A Survivalists Tale Read online

  Helen called over these binoculars are good, I can see the rest of the poachers, they are miles away but following some tracks and there seems to be quite a few of them. Betty said what are those strange looking guns, Nathan, I looked and she pointed to the three RPGs, they are rocket-propelled grenades Betty and will come in real handy. Jacky and David asked you never said why poachers would be really dangerous, well for starts they don’t mind killing people, especially witnesses. Which we all are now, they also must have been using this place for many years, that means at least some of the guards for this park are taking back handers. It also means they only have a short time to make us and everything we have done so far like the jeeps and the people we killed all vanish. We had the tarps from both jeeps spread out as a roof over our little fort, we also thanks to the jeeps had plenty water food and ammunition, the RPGs weren’t the only thing we had, we had eight grenades of some kind and their pots and pans. So let’s get some food on and check the weapons, we now had eight Kalashnikovs and three RPGs with nine grenades and the eight hand-grenades and four thousand rounds, these guys were very well supplied, or they had been carrying the ammunition for the others. Helen called out I have them now there are three trucks and six land rover jeep type vehicles, I can see when the lightning flashes, there are around twenty natives in the back of each truck, two in the cabins and the jeeps have white people in them and they look full but I can’t tell properly. They had made a type of bed area where Tom was laying down with Abraham looking after him; Amanda was checking everyone else for signs of shock or scratches, which can quickly become infected at times in the bush. Helen had given the binoculars to Steve when she went to get something to eat, it was Steve that said we have a second group coming up quite fast towards the others, I would say another truck and two more jeeps. Amanda waved that she wanted to speak to me and Carol alone; we went, as far from the others as we could, she then told us Helen, Margret and Tom can’t actually shoot anyone. It’s against their religion, Tom wants to but Helen has explained if he does, he will hate himself for the rest of his life, as they were Quakers. Hey that’s ok they needn’t feel bad about it, they just won’t have to worry as everyone here are good people they will understand. I asked Carol to quietly let the others know and I would speak to the three of them together, so Amanda sent them over. I told them the facts, no one here would blame them, it was a good religion and more people should feel the same, they all said they felt so guilty as they felt they should be helping their new family, I said you can still help. Do you know how to cook, the girls said you know we do, so you take over the cooking and Tom can help with the watching for the poachers and if anyone is shot you can help the doctors. There are more ways of helping than killing people trust me, we went back to the team and the team came up to them and gave them hugs and back slaps for Tom and they all told them they thought they were great for holding to their beliefs under such circumstances. I thought shit, and asked who has the binoculars, Dave had them, I said check the trucks and see if the same amount of people are still on them. Fuck said David after a short while, there must be about forty spread out in a wide line making their way towards us and a truck was heading off to the left and two were heading off to the right. They have no lights on so must be using the NVGs, the two on the right are just coming up to the river and are about to cross. Oh, man you should see this they have just lost a truck, what do you mean I said that river isn’t that deep and the trucks should be able to cross no problems. Yeh that might be true but one of the trucks just drove into a big hole, the entire front of the truck right up over the cabin is under water. I think it’s the two drivers are now arguing with each other, I can see their arms flapping around, we heard a shot, what just happened we asked, David gave a laugh and said, one just shot the other, they are now climbing on to the one truck and heading to where ever they are going. They are going to try and surround us I said, it would have worked but I don’t think they know quite how many of us there is, but they do know where we are that’s for sure. The scar rifles had been adapted at some time so they could fire the same ammo as the Kalashnikovs, so we had enough weapons to give the rifles a rest when they got too hot.

  I saw in the flashes of lightning some nice dips in the land that they could use if they got close to us so I nipped out with some of the grenades and set traps for them, if they used them they would get a very unpleasant surprise. I had just got back when the rain hit, it was unbelievable like someone turned on a tap, you couldn't see more than four feet in front of you. David came up beside me and had to shout to be heard, I don’t think they know where we are after all, I said what makes you think that, well before the rain started I was watching them closely and it looked like they were sneaking up on the camp. I bloody hope so, but just in case be ready anyway. Carol shouted what about the trucks that split up, they could be thinking they should come over the hill and down behind the camp that way.

  The rain got even heavier and you could barely hear yourself think, the biggest flash of lightning yet and there right in front of us were six men in a line well sort of a line. We opened fire just before them and just at the exact same time as the thunder, we hadn’t a clue if we hit them but fired about sixty odd bullets in there direction. Just as the thunder stopped, another flash not as bad this time showed six bodies in front of us shot to bits, we watched for more but none showed. The rain stopped about three minutes later and in the distance walking down the hill away from us were at least fifty men heading down towards the camp. Two had narrowly missed falling into the ravine and kept giving it side-glances, I said get ready to open fire, we need to hit as many as possible in a short time. Why said Jess they have passed us, yes but once they find we are not in the camp and four of their men are missing they will be coming back up that hill in full strength. So we need to get as many as possible, every one with a rifle got ready I said pick your targets carefully, if you are on the left pick men who are far to the left if you are in the middle then the men in the middle are yours, and same on the right got it. They all acknowledged with a nod of their heads, wait until they are about half way, now I shouted and fired, they didn’t know what hit them, remember single shots I roared, the poachers were off running down hill as fast as they could towards the trees. Only nine made it to the trees, I thanked the rifle instructors in my head for doing a cracking job. I heard the trucks at the bottom of the hill, take of as fast as they could, they had the same idea as I had, I was going to go down take over the trucks and try drive us out of here.

  When I saw them run through the trees I called for some of the guys as I ran down to get the guns and ammo from the dead and wounded, one of the wounded tried shooting me but he missed and I didn’t. We focused more on their ammo and any grenades they had, we had enough rifles one of them had a snipers rifle, I grabbed that and all the ammo he had for it as they were bigger bullets, we also grabbed their canteens. I think their wounded expected a bullet in the head, but that wasn’t how we were, so we left them and got back up the hill as fast as possible. We just got into cover when bullets started to smack all around our barricade of rocks and dirt I thought just in time but not for Paula and Mike they hadn’t made it. They had both been shot just as they dropped into cover; Amanda checked Mike and Abraham checked Paula and both were dead; we said prayers over them and then wrapped them in spare tarp and carried the part way down the other side of the hill. We covered them with rocks and then it was back into the new camp, I was so bloody angry for the first time in my life, I took control of myself and loaded the sniper rifle. Now I was going to get some pay back I remembered what I had been told by my instructor all those years ago, shooting down hill aim high, shooting up hill aim low, I checked the wind and then watched for my targets. I could see natives trying to blend in with the trees, but I was looking for the white men, the bosses, the scum. There I saw a fat white man poking his head out from behind a tree to tell some natives to get up the hill and the native was shaking his head, I squeezed th
e trigger and fatsos face went splat, as the heavy round tore off the front of his face and he fell out away from the tree.

  I saw a shoulder come out just partially and couldn't tell if he was white or not, but he should have picked a bigger tree, I then saw him lift a cigarette up to his mouth he was white and having a cigarette, well I worked out where his shoulders were and where his head was. As I saw the smoke, being exhaled shot the centre of the tree. I saw him fall with half his head missing and bits of wood sticking into his face, I then saw one of the whites trying to sneak further back away from the shooting, like he had worked out I was shooting the whites. He was right as I shot him in the middle of the shoulders, in the back where the coward deserved it, as I scanned the woods. I noticed a white man standing right out in the open smoking and looking right at me. I was about to take the shot, but ducked just in time when I realised, he had been setting me up for their sniper. I thought fucking clever but two can play at that game, I told my team to get their heads down as there was a sniper out there. I slipped out the other side and slipped along below the ridge to the left, I knew where the sniper had fired from and believed he would move further away from the man who set himself up as a target but he wouldn’t move too far as he had to cover the front of our barricade. I had Joe move out on the right slightly and he was to push a bush on the skyline with a long stick just gently, I didn’t want it to obvious.

  It took me ten minutes of moving very slowly to my new position beside a group of small head sized rocks; I then gave Joe the signal and started scanning the trees, got him he had moved. He had climbed a tree and was doing the same as me, he had seen Joes bush move and was giving it a good look, by, by, Mr Sniper. I squeezed the trigger and his head jerked back and he fell out the tree, the rifle however was still hanging in the tree. I wondered if Mr cocky would go for the rifle or send some other poor git, I smiled it was himself Mr cocky he was moving just right nice and slow. His head came into view and then ducked back, yeh he was suspicious alright but I was patient and knew now he would go for the rifle. He showed himself twice more and must have thought he was safe, as he came up in a different branch and reached out for the strap of the rifle, I shot him right in the throat and down he went. I was hit by what I thought was the mountain and blacked out; I came too back in the camp with the doctor and carol leaning over me. I felt bloody terrible and couldn't stop shaking, Amanda said that it would pass, I tried to ask who shot me and Carol smiled and told me you didn’t get shot, you got hit by lightning. She said well it hit close to you and that’s what probably saved your life, well it didn’t feel like it saved my life, I felt bloody sore and realised I could smell smoke. Amanda informed me that it was me I could smell, my clothes were a little charred and your forearms may need a small skin graph or two but you will be fine well if we live through this that is. Everyone started to shoot I shouted pick your targets they will slowdown about half way so don’t waste ammo, I tried to go and help, but I couldn't get up, it was like my muscles wouldn’t stop shaking. Just then, Sharon fell backwards holding her shoulder and Dave got shot in the head, Abraham pulled David out the way and Amanda attended to Sharon. They shouted they are running, I shouted well take advantage and keep shooting until they are in the trees. I heard a few more shots and then nothing I had passed out again, I demanded they take me over where I could see the enemy and they gave into my tantrum and wedged me in between some rocks. Margret and Helen brought some food for everyone and a hot mug of coffee, just what I needed a good mug of coffee, after that I felt a lot better; I was still shaking now and again but not so badly. The storm was still going mental and it was raining again just nowhere near as bad as it had been. I was watching a group of three natives huddled behind a big rock, trying to keep dry or at least out of the worst of it. I was just thinking would a RPG blow the rock up enough to hit them when I was blinded, lightning had hit the very rock I was looking at. The natives got the full force of the strike and I saw two of them fly out about seven feet away from the rock and they looked dead. I was kind of glad in a way, it showed it wasn’t personal with the lightning, I was hoping it would strike a few more before it gave up.

  However it didn’t give up and was causing us serious problems, we needed the visibility that day was bringing, the rain was being a pain in the ass for it was cutting the visibility down to about forty yards. Allowing the poachers to get closer, just off to my right I heard a grenade go off, damb they were getting to fucking close, we couldn't move from here though, it had all our supplies and our two wounded. Sharon and Tom, plus I hadn’t stopped shacking completely yet and would more than likely fall flat on my face if I tried, so I warned the team keep your heads down and your eyes open. Just as I said it, the rain stopped, like someone turning off the tap, we caught them flat footed they were out in the open and had been relying on the rain to hide them. I shouted give it to them and we did taking careful aim we started to reduce their numbers, I saw a group of four white men jump behind a boulder and grabbed an RPG I quickly aimed it at the down side of the boulder but right next to it. The idea was the rocks would act as shrapnel and hit the bastards behind the rock, just before firing I shouted to my team fire on this and fired. It went perfect I must have got at least two of them as blood sprayed out the other side and as the others got up to run downhill the team cut them to shreds. Up on the hill I looked for who had set of the booby trap, but I saw no one I limped to the other side of the hill and could see four natives running away from the hill and keep going, looks like they had enough of being killed for the white men. I wondered why the poachers were trying to kill us; there was no way they were going to manage to cover this up, Margret who was bringing water to the team, suddenly went over backwards, she had been shot in the head. I couldn't believe it the woman hadn’t hurt a fly, probably her whole life and now dies here where she should be enjoying herself. I had enough I grabbed the sniper rifle and peered between two rocks, it didn’t take me long to see the cunt, he wasn’t even very good at sniping, well he would never get another lucky shot at my team, I carefully sighted on him just as he saw me through his scope. I squeezed the trigger and my shot went through the scopes and took of the top of his head, I then looked for more targets and started picking of men who thought they were hidden. Not to me they weren’t with the scopes I could see right into the bushes and trees and began culling everyone I could. They started to realise they were dropping like flies and that went for the whites to, they must have hired mercenaries to have that many white men. I looked to where the men were heading to and sure enough, there was smoke coming from our old camp, that’s where the moneymen would be. Thinking themselves out of range and safe, well not to me, not this time, I grabbed as many magazines as I could making sure they were full I took one of the Kalashnikovs for they had larger magazines than the scar. I then collected all three RPGs and an extra round for each, Carol said where are you going, to finish this before anyone else loses their life and before you ask I need you here to look after the others, this is something I have to do on my own, believe me one more person and it won’t work. I hobbled down the far side of the hill and headed left towards the river, I followed the river down and the useless planks had no one guarding it, I pulled myself out of the river alongside the camp where I had a good line of sight. They had all the trucks and jeeps parked in a square, feck knows what they were thinking, the poachers were in three groups having something to eat and drink.