“Holy crap!” Curt exclaimed. “I got two wetbacks in my sights. I can’t believe it.”

“No shit!” Tim said excitedly. “Don’t take your eyes off them. You might not be able to find them again. Tell me: what are they wearing? They’re not uniforms, are they?”

“Hell, no!” Curt said. “Looks like plaid shirts, jeans, cowboy hats, and they’re carrying what look like old vinyl suitcases.”

“Congratulations, soldier!” Tim said. “You got yourself a couple of turkeys. Pull off at least two rounds quick-like to make sure you get both. Of course if you can line them up maybe you can get away with one shot.” Tim giggled.

“You want me to shoot them?” Curt asked nervously. He’d purposefully avoided thinking about this moment, especially since he was aware the men in his sights presented no immediate danger to himself. It wasn’t like a battle situation where he was confident he’d react by reflex. This was more like bushwhacking two unarmed people he didn’t even know. Curt could sense he was trembling since his field of vision had begun to jump around.

“No, I want you to walk out there and have an argument with them,” Tim said sarcastically. “Of course I want you to shoot them. Hell, it’s your right. You’re the one who spotted them.”

Curt felt perspiration appear on his forehead. He swallowed. An anxiety of indecision spread through him. He’d never done anything like this before.

“Come on, man,” Tim said. “Don’t let me or your country down.”

Curt had no intention of letting Tim down. The past month or so had been the first time in his life that he was a member of a tight-knit assemblage whose ideology he truly believed. He’d found a home emotionally and intellectually, and he knew he owed it all to Tim. Taking in a breath and holding it, Curt squeezed the trigger.

The rifle recoiled but not enough for Curt to lose sight of his targets. The lead man went down like he’d been tripped. He didn’t spin around or stagger as Curt had seen in the movies when people were shot. One minute the man was walking, the next he was gone. The second man had stopped, frozen in his tracks as the sound of the rifle echoed around the dark, harsh landscape.

Curt felt an orgasmic rush of adrenaline and a tremendous sense of power. Without another thought, he drew a bead on the second man and smoothly pulled the trigger. The gun again jumped and the second man disappeared. Curt lowered the rifle. For a brief moment there was a refreshing smell of cordite in the air before the breeze dispersed it.

“Well?” Tim asked expectantly.

“Both are down,” Curt said.