Will to Survive Read Online Free Page A

the sun was now peeking over the horizon. It was a blazing, brilliant orange fireball and it was throwing off enough light for us to clearly see the ground below. We were flying the most direct route between our neighborhood and our enemy’s compound thirty-five miles away. Brett was someplace below and there was no way he could miss seeing us up in the sky, since we were the only aircraft in the area. It gave me some satisfaction to know that if he saw us he’d be confused—why were we still flying, why hadn’t we reached the compound? Would he be able to wrap his head around the idea that his men were dead and I was free, that instead of being a captive to be tormented and killed, I was going to inflict a blow to him and to our enemies?
    We flew in silence for a minute.
    â€œI want you to come in low and slow,” Herb finally said.
    â€œAnd then?”
    â€œIf they open fire, take evasive maneuvers and get us out of there as quickly as possible. If they don’t shoot, then bring us in for a landing.”
    For the first time in my life I hoped to be shot at.
    The compound came into view off to the southeast. It was a large industrial area, with a big open road in the center that was now a runway, ringed by buildings of assorted sizes. The whole thing was surrounded by a high metal fence topped by barbed wire.
    Herb was surveying the ground with his binoculars and could see the details I couldn’t.
    â€œAnything?” I asked.
    â€œThe perimeter fence has been repaired, but I can’t see much else.”
    â€œMaybe there isn’t anything else to make out,” I suggested.
    â€œI’m sure they’re trying to keep things hidden from the air. It’s not just that they want the Cessna for themselves; they want to deny us from having it.”
    â€œI’m going to come in from the north and land toward the barracks,” I said.
    â€œAnd will that give you enough runway to take off again?” Herb asked.
    â€œI’m not sure. I think I might have to turn and go back over the same stretch of pavement. Do you need me to come to a complete stop?”
    â€œThe slower the better. I’d rather not bounce this amount of explosives any harder than I have to. Plastic explosives are fairly stable, but I’d rather it went off with the timer instead of with impact.”
    â€œThat won’t happen, will it?” I asked anxiously.
    â€œIt really shouldn’t happen, but if it does and it explodes, it’s not like we’ll have time to regret our decision … We’ll be vaporized in less time than it takes to blink.”
    â€œIn that case I’ll try to arrange it so you can gently place it on the pavement like it’s a newborn baby.”
    â€œJust remember, even if they don’t shoot at us on the way down they’re definitely going to shoot at us on the way back up, so let’s not waste too much time on the ground.”
    I knew the timer on the bomb would be set for thirty-five seconds. Just looking at the deadly package now in Herb’s lap made me nervously wish we could set it for thirty-five minutes.
    â€œWhy not set the timer on the trigger for a little longer?” I asked.
    â€œI want it to be just long enough for us to get away but not so long that other people can recognize the danger and escape. You ready?”
    â€œI better be … here we go.”
    I eased off on the throttle. The slower we came in, the less runway I’d need in order to land. The compound loomed dead ahead. I could see the fences, the runway, and the barracks, the place where most of the men would be sleeping.
    I focused on the runway, though I couldn’t help but see two armed guards step out of the shadows and away from the fence as we passed over. Even in that flash I could see they had rifles. We were low and exposed, but they weren’t going to be shooting at us as we landed. Instead we’d be just as low and