(Photo via flckrhivemind)
Borderline
(This is the start of a larger story I'm planning.
Please let me know what you think in the comments section. Thanks!)
The snow puffed up and sprayed in an arc toward him. Lieutenant
Singh recoiled instantly and huddled further back from the observation slit in
the concrete bunker. Then he heard the pop from the distant rifle shot. His
pulse raced in his chest. That was close. Very close. A Chinese sniper was
testing his range. He took several deep breaths and fingered his radio. “This
is BP175. Sniper fire from C sector. Repeat, sniper fire from C sector.” He
released the radio button and lifted his binoculars.
The radio spat out a crackly reply. “Roger that BP175.”
He scanned the northern face of the pass. He could see the
wool lined parkas of Chinese troops darting among the concrete outpost on the
other side of the border. They had been busy lately. Something was going on but
intelligence had not been able to determine what - troop movements, supply
convoys, road construction. By themselves nothing out of the ordinary but
together? Well he sensed something was coming but so far his commanding officer
and those up the chain saw no reason to increase the alert level. They said
things were busier on the border of Jammu and Kashmir, far to the west of
Nepal, than here in Arunachal Pradesh in the North East of India, squeezed
between Tibet, Bangladesh and Myanmar. And the Chinese President was visiting Delhi
so it wasn’t to time to go stirring things up. Hindi-China Bhai Bhai. Indian–Chinese brotherhood. Pah! That old slogan had bene disproved once
already when the Chinese had invaded. One day they would do it again.
Lieutenant Singh stamped his frozen feet to get his
circulation moving and swung the binoculars across the valley one last time
then gave up. Wherever the sniper was he was well hidden. He handed the
binoculars to the corporal beside him. “Keep looking. He must be somewhere. And
keep out of his cross hairs.”
“Yes sir.”
He smoothed his jet black moustache with his fingers and
eyed the snow covered expanse of the valley. At least the Indian defences had
improved. The new government in Delhi had decided to match the Chinese military
build-up with some of their own. Better roads, better equipment, and increased
troop numbers all along the disputed Himalayan border with China. There was
still a long way to go to match their adversaries across the valley but at
least now they had a fighting chance.
Part of him hoped the Chinese would try something. He had
trained for years but never seen combat. His grandfather had fought in the 1962
border war with China. He was wounded and decorated for his bravery. But India
had been embarrassed in battle and diplomatically. And she had lost Aksai Chin,
the northern most part of Jammu and Kashmir, to the Chinese. Singh didn’t
follow politics much but he knew the Chinese style was to slowly swallow its
prey bit by bit. Like a python devouring a plump piglet after squeezing the
life out of it. They were constantly testing, probing, looking for weaknesses.
Patrols pitched camps on the Indian side of the border to establish their
‘ownership’ of the territory. He had no doubt that they would try again in
Arunachal Pradesh one day. South Tibet they called it. And Tibet was now part
of China. The chance to fight back would be a welcome from the odd mix of
tedium and tension that stretched on day after day after day. Spring was in the
air, the roads that wound their way up to the border through the steep mountains
and valleys were passable again, apart from the regular rock slides. Now was a
good time to strike, before the monsoon, push through fast, disrupt the enemy’s
transport and communication links, reinforce quickly over the summer and then
hold out until the winter arrived and the new border would be frozen in place
for at least another year. That’s what he would do in Aksai Chin if he had the
chance, and regain that lost piece of India. Maybe one day.
“Found him sir.” reported the corporal. “There’s a small
bunker under a rock outcrop up in the valley wall, hidden by the deep shadow of
the rock above. They must have constructed it over the winter when we were back
in our winter quarters.”
Singh took the binoculars and confirmed what the corporal
had told him. “Good work. Tell the others.” He allowed himself a grim
smile. One little bite at a time.
His hand instinctively moved to check the Indian made 9mm semi-automatic
pistol on his belt. Perhaps it was time
for a little reconnaissance of his own. This week he had three days R & R
leave. Instead of going down to the town he would go out with one or two
trusted men, good soldiers, ‘jawans’, who were tired of waiting like him. He
would also take one of the local Tibetan soldiers who knew the mountains and
valleys like the back of his hand. They would have a look and see what was
really going on over the border. His smile broadened. And maybe have a little fun.
Come back for a new story here next week.
ANNOUNCEMENT: Founders House Publishing have released the anthology:
The anthology includes my story Promised Land. Part of my North Queensland Trilogy.
"Founders House is happy to announce that the latest collection of science fiction stories in the ongoing After Oil series is available.
After Oil 2: The Years of Crisis - Edited by John Michael Greer
John Michael Greer, author and host of the popular weekly peak-oil blog, The Archdruid Report, returns with another collection of twelve tales of the post-oil future. As Industrial civilization staggers beneath its myriad disfunctions, ordinary people endure the long, slow decline that shapes the years of crisis. The old world passes away an a new age takes shape."
The anthology is available now in various formats from Founders House Publishing.
The first anthology: After Oil: SF Visions of a Post-Petroleum World, is available from the publishers, Amazon (Amazon) or, in Australia, from Fishpond (Fishpond).
Trial by Fire - When a woman in Tibet self-immolates two witnesses face a dangerous dilemma. (4 parts)
Arrested Development - A development consultant in China finds life getting out of control. [Rated R] SHORTLISTED for the Lord Grimdark Award. See the list here.
Beijing Private Eyes - Drama, Romance, Karaoke, Kidnap! A foreign teacher in Beijing meets an attractive stranger and offers to help, then things get complicated. (A long story in 8 parts)
Tell him he's dreaming - An engineer has an environmental epiphany but things don't work out as planned. GAINED 5th PLACE in the New Zealand Writers College Short Story competition. See the list of finalists here.
Entries in the post-industrial / peak oil short story competition:
My story 'Promised Land' has been selected for the forthcoming anthology "After Oil 2: The Years of Crisis". You can read the other entries here.
A previous set of stories was published in 2012 in a book entitled After Oil: SF Visions of a Post-Petroleum World, available from Amazon (Amazon) or in Australia from Fishpond (Fishpond).
Stories set in China:
Outside In – It's 2050, the country and economy have changed. A recycler studies for an exam to improve his prospects, and an indentured servant plans her escape.
Seeds of Time – (Sequel to Outside In). In 2055 rural China prospers again after a period of dramatic changes, then things are complicated by a strange visitor and a hidden object.
Robots on Mars – 2025. A space-mad city boy adjusts to life in the country and tries to solve a mystery. (Note: no actual robots or Martians involved)
Promised Land – (Sequel to Robots on Mars). It’s 2050 and development threatens the rural district. Is it what they really need and if not, how can they stop it?
********
Tell me what you think. Constructive comments welcome.
If you like the story share with it with your friends.
If you like the story share with it with your friends.
********
Come back for a new story here next week.
ANNOUNCEMENT: Founders House Publishing have released the anthology:
After Oil 2: The Years of Crisis
The anthology includes my story Promised Land. Part of my North Queensland Trilogy.
"Founders House is happy to announce that the latest collection of science fiction stories in the ongoing After Oil series is available.
After Oil 2: The Years of Crisis - Edited by John Michael Greer
John Michael Greer, author and host of the popular weekly peak-oil blog, The Archdruid Report, returns with another collection of twelve tales of the post-oil future. As Industrial civilization staggers beneath its myriad disfunctions, ordinary people endure the long, slow decline that shapes the years of crisis. The old world passes away an a new age takes shape."
The anthology is available now in various formats from Founders House Publishing.
The first anthology: After Oil: SF Visions of a Post-Petroleum World, is available from the publishers, Amazon (Amazon) or, in Australia, from Fishpond (Fishpond).
MORE STORIES....
The Chief Inspector - An awkward tension builds between a stressed police inspector and his new assistant...
Under Development - A young idealist hunts for international development work in China. (6 parts)
The Nature of Love - A couple in love enjoy a day out in nature but something is amiss...
The Chief Inspector - An awkward tension builds between a stressed police inspector and his new assistant...
Under Development - A young idealist hunts for international development work in China. (6 parts)
The Nature of Love - A couple in love enjoy a day out in nature but something is amiss...
My Crazy China Trip - (Humour) A novice traveller gets more than he bargains for during 15 days in China. (10 Parts)
Love at First Flight - A foreign teacher arrives in China and falls in love with a local, but the path of true love is anything but smooth. (5 parts)
Trial by Fire - When a woman in Tibet self-immolates two witnesses face a dangerous dilemma. (4 parts)
Arrested Development - A development consultant in China finds life getting out of control. [Rated R] SHORTLISTED for the Lord Grimdark Award. See the list here.
Beijing Private Eyes - Drama, Romance, Karaoke, Kidnap! A foreign teacher in Beijing meets an attractive stranger and offers to help, then things get complicated. (A long story in 8 parts)
Tell him he's dreaming - An engineer has an environmental epiphany but things don't work out as planned. GAINED 5th PLACE in the New Zealand Writers College Short Story competition. See the list of finalists here.
Entries in the post-industrial / peak oil short story competition:
My story 'Promised Land' has been selected for the forthcoming anthology "After Oil 2: The Years of Crisis". You can read the other entries here.
A previous set of stories was published in 2012 in a book entitled After Oil: SF Visions of a Post-Petroleum World, available from Amazon (Amazon) or in Australia from Fishpond (Fishpond).
Stories set in China:
Winds of Change – In 2022 a migrant worker struggles to realise his dreams and fulfil his family obligations.
Outside In – It's 2050, the country and economy have changed. A recycler studies for an exam to improve his prospects, and an indentured servant plans her escape.
Seeds of Time – (Sequel to Outside In). In 2055 rural China prospers again after a period of dramatic changes, then things are complicated by a strange visitor and a hidden object.
Stories set in Australia: A North Queensland Trilogy
Robots on Mars – 2025. A space-mad city boy adjusts to life in the country and tries to solve a mystery. (Note: no actual robots or Martians involved)
Promised Land – (Sequel to Robots on Mars). It’s 2050 and development threatens the rural district. Is it what they really need and if not, how can they stop it?
Heart of Glass - (Sequel to Promised Land). The year is 2099, high school graduates prepare to step into adulthood and the community prepares to celebrate the turn of a new century.
Tell me what you think. Constructive comments welcome.
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