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Blacksheep is a novel by Adrian Bowser based on the conflict in the Middle East. Below is a short excerpt for you to read. Enjoy and leave feedback on what you think.
An excerpt from chapter 1:
Machine gun fire lit the deserted, night streets of the despairing city of southern Mosul, Iraq. Tony Morris, Curt Bloss and J.J. Childers, American agents, laid low under the heavy fire. The full moon shone down on the small village casting an outline of the buildings onto the streets.
A compromised cover led to the intense firefight between the agents and alleged Al Qaeda terrorists. The new objective was to escape the city alive with the intell they had already recovered and ditch the rest of their objectives.
Their 2nd story position wasn’t secure; the large, open windows left them vulnerable.
“We have to get out of here now. They are closing in and we can’t afford to get trapped up here,” Morris proceeded to toss a smoke grenade out the window to cloud the streets.
“Hedgehog Leader this is Foxtrot Echo, ETA is twenty minutes. Confirm and maintain radio silence.” A voice sounded over the radio. The familiar voice was co-pilot Jose Vicente from the extraction chopper.
“Copy that.” Morris confirmed. The senior agent/leader was relieved to hear from the chopper; it had been an hour since the last transmission.
Tony Morris was short, five foot nine to be exact but he didn’t need height to show anyone who questioned him who was boss. Intense weight-lifting and fitness training gave him an edge. He preferred hand-to-hand combat to all the bullets and missiles.
The tall, lanky agent Childers peeked over the window’s ledge. Shots sprayed the stone wall inches from his head sending debris in his face and eyes. He squinted and returned short bursts of fire in the direction of the gun flashes.
Bloss stood up beside the open window to spot for Childers. He would sight the targets and Childers provided the firepower.
The door they had used to enter the upstairs room was now barricaded shut; this left only one option- hopefully there was another way out. Morris crawled across the far side of the room toward what appeared to be a window. He stumbled around in the dark, trying not to use his flashlight. Their second story refuge, from a casual observer’s standpoint, seemed to be a storage facility. Large, wooden crates, covered by blankets, lined the vast room. Dust as thick as wool provided a second covering on most of them. As he crawled dirt and perspiration blended together in his dark-brown hair and eyebrows as he stirred the objects from their slumber. The window led to a back yard, which led to an alley, which would in hope lead away from the pursuing insurgents. “Let’s use this back window.”
Engrossed in the action, they did not hear him.
“Two shooters just appeared on a rooftop, one o’clock; one has a grenade launcher!” Bloss alerted. Sweat dripped profusely down J.J.’s forehead. The soldiers in the pursuit seemed endless. They were like bunnies in a cartoon just popping out of holes everywhere.
Childers scanned the rooftop for the assailants who had taken cover.
“Take the shot!”
Childers snapped in response. “I don’t see anyone!”
Bloss jerked around quickly. “The far right corner by the two barrels!”
“What’s going on?” Morris turned toward his arguing agents.
Both men paused their argument for a second.
“It’s too late! We have to go or we’re all dead!” Bloss ducked down and reached out to grab Childers.
J.J. pulled back in disregard. “I’ve got the shot!” He always had to express his defiant attitude. His hot temper acted like a time bomb, was ready to detonate at any time. He was quite the opposite of his mild-mannered partner Curt Bloss.
“It’s too late!”
A moment of silence was followed by the eerie whistling sound of an incoming explosive. A propelled grenade sailed through the air detonating against the building below their window. The powerful blast shook the building.
“The next one will be through that window!” Morris shouted. “Get over here now!”
Childers reluctantly obeyed his ranking senior agent, tearing his arm loose from Bloss’ grip. “I had it!” He retorted vindictively; his green eyes glaring through the shadows.
The only challenge to the new escape route became clear as Tony leaped from the window. The two-story jumped looked easier than it really was, the flow of adrenaline led to somewhat distorted perceptions. Landing awkwardly, he gripped his left ankle grimacing. “Come on jump!” He barked and hurriedly crawled out of the way.
Bloss made a clean jump and landed with a thud. He quickly rose to his feet and assisted Tony. “Are you okay Morris?”
“I’ll be fine.”
The upper room burst into flames with Childers mid-air. The blast threw him off balance; he slammed to the ground sending dust and dirt into the air.
“Childers!”
His fall was hard and awkward. Bloss rushed over to help him.
“J.J., are you okay?”
He gasped for air. Bloss gripped his hand firmly. “Talk to me.”
Curt slowly rolled him on his back only to notice a severe fracture in his right forearm and a dislocated right shoulder. He also felt a break in his right leg. Childers struggled for air as he tried to talk.
“We have to keep moving,” Morris said struggling to get to his feet. “Can he walk?”
Bloss speculated, “I think he can with assistance. We really have no choice”
J.J. nodded as to agree.
“But first I’ve got to set his arm and pop his shoulder back in.” He said.
Childers was given a strap to bite on while Bloss did the unpleasant job of a medic.
The gunfire had stopped; maybe to their advantage all the insurgents assumed that the blast killed the agents.
Bloss aided the hurting Childers to his feet as he groaned in pain.
Curt turned his attention to Morris and asked, “How’s the ankle?”
“I’ll tough it out. The chopper’s eta is twenty minutes.”
Morris ordered Bloss to take charge for the duration of the extraction. He shook his head in acknowledgment of the responsibility he was receiving.
Agent Bloss scanned the area for a fast exit. He slowly pushed open a large wooden gate that led to an alley between their building and the next set of buildings. His 45mm drawn and Childers supported on his shoulder.
“Bloss I’ll take care of J.J., you are the only one who’s 100% right now!” Morris urged quietly.
“Your ankle is not strong enough...”
“Don’t tell me how my ankle is!” Morris glowered at Bloss. Tony Morris was not one to let pain stop him from doing something he was determined to do. He wasn’t going to let a sprained ankle keep him from helping. “I will take him.”
Bloss reluctantly agreed, turned Childers over to him and pulled out a second silenced pistol. Sweeping his weapons left to right and watching the rooftops, he made small strides through the alley toward the main street.
Footsteps sounded ahead coming from the street’s direction. The new alpha leader, Curt Bloss raised his hand to signal a halt, and motioned toward the wall. Morris and J.J. immediately stepped aside and into the shadows.
Two figures appeared around the corner. Bloss had a split second to decide. Either chance being unnoticed and let them pass by or shoot and risk the shots attracting others.
“Pop, pop…pop, pop!” Bloss nailed both men in the chest dropping them to the ground.
“Hurry, through this door-”
The locked alley door seemed to lead into a house. Bloss shoved the door and its’ weak frame and lock gave under the pressure. Small footsteps could be heard briefly. The house had a gloomy feeling about it and depravity was evident. Just inside the door a six foot wall jutting out acted as a divider. Aside from the dim light that shone around the corner, the house was dark. One their side of the wall was a minuscule foyer and on the adjacent side a sort of living quarters. The house was a stone and mortar cave.
“Get in, I’ll cover you.” Bloss whispered.
Morris entered first with his pistol drawn and gun light on, not knowing what to expect.
“Pop, pop, pop…pop, pop.” The first shooter collapsed, falling down the stairs from his perch, followed by the second one tumbling in the same manner. Bloss’ pistol smoked as he once again demonstrated exceptional accuracy. He was a natural born sharpshooter.
