Chapter 2 — Revelations

After several hours walk, the two had reached the bottom of the foothills and began making their way out onto the flat scrubland of the valley floor.

Sarah hated this time of day, it was beginning to warm up, and the desert sun beat down relentlessly reflecting off the rocky surface of the desert.

Then again, she mused, guillie suits didn’t help things.

As they reached a bend in a dry river bed, Ari took a knee and turned to Sarah;

“This is the last checkpoint; I’m going to radio our ride, set up an observation point 100m out. That large rock looks good.”

Nodding Sarah climbed the bank of the river, and moved off to set up her OP.

It was unlikely that they would be followed, they were after all, on Israeli soil, but they had not survived this long being careless.

Steadying her rifle on a rock, she waited perfectly still. It felt strange. The whole world almost seemed more colourful today.

Had talking to Ari meant that much to her? She smiled to herself when she realised that she had been referring to herself in the feminine since their talk. Maybe things could work out?

The sunshine in her heart quickly became overcast. This wouldn’t change once she returned to base.
The army wouldn’t let her. Her family and friends wouldn’t all be as understanding as Ari.

Her earpiece crackled to life.

“Bird is 5 miles out, popping smoke, stay alert.” Whispered the digitised voice of Ari over the radio.

He was the rock in their pair. He had always been the strong one. Sarah wondered if she would have ever reached this point without him.

The cloud of green smoke drifted lazily in the slight breeze.

She heard the helicopter before she saw it. And began to move from her hide amongst the rocks.

By the time she reached Ari, the IAF Blackhawk was kicking up a cloud of dust as it came in to land amongst the scrub.

After climbing aboard the aircraft, the two snipers were finally able to relax. No operation was over till you reached home base of course, but being on the bird out was a good start.

Sarah became acutely aware that the crew chief was looking at her.

Not in a nasty way, but in a hungry way that made her feel slightly uncomfortable. Feeling herself going red, she raised her eyebrows and stared back in a universal ‘well what?’ gesture.

The crew chief grinned and laughed. “They never told us we were picking up such a pretty cargo.” He yelled over the sound of the rotors.

“Well I get told that so often.” Ari returned with a perfectly straight face that caused Sarah to dissolve into a fit of giggles.

Flying over the base perimeter was usually when Sarah prayed. But today there was too much on her mind. What was she returning to? Was it all false hope?

They were questions she couldn’t answer, and for now, it was best to suppress herself once more in the way she had learned since she was a child. It was best to bury yourself in your work and forget yourself. Maybe that was why she succeeded at anything she had done to date? Apart from one notable exception she grimaced.

David exited the Blackhawk and the two made their way back towards their area of the base.

The special operations teams were housed and operated from a separate part of the base to normal military personnel. They ate and socialised with the others, due to the nature of their work, most was conducted away from prying eyes.

Once safely back in their room, Sarah began to strip her rifle for cleaning. Like most things in her life, this was something simple she could throw herself into and forget her issues.

Ari looked across at his friend sat on her bed cleaning her baby.

He was surprised that he ever saw her as a male.

Her glossy hair was loose and flowed around her shoulders. The Tel aviv university tee-shirt she wore was several sizes too large, and came down past the shorts she wore. Her smooth tanned legs were so feminine, and womanly that Ari was at a loss as to how anyone saw her as a ‘David’. She looked every inch the type of girl he had dated in University.

“Sarah?” he asked quietly as he mindlessly rubbed the bolt of his rifle.

She looked up as if snapping from a trance. “What?”

“Have you thought about what you’re gonna say to people? Or who?” he mused aloud.

“Um, I hadn’t really thought about it.” She replied biting her bottom lip. “Maybe I’ll talk to the CO later, and then some of the girls first, get some people onside… I just know I can’t go on like this.” She said putting down her rifle parts.

“It’s just so hard now. You opened the flood gates.” She answered, hugging herself and rocking slightly.

“I’m sorry.” Ari said. “I just needed my friend back, and wanted them to be happy. I realise its hard, but you needed to do this. What’s that expression? ‘A problem shared is a problem halved?’” He grinned.

Sarah shook her head and smiled. Ari loved his Americanisms.

She slid her rifle back together and placing it on the rack, dragged on a pair of combat pants and tied her hair in a low ponytail.

“I’m going to do it now before I loose the confidence.” She grimaced. “Wish me luck huh?”

Ari came over to her and hugged her tightly.

”You can do it.” He whispered. “The Colonel will be ok, I have a feeling. Just don’t turn all pink on me ok?”

Punching him lightly on the arm she smiled. “Don’t worry, there is more chance of um, how do you say it? Pigs jumping through hoops?” she replied tentatively.

“Flying, but close” he grinned. “Knock them dead my friend.”

Sarah gave Ari a quizzical look before shaking her head and closing the door.

That spark of confidence she had felt when Ari hugged her had vaporised quickly.

Each step she took closer to their commanding officer’s door.

Before she could go over things in her mind she was there.

Shamira Cohen was at her desk by the door as usual.

Smiling at the Commander’s assistant she walked upto his door and knocked. None of the special operations personnel ever went through official channels.

“Enter” resonated from within.

Steeling herself, she pushed open the door and walked in.

Colonel Mathias was seated behind his large desk, most of which was invisible below a raft of papers and reports.

“Ah Corporal Yakobavitch; Take a seat.” He smiled gesturing at one of the chairs that faced his desk.

Sitting David paused to collect his thoughts, unsure of where to begin.

“I trust this morning went smoothly on your end?” He enquired whilst sifting several piles of papers.

“Um, yes sir, nothing untoward. Um, I’m actually here about something personal. I was wondering if you could spare a few moments?” David asked tentatively.

The colonel stopped what he was doing and looked up.

“Of course. What’s on your mind my boy?”

“Um, I’m sorry, I’m not sure where to start, but I’m having problems and…” David trailed off.

He could feel his heart beating inside his chest. It felt like such a good idea moments ago, but now he wasn’t even sure he could say the words.

“I’m a girl.” She blurted before she could stop herself.