The jungle floor was damp and sour

tiny insects swarmed about the sweat on my face

the only sound the occasional screech

of one of the inhabiting denizens

I tried to blow the bugs away from my eyes

keeping as quiet as possible

inching slowly forward over muck and twigs

that clung to my jacket and pants

I parted some growth with the barrel of my rifle

and peered ahead into the dense green wall

I knew they were out there

I'd heard them chattering earlier

It had been to late to retreat

they were so close I could almost feel them

but I couldn't see them

what I finally heard froze my heart

I didn't need the language to understand

that the jungle floor had been booby trapped

sweat ran into my eyes and mouth

I could barely move inside my clothes

I looked at the ground around me

wet my lips and chanced another few inches forward

stopping, I listened for my flanker

he was supposed to be ten yards to my right

I made the cricket sound as a signal

there was no reply and I tried again

frightened, I began crawling in that direction

waving my rifle barrel slowly over the ground ahead

The bushes parted and I froze

my flanker lay on his side staring straight at me

a thin pointed stake protruding from his neck

a silent trap sprung by body weight

I was alone and I felt the release of nerves on my pant leg

crawling over the body I eased my way back over him

returning the way he had come following the crushed plants

at last I reached our debarkation point

I dragged myself up onto a fallen tree trunk

leaning my rifle beside me a sudden crick in my side made me grunt

I took a long drink from my canteen

and gasped as the tepid liquid flew down my throat

The sudden thud of running feet sounded

crashing through the undergrowth

how was that possible with all the traps

the first figure appeared and stopped abruptly, smiling

I reached for my gun but couldn't move

the pressure on my side increased

I glanced down at the stake jutting out of the tree trunk

it has passed through my pack and into my side

As the figure walked casually toward me

I felt a burning sensation through my chest

and as I tumbled forward onto the ground I heard...

"Martin! Wake up and get down here, your breakfast is on the table."