“Seven,” Sun replied.
Kamigami snorted, showing his displeasure. “Send them home,” he ordered. He walked through the squadrons, again taking their measure. He was not impressed. He called the squadron COs together and asked for a chart of the island. The four majors looked at one another. “We all know the island and don’t need a chart,” one finally answered.
“I’m glad to hear that,” Kamigami replied. “So you all know where the Devil’s Gonads are?” He waited in silence, and when he didn’t get an answer, he described the two boulders on the north shore. “I’m sending a squadron over the center of the island to set up an ambush at the Devil’s Gonads.”
A major protested. “That’s very rough terrain. No one would do that.”
“That’s what special operations is all about,” Kamigami replied. “Doing what nobody else would do. While the squadron mounting the ambush is crossing the island, the rest of us will do one and a half circuits on the road to end up at the Gonads. Gentlemen, it’s a race to see who gets there first. Any volunteers?” The four majors were silent. “Okay,” Kamigami said, “Three Squadron has it.”
“Brigadier,” the major commanding Three Squadron said, “I must protest. You don’t know the island. I do. No one can cross the center of the island that quickly.”
“Tell your men,” Kamigami said in his quiet voice, “that if we get there before they do, they’re gone, eliminated.”
“But some of my men have blisters,” the major said.
“It’s only pain,” Kamigami replied. “Split your squadron into fast and slow movers.” He stood back and watched as the majors returned to their squadrons in a state of shock. Within minutes Three Squadron filed past as they headed into the brush. Kamigami’s eyes drew into narrow squints as he studied each man. He estimated about half would make it, not including the major.
“Colonel Sun,” he called. “Follow me.” To Kamigami’s way of thinking, the leader of a combat unit had better be able to do what he demanded of his men and demonstrate it from time to time in a way they understood.
Exactly three hours later Kamigami led the main force back into camp after the first circuit. He didn’t stop to refill canteens and kept right on going. Tel came up behind him. “Some of the men are making threats against you,” he said.
“Anyone collapse yet?” Kamigami asked. No answer. “Then keep on pushing,” Kamigami said. Ninety minutes later he reached the Devil’s Gonads.
A lieutenant emerged out of the brush and reported in. He was close to exhaustion and, in his confusion, almost saluted. “Three Squadron in place, as ordered.”
“Well done. How many made it?”
“Thirty-two, sir. Counting me.”
“Your name?”
“Lieutenant Lee Go Sung.”
Kamigami nodded. “Lieutenant Lee, as of now you’re the CO of Three Squadron. Move your men to the end of the line.” He turned to Colonel Sun. “Select twenty men from One Squadron and have them report to me in fifteen minutes. I’ll be leading them back over the island.” Sun turned to give the order. “Colonel, you’ll be leading the main body on the road. One and a half circuits back to the main camp. Tell the men that if they all make it before I do, they’ll never see me again.”
A wicked smile crossed Sun’s face. “My pleasure, Brigadier.”
“Split your men into fast and slow movers.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Sun replied.
Fifteen minutes later Kamigami led his men into the brush as the major and the last of Three Squadron arrived. “Take them to the barracks,” Kamigami told the major. “I want you all off the island by sundown.”
A corporal stepped forward. “Brigadier, I want another chance.”
Kamigami studied the corporal for a moment. He was small and too thin for special operations. But there was a driven look in his eyes that Kamigami recognized. “Fall in behind me.”
The corporal hesitated. “I know a way along a ridge. But the major wouldn’t take it.”
“Really?” Kamigami replied. “Take the lead.” The corporal jerked his head and trotted to the head of the column.
Tel came up and spoke quietly. “He’ll never make it.”
“He will,” Kamigami replied.
“I’m almost out of water,” Tel said.
“Go thirsty,” Kamigami muttered.
Sweat poured off Kamigami as he followed the corporal up the ridge that led to the center of the island. It was hard going, and many of the men slipped and fell. Twice they had to stop and pull a man out of a ravine. A sergeant fell into a thornbush and was a bloody mess by the time they got him out. But he refused to quit and slogged on, determined to keep up. A heavy rain started to fall, and Kamigami called a halt to let the men fill their canteens. Then they were moving again as the rain poured in sheets. Visibility was down to fifty feet when they crested the hill in the center of the island, but Kamigami never stopped. Tel seriously wondered if the big man was human.
The corporal stopped. “There, sir.” He pointed to a break in the brush that opened into a ravine. He swayed on his feet, his face gaunt. He was on the edge of total exhaustion. “The brush thins out about one-third of the way down. It will be easy going into camp.”
“Lead the way,” Kamigami said. The corporal turned like an automaton, took a few steps, and collapsed. Kamigami was beside him in a flash and stripped off his bergen and helmet. He felt for the artery on the side of his neck. There was no pulse. “Medic!” he shouted. A corporal rushed up and went to work on the prostrate body. But it was too late.
“He’s dead,” the medic announced.
Kamigami stood over the body, holding the man’s helmet. He bowed his head. Then he knelt and picked up the body, surprised at how light it was. “Bring his weapon and gear,” he ordered. He led the way down the ridge and into camp, not stopping once. He marched up to the flagpole in front of the command post and gently laid the body on the ground. “Have the First fall in here,” he ordered. “When they arrive.” He squatted on his haunches, and his right hand reached for the gold whistle around his neck. He absently stroked it as he gazed at the body.
Tel stood behind him, not sure what to say. He had seen the same look at the village when they built the shrine to hold the ashes of their families. “Can I get you anything?” he finally asked.
“Get his poncho and weapon,” Kamigami said. “I wish I had known him.” Tel rummaged in the dead corporal’s bergen and handed Kamigami the poncho. Kamigami tenderly wrapped it around the body. Then he fixed a bayonet to the corporal’s M-16 and drove it into the earth, making a temporary head marker as Colonel Sun and the road team straggled into camp. They formed up while Kamigami reached into his own bergen and pulled out the red beret he had worn in China. He jammed it on his head and stood.
Colonel Sun marched up and stopped. He almost saluted before remembering. “First Special Operations Service reporting as ordered,” he barked.
Kamigami jerked his head in acknowledgment and turned to face his command. “We lost one of our comrades today,” he began. “I didn’t know his name.”
“We called him Tiger,” Lieutenant Lee said.
“I wish I had known Tiger. But I do know this. He wouldn’t quit.” Kamigami paused, carefully selecting his next words so there would be no confusion. “Earlier today I had you remove your black berets. It was my intention to replace them with a red beret like the one I’m wearing. But you had to earn it.” He removed his beret and placed it on the butt of the corporal’s M-16. “Tiger earned his today.” Again he paused. “As of now, Three Squadron no longer exists. It is now Tiger Red.”