TT1B

DAY 2

When we all stirred in the morning, after interrupted sleep, the storm had gone. In fact, like in a fairy tale, the grey clouds parted and a rich blue filled the expanse of the sky. The Sun rose over the pines and it�s hot rays warmed our faces. Soon we had built a large fire and all stood around it; steaming. Some people even set up clothes horses made from branches. The scene was ridiculous, we were in an outdoor sauna/drying room. Within 30 minutes, all our kit was dry!

As always, our morale was high and we knew that R.F.G. had also had to weather the storm in probably worse shelters. In fact this was the truth and their shelter had collapsed. Luckily, they had also made use of the Sun to remain in the game.

I volunteered to lead a morning patrol out of camp. I was keen to find the Ghosts. Deno and G-Man agreed to come. I explained that I had a hunch; both teams knew of an old bivy site that still had a good sized piece of plastic sheeting on it. I wondered if the other team already had it, or wanted it. This bivy was near the top corner of the Bull field. This would be our first port of call on the patrol. We set out from camp, into the dank forest. As usual, I was point. One of the best times to stalk, is after rain, as the dripping conceals any noise you make and softens debris that would normally crackle or snap. We avoided the paths and the field by heading directly up hill and sticking to areas of pine. My senses began to absorb the forest. Looking back I saw the other two were switched on to their �Hunter Instincts.� They moved with cat like grace, moving only from time to time. Their eyes penetrated the forest; looking through it rather than at it. We moved into our first target area, dense pine, some 50m from the bivy. Looking back, I signalled for them to move in towards the fence line. While I indicated I would flank to the right.
Crouching, I negotiated the low canopy present under dense pines. The ground was steep and rough, brown with dead needles, making it sprung like a carpet. I stopped to listen. As I did so, a figure moved into my vision 25m away, through a corridor in the trees. It was Ian, one of the Ghost team, he had not seen me. This, I decided, would be my only chance of a shot. I raised my CAR-15 and fired but missed! Ian sprang like a startled animal out of my sight, down hill. Instantly I heard the sound of my comrades guns and numerous cries of �HIT!� I moved in at speed and found my team-mates on the fence line, that the Ghosts had just tried to flee along. We had shot out 3? of their team, who all appeared to be unarmed. I took cover and looked around. A shot rang out and landed near us. It had come from near the abandoned bivy. The culprit (John) armed with Marui UZI broke cover and fled at full pelt across the Bull Field, pursued only by our pellets, John escaped.
Incredibly, my hunch had been correct and the Ghosts had come unarmed to strip this bivy. Both teams departed after various comments about the weather, who�s on site and a couple of jokes. We circled back to the fence line and watched the Ghosts cross the field and head east, away from our camp.
Only then did we return to camp with a smile on our faces.

After a debrief and hearty dinner, we planned our next patrol. Again to the East. Paul B. declined to come maintaining he would not be able to keep up our pace with the same amount of stealth. He offered to stay and guard camp with his Marui Desert Eagle (on loan from Deno). Instead we would take Fungee and again slot him in the centre.
The temperature was still rising when we set off. One by one, we slipped out of camp. We always departed in a different direction, to avoid walking into an ambush. Remembering our routine should be different every day to limit risks. We moved along the bottom of the Bull Field, observing the main path from a distance, using my trusty BSA 4x20 scope. Nothing moved. I waved the patrol on and we cautiously crossed the fence and approached the east gate. Looking back I saw my team alert and all covering different directions. Boosting my confidence, I pressed on and we joined the middle path. I was beginning to perspire, partly due to the pressure. I was nearing the area we suspected the Ghosts may use, but had no real hunch where in particular to look. Thinking back to yesterday, I decided to break off the track down hill to maximise the ground we may cover. A rut on my left with a small stream invited a route northwards. I signalled my intentions back to Deno and waited while he passed the message down the line. Stalking 10m down the rut, lowered us into dense pines. I sat and waited next to the gurgling stream.