Piranha

“What the hell is going on up there?” said Admiral Woods, flashing onto the small video screen in front of the pilot’s console. The computer automatically restricted the communication to his headset.

“We’re deployed Piranha and are tracking two Chinese submarines. I’m told they’re making good time—thirty-two knots.”

“The MiGs.”

“The F-8’s? They played cowboy and Indian for a while, then went home. We reported that.”

“Your orders were to steer clear of all Chinese aircraft.”

“Admiral, I think you’re being a little picky,” said Dog. “The fighters came out and met us. We took no action against them. What would you have me do?”

“I would have you follow orders.”

“With all due respect, sir,” said Dog, who felt anything but respect was due, “I think you’re just looking for things to criticize. I can’t seem to tie my shoes without you objecting.”

“My people don’t talk that way to me, Colonel.”

“Maybe they should.”

“You want to go toe-to-toe with me, fine.”

“Admiral, really. What’s the problem here?”

“You’re used to ru

Dog stared at the screen. Woods stared back.

“Well?” said the admiral finally.

“I was following my orders as best as I knew how. That’s all I can say.”

“I’m sending a patrol plane to help track those submarines,” answered Woods.

“I don’t see that as necessary, Admiral. We’re tracking sufficiently.”

The line snapped clear before Dog could finish.

An atoll in the South China Sea

1800

Da

“Stay where you are. Everybody!” the calm half yelled. “Stay!” He pointed at Stoner, who’d impulsively taken a step toward Powder. Liu, who’d been about ten or twelve feet away when Powder got hit, lay slumped over on the ground, moaning.

Get Liu out, then decide what to do.

Da

Nothing.

God damn, screamed the other half of his brain. God, God damn.

Try again, said the other half. He readjusted the setting, took a long breath, then moved his helmet slowly.

He could see rocks, or something like rocks. Flipping back and forth from IR to optical, he realized there were some rocks that had a triangular shape at the bottom. These were mines, or attached to mines.

Liu, twenty yards away, curled between two of them. Da

There were more mines over to his left. And a row of mines directly in front of him; another step and he would have blown himself up.

Powder had saved him.

He had a pretty straight path to Liu on his right, assuming he wasn’t missing any of the mines.

Da

“Don’t move,” Da

“Helicopter,” said Liu, suggesting he be pulled out from above.

“Yeah, but I’m afraid of the rotor wash and we don’t know if there are any timers,” Da

“I got nicked in the arm and in the leg,” said Liu. “I think I’m okay.”

“Just hang there a minute,” Da

He’d missed the mine by a good measure, but still he expected an explosion. When it didn’t come, he started to laugh uncontrollably. The spasms shook his body, emptying it not only of tension but of doubt. Sure of himself now, Da

“Powder?” asked the sergeant.

“No,” said Da

“You okay, Captain?” said Bison when he reached him. The trooper had inflated a stretcher.