Chapter 64

The Blackhawk had disgorged them at a flat surface on a rock outcropping at a specific point in the Hindu Kush. Dix hated these goddamn mountains. The name Kush meant death, and had probably been given to the mountains because of the dangerous passes between peaks. There was little vegetation, and the icy wind blew constantly. But the mountains provided a perfect hiding place and gathering places for al Qaeda because of the very desolation and the notches in the mountains where the terrorists built their camps and villages.

Dix and his team had memorized and then memorized again the terrain where they'd be climbing and the places they'd have to conceal themselves to make the kills. Two snipers, two spotters, four backup, including the team medic and the radio guy. This time he was fucking damn sure nothing would go wrong.

They climbed slowly, clinging to the rock face, paying careful attention to everything around them. Carrying all their heavy gear didn't slow them down. They had, aft