Fireteam Delta J. Halpin (top 10 books of all time TXT) 📖

out if it was the fog’s effects, or his own clueless brain at fault.

“I said, thank you.”

Okay, he had no idea what she wanted.

“You are very welcome?”

Asle relaxed. She gave another quick bow and turned. Apparently, that was the end of their little discussion. He saw her walk off toward Logan—who was also walking. He wasn’t sure how he’d missed that. Nowak must have completed his prosthetic at some point, because Logan was bouncing around on it. Although, by the pained expression he wore, it seemed it was still painful for him. Summers watched as Nowak took it off the man for adjustments.

The “running blade” was apparently sound. Summers just hoped the guy watched where he was going. He didn’t look forward to getting kicked by someone with a sword for a leg.

As Summers turned back to the forest, he smelled something new. Smoke. A quick look around and he found a column of black rising in the distance, miles off. A campfire? That was odd. He shouldn’t be able to see it this clearly against the dark night sky. Hell, he shouldn’t be able to smell it, either.

“Hey, Sarge, I think we have company.”

Chapter 7: A New Friend

As it turned out, the crossroads the group had passed a few miles back was another route to the city. And the smoke he’d seen was from a merchant wagon behind them. They’d tried to get an early start in the hopes they’d outpace the group, but for one reason or another, they appeared to be in a rush. Which was why Summers was now crouched down beside the Humvee, looking at the oncoming wagon through a pair of binoculars.

“Lot of guards,” Summers noted.

There was, in fact, nothing but guards. Summers didn’t know much about history, but he was fairly sure that merchant wagons were typically run by merchants. Everyone around the small wagon was wearing armor of some kind, with shields and spears in their hands.

“We can hide the Humvee and let them pass,” Adams suggested.

That was Summers’ first instinct, too, which was why he was surprised when Nowak shook his head. “We’re going to have to make first contact sooner or later. This might be a good opportunity for a practice run.”

His sergeant had a point. Armed as they were, he could only spot about twelve guards in total. And they were bringing spears to a gunfight. In a stand-up fight, they weren’t anything close to being a match.

“Asle, what do you think?” Logan prompted.

The girl shook her head in response. “Not sure.”

“I can probably get up that ravine.” Cortez nodded to a slope in the distance, overlooking the main road. “If things go south, I’ll at least have a decent angle on you.”

“Take Adams with you.” Nowak gestured to the private. “Wait, how often were you hitting that range at base?”

“Range?” Adams asked.

“You watch her back and do not shoot anywhere near our direction, you hear me?” Nowak pointed at Adams for emphasis. “And no explosives.” Nowak turned his attention to Cortez.

“Why not?” Cortez actually looked hurt.

“Because we can’t see what’s in that wagon. Could be a traveling orphanage, for all we know.”

“Ugh. Fine.”

Nowak looked to Asle. “We’re going to try it. Are you up to translating for us?”

Asle hesitated only a moment before she nodded.

“How ’bout you, Summers? You good?” Nowak looked at him with concern.

It annoyed him, but Summers kept his face neutral. “I’m good.”

Nowak smiled, clapping him on the shoulder. “All right, you’re with me on point. Logan, you make sure that no one gets too close to our translator.” Nowak smiled. “Let’s go say hello.”

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Summers walked alongside the others down the dirt road. Nowak called Asle over and started asking about some basic phrases in her language, which she apparently called “Nos.”

Logan bounced along beside Summers on his new leg. He still hobbled a bit, but he was surprised the man was able to keep up, even with their slow pace.

“Hey, Logan, can I ask you a question?”

Logan glanced over. “Is it about the leg?”

Summers noted the tone in the man’s voice and realized it was probably a touchy subject. He’d have to file that possible landmine away as something to avoid. “Uh, no?”

“Then go for it.”

“Asle was doing this . . . thing earlier. I kind of got the impression it had some meaning I didn’t catch. Something about many thank-yous? You know anything about that?”

“Did you accept it?”

“Accept what? The thank-you?”

Logan pinched the bridge of his nose. “Christ, yes. You have to accept it.”

“I did.”

Logan looked over at Asle. She was a good distance away, still talking with Nowak. “She did the same for me after I woke up. It’s . . . I think it’s sort of like a life debt thing. She says thank you, and if you accept it, you’re acknowledging that you don’t regret what you did. It’s like telling her you think her life was worth whatever it was you sacrificed.”

“Oh. Oh shit.” It occurred to Summers that he’d almost made a mess out of that. He should really start asking about local etiquette before they got to the city.

“Yeah. Just keep in mind she’s still a kid. I get the impression that our situation is a massive overload for her and things like this are her way of trying to ground herself, of making things a little more familiar.”

“Huh, that’s a lot more psychology than I’d have expected from you.”

“Oh, I’m actually a licensed therapist.” Logan smiled back at him.

Summers couldn’t hide his surprise. “No shit?”

“I think that’s why they paired me with her.” Logan’s smile faltered for a moment. That made a sort of sense. The military no doubt saw Asle as an asset. They’d want to