Hogback

Hogback

by Raland J. Patterson
Hogback

Hogback

by Raland J. Patterson

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Overview

Hogback is a suspense novel, which explores the age-old dilemma of good versus evil. As a teenager, Jim Coleman, found himself in prison for a crime he didn't commit. Upon his release he sets off on a trail of vengeance that leads him through small Georgia towns with a mounting body count in his wake. When he arrives in Blue Ridge, Georgia, an encounter with a red-haired beauty named Peggy Taylor changes his life and those in the town forever. This is the first of a series based on several of the characters introduced in this book.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781483972909
Publisher: CreateSpace Publishing
Publication date: 05/08/2013
Pages: 278
Product dimensions: 6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.63(d)

Read an Excerpt

HOGBACK


By Raland J. Patterson AuthorHouse Copyright © 2006 Raland J. Patterson
All right reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-4259-4354-7


Chapter One War!

Saturday, 5:30 a.m., June 1969 B Company, "Killer Spades" 229 Aviation Battalion "Stacked Deck" 1st Cavalry Division, Quan Loi, Vietnam

CW3 MICHAEL BARKLEY ARRIVED AT the darkest part of the parking area to brief his flight crew on the day's mission, copilot CW2 Jeff Larson, crew chief SP4 Roy Barnes, and door gunner Charlie Jones. "Chief, why did you let your pilot put you here, in this position?"

"He knew this was not his bird today so he didn't look for a better location."

"I'll do better tonight. This has got to be the worst place on the airfield. You can't get here without wading mud holes. It's so quiet it makes me feel like I'm in a graveyard."

"It does feel weird. Why don't you give us the briefing so we can leave."

"Roger that," Barkley said. "It looks like we'll get some sun today. Our mission for the next few days is to fl y to Nancy and be on call for COL Gray. We're stuck with the commo bird. Chief, you and Jonsey need to take your tools."

"Why's that, sir?"

"I thought you could take care of the scheduled inspection while we wait. Or do you want to do them after we get back at night?"

"Thanks, sir. Were you a crew chief before you went to flight school?"

"Yes, why?"

"Because the other pilots wouldn't care if Jonsey and I work late or not. Thanks."

Jeff asked, "Why don't we just standby here and save flight hours?"

"It's a status thing. COL Gray likes having his own helicopter at his beck and call."

"What an asshole. All I can say is 21 and a wakeup!"

"Jeff, did you take care of the preflight?"

"It's done. What about all of that radio equipment in the back?"

"It's okay. We won't be using it today."

"It sure takes up a lot of room. How did we get stuck with it?"

"Battalion has a big mission near Cambodia and they need all the birds they can get."

"Yeah, you sure can't haul troops in Old Paint."

"Watch it or you'll hurt her feelings."

"Yeah. She can't help it they put that big radio console on her."

"She can handle a brigade exercise with all those radios back there."

"Jonsey get those C-rations loaded," Barkley said. "We can't be late to our first day of leisure. Chief, untie the rotor blade."

"Roger that!"

"All clear?"

"Clear!"

"Coming hot."

"Everything looks good. Let's go to Nancy!"

"Tower, this is Army 685. Request hover and departure to the south."

"Good morning, 685. No other traffic. You are cleared direct."

"Thanks much! On the go!"

"God, I love to fly this time of day. The air is so smooth."

"Me, too. Bet we won't fl y this early in the states."

"I'm sure. Chief, hand Jeff the logbook and let's get the DER (an in-flight check on the engine; the maintenance officer would plot the engine temperature looking for a rise; in 1969 a helicopter's engine life was about 500 hours; usually the temperature would start creeping up just before engine failure) check out of the way."

"You got a pencil?"

"Gee whiz! You're the only pilot I know that doesn't carry a pencil! Give me the book. You fly. I'll write."

"I've got the bird."

"You've got it."

"It's looking like I really need to slow the airspeed down to hold the altitude."

"That's okay, just another 30 seconds and I'll have it. Got it."

"Good. Let's get down to fifty feet where it's safe."

"Is that a short-timer talking?"

"No reason to do dumb things now."

"I guess. Come up on Victor (VHF Radio) and let's see if any other killer spades are out there."

"On Victor. Good Morning, Vietnam!"

"Hey, is that the short-timer bird talking?"

"That's me."

"How many 'til you get on the freedom bird?"

"Seventeen and wake up."

"Where are you going?"

"Firebase Nancy."

"Oh. Looks like CPT Wright is taking care of his pets."

"Yeah. He wants us to get good tans before we leave country. Where are you guys going?"

"Me and Savage are resupplyin' the recon team we dropped in three days ago."

"Dennis, ask Savage if he's shot any more holes in the water tank."

"Go to hell, Michael! You know Panther bet me that my .357 couldn't make a hole in that steel. I showed him!"

"Yeah. We didn't have water for two days! Boy, the old man was pissed about that! Dennis, the DER done yet?"

"Oh my, God no! CPT White told me if I missed it one more time he would kick my ass! I think he meant it, too. Talk to you when we finish. Out."

"Mayday, Mayday! This is Army copter 781 going down, grid 6434-grid 6434!"

"Jeff, that sounds like Dennis. Come up on Victor and find out.

"Savage is that you with the Mayday?"

"Yeah, Dennis is on guard."

"What happened?"

"When we were doing our check, a Quad 50 put a round through our engine. Dennis is trying to make the only clearing we can see."

"Come up on Company FOX MIKE radio and we'll home in on you."

"Thanks, buddy."

"Jeff, give COL Gray a call at Nancy and tell him we're assisting a bird down."

"Roger that."

"Savage, how many on board, over?"

"Eight, counting crew."

"Mike, COL Gray wants to know why Med Evac can't handle it? He wants his aircraft. He might want to go somewhere later."

"Tell him it'll take Med Evac thirty minutes before they get here. It's a hot LZ and they need help now."

"I'll tell him, but he won't be happy. Know what I mean-"

"Who cares? If we don't go get 'em, Charlie will."

"I agree. Let's do it!"

A few minutes later Michael announced, "Nearly there. Keep your eyes open! Does anyone see them?"

The gunner screamed, "There they are! Eleven o'clock, next to that big crater."

"Savage, we have you in sight!"

"It's about time! We're taking small arms fire from the north tree line."

"Gunner! Spray the friggin' tree line. Keep their heads down."

"Savage! Looks like Dennis picked the only good spot to land. We'll try landing about fifty feet behind you. That's about as close as we can get. Tell Dennis we've got the commo bird today. Only room for 4 paxs at most."

"We understand-no room! We've got two guys that're hit! We'll send them first!"

"Send 'em on back! We'll take them to Nancy and come back for you guys."

Looking around quickly, Mike saw an eerie sight. The morning sun had created patches of ground fog about three to four feet deep. The burnt stumps and snags made it look like a horror movie.

Suddenly from his right, his eyes tracked incoming tracer fire. It was the first time he had tasted fear like this since he'd been in 'Nam. Knowing he could ill afford to lose his nerve, he reminded himself he had a job to do. People's lives depended on him keeping his head and making sound decisions.

"Jeff, we're sitting ducks! Chief, help 'em! We've got to get out of here!"

"Chief, we loaded yet?"

"We are now!"

Pulling pitch, Michael announced hard," We're on the go! Savage! Keep your head down for the next thirty minutes. I'll be back to get you!"

"Can you bring a cheese sandwich?"

"White or wheat?"

"You decide!"

Michael pulled max power, keeping the nose down to pick up as much airspeed as he could before getting to the tree line. Once there he eased back on the cycle and quickly climbed over the trees. "Jeff , flying's right up there with sex, man!"

"Boy, do you need to see Susan!"

"Seventeen and a wakeup!"

As the copter departed the LZ, the crew encountered increased gunfire.

"Jeff, call Nancy and have the medics waiting at the pad. Chief how bad are they hit?"

"One in the leg, not bad, the other, in the chest. Looks real bad."

"The medics are already at the pad. The Med Evac is almost here. The colonel wants to know if you want them to go to Nancy or the downed aircraft?"

"Tell him all the wounded will be at Nancy. We'll head back and pick up the rest."

"Guys, I only want to be on the ground for thirty seconds, that's it, so move it. When we get there help get these wounded off . Savage and Dennis need our help now!"

Thirty seconds after the skids hit the pad, Jeff announced hard, "They are off and we're clear!"

Michael pulled pitch, nose down flying only inches above the ground. He quickly hit 90 knots then climbed to twenty feet above the trees. Seeing the flight level, Jeff said, "Can we fly a little lower?"

"Now remember we're short."

"Oh, yeah. What was I thinking?"

Five minutes out, Michael called the downed crew. "Savage! You still there?"

"Yeah! What's taking so long?"

"We thought we'd toast your sandwich first. Don't worry. We're three minutes out. Status? How hot is it?"

"I think they brought in their relatives. Your best approach is from the south. Stay away from the rubber plantation. The Quad 50 is there."

"Roger that. Getting closer to the deck."

"Yeah, sweet music, I can hear you. Can you land a little closer this time? We've got to carry these M-60s out."

"Can you destroy the machines guns?"

"No."

"Okay, we'll try getting closer. Geez! Looks bad down there!"

"Yeah. That napalm leaves a lot of snags and trees. You'd think they were fighting a war or something."

"How about that crater on your right front? Can we land there?"

"Yeah. Just watch that stump on our side."

"Get everything! I'm not coming back."

"Roger that."

Thirty seconds on the ground turned into three minutes and seemed a lifetime for the crew. Michael watched as carefully as he could the activity around him. It seemed that every one was moving in slow motion. Even the enemy's rifle fire striking the ground around them created slow moving clouds of dust. A smile came over Michael's face when he thought this was like watching a 3-D movie-a lot of action with no one really getting hurt. Then a cold chill hit every fiber in his body-this was not a movie and people could die. All he could think about was putting the power to the blades to get out! "Jeff, for chrissakes, how much longer?"

"Everyone's on board! Let's go!"

"The wind's picked up! I'm going to fl y low-level crosswind as long as I can then turn into the wind. That's the only way we can keep from over flying those guns."

"I agree. Go for it!"

As he pulled pitch, the ground fire intensified.

"Guys, we're taking fire from the tree line-two o'clock! Gunners! Hit 'em! Just a little more and we'll be gone!"

Suddenly blood sprayed on Jeff 's arm and leg but he felt no pain. He turned to see that the blood came from Michael. He tried to take control of the aircraft. "I've got the aircraft." Jeff screamed, "I've got the aircraft! Michael! Michael, you've been hit! Let go of the damned cycle. I've got the aircraft!"

Michael could only click his mike.

"Chief! Michael's been hit! Move up here and tilt his seat back so you can see how bad it is!"

The others in the rear could see what was going on. They quickly flipped Michael's seat back and took off his flak jacket. Then Dennis turned on his mike, "He's been hit in the neck just above his chicken plate. He's bleeding badly. You've gotta get him to a hospital now!"

"On Guard, Med Evac bird, this is 685, fifteen minutes north of Nancy"

"685, this is Med Evac. We're just leaving Nancy."

"This is 685, my pilot has been hit, bad. Where's the nearest Doctor?"

"685 that's where we're going. Tune your Fox Mike to 54 38. I'll give you a long count, just home in us and we'll lead you there."

"Roger 54 38."

Then Dennis yelled, "It's too late Jeff-Michael's dead!"

Chapter Two The Setup

June 1969, Athens, Georgia Saturday night

"Sonny, I told ya those college girls weren't gonna have anything to do with us."

"Yeah ... well, Tim, if you'da kept yer mouth shut, they woulda never known."

"Sorry. She just caught me off guard when she asked what I was majorin' in, and it sorta just slipped out."

"A shame. They drank half our beer but loved my birthday present from Daddy."

"Big surprise- Who wouldn't love a candy red T-Bird?"

"Gimme another beer."

"Last two, man. Told you a case of suds wouldn't last all day. I've got a wonderful buzz goin' and the night's young."

"Let's get some more. Sound like a plan?"

"A, whoa ... Nobody's gonna sell us beer here in Athens. Let's get another case from your Dad's basement."

"Why don't you time us, huh? Let's see a new record back to Washington."

"You're on. But remember ... you need to slow down in Lexington."

"Yeah, for sure. Deputy Fife thinks he's Buford T. Justice."

As they left Lexington, Sonny asked, "How's our time?"

No answer.

"Tim! How are we doing? Are you asleep?" Jesus, he's passed out, Sonny said to himself. Great! Well, I wanted to go see Bonnie anyway.

Realizing there was no reason to slow down so close to home, he stepped on the accelerator and watched for any intruding traffic on the side streets. His attention riveted the new sign for the Washington Apple Orchard. When his eyes again concentrated on the road his headlights caught a glimpse of something in his lane. Swerving to miss the uncertain object without any concern for his own safety, the car fishtailed and almost rolled over. He then realized, Oh my God! It was a bicycle!

The bike and rider had hit the side of his car, bouncing them hard into the ditch. He quickly stopped and ran to see what could be done. It was a little girl on a bicycle, the bent frame now wrapped around her legs. He knew it must be painful. He knew too he shouldn't move her.

He climbed the bank on the other side of the ditch and slid down slowly to see if he could help, while, of course, not moving her. When in position, he saw a most gruesome sight, as half of her face was missing. He vomited uncontrollably at what lie before him. Without warning, his knees gave way and he collapsed unconscious in the ditch next to her still body.

Out cold for a good thirty minutes, he staggered back to the car, no longer drunk just scared. He screamed out loud, "What I'm going to do? I've got to find Daddy! Daddy will know what to do, but first I've got to take Tim home. Thank heaven, Tim is still out of it and doesn't have a clue."

He drove to Tim's house and parked in the street, quickly got out and made it to the passenger side of the car, opened the door and shook Tim from side to side.

"Wake up! Come on, wake up! Get out. I'm going to Bonnie's-" "What about the beer?" Tim managed to say.

"We'll get it tomorrow. Hit the rack and go to sleep."

"Okay- Twist my arm ..."

Sonny drove home as quickly as he could without breaking any speed laws or doing anything reckless that might cause a policeman to look his way. He got home safely, ran into the house and flipped the light on in his Dad's bedroom without any concern for the time of night. "Daddy! I'm in trouble."

His father took a few moments to come to the surface, realized it was his son, then reacted to the strong light and covered his eyes with his hand and said, "What? What time is it? What are you talking about?"

"I hit a little girl on a bicycle with my car."

"How bad is it?"

"I ... I think she's dead."

"Dead? Oh, my God! Go down to the living room and call Woodrow."

"Our lawyer?"

"Yeah. Who do you think is going to get you out of this mess? Tell him to get his ass over here right now."

"Where did it happen? Were you by yourself?"

"In front of Washington's Apple Orchard. Tim was with me but he had two sheets to the wind from the beer and didn't see a thing."

"Where is he now?"

"I took him home and told him I was going to pick up Bonnie for a late date."

"Good idea."

"Is the car damaged?" Sonny's father said.

"I'm not sure."

"Well, let's go look."

While they checked out the car in the garage, the lawyer drove up, cut his lights before coming to a stop and quietly got out and walked to the garage side entrance, lighted by the fluorescents inside, and stepped in. "What's so important?"

"Sonny had an accident. He hit a little girl in Washington and we think he may have killed her. What can you do?"

"Did anybody see it?"

"I don't think so," Sonny chimed in. "Tim was with me but he was out cold, Bud Light."

"That's good. What we need to do is find somebody to take the blame, otherwise the police are like hound dogs over an open case file."

Boss Carter asked, "Anyone in mind?"

"No. Do you?"

"What about that drunk that has the son who's always in trouble?" Carter said.

"Coleman?"

"Yeah. That's his name."

"Does he still gamble a lot?"

"Yeah. I think he owes most everyone in the county."

"Tomorrow go get all those markers and bring Mr. Coleman to my house. Sonny, you go pick up the teenager, nice and friendly like, let him drive your car around town, the hamburger joints and all."

"My new car?"

(Continues...)



Excerpted from HOGBACK by Raland J. Patterson Copyright © 2006 by Raland J. Patterson. Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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