Chương 58: A weeping country

BAM! 

A single rifle shot pierces the stillness of the night sky, immediately followed by the clatter of a falling drone. 

Lying on my stomach amidst the tall, whispering grass, I push one side of the headphone back to better hear the surroundings and confidently raise my hand into the cool air. “It’s down.” 

From the shadows, a girl’s silhouette gracefully emerges and moves closer to me. “Good job, Nila.” 

“Thanks.” I smile, feeling the faint wind brush my cheeks. 

Rohini, with moonlight softly reflecting off her skin, rises and retrieves the drone from its abrupt landing spot. “This thing looks high-tech.” 

“Of course, it is. God, I wish we had things like that,” I sigh, my breath slightly visible in the cool air. 

“We also have drones.” She pouts, casting a playful shadow over her features. 

“Yes, but have you seen ours? They look so small and almost endearing next to this behemoth.” 

“Sure, but they’re armed with machine guns. This high-tech flying tin can’t even harm a fly. Plus, you made them, so they’re super cool!” 

“Yes, but these operate autonomously and can function under the rain. They’re also powered by solar energy.” 

“How does it work during the night, then?” 

“They’re equipped with batteries. The sunlight is converted into electricity. Part of it powers the drone while the remainder is stored in the battery, allowing it to operate at night or during overcast days. If it runs out of sunlight for an extended period, it would eventually fall and enter sleep mode.” 

“Lucky for them we are in a sun-drenched country!” 

“True, I suppose they wouldn’t fare as well in England. Still, I intend to salvage it. Some of its undamaged components might prove useful.” 

Rohini’s gaze drifts, and she points towards a silhouette on the next hill. “Is that what I think it is?” 

“Yes, that’s the camp.” 

Bathed in the soft glow of the starry expanse, the surroundings are eerily tranquil. 

“How do they manage without any light?” Rohini wonders aloud. 

“It’s crucial to adapt to low-light environments. Hence, they avoid using artificial lighting at night. With their array of night-vision gear like cameras and binoculars, more light would actually be detrimental. Think about it–light a candle, and while you see your immediate surroundings, others will spot you from a much greater distance. Isn’t that basic strategy?” 

A momentary realization dawns on her face. “Now that you mention it…” 

I shift gears, urgency apparent in my tone. “More importantly, is everybody ready?” 

“Yep. We’re just awaiting the signal.” She confirms with an enthusiastic thumbs-up. 

“Perfect.” 

Given our time constraints, we’ve managed to gather just over 300 men and women for the raid. It’s a commendable number for a group of our stature, yet the camp houses a similar number of well-trained, well-equipped individuals. In standard siege tactics, attackers are at a disadvantage compared to defenders. Our numerical equality isn’t ideal in this context. However, we have other factors working in our favour.   The element of surprise remains our ace card. Although these soldiers train to repel sudden raids, they can’t bank on their security systems, not with Schwa set to incapacitate them. Additionally, the absence of two key figures—the major and the 1st lieutenant—until tomorrow might lead to some organizational chaos and dip in their morale, providing us with a slight edge.

Rohini reaches out, and with her firm grip, helps pull me to my feet. Together, we descend the hill. 

Down below, Nala and Auntie Nishaa are immersed in preparations. The sight of the amassed horsemen is nothing short of breathtaking. While we may lack tanks or armoured vehicles, the horses are not to be scoffed at. They’re swift and resilient, enduring more than most would believe. 

I catch Nala’s eye and beckon him over. Responding promptly, he spurs his horse into a gallop, closing the distance between us. 

“How’s everything on your end?” He queries. 

“I’ve cleared our perimeter. No more drones lingering about. We have a few minutes left until we expect Schwa’s signal.” 

“Ahh, I can’t wait to see her!” Rohini chimes in with a giddy chuckle. “I wonder if I’ll ever get used to calling her Schwa instead of Gini.” 

Laughing, I reply, “Names are but labels. She’ll answer to both.” 

Nala nods in acknowledgment, then swiftly returns to Auntie Nishaa’s side. 

“Everyone, attention!” He bellows. 

“Should he really be shouting?” Rohini mutters, eyebrows knitting in concern. 

“I doubt it, but these folks sometimes need a little … volume to get their attention,” I say with a resigned sigh. Though we’re a safe distance from our target, caution is still key. 

Recognizing most eyes are now on him, Nala continues in a slightly subdued tone, “I can’t express enough gratitude for your presence tonight. This operation is pivotal for our future as an independent nation, and-”

Interrupting him, a clear voice pipes into my earpiece, “Perimeter is secured.” 

“Understood. Nala, it’s go time!” I cut in. 

His eyes widen, and with an animated flourish, he raises his talwar high: “-and we’re gonna give those bastards a night to remember!” 

His poetic aspirations might’ve taken a nosedive, but the hearty laughter from the crowd suggests they don’t mind the change in tone. 

“Charge!” Rohini’s voice rings out. It’s only now I notice she’s mounted on a horse. 

And like a scene from an ancient saga, the horsemen storm up the hill, their combined laughter filling the night. For a fleeting moment, the tableau reminds me of battles from yore. With chariots in the mix, we might’ve passed for the Pandavas. But didn’t they have Krishna on their side? Oh, if only we had some divine assistance! Rohini’s visage pops into my mind, and I can’t stifle my laughter. Perhaps we do have some celestial backing. 

However, there’s no time to dawdle. With my comrades on the front lines, I need to play my part. Extracting my cellphone, I boot up the app I’ve perfected over the past year. Its efficiency was proven just last week during a settlement raid. 

After inputting the necessary parameters and hitting 'begin', a harmonious hum fills the air. From the underbrush, over thirty makeshift drones ascend, all programmed to target the military encampment. A little aerial advantage might just bridge our numerical gap. 

Suddenly, the landscape is bathed in a searing, white light. Its intensity holds for three unyielding seconds before plunging the world back into darkness, leaving behind the haunting resonance of a celestial sitar. 

“What in the world...? Schwa? Report! Can you hear me, Schwa?!” I shout, panicked. 

Overwhelmed, my trembling knees give way, and I collapse, grappling with the dire implications of what just transpired. Is it possible that a deity truly graces this battleground?

 

---

 

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Looking for some paper in the major’s office, I sigh. The room is dim, the only light filtering through the heavy drapes, casting a dusty hue over the scattered documents and unwashed coffee cups. Why is this place such a mess? I can’t find anything! Is this the chaos 1st Lieutenant Kalakuna deals with daily?

After several minutes, I finally uncover the document I’ve been seeking and sit down to peruse it intently. It’s a report on the camp’s budget during the past year. As I flip through the pages, the scent of stale ink and old paper rises to meet my nose.

It’s detailed, and to some it might seem tedious, but I am on the hunt for anomalies. I’ve recently become suspicious about the allocation of funds. Skimming the report, a particular figure catches my eye. This year, the research & development team received more than three times the amount from the previous years. Why such a significant jump? The 1st Lieutenant Kalakuna is notoriously secretive about his unit’s activities in the laboratory. The major trusts him implicitly, so I’ve never challenged it, but this discrepancy is too glaring to ignore.

I ponder if I should discreetly bring this to the major’s attention when a sudden lightning flash momentarily blinds me. It’s followed instantly by the discordant sound of a comically loud string instrument. The noise is so bizarre, I almost snicker.

Realizing the potential gravity of the situation, I rush out of the office, heading straight for the surveillance room located on the first floor. But as I reach for the doorknob, it doesn’t budge.

“Hey, this is 2nd Lieutenant Crowsclaws! Open up!” I shout, assuming the privates on watch duty are inside. But the unsettling silence that follows begins to gnaw at my nerves. My shouts turn to demands. “Open this door now or face the consequences, Privates!”

When my calls remain unanswered, I resort to brute force, using all my strength to break down the door. As it finally gives way, the alarm bellows throughout the camp. I curse under my breath, having momentarily forgotten about the door’s security measures. However, the sight before me makes me think the alarm might not be so ill-timed.

The surveillance room, dimly lit by the glow of monitor screens, is awash in blood. The mangled remains of the two privates lie strewn across the floor, their skulls brutally caved in.

Gritting my teeth, I head towards the dormitories, the weight of the situation causing an unexpected chuckle to bubble up. It’s not mirth, but rather the sheer absurdity of facing such a crisis while I’m in charge.

Emerging soldiers, roused by the alarm, attempt to assess the pandemonium. Among them, Lieutenant Parrot approaches hastily. “What’s the situation, 2nd Lieutenant Crowsclaws? This wasn’t a scheduled drill, and why on earth are you smiling?”

“It’s nothing,” I reply tersely.

His eyes widen. “An error, then?”

A warrant officer interrupts, panic evident in his voice. “There’s a body by the watchtower!”

The ensuing chaos is, in a dark way, amusing. I’ve always had a twisted sense of humour, and the night’s events are starting to feel like a grim comedy. More so when I piece together the likely suspect—the White Snake. I had assumed she had left her murderous tendencies behind, but it seems she might still be very much the killer she once was.

While the camp’s occupants scramble in confusion, I ascend the watchtower. The sight that greets me is ghastly—a woman’s body, presumably Robin’s, with a head obliterated, as if struck by some high-calibre weapon. Yet no such gunshot had been heard, save for the odd thunderclap earlier.

Suddenly, the distant rumbling of horses catches my attention. Raising the blood-smeared binoculars, I focus on the horizon. My heart sinks as the figures become clearer: rebels!

The personal issue I thought I was dealing with has just escalated to a full-blown assault. I slam the tower’s alarm button and lean over the railing, yelling at the top of my lungs, “WE’RE UNDER ATTACK! THE REBELS ARE HERE! TO YOUR POSITIONS!”

But one lingering doubt plagues me: Is the White Snake an ally or a betrayer? I reach for my phone, attempting to connect with the major, but the line remains silent. If everything was functioning as it should, the alarm would be echoing all the way to the Karachi base. But tonight, nothing seems to be going as it should.

 

---

 

Less than two hours have elapsed since our hasty departure from the Karachi base. The landscape outside is awash in the dim luminescence of the moon, painting a serene picture that stands in stark contrast to our earlier panic.

“So, 1st Lieutenant Kalakuna, why the sudden desire to return now?” The major’s voice, edged with curiosity, breaks the silence that’s settled between us.

It’s just the two of us in the jeep, a bubble of intimacy in the vast expanse of the night. We can converse with a candour that this morning’s circumstances would have denied us.

“I just recalled something crucial—an imperative task that awaits me,” I answer, my voice reflective.

The major’s eyebrow quirks up, his interest piqued. “What sort of task?”

I hesitate for a moment, weighing my words. “An experiment of mine. There’s a new angle I’ve just realized I need to explore.”

He chuckles, the sound rich and warm in the cool night air. “That sounds incredibly vague.”

“I’ve always been one for mysteries, Major. But on a related note, I sensed your reluctance to remain at the base as well.”

His gaze, which had been focused on the road, shifts to me, searching. “How did you discern that?”

“You wear your emotions plainly, Major. They’re etched clearly on your face.”

He laughs heartily. “That’s news to me! But, I admit, you’ve got a point. That camp feels like home, more than any place I’ve ever known.”

I nod, understanding his sentiment. “Does the thought of the Nubians’ orders to leave it behind unsettle you?”

His grip tightens momentarily on the steering wheel. “It’s part of the reason. There’s nothing for me beyond this land.”

A poignant silence ensues before I murmur, “Neither is there for me.”

A flicker of curiosity brightens his eyes. “Where do you hail from, 1st Lieutenant Kalakuna?”

“This very land. Major, do you ever see the beauty of our country, or does it appear melancholic to you, like it does to me?”

“Melancholic?”

“Yes, it’s like the land weeps.”

He tilts his head, pondering my words. “The land itself?”

“Yes, and its people. The sorrow is omnipresent, echoing in my ears ceaselessly. It haunts my dreams, casting a shadow over my very being.”

His voice softens, brimming with empathy. “I’m truly sorry… But there’s a peace to it as well.”

“The serenity of nighttime drives is unparalleled,” I concede.

A yawn escapes him, his fatigue evident. “Indeed. It’s so soothing, it’s lulling me to sleep.”

“You should rest, Major. Our destination is still a good two hours away.”

His eyes, heavy-lidded with exhaustion, glance my way. “Aren’t you tired, 1st Lieutenant Kalakuna? You mentioned a lack of sleep…”

I shrug nonchalantly, “A brief nap earlier recharged me.”

He raises an eyebrow in playful scepticism. “Oh? When did this mysterious nap occur?”

“That,” I reply with a playful grin concealed beneath my mask, “remains confidential.” I gently reduce the jeep’s speed, the hum of the engine softening.

The major’s voice, now a drowsy mumble, drifts my way. “You truly are an enigma … 1st Lieutenant Kalakuna.” His words fade as sleep claims him, and the jeep slows to a stop in the heart of the silent road.

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