Episode 10 - Riding along

Here I was, a man halfway to death, getting ready to risk my life for a man who already had his foot in the grave. I looked out the side of Justin's stealthed chopper. That feeling of vertigo came over me, a feeling I had become very well acquainted with after 20 years of being in the Special Forces and queing up to jump out of an aeroplane every other week. My instructor's told me it would go away after the first hundred or so jumps, apparently the 'or so' ran to infinity, because I had been on more than a thousand jumps, and vertigo still came. The difference was, once upon a time I was forced to jump, now I was stupidly volunteering myself for this.

The rooftops of the buildings below cascaded by. I tried to pull my mind away from the image of a smashed version of me splattered over one of the rooftops below. I tried to think of the mission at hand instead. The plan was, that i'ld rope down onto the roof of Blubbersvale. There'ld be no chance that Lukinor's bodyguard would be around because his working hours were far over. If he was there, I would be in SERIOUS trouble because my research showed he was a black belt in some form of martial arts and an ace shooter with a handgun. But... he couldnt be there right? Unless of course he was sleeping with Lukinor, which would not only make him a killing machine but a very very lucky killing machine. I almost laughed at the thought. No chance that would happen. So, it was a simple in and out job. Go in from the roof, pick her door, plant the cameras in her bedroom, living room and maybe the shower. Then get out. No problem. Hmmm... on second thought, even if I couldnt plant a camera in the bedroom, I HAD to put one in the shower.

I smiled at the thought. I just realized why I was risking my life. Being single at 57 had its benfits too. It gave me a reason to be here.

The chopper began to slow to a hover. The pilot turned and gave me the thumbs up. We were there. My nervous jokes weren't going to help me now. Vertigo came again. I looked down to the rooftop of Blubbersvale 50 meters below. I grabbed the rope. The fear multiplied a million times. One slip and I'ld be dead.

I remembered my first roping, when my Sergeant behind me was screaming "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU THINKING OF MANN!!! GET YOUR FAT PUSSY ASS OUT THAT DOOR!!!" yeah, he made it seem like it was just walking through a doorway. No problem. All I had to do was forget that the floor stopped beyond the door. That I would step on it again in 7 seconds time. That if I stepped on it any sooner than that I'ld never take another step ever again. No problem Sarge, it was just a step out the door.

I took that step.