing grew quiet as the machine crawled along, breaking wood and gla.s.s under its treads. They followed its movement until it came to the stairs leading down into the cellar.

Cole raised a finger to his lips.

Through a crack in the door, they could see a light s.h.i.+ning down from above. For a moment, all was silent. Sheridan hoped that the robot would move on. Then with a thud, he heard the machine begin to make its way down the stairs. Taking them one at a time, the robot grew close.

”What do we do?” whispered Sheridan.

”We can't play dead; its thermal camera will pick up our body heat,” replied Cole. He looked about. A second later, he hauled a dust-covered tablecloth up off the floor and indicated with his hand for everyone to move against the wall.

Slowly, methodically, the machine made its way down the stairs. Inside the room, everyone waited and listened as the robot extended a mechanical arm to see if the door was open. When it realized that it couldn't push the door open, it fired off a small explosive charge on the end of its metal arm.

With a sharp crack, the door lock snapped apart and the door flew open. A bluish-white laser instantly shone inside looking for movement. When it detected none, the robot advanced into the room. In a flash, Cole threw the tablecloth over the top of the machine. For a few seconds, it moved back and forth trying to pull the sheet off.

All of a sudden, it stopped moving.

Cole looked over at Sheridan and quietly pulled his bayonet from its sheath. Sheridan, his mouth turning dry with fear, did the same.

Voices above them cursed and swore up a storm. A light was switched on and shone down the stairs, looking for the robot.

Footsteps.

Sheridan heard two Chosen soldiers coming down the stairs b.i.t.c.hing and complaining about their equipment always failing. The first one stepped inside the room and stopped in his tracks when he saw the cloth draped over the machine. His eyes widened. He was about to step back and draw his pistol when the second warrior, not paying attention, crashed into the back of the other one, sending them both into the room.

Like a pair of coiled snakes, Cole and Sheridan struck. Neither man had ever killed a person with a knife before, but it was a case of them or the Marines and both men wanted to live. Repeatedly, Sheridan smashed his blade repeatedly into the nearest Chosen's open side, until his victim's knees buckled. Sheridan hauled back on his quarry and in one final thrust he plunged his knife into his dying adversary's heart.

With his heart pounding away in his chest, Sheridan let the lifeless body fall to the ground. Even in the dim light, he could see that he had killed a woman. Guilt tore through his heart when he saw the woman couldn't have been any older than himself and had skin as dark as Tarina's. He dropped his knife and fell down on his knees beside the dead warrior. He reached out and gently turned her face towards his. She looked so much like Tarina that for a brief second, he thought he had killed the woman he loved.

A hand reached over and grabbed him by the shoulder. Sheridan was hauled up off the ground. Spun about, he found himself looking into Cole's eyes. ”You did what had to be done. Sir, you haven't done anything to be ashamed of.”

Cole glanced up the stairs. The thought of remaining near the people they had just killed for even one second more was too much for him to bare. ”We can't stay here. They'll come looking for their people.”