Smith smiles and says, "Not lost. Rhodesia is a bit far from here."
He answers the man with the cudgel and says, "My friends are up in the cave. We are low on fuel. Anything you can do would be appreciated. Inshallah."
Notice to see if anything seems amiss.
The first man regards Smith a little more closely. "Yes, inshallah , my friend. We may be able to help you, man from Rhodesia. What say we trade? You tell us what is in the Russian truck and we see about getting you on your way."
It is at the this point that Smith realizes they must have seen the truck coming.
Smith says, "We have a couple of people and some spare weapons. Probably jumper cables and some other maintenance gear."
At the mention of weapons, the man with the cudgel gives a look at the first one.
"Seems a fair trade. Your weapons, our fuel. Enough to get you across border. We have deal?"
Smith says, "If you have the fuel, we can give you our spare weapons. How many liters of fuel do you have?"
Smith waves for the man to follow him.
He points to one of the tents. "Soviets call it Benzina. We acquired one of their trucks full of it. It will fill your tank and we can spare an extra container, just in case. Depending on your weapons."
He and the man with the cudgel walk with you back to the cave..
Smith says, "Understood."
Smith walks back to the truck with the two men in tow and makes a bird call to let Macomb know he has returned and not to kill those two men.
He sees Macomb and says, "These two fellows here, are willing to trade gasoline for our spare weapons. As I recall, we have 5 or 6 loose AKs, a shot gun, assorted pistols and I think an RPK."
Macomb slackens his grip on his sniper rifle when he hears an out of place bird call.
Shortly after Smith emerges with two men.
I don't know that's a high price to pay for some fuel. Once we arm these people who is to say they won't turn the weapons on us. I propose this we trade the guns but no ammo.
Smith says, "True it is a high price. I would actually be more comfortable if we traded the truck for a horse-drawn cart because I am good with animals for one but secondly, with the truck we can only travel at certain times and the Sovies have choppers that could spot us. Your call, fuel for guns or truck for horses."
I could agree for a cart and two horses for the truck. What do these people say to that trade?
Smith goes back to the men and says in Farsi, "Would it not be more prudent trade the truck for two horses and a cart? We want to slip out of the country discreetly."
Yes surely that trade is better for both parties.
Macomb seeing this may take more persuasion skills than either he or Smith possess says under his breath.
Where's Nat when you need her. before turning around and calling for the reporter. Majors can you come here for a second.
Macomb quickly explains the deal they are trying to make to the reporter and asks the man to see what he can do.
Majors nods along as Macomb explains the situation. "I will see what I can do," he says as he attempts to speak with the men.
After a few minutes, Majors looks at the two of you. "They will take the truck and the RPK in exchange for two horses, a cart and some food for the road. They also offered a crude drawing map of a the best way to the border."
Well done Majors. I think that's a better deal than either of us could broker.
Macomb pats the reporter on the shoulder and reaches into a pocket for the truck's keys.
Smith says, "I concur."
He then says to the Afghanis "May peace be with you always."
Notice as long as the deal seems on the up and up.
For the ride Animal Maneuver
With the deal done, the five of you set off in a cart bound for the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan the next morning. The early sunrise brings promise of a warm day and a cloudless sky.
Survival
Smith win by 7
Survival would the modifier still be -8 or would it be lower because of the increase?
Smith dressed in Afghani garb, to make them look like locals at least from the air and a distance keep spurring the horses toward the border with Pakistan.
Macomb was grateful that their first day with the horse and cart went by uneventful. Smith was doing an excellent job navigating through the mountainside. Johnny tried to gather more information from Smith and the two rescued captives, Niobe and Errol.
Errol we have a lot of time until we reach the border. Tell me more about yourself. Do you have a wife or family back home?
Day 2 of Manhunt.
At some point during the next day you stop for a break at a local watering hole. While there, you speak with Errol.
"I have no family but my mother at home. She is missing me now, I am sure. I spend most of my time at university or on these expeditions. No time for a family of my own. Not yet. My mother, bless her, thinks otherwise."
While you are relaxing, a goatherd wanders by the hole with his herd. As you are starting to pack up to leave, you notice him watching you intently. He says nothing however and you leave to continue on your journey without incident.
Smith walks over to the goat herder and says in Farsi, "INshallah, brother that you have come by us today. Peace be upon you. Would you perchance know of any things we need to look out for on our way? I have heard the Russians are none to poison the water. Any help would be greatly appreciated."
The goatherd doesn't speak with you and is apparently afraid, as he backs away rather quickly to gather his herd. It is obvious he wants nothing to do with you.
Survival
Being an extremely sunny day, loses his bearings a little bit.
Manhunt Day 3
Travel seems extra difficult today and to regain his bearings, Smith has to bring you perilously close to some main roads. Unfortunately, he runs right into a convoy of Russian transport vehicles. Though he is able to steer clear of them, he realizes that you were seen by the locals and has to take a round about route to get back into the wilderness. You know it is only a matter of time before they realize they had you. On the other hand, they keep pressing the locals hard enough, there will be consequences.
Survival
Day 4
The sun isn't as bright and Smith is able to get a good bearing using his trusty compass and some of the maps they have on hand.
Realizing his mistake from earlier, Smith is able to catch your bearings and take you on a path that leads further from civilization and closer to the border.
Survival
At night Smith will forage for food and water
Razor has enjoyed the last two days. Despite the constant threat of being discovered and the accompanying always being on edge he had a chance to catch his breath and mentally review the course of events that lead Smith and him to this point. He also had the opportunity to learn more about Errol and poor Niobe. He also was happy for the downtime to recover from the recent firefight.
Eventually after many days of traveling by cart and evading patrols by Soviets and local supporters of the Communist Regime, including a close call with a Soviet troop convoy, you have made it into Pakistan. A sign on one of the roads tells you that Chaman, a border town, is only a few kilometers further if you follow the road. So far you have managed to avoid any Pakistani military patrols, but you know it is only a matter of time before they find you out here. Luckily, they aren't searching for you. Yet.
With the cart stopped Mac approaches Smith and leans in to say quietly.
What now Smith? We have three civilians with us. Two in bad shape. What do you think about a train ride? Not sure what papers we would need for that?
Smith says, "That sounds good. Lets take the cart to the nearest town and take the train or the bus to the train. Ditch these Afghan clothes. I think Quetta would work we can then fly from there to Karachi."
You arrive in Chaman a few minutes after high sun. While the locals are a bit wary, they pay you no mind as you find a place to leave the cart. It isn't long until you are able to find transportation to Quetta. While not the train you had hoped for, the truck driver seems friendly enough and he asks no questions as he loads you into the back of his repurposed deuce and a half. It smells of old fruit back here, but it beats having Soviet helicopters looking for you. The journey is long and uneventful, but a scant few hours later, you arrive in Quetta, near the airport. When you go in to book a flight to Karachi, you find that there is a note waiting for you at the service counter.
Boys,
While this undertaking has taken me in a new direction with the company, know that I will do my best to keep an eye out for you. Stay safe out there. The card in this envelope should have enough to cover your travel expenses plus those of any friends you picked up along the way.
Nat
Sure enough, she has left a credit card that has more than enough to pay for 5 flights into Karachi with plenty left over.
The plane ride is only a few hours and a welcome respite from your mission. Majors keeps to himself and writes a lot in his journal while your two refugees sleep most of the entire journey.
You arrive in Karachi and Director Al-Salahar has a car waiting to take you to his office. Majors says his goodbyes and hopes to work with you again soon. When you arrive at the office, The Director wastes no time getting down to business as you are debriefed.
"It is unfortunate that you were only able to recover two of the lost. My friend Fahsal will be upset that his daughter is still missing, but these two will be returned to their families in good time. You have done well and it appears you have some information regarding Soviet activity in the area. This does not bode well for the resistance there. Perhaps we will work with each other again in the future, but for now, there is a message that arrived from the United States for you."
Smith politely says goodbye to Majors and then talks to Al-Salahar and says, "We tried hook or crook but we were outnumbered, sir, and well we were lucky to get out of there with the two we found. I slotted my fair share of Terrs, sir."
He gives an SAS salute kicking his heel in the Rhodesian manner and he leaves with Macomb.
And once they get to airport he says, "Open the letters or R+R in Bangkok first?"
As Macomb and Smith walk around the airport. Johnny answers Smith's question and opens open a bit.
I think some time in a Buddhist temple in Thailand is calling me. I had to do some things on this mission that I feel require some time of mediation. I hear those places are amazing for their serenity. Everything in balance Smith, I hope I can call you a friend now. We have had our differences but I have learned to trust you with my life.
Smith smiles and says, "I concur but I was thinking more of a debauch. I will see the ladies and eat the food you can meditate"
Macomb laughs at Smith's response. To each his own Smith. Keep your equipment clean. He says with smirk as to the two wait in line for their flight.
After a couple of weeks of R&R and a well deserved break, the two of you review the next assignment at your safehouse in Karachi. It is a simple letter.
Friends,
Our mutual friend, Jeff Majors, has been spending the last week in the country and has run out of funds, as per usual. He desperately needs you to go and pick him up, take him to his date and then bring him home. He will bringing some friends as well. While he is on his date, we want you to make sure he stays safe and doesn't get into any more trouble. Maybe even tell us a little bit about her, get her friends to talk to us too. That would be nice as well.
Later,
Bossman
Your translation skills tell you that Majors is in trouble and needs your help to get him and some agents out. He has a mission to accomplish, whatever that is, and you are to escort him, recon the area and get home to the safehouse. Milk run, right?
Well Smith are you ready to get back into it? Sounds like that reporter Majors got himself in a bit of a jam.
Macombs looks back over the letter and then at the newcomer the agency sent. She looked like the kind more at home in a textbook than in the field but Macomb knew better than to judge a book by its cover.