A SHORT STORY / FOR LEONARD!

As the prisoner sat against the wall in what they call "the Hole" he buried his face in his hands. Tears welled up, but he had been through this before. Almost all hope was gone, but he was still in a space of oneness with Great Spirit. Just then he heard what sounded like a small scuffle and some sounds of muffled bursts! He heard the door latch release and as he looked up the door swung open. He was almost startled when he saw the figure appear. A highly muscled man with shoulder length hair dressed in black camoflage and knee high moccasins stood at the door. He had some kind of suppressed firearm in his right hand. His face had a black handprint across his mouth and cheeks, like warpaint! "Let's go" the man said, it's time to blow this pop stand! The prisoner stood up and embraced what could only be described as a hardened warrior! "Who are you?" he said. The man replied, "We are called, The Silent Ones."
Two more men quickly appeared and surrounded the prisoner in a protective mode. They moved with stealth and speed as they expertly guided the prisoner through some hallways and doors. As they were making their way out, the prisoner caught a glance of some figures laying prone and lifeless on the floor. They had obviously been dealt with on the way in. They rounded the corner kicked open a door to the outside and found themselves between two walls. "Squat down for a minute and cover your head" said one of the men. He pulled out a small hand held electronic device, with a blinking red light and small antenna. The man pushed a button and there was a muffled, barely audible explosion. After the dust cleared there was a round hole in the outside wall about 4 ft in Diameter. "Quickly! lets go, said the leader." Before the prisoner knew it they were through to the other side. It was pitch black out with many clouds overhead. He was out, he was free!
The rest would be like precision clockwork. He was loaded into what looked like a small black Humvee with an antenna on the roof and some kind of official emblem on the door! The plans had been meticulously thought out to the last detail with no stone unturned! All scenarios had been covered, bribes had been taken care of, along with offers that couldn't be refused. The ride to a small dirt airstrip was fast and short. A dark, small and sleek, single engine cargoe plane awaited with engine running. All piled aboard. They were across the northern border in no time. The prop jet skimmed the tree tops all the way under the coverage of radar! It seemed like minutes before the extremly capable pilot landed the plane in a small stretch of grass. The elated ex-prisoner soon found himself inside a warm log cabin in a thickly forested area. Food had been prepared and hot coffee was on the table. As the men shedded their elite combat equipment complete with mini headsets and micro mouthpieces, one of them said, let the celebration begin Mi Kola! Some friends and family came through a door from another room. The prisoner looked up and a tear rolled down his cheek! A smile came to his face! "What took you guys so
long?"
-RTG