I LAY ON MY BELLY IN THE
DIRT, two dozen men attendant on my curled index finger. My feet
were crossed. It would stabilize theshot. I had a perfect angle on the
target. Adequate blind. Unobstructed line of sight. A sentry exposed
and smoking, yawning beneath a low tree. The Major gently patted my ass.
The sign to fire.
Above the sentry a crow exploded in a fury of leaves and
feathers. The warm carcass dropped out of the tree right on the sentry's
head. It was one hell of a shot.
The VC soldier stood bewildered
for a second, looked up in the tree, got his senses and ducked. The
earth was extraordinarily silent after the muffled report. The bird had
made no sound. Just the branch. Never got a second shot off. A
hidden Marine laughed out loud. Guerrillas appeared instantly at their
defense posts and the surprise attack was a lost cause. But the Major was
such a sick and bitter bastard he stood up and kicked my ass hard with
the point of his boot, climbed over me and signalled the patrol to go in.