Escape The 1st Omnibus: WTF Books 1-3 by W.J. Lundy Page B

water came from a well. The pumps were powered by solar cells that were installed on the roof. Brad really didn’t care how all of it worked, as long as it did. He put the young soldier in charge of facilities, and he had done wonders in turning the place around. Henry’s main pride and joy had been the solar water heater: water heated by the sun. It had made him a bit of a hero around camp.
    Brad found Sean, the SEAL team chief, on his way to the showers. Sean was heavily bearded now, as most of them were.
    “You have an answer for me on that offer yet?” Sean asked Brad with a smile.
    “I do. I think you’re right and I want in, but let me break it to Turner and the men first. I don’t know how they will react,” Brad answered.
    “Fair enough Brad, but be quick about it, we plan to leave at first light tomorrow. We have a lot of preparations to make,” replied Sean.
    Sean left him alone and Brad continued on to the showers. They weren’t much, just some piping shrouded with some heavy canvas. But it was enough, and he quickly found himself enjoying his solitude in the hot water. Even though they had all been warned to be brief in the showers, he took a couple of extra minutes today. He reluctantly exited the hot water, knowing it might be his last hot shower for a while. Brad gathered his things and returned to the barracks to ready himself for another long day.
    After dressing in a clean uniform, Brad walked over to the soldiers’ fire pit behind the guardhouse. He found a place on the large crate converted into a table and took a seat. One of the Afghans who worked the soldiers’ kitchen nodded to him and brought him a steaming bowl of the slop, which Brad accepted with a forced smile. Turner, the unit’s platoon sergeant, took notice of Brad and placed his own bowl in a wash basin, then walked over and took a seat next to him. Turner took a small tobacco box out of his jacket pocket, and laid it across his lap.
    “So I was talking to Brooks this morning; he told me you were considering leaving with them,” Turner said while fumbling with a scrap of paper and trying to roll a cigarette.
    “Still messing with those cigarettes I see. You know you’ll be out soon, and withdrawal is going to kick your ass,” answered Brad.
    “Nahh, I won’t run out, the Afghan boys have been bringing me tons of this stuff, and one of them found a rail car topped off with it. I’ll run out of paper before tobacco, and then I’ll just switch to a pipe.”
    “Well, sounds like you have it all figured out then,” chuckled Brad.
    “So seriously, you really leaving us or what?” asked Turner, licking the cigarette then sparking a match to light it.
    “Word sure travel fast here, I guess some things never change.”
    “So is that a yes then? The way you’re jumping around the subject I’m assuming that it is.” Turner took a long drag on his cigarette. “Hey man, seriously, don’t worry about me, I got your back whatever you decide. I’m more concerned about the men, and they rely on you.”
    “I think it’s for the best, Turner. We can’t just sit here forever. I want to go see what’s left down south, maybe we can contact the States from there, you know. And technically I am still on the job. I’m sure if they knew we were here, the Army wouldn’t approve of us just getting cozy. It’s time for me to move on.” Brad rose to his feet. “I really do appreciate your support, Turner, I really do,” he said as he walked past the basin and tossed in his bowl.
    Brad made his way to the main gate. He spoke to the remainder of his men, informing them of his plan and that he would be leaving with the SEALs in the morning. Many volunteered to go with him; he explained they would be needed to provide security to the camp. Brad promised to return for them as soon as he could, and somehow he would make contact with the camp again. There were no arguments, and the soldiers shook his hand and promised to help him