engines grew louder as the convoy approached and Victor peered through the foliage to get a look at the lead vehicle. It was a truck filled with soldiers. The repercussions of screwing up suddenly became even more scary. He visualised the men leaning over the side of the vehicle and shooting at them like hunters in a gallery.
The Indians wanted to get even closer and crept forward to the river bank where the vegetation ended. They had a quick confab about something that Victor gathered was to do with crossing the river to ensure an even cleaner shot. A glance at the convoy warned him that they did not have the time and then, as if the Indians had come to the same conclusion, they both placed arrows to the strings of their bows and trained them on the approaching truck. It was a long shot and for the first time Victor began to doubt their skills.
The vehicle behind the lead truck was an open jeep carrying four men. Behind that came another truck but in the middle of the convoy one vehicle caught his attention. It was a highly polished black Mercedes sedan with a small flag flapping on top of the front wheel arch.
Victor swallowed with nervousness. Getting caught by these animals was a horrifying prospect. The stark reality of the situation struck him: if this went wrong his life would end here in this valley. He saw himself being hung and then realised that there was no tree tall enough, which meant he would more than likely be shot - unless they hung him from the bridge, of course. That would probably be the result, he decided.
He hoped he looked as calm as the two Indian boys did and wondered if they were frightened at all. They drew back their bows as they brought the arrows up on aim in perfect sync. Victor practically stopped breathing. He wondered what he might do if the arrows missed. If the convoy drove onto the bridge, would Stratton allow it to pass unhindered or would he detonate the explosives, thus killing David and Bernard? It was pointless to wonder. He had to succeed. Victor gripped his AK47 and rested his forefinger on the trigger.
As the truck moved directly in front of them,Victor’s gaze flicked between the Indians and the target tyre. The wait was excruciating. He almost cried out for them to shoot. Then one of them loosed his arrow and before it had landed the other followed. Both struck the tyre either side of the hub.
The wheel continued to turn with the arrows sticking out of it and for a painful moment Victor’s worst fears seemed to come true. He brought his gun up against his shoulder and swallowed hard. He moistened his lips, levelled the AK47 against his cheek and lined up its sights on the tyre. As he began to squeeze the trigger the sight picture changed and the tyre burst.
The truck’s brakes squealed noisily and the heavy vehicle came to a stop. Victor lowered his assault rifle and began to breathe again.
The convoy slowed to a halt as the driver of the lead truck opened his door and jumped to the ground. He paused when he saw the two arrows, uncertain if his eyes were deceiving him, and moved closer to inspect them.
He called out to the men in the jeep behind.
Victor tapped the Indians on their backs and signalled them to get going. They followed as he scurried away from the river as low to the ground as he could.
Stratton saw the strike through his binoculars and turned his attention to David and Bernard crawling along the bridge’s top span towards the dangling claymore.
When Stratton looked back at the convoy the men from the jeep were at the front of the truck with the driver who was pointing at the arrows. They were all wearing army uniforms and were no doubt officers.
Stratton searched the ground for Victor and saw him and the Indians making steady progress back towards him. A shot suddenly sounded and the three men dropped to their bellies.
Stratton hurriedly aimed his binoculars back at the truck to see one of the officers aiming a pistol in Victor’s general direction. The man fired again. There were two trucks full of soldiers and Stratton feared the men might clamber out and cross the river. If so it would mean a hasty retreat for everyone who could get to the horses in time.