The report was loud and sudden. Kyle dived off the couch and on to the floor. Nick looked down at his friend with concern.
”What are you doing?”
Kyle got up, returned to the couch and said sheepishly, “Sorry. Instinct.”
“I think it was just a car backfiring, but mate, this isn’t Iraq. Besides, you were in logistics and support. You didn’t see any action, you told me.”
“I know, I know! But we were still close enough to hear, and we just used to hit the deck anytime we heard anything. Just habit.”
Nick said, “Yeah, I get that. Probably take a while to adjust. What’s it been? Six months?”
“Yeah, something like that.”
Kyle got to his feet.
“Look, I think I might go. Thanks for the beer.”
“No worries.”
Kyle made his way to his car. He was still slightly shaken. Imagine what it was like for the guys out in the field. No wonder so many had trouble adjusting when they got back. He supposed he had been lucky. His computer skills meant he wound up behind a desk in the green zone, as they called it, responsible for making sure the guys got all the equipment they needed. He had never been required to go out on patrol, even though he had gone through all the training. But the six months he had been deployed was more than enough. He was glad to be home.
He drove away cautiously. A slight rain had made the streets wet and slippery. A car sped by. He watched in alarm as it fishtailed, narrowly missing a pedestrian and an oncoming van, then straightened and kept going. Just ahead, it took a sharp left, spun in a complete circle, then continued on its way. In the brief second, it had spun sideways, in the glare of his headlights, he had caught a glimpse of a girl’s terrified expression through the passenger side window. On impulse, he decided to follow. Something was wrong. For whatever reason, the girl seemed an unwilling passenger. He kept the car in sight as it weaved through the evening traffic. Soon they had reached the outer suburbs.
Rain was falling lightly, making visibility more difficult. He carefully increased his speed to keep the car in sight, then watched in trepidation as it took a left turn too fast and spun around. A back wheel slid into a ditch, leaving the front of the car pointing upwards at him as he pulled up. The driver’s door crashed open. A dark hoodied-figure jumped out. With alarm, he saw it carried some kind of weapon. There was a muzzle flash, the sound of a shot carrying clearly in the still of the night. The windscreen of his car starred, and a bullet passed his head, so close, he later swore he felt its wind. Belatedly, he ducked down. There was silence, then there was the sound of a vehicle pulling up behind him. He cautiously raised himself. He couldn’t see anything through the starred windscreen. Then there was a tap on his window. A figure peered at him.
“You alright?” he heard through the noise in his head.
‘Reaction from the shot,’ he thought vaguely. He opened the door and shakily got out, hanging on to the door for support.
“I’m ok,” he managed. It was a grey-haired, older man, face wrinkled with concern. He looked over at the other car. The driver’s door still hung open, but the figure had disappeared.
“Saw a bloke running across the paddock,” the man said succinctly.
Kyle made his way over to the car.
“Better call the cops,” he said over his shoulder.
“I have, ”came the reply.
He walked to the passenger door and opened it. A young woman sat staring through the windscreen.
“This is a dumb question, but are you alright?”
She looked at him. She seemed remarkably composed for someone who had just undergone what must have been quite an ordeal.
“Well, considering I’ve been carjacked, scared to death and almost killed, yes, I’m well thank you. How about you?”
He was taken aback and stammered, ”Yeah, I think I’m ok.”
“Were you in the car that maniac just shot at?”
“Yes.”
“He missed obviously.”
“Not by much,” he shuddered.
She undid her seatbelt and got out of the car. The other man came over. “What happened?” he asked.
Before she could answer, blue lights heralded the arrival of the police in several vehicles. For the next few hours, there was a hubbub of activity. A sawn-off .22 rifle was found next to the car. It was empty. The would-be carjacker had discarded it and taken off. Dozens of police spread out and set off across the paddock. A helicopter was called in and its spotlight lit up the scene before it traversed the paddock. Vehicles stopped along the roadside and were speedily despatched on their way. The three were separated and gave their accounts of what had happened. Eventually, it was over. The girl, whose name he discovered, was Erica, insisted on driving herself home after the police had finished examining the car, and pulled it back on the road. It was none the worse for wear. She was a nurse and had been accosted as she was getting into her car. He had driven, holding the shotgun in one hand on his lap pointing at her. She admitted it had been a terrifying experience, but she had had her share of violence in the hospital too, which, to some extent. explained her composure. Keith, the helpful motorist left.
Kyle summonsed a tow truck to have his car towed home. He would get the windscreen fixed in the morning. As he sat next to the tow truck driver, he pondered on the night’s events. How ironic. Frightened by a car back-firing, then actually being shot at. It was more than what had happened to him in Iraq! He still shuddered when he thought how close he had come. The police would catch the carjacker sooner or later. He would be charged with multiple offences, including, presumably, attempted murder. Of him! It was hard to get his head around. He would probably need counselling. Then he thought of Erica, calm and composed, at least on the outside. He really should stay in contact with her. Maybe she could counsel him. It was an attractive thought, as was she, not that he taken as much notice as he would have under other circumstances. The more he thought about it, the more he liked the idea. It wouldn’t hurt to try. His mouth curved in an involuntary smile. After what had just happened, it would be a good outcome from a shot in the dark.
©️Cesmo
