Flower in the desert

Flower in the Desert

Zamir, sitting in his six-wheeled armored desert dweller, parked on a high rocky ridge overlooking the vast red sand desert plains, was looking through his binoculars searching for any movement. Sarik, his gunner, was busy dusting desert sand off their overhead twin guns. Sarik had his shirt uniform off and hanging on his waistline, using its sleeves tied around his waist.

You shouldn’t remove your uniform when we are on patrol Sarik! says Zamir while scanning the horizon.

Who cares! It’s so hot today, we can cook an egg on the dweller’s fender. Answers Sarik while checking his electronic rangefinder and bullet drop compensator.

Besides, I’m not built like you...

They do! Answers Zamir, pointing a finger up in the sky.

You really think they would spend satellite time watching us do patrol in this sector...?

Zamir grabs a canteen and starts drinking, splashing a few drops across his dusty face. He lifts the canteen up to Sarik, who grabs the canteen and also starts drinking.

I really love the way these canteens keep the water cold; too bad the army can’t maintain our air-conditioning in this piece of junk just as well...

Zamir takes off his binoculars and looks at Sarik

That’s your job! I take care of our supplies for patrol while you maintain the dweller, remember? Besides, the camp has all the supplies you need to keep the dweller in condition...

Sarik rolls his eyes and closes the upper hatch of the vehicle and takes the right front seat beside Zamir. He flicks some buttons, starts up the vehicle’s engines, and turns on the air-conditioning system.

He inhales, lets out breaths of relief, and says

That feels good!

Zamir shakes his head and gets back on his binoculars.

...and you volunteered for this shit...

Suddenly, a radio message came in from another patrol.

Addax two nine, Addax two nine, this is ridge post two six, please come in...

Zamir grabs his headpiece com set and answers

Ridge post two six, this is Addax two nine...

"Addax two nine, we see a merchant convoy heading towards your sector. Command wants you to do escort until they reach sector fifty-two...copy?

Zamir turns his binoculars towards the north and sees desert dust trails flying a line. He presses a button to magnify and he sees the large five-transport convoy headed west.

Copy that ridge post two six, will proceed to convoy....

Zamir puts his binoculars aside and backs up the dweller away from the ridge to make a U-turn to start heading down the rocky trail toward the open sand.

They reach the red desert flats and rush towards the convoy. As the dweller makes a trail of dust flying into the windless desert air, the eyeshadowed dark brown eyes of a woman watch from a distance peeking through her black fully covered head. Her dark eyes reflect the trail of dust the dweller kicks up in the desert in the distance.

Zamir and Sarik see the convoy ahead and start a parallel path beside it. Zamir can see the drivers and their passengers beside the huge elongated transports from his left side window. They smile at Zamir and he waves back at them.

I don’t know why you bother... says Sarik.

Bother...What... asks Zamir.

We never meet them anyway, why bother wave at them?

Zamir looks at Sarik wondering about his question and answers

It’s our military policy to keep up good relations with the civilians.

"I know it’s policy, but hell, who even asks them if we are ever

polite...?"

Zamir swerves the vehicle to avoid a large rock on the sand and causes Sarik to hit his head on the side column of the vehicle.

Does that answer your question! Sarik shakes his head while holding up his right hand to the bump on his head.

That hurt...

You are such a grouch!

Suddenly, Sarik sees other trails of dust up in front of them. He grabs Zamir’s binoculars and focuses.

Desert Raiders ahead!

How many?

Three small, one half-track!

Zamir speeds ahead of the column while Sarik stands up and goes to his gunner’s seat.

Ridge Post two six, we have raiders, three small, one half-track. Requesting air support for Convoy escort...over!

Addax two nine, copy. Targets, three small, one half-track. Will send dessert eagles in six minutes...

Sarik pulls the cocking handles of the main guns and chambers the bullets.

This could be all over in six minutes!

The raiders see the dweller and start firing their mounted weapons. Bullets start bouncing off the dweller’s front grill and start cracking the bulletproof forward windshield.

The thudding sound of bullets echoed in the dweller as Sarik starts firing back. The three smaller vehicles spread out to minimize the firing effect of the dweller.

Let’s take the left one first, left target!

Zamir veers left and Sarik aims for the front tires of the vehicle. He fires a rapid burst and strikes the enemy’s front wheel, shredding it to pieces, causing the vehicle to flip over and tumble, its passengers flung from the vehicle violently hitting the sand.

Good Hit! Good Hit! Let’s go for the Center one, center!

Zamir takes a sudden right which almost turns the dweller on its side. He regains control but starts taking hits on the left side of the vehicle. His side windows crack up as the sound of thudding bullets tries to make their way into the dweller. Zamir could see the bulging metal of the dweller’s inner walls starting to give way to the continuous fire. Zamir turns again so that the dweller’s front will be