thelaexplorer
New Member
From "Desert Burning", a future released book about the civilians living in Saudi Arabia before and during Operation Desert Storm and how they supported the coalition troops.
Ted was desperate and exhausted as he ran across the tall sand dune. The sun was burning down on him while the glare from the yellow sand was blinding. He gasped for air as his aching legs plunged deep into the soft dune. Frantically he pushed on as he looked over his shoulder in terror. Suddenly he collapsed, too exhausted to go any farther. Laying in the scorching sand he lifted himself to his hands and knees and tried to rise. Suddenly he felt a sharp pain in his right side as his body lifted and flipped on it's side. Slowly he looked up only to see the blur of a boot crash into his face; the same boot that had just broken three ribs.
Lying in the sand in a fetal position, Ted groaned and slowly opened his eyes. Blood poured from his mouth and his right eye was swelling shut. Standing over him were three sloppily dressed filthy soldiers. Their sand brown vehicle was parked behind them. Someone climbed out of the vehicle and approached. Ted couldn't recognize any details. The three were laughing as the fourth man joined them. Then Ted noticed an officers insignia on the uniform. Through the roaring in his ears he could barely hear some talk between the four and then more laughing. Suddenly the officer turned and spit on Ted as he unleashed a brutal kick that caught Ted squarely in the thigh.
"Ohhhh," Ted groaned as his leg jerked toward his chest.
The other three roared with laughter. Then two of the men grabbed Ted under the arms, picked him up and sat him on his knees. Pain shot through his side as broken ribs ground against each other. He was on the verge of losing consciousness. Everything appeared to be spinning. Darkness would envelope him then the bright light of the desert would return. He couldn't concentrate or visualize what was happening. His head was hung down. Then through the deafening buzzing inside his head he could hear the officer talking on the radio in the vehicle. Half consciously he realized that the officer was walking back and talking to the other three. Roughly someone grabbed Ted's chin and jerked his head up. Ted opened his eyes just in time to see the barrel of an Army 45 caliber pistol placed between his eyes. Suddenly the barrel erupted with a bright flash.
Bonnie jumped up in bed and screamed,"NOOOOO!" She was shaking. Sweat beaded on her forehead. Looking around the dark room she saw that everything was quiet and peaceful. No Iraqis, no guns and no husband. Suddenly she started to sob.
"Damn Ted, why are you over there?" Bonnie muttered as she laid back down and cried herself to sleep hoping that the nightmares wouldn't return.
Ted was desperate and exhausted as he ran across the tall sand dune. The sun was burning down on him while the glare from the yellow sand was blinding. He gasped for air as his aching legs plunged deep into the soft dune. Frantically he pushed on as he looked over his shoulder in terror. Suddenly he collapsed, too exhausted to go any farther. Laying in the scorching sand he lifted himself to his hands and knees and tried to rise. Suddenly he felt a sharp pain in his right side as his body lifted and flipped on it's side. Slowly he looked up only to see the blur of a boot crash into his face; the same boot that had just broken three ribs.
Lying in the sand in a fetal position, Ted groaned and slowly opened his eyes. Blood poured from his mouth and his right eye was swelling shut. Standing over him were three sloppily dressed filthy soldiers. Their sand brown vehicle was parked behind them. Someone climbed out of the vehicle and approached. Ted couldn't recognize any details. The three were laughing as the fourth man joined them. Then Ted noticed an officers insignia on the uniform. Through the roaring in his ears he could barely hear some talk between the four and then more laughing. Suddenly the officer turned and spit on Ted as he unleashed a brutal kick that caught Ted squarely in the thigh.
"Ohhhh," Ted groaned as his leg jerked toward his chest.
The other three roared with laughter. Then two of the men grabbed Ted under the arms, picked him up and sat him on his knees. Pain shot through his side as broken ribs ground against each other. He was on the verge of losing consciousness. Everything appeared to be spinning. Darkness would envelope him then the bright light of the desert would return. He couldn't concentrate or visualize what was happening. His head was hung down. Then through the deafening buzzing inside his head he could hear the officer talking on the radio in the vehicle. Half consciously he realized that the officer was walking back and talking to the other three. Roughly someone grabbed Ted's chin and jerked his head up. Ted opened his eyes just in time to see the barrel of an Army 45 caliber pistol placed between his eyes. Suddenly the barrel erupted with a bright flash.
Bonnie jumped up in bed and screamed,"NOOOOO!" She was shaking. Sweat beaded on her forehead. Looking around the dark room she saw that everything was quiet and peaceful. No Iraqis, no guns and no husband. Suddenly she started to sob.
"Damn Ted, why are you over there?" Bonnie muttered as she laid back down and cried herself to sleep hoping that the nightmares wouldn't return.