September 12, 1977

 

Leaving the Nguyens, Jack, and Rip at the cabin with the Cadillac, Peter, Bernadette, and Terry climbed in the big cab of the pickup. A locked box secured into the truck bed contained their weapons, camp gear, extra clothing, ghillie suits, and provisions. Peter drove. “My hope is that we won’t have to go into the camp. From the maps and photos we looked over, we should be able to find a place where we can camp a mile or so from the training camp in a good defensive position with multiple escape routes.

“Three days of observation and photographing with our new super duper long-range camera that weighs too much should give us time to collect what we need. It’s possible we may have to go in the camp building or buildings, but not until we totally understand the tempo and activity of the camp.

“I’ll drive through Charleston on the main drag looking for the turn off to County Route 20. We’ll continue for ten miles southwest on Route 20 and look for a place to get this truck off the road and far enough into the tree line, so with our black tarp thrown over it, we can leave it for a few days. My estimate is it will take us a little more than a day’s walk to get into position. If for any reason we get separated, we meet at the truck. I know we’ve been over this, but I like to cover the essentials to refresh our plans and maybe discover some flaws.”

“Our radios are in the clear,” Terry said. “We must be careful how we use them.”

“Yes. Only messages of a few words. I don’t think there is an intercept capability any place near here. But Terry’s right. Act as if your communication could be intercepted.”

Bernadette asked, “What kind of a camp are we going to set up?”

“Minimal. No tent. We’ll tie up a tarp if it rains. I don’t expect we’ll get out of these clothes until the job is done. We won’t have to wear the ghillie suits in camp. No sense in scrubbing the green and black skin paint off. A very small, no-smoke fire for hot liquids, coffee, and soup. Meals are all prepackaged. We will have one person awake at all times in a position to watch over the camp. If we need to we should be able to move our camp in minutes. We will try to always be in sight of each other. Any person in an advanced position will always be covered by two rifles.

“I want to avoid any firefights. But if one happens, we take no prisoners. It’s better to mess up the mission rather than lose one of us.”

Bernadette said, “We’ve gone ten miles. Our map shows a series of fire roads in the forest. A couple cross Route 20 just ahead. I suggest you take the second one.”

Peter slowed and shifted into four-wheel drive.

Terry said, “Up there about 50 yards. See that slight break in the tree line?”

Peter checked his mirror, braked, and pulled into the fire road. He said, “Now look for a place to hide our black truck.”

Bernadette pointed. “Straight ahead, on the right by that large pine tree.”

Peter said, “Looks good,” and powered the Ford through the soft pine branches and parked in a grove of 20-foot pines. When they had their gear out of truck and covered it with a black plastic tarp, it was almost invisible. Peter and Bernadette had selected the AR-15 as their shoulder weapons. The automatic rifle was light with a choice of 20-or-40 round magazines. It was not a burden to carry 300 rounds of the light ammunition. Terry stuck with his favorite, the US M40A1 Sniper with the 10x scope.

Terry had the map spread out on the Ford’s tarp-covered hood. Bernadette, looking intently at her compass, said, “Okay. What am I to do with this?”

Terry laughed. “Okay, Irish city girl, watch and learn.”

With Bernadette watching every move, Terry laid his compass on the map and drew a line from their current location to a destination close to the suspected terrorist training camp. Terry said, “Once we get to this place I’ve marked on the map, I’ll do the same thing again, getting closer to the camp each time. Professionals like me call those lines azimuths. Use your great memory to remember the degrees of each azimuth. To find the truck from our next destination, simply follow the reverse line, or azimuth.”

“I hate to say it but that sounds simple. I understand it and never had any of your fancy courses.”

“The only other lesson for you is to always trust your compass. In doubt, it is right and you are wrong.”