Tracer….
Day 170…late evening, 93 degrees. Another 14 hour day ends. With a workout, shower and de-stressing period, another 3 hours until bed. In six hours, another "groundhog" day begins. I show my badge and pass by the armed guards into the compound…200 meters until my trailer. In the distance, an eruption of small arms gunfire echoes. I know the sounds…clattering hammer means AK-47, counterfire pop means M-16, staccato booms indicate either SAW-240 or 50 cal…depending on tempo. I look up and see red tracer fire illuminating the darkened and dusty sky. Just another quiet night. At least its a dry heat.
"What’s going on?!" asks a male compound resident as I pass.
"I think Iraq won its World Cup soccer tune-up…celebratory fire," I mutter.
"You sure? It’s pretty close."
"Yeah. Don’t worry, it’s not the revolution. I’ll knock when it happens. You should go inside before the rounds come down."
He obeys and retreats to his trailer. Several others overhearing do the same. I’m at my trailer, and amazed at the heat generated within my body armor in such a short walk. The sweat forms on my brow under my hat, as I check the handle to go inside. Unlocked?! Hmmm, my roommate is in. Cool, no digging for keys under my body armor and shirt.
I enter and close the door. I see him to my right across the room, sitting on the bottom bunk of his two stack. "Whew, long day, long night," I say, expecting a response. I set down my briefcase and look at my roommate, still quiet. Still motionless. I’m instantly alerted to the Beretta M9 standard issue in his hand. My eyes do a quick scan…by the safety latch, a clearly distinct red dot. Safety is off. "Be calm," my inner monologue whispers. Intuitively, my hand floats across my own Beretta, stowed in my attached tactical leg holster.
On my body armor and belt I carry five M9 magazines, 15 rounds per mag. So does he. I only see four of his mags. My mind ponders in milliseconds, "Where’s the last one?" Oh yeah, right there, conveniently in the M9. But is the weapon "amber" hot status (mag in, round not chambered) or "red" hot status (mag in, round chambered)? Sweeet. Well, this’ll make one interesting night.
"Uhhh…long day, buddy? You just cleaned, Martina," I venture. Most of us pet name our weapons. Mine was named "Wheezy," after Louise Jeffersons on "The Jeffersons" TV show. The question really was giving me needed time to assess the environment. There’s a letter on the floor. Something says in my mind, "not cool…"
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Next - Installment 4: Tracer….(benedictum)
Harris
