The End of the Beginning
Chapter 34: Unexpected Fear

William gathered his squadron together off to the side of the finish line. They were waiting for one last person, Samir Mamedov. It had now been over ten minutes and no one could see him coming down the course. One of his team members, Rescue Officer Vinny Mckay, spotted Mamedov being driven over in the bed of a Blazer, with a medic at his side.

“There’s the sassy dude,” he sneered.

The medic was wrapping his ankle in some bandages. As the Blazer approached, the medic banged on the cabin’s back window a few times to get the driver to stop next to William. Once it stopped the medic called over to the squadron.

“Search and Rescue Squadron 3? Captain Emerson?”

“Yes that’s us, and me,” replied William.

“Rescue Officer Mamedov here seems to have sprained his ankle. He fell off one of the platforms and hit the bare ground. He didn’t clip in as told.” “Mamedov is this true?” asked William, irritated.

“Yes,” he admitted.

“Why did you not clip in as instructed? You could have killed yourself.”

“Yep,” said Samir carelessly.

“If this injury is bad enough, it could put you out for weeks. That’s time we do not have to spare. This could jeopardize your chance of graduating from training.” “Good,” Samir said softly.

William just shook his head. He couldn’t get through to this rescue officer. “Miller. Lawal. Please take Rescue Officer Mamedov to the medical tent.” William looked beyond the Blazer and saw Hammond staring. Suddenly Samir slapped William’s chest with an enclosed fist. It startled William.

“Take it,” whispered Samir, desperation in his voice, fright in his eyes. “Do not open it till you are alone.” William reached up and took a small piece of paper from Samir’s hand. He looked around with a glance, not understanding the quick change in attitude.

“Okay, come on Mamedov. We’ll help you get fixed up,” said Rescue Officer Amanda Miller politely, stepping up into the bed of the Blazer with Rescue Officer Abeo Lawal. Both they and the medic didn’t seem to notice the exchange.

William took the piece of paper and shoved it into his left pocket, crumpling it as he did. When he looked back over to where Hammond was, she had gone. Samir was lifted off the bed and taken over the shoulders of the two rescue officers and brought to the small medical tent.

William just watched Samir as he disappeared into the tent, confused. He had never seen fear like that on a man’s face before, not even during the war.