Psycho arrived back at the hooch. He found Pham cleaning an AK-47. “Where did you get that rifle?” Psycho asked.
Pham looked up with a questioning look.
“That’s not standard Army issue.”
“I got it from the squad next door. They collect weapons and ammo from the V.C. they kill.”
“Why would you want to use one of the rifles the Viet Cong use?”
“My people don’t like your M16s. This rifle will use your M16 ammo and it won’t jam or overheat.”
Psycho remembered his training. The instructors told them the same thing about the problems with the M16. For now, Psycho had more important matters to deal handle.
Psycho held out a baggie containing the two syringes and vial given to him by Lt. Doyle. “I want to know what you think would be the best way to put this knockout drug in a lion from a syringe?”
“Do you want to jump on the back of a lion and stick him?” Pham asked.
“I don’t care how we do it. I just want to put a lion to sleep while we move him.”
Pham sat quietly for a moment before answering. “My people hunt with arrows, not guns. Don’t you Americans have rifles that shoot darts you could put the liquid in, then shoot a lion?”
“I couldn’t get one. It took some convincing just to get this sedative.”
Dave overheard the conversation from a couple of bunks away. “Hey, Sarge, what if I rigged up an arrow that will stick the target and inject the drug?”
“How quick can you put it together?”
Dave asked Pham, “How quick can you get me a bow and a half dozen arrows?”
“I’m sure I can get us a bow and arrows by tomorrow midday.” Pham turned to Psycho. “I will need to leave the base. To get back, you will need to meet me at the west gate and escort me back in tomorrow about noon.”
Psycho nodded. “While you are out and about, locate some V.C. camps. I’m thinking a hungry lion would be a good present for them.”
Psycho pulled out the map Capt. Phillips gave him. He called over to Mick and Sparky to join them.
“What’s up Sarge?” Mick asked.
“We have our assignment. It’s not what I would have wanted, but it has given me some ideas.”
“What is it?”
Psycho layed the map out on a nearby table. The map to the village at the northwestern edge of the base, Psycho continued, “There’s a lion that has been harassing the villagers and a place where some of the officers hang out when not on duty.”
“That’s Dogpatch,” piped up Dave.
“What’s Dog Patch?” echoed Psycho.
“You haven’t been in country long enough to experience Dogpatch.” Mick said. “Dogpatch is the whole section on the outer edge of the village where soldiers get drunk and whoe. A portion of it is reserved for officers only.”
“Why would a lion be harassing just that part of Dogpatch?” Psycho wondered.
“A dime will get you a dollar that those officers are BBQing steaks and the smell of those steaks has got that lion’s mouthwatering.” Sparky said.
“Wouldn’t it be easier to just shoot the lion and bury him like we did with the water buffalo?” Mick offered.
“I don’t want to go about killing animals when all they want is a steak dinner. I would be harassing those officers if I knew they were BBQing steaks too.”
“Sarge, it would be easier if we got a couple of steaks and injected them with that drug, then set them out for the lion.” Sparky said. “It beats rigging up an arrow with a syringe.”
Dave looked to where Pham was sitting. “Too late, Pham is already off getting a bow and arrows.”
Ruben overheard the word steaks and joined in on the conversation. “Those officers treat steaks like gold. They are guarded from the time they arrive to the time they are eaten.”
“Mick, I’m going to take Ruben with me to meet Pham outside the west gate tomorrow at noon,” Psycho said. “Ruben, let’s see if we can rustle up a steak or two.”
Shadow raised his hand. “Sarge, I have one question for you?”
“Speak up. You don’t have to raise your hand.”
“What do you want the rest of us to be doing?”
“Mick and Sparky, how far have you got in putting together a practice course?”
“We have outlined three different stations, but no actual place for each station.” Mick said.
“I want you to find three different locations for each practice station. I want them far enough apart, so we have to use Huey and/or take a two-mile hike from one to other.”
“When do you want the course ready for your inspection?” Sparky asked.
“Have it ready for when we get back from taking care of this lion.”
What is the timeline for that? Mick asked in a worried tone.
“In a day or two. Pham brought up the idea of not using the M16. What are other options?” Psycho paused, then turned to Sparky. “Yes, get whatever explosives you think we need on hand for any mission.”
