47 Echo Read Online Free Page B

down, but you’re already pretty much as low as you can go. For you high-numbered Echoes, such an offense would usually buy you a couple of days in the box.”
    “The box, sir?”
    “You’d rather not know, trust me. But in this case, I happen to agree with what you did. Doesn’t hurt that the two men you brought back had valuable intel, either. We do need soldiers who can think. I am surprised, though, that you had an objection to killing these two men. Your own record is not, as they say, lily-white.”
    “True, sir. But I figure the only way I’m going to stay alive out here is to use my head.”
    Markham grinned. “I like you, Morrow. All right. You’re released. Try to steer clear of Captain Sayed. He’s been warned to stay clear of you, but I doubt he will.”
    Nick had been released and escorted back to his unit before he realized that Markham hadn’t used his number. He’d called Nick by his real name.
    Four-seven Echo was just returning to their room at the half-hotel when Nick arrived. Christopher, who Nick had thus far only seen smiling or grinning, wore a blank expression. The other three men in the unit also looked completely worn-out and pale. Though he’d just spent several hours in a makeshift jail, Nick looked more awake and in much better spirits than any of his comrades.
    “Oh, good. They didn’t kill you or anything,” Gabriel said wearily.
    “No, they just let me go. Talked to the bigwig in charge of all us convicts. What the hell happened to you guys?”
    Christopher nudged open the door to 47 Echo’s room with his boot and dropped down on the closest bed. He wearily lit a cigarette and took a drag. He didn’t seem to have the energy to move the pack from where it fell against his chest.
    “Soon as we got back, they detailed us to the Irkutsk Airport in Klyuchevaya. Happens sometimes—we provide extra security for incoming convicts,” Christopher explained, little puffs of smoke accompanying every few syllables.
    Nick took a seat on the bed next to Christopher’s—the other men had already sprawled out on the rest of the bunks. Peter was also smoking a cigarette, and through the haze of smoke surrounding the young man’s face, Nick could see that his eyes were only half-open.
    “C-5s came in just like normal. Only this time, when the planes opened up, no convicts. Just one Air Force flyboy who told us to start loading equipment,” Christopher explained.
    “Shit was heavy, yo,” Peter grumbled from his bed.
    “We must have loaded up four, five planes in four hours. And I don’t know if you’ve ever seen a C-5, but they’re fucking big. We loaded those motherfuckers to the roof.”
    “With what?”
    “Shit in boxes,” Michael said. “Comm equipment. Tents. I’m guessing everything in the damned camp, but that’s probably just my sprained back talking.”
    “Then one more Galaxy landed. This one started unloading stuff—armored vehicles. Three of them. Boxes of weapons. Decent ones,” Christopher said.
    “So what’s going on, you think?”
    Christopher shrugged and finished off his cigarette. “I didn’t get a chance to ask any of my usual sources. Neal vanished as soon as we got to the airport. Didn’t see any of my guys from other Echo units. Saw a few Alpha guys and a Delta I know, but they didn’t know any more than I do, which is shit. My guess, though?”
    Nick nodded. “I’m guessing we’re evacuating Area November. Like, quickly.”
    “Those Mongolians you had us bring back must’ve scared the shit out of someone,” Gabriel said, shaking his head. “Someone gimme a smoke.”
    “Fuck you, kid. You’re not even eighteen yet.” Christopher grinned weakly, tossing the pack across the room.
    Gabriel caught the pack and pulled out a cigarette. Nick handed the young man a lighter.
    “Fuck you right back, man. I will be next week.”
    “Well, that’s all sorts of depressing,” Michael said.
    “So we’re getting out of here?” Nick asked