On his hip was a pistol, although I couldn’t make out what kind from where I was. We were going to have to be cautious, since I really didn’t feel like shooting a live person. I waved Charlie back and out of sight. I was going to announce my presence with Charlie covering me, and hope everything turned out all right. Any hostile move would get the man shot, so I wasn’t worried too much, but you never knew. He might get lucky.

Leaning my carbine against the rocky sides, I waited until Charlie had climbed into a shooting position. Given the thumbs up, I stood near the rock corner then called out.

“Hello? Hello?” Right after I said it I felt stupid, and I knew Charlie was going to give me hell for sounding like a doofus.

“Who’s there?” The man shouted. “Show yourself! I’m armed, so don’t be stupid!”

Too late for that. I walked around the corner with my hands held chest high. While it looked like surrender, I knew I could get my SIG out in a hurry if shooting started, provided I hadn’t been shot. The man was standing away from the water, pointing a pistol in my direction. I noticed he used two hands and the gun was not shaking. I figured if this went south I would be lucky to only be shot, if not downright killed. What I was not expecting was what happened next.

“I knew it! I don’t know how you bastards tracked me this far, but I’ll be damned if I’m going back! You tell the Major to go fuck himself!” The man was really worked up and I was getting nervous about his trigger finger.

I kept my hands up. “I think you’re confused. Who is this Major? What are you talking about?”

“Don’t lie to me! Survivors don’t dress like you. You’re one of his men! I ought to kill you right now!” He brought up the gun and I ducked as a shot rang out. I pulled my SIG and went around the corner to hear Charlie yell.