Leary and Hawkins were scurrying up the hillside, their weapons cautiously drawn. Kenny whistled a soft, distinctive cadence to catch their attention. Both Marines visibly relaxed, and dropped down into the bushes with their older teammates.
“What happened, Chief?” Leary demanded, staring in dismay at the dust-filled ravine beyond them. “You weren’t attacked, were you?”
Kenny shook his head, and quickly outlined what Boylan and he had just witnessed.
“Damnedest thing I ever saw!” he chuckled. “Methuselah and Grandma Moses taking on armed assassins with rocks and coconuts—and winning!”
Hawkins raised one bushy black eyebrow, and flashed his white teeth in a broad grin. “An’ you dragged us out of our nice comfy bunks why?” he demanded. “Sounds to me like these natives have the situation
