Prologue
Hindu Kush 04:06.
I whispered into the mike:
"Sierra Five Zulu, this is Four Delta Quebec. Do you have visual on targets? Over."
A little further down the valley, George, my opposite number in 2nd platoon, pressed his transmit button twice in rapid succession. The clicks in my ear confirmed that he had indeed seen the Taliban commanders we were waiting to intercept. They were obviously close enough for him to avoid talking. It was a few hours before day break in the mountains of south Afghanistan. It looked like 2nd platoon was set up in the right pass that night. I didn't need my radio to hear the flash-bang stun grenades. Within a minute George was back on the air in his calm voice:
"Four Delta Quebec, this is Sierra Five Zulu. We've tagged and bagged them. Out."
I let out a relieved breath knowing that our opponents were being dusted off by the Chinook that was picking us off the mountain as well. It was a good start of just another day in the life of a Marine Corporal Signalman.
Soon both our platoons were back at base camp and we washed the sweat and stress off. I was the only one not needing to clean my face of night camouflage paint. My parents had migrated to Liverpool from Tanzania in the sixties, so I am as black as they come. My military ID lists me as 193cm tall and I like to keep my fitness well above the Marine requirements, mostly through running and, more than anything, cycling. My pride and joy is my carbon fibre bicycle. Being single, I didn't have anybody to object to the price tag.
Later that morning after debrief and breakfast, George and I were taken aside by Daniel, an embedded civilian consultant for our new radios.
"Josh, George, how was the kit last night?" He asked in his chipper voice.
Not bothering to wait for an answer, he continued:
"Spectrum from the interceptor was excellent. Traces during your conversation were couple dB below background noise."
We both knew what he meant. The radio equipment was virtually undetectable to those without the right key. I reassured him.
"Quality was great, and latency minimal. I'd say within operational parameters." George nodded.
It was a few weeks before I bumped into him again. This time he looked a lot gloomier than usual.
"Hey Dan, s'up?"
"Bit of a pickle, I am due to teach a course on our little toys but my coordinator double booked."
He looked at his boots and gave me a sideways glance.
"You almost at the end of tour, aren't you?"
"Yep, rotating next week."
His face brightened and he gave me a crooked smile.
"You know as much as I do about these babies. Perhaps we can help each other?"
A morning in class
Dublin 06:30. I don't know how Dan talked me into it, but the Friday after, I found myself getting off the night train at Grand Canal station in Ireland's capital city, carrying my precious bike on my shoulder. In my rucksack was a laptop with a well-rehearsed presentation on the civilian version of the new radio system. I was going to give Dan's course to one of his customers and we would split his fee 50/50. I've always been a soft touch.
Having never set foot in Ireland before, I studied the map outside the station. I quickly found and memorised my route. Marines never get lost. The sun was coming out and life was good. I cycled briskly through the awakening city, exchanging pleasant banter with shopkeepers, a postman and other early birds.
As I headed south, to the outskirts of town, I spotted a tall cyclist climb the hill ahead of me. I was intrigued by the long flowing red hair that seemed to struggle against the containment of the cycling helmet. I hoped sincerely that the front view would not show an equally red beard. Similar disappointments have happened to me before.
I pedalled a bit harder to catch up and check. It turned out that I didn't need to worry. As I got closer I got the outline of a shapely set of distinctly feminine hips on top of long and equally shapely legs, rounded out by a smooth round ass. By the jiggle of the cycling jersey as she went over some traffic-calming ridges, I could tell she wasn't wearing a bra but should be.
For the next few minutes, I stayed on her wheel until she turned around and said in an unmistakable local tongue:
"Maybe it's about time you catch the wind for me?"
"As long as you can keep up. Where you heading?"
She gave the name of the office park where I was scheduled for the course.
"That's where I'm heading. We'll take turns."
Our casual chat made the journey fly by. Her smile was warm, but I couldn't see her eyes since they were behind wrap-around reflective sunglasses. In the office park, I counted the buildings until I stopped at the one where I was to teach. To my surprise, she stopped as well.