10-15-2016, 07:44 PM
Zinder was a hell hole, but Carolyne had seen worse. Still, that didn't make it better. Women and children sold as slaves, and too beaten down by the threat of starvation to fight back. It made her shiver to think that being raped by a slave owner could be the preferable alternative to anything.
They'd slept in a long tent near the center of the living area. Carolyne wouldn't say she wouldn't have preferred an actual bed, but sleeping on the hard ground was par for the course in her line of work. Even so, she was jet lagged and her muscles were sore when the staff sergeant woke her. The woman didn't look the least bit out-of-sorts, and that annoyed Carolyne. Still, she took her advice and stuffed herself into the body armor.
"How far's the drive?"
she asked, once she was packed inside the gear.
Toni pulled a folded, waterproof map out of her body armor and looked it over. "About two hours to the border and three more to Maradi. With luck we'll get the VIP to his destination before nightfall."
She rapped Carolyne on her helmet. "Bring plenty of water. You're with me in the lead vehicle."
Carolyne almost rubbed the spot where Toni hit before realizing that made no sense. She already had most of her packs together, but she grabbed another canteen on the sergeant's suggestion. Two minutes later, they were outside. The rest of the sergeant's squad was already at the vehicles.
They'd slept in a long tent near the center of the living area. Carolyne wouldn't say she wouldn't have preferred an actual bed, but sleeping on the hard ground was par for the course in her line of work. Even so, she was jet lagged and her muscles were sore when the staff sergeant woke her. The woman didn't look the least bit out-of-sorts, and that annoyed Carolyne. Still, she took her advice and stuffed herself into the body armor.
"How far's the drive?"
she asked, once she was packed inside the gear.
Toni pulled a folded, waterproof map out of her body armor and looked it over. "About two hours to the border and three more to Maradi. With luck we'll get the VIP to his destination before nightfall."
She rapped Carolyne on her helmet. "Bring plenty of water. You're with me in the lead vehicle."
Carolyne almost rubbed the spot where Toni hit before realizing that made no sense. She already had most of her packs together, but she grabbed another canteen on the sergeant's suggestion. Two minutes later, they were outside. The rest of the sergeant's squad was already at the vehicles.