Read A Long Time Until Now for Free Online

soap, asswipe and toothpaste. That’ll last a while.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “We might be better walking down. These bitches are overbalanced even on a road.” He pointed at the MRAPs. They were crap off road, but here they were.
    Spencer said, “We’ll need to be careful. But they’re transport, they’re shelter, and we can rip parts out of them for survival. Hoses, metal.”
    “We could come back for parts. It’s not like anyone is going to steal them.”
    “We could. Your call, sir. But I’d like to get them as far as we can before we abandon them. It means less of a march later.”
    “I’ll take that under advisement.” Yeah. That would help. If the damned MRAPs didn’t roll and injure someone on the way. They weren’t meant for military patrol other than convoy or urban. Even dirt roads were problematic.
    First, he needed food and hydration. It was late afternoon, too. Actual sleep was called for, if he could. They’d travel in daylight only.
    Every young officer wanted a combat command and to show his mettle. Well, the good ones wanted to show it. If they managed, they held onto the title of “good.”
    This was not what he’d had in mind, but he didn’t have a choice. He’d make it work.

    Sean Elliott did sleep, restlessly but well enough. The nightmares were probably a good sign, he told himself. His brain was sorting out conflict.
    Spencer had kept things running overnight. Whatever the man said, he really didn’t need Sean Elliott. But there were few enough of them they needed everyone.
    He took another look at the terrain, and the map. The two were close enough generally. Downhill would lead to whatever watercourse there was. Assuming they were when and where they thought they were, and at least approximately in the area.
    All the troops were gathered around the protruding rock, and he could tell which side the latrine was, when the wind shifted. That was rank.
    Spencer caught his eye. He nodded.
    Spencer said, “Listen up. Informal formation. Keep eating, but pay attention. The LT and I have been talking, and he has a plan.”
    They looked at him. Some seemed curious, others hopeful, some annoyed. Well, that was his own fault. But, they did look to him.
    “Okay, what should be the Amu Darya river is twenty miles north. It’s rough terrain, but we’re going to try for it. It’s a major watercourse; that means water, power, transport, whatever resources there are. Whatever there is here is likely in that area.”
    No one said anything, but there were a couple of nods.
    He continued. “The movement will commence at once. We will thoroughly police the area of all trash or identifying material, including filling in the latrine. Do not mark it. We will stow all gear securely. We will leave a blaze in the turf indicating our direction.Charlie Eight will be the lead vehicle, and I will be aboard. Charlie Nine will follow, with SFC Spencer as vehicle commander. We will have three personnel on the ground as reconnaissance ahead. They will stay within one hundred meters of each other, and of the vehicle. We will follow at a walking pace, because these beasts have shitty balance. This movement may take up to a week, though it is possible we can accomplish it in two days. Exercise light and noise discipline.
    “The advance party will look for a clear route, paying attention to near and distant terrain. They must also be alert for dangerous animals, which is anything large or carnivorous or both. We will try to avoid interacting with animals, and retreat to the vehicle if necessary. We’ll shoot if we have to. I want both guns manned and alert. Any shooting will be by my order only, but anyone may shoot if there is an imminent threat of being attacked. ACH and armor will be worn.
    “We will rest briefly every two hours to swap out advance parties, and for latrines and food.
    “With all that covered, anyone with experience in rough terrain or ground guiding in the field should volunteer to be the