Scars

By Joseph Y. Roberts

Zambia 1977. On an undercover, cross-border mission to infiltrate a Communist insurgent training camp, Jacob discovers past actions can bring unexpected consequences. He and Sergeant Tannhauser are forced to run a deadly cat-and-mouse flight across the Zambian wilderness back to Rhodesia without aid or allies. Every step of the way, they are dogged by angry terrorists thirsting for their blood. Can Jacob and Tanny evade their pursuers, survive the rigors of the wild, and return home to allow their wounds to heal into scars?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Joseph Y. Roberts
• Release date: Nov 21, 2016
• ISBN: 9781370117048

Joseph Y. Roberts

Born in suburban Los Angeles, Joseph Y. Roberts describes himself as “a small town boy from a big city.” His interests are eclectic, like the subjects of his fiction, which reflect an ongoing fascination with the less-traveled places of the world and history. His goal is to bring the forgotten and ignored into the light with his tales, many being historic fiction with a literary spin. Joseph's favorite subjects include science fiction, military and ancient history, archeology, progressive rock, astronomy, and table-top role-playing games. His favorite bands are Hawkwind, U2, and Pink Floyd. Among his pursuits and occupations have been college radio DJ, actor, vacation resort sketch artist, and newspaper graphic artist. He still hopes to learn horseback riding, archery, and Kendo. Like a watermelon dropped from a great height, he's all over the map.

Book preview

Scars

by

Joseph Y. Roberts

Copyright © 2016 by Joseph Y. Roberts

All rights reserved.

This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

This story is a work of fiction. All characters, situations, and locations are products of the author's imagination and any resemblance to actual persons, living or deceased, is purely coincidental. Historic locations are used fictionally and are not meant to represent academic dissertation.

First Edition: November 2016

Updated Edition: December 2018

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Postscript

About the Author

Dedication:

To you, the reader. I can't do this without you.

To the Sporrians for their advice and encouragement.

- One -

Those damn bastards took everything, Jacob Vanderhoek roared, snatching up his mug of beer, splashing part of its contents onto the bar. The relentless rhythms of Soukos music pounded from the jukebox, forcing everyone to shout. He glowered at those near him in the public house, hunkered on his barstool, knuckles turning pale as his fist tightened on the mug handle. Capitalist swine, he sneered and drank from his pint.

So you lost your farm, brother? asked a voice behind Jacob.

He turned on his stool and found himself facing a mixed race man in olive drab bush shorts and a Sex Pistols t-shirt. Until I know otherwise, Mr. Sex Pistols you'll be.

Yeah. Crops have been bad for the last few years and I fell behind on the lease payments. So the bank repossessed. I begged them to let me stay, to make it up with this year's harvest, but no dice. They just want their money and care nothing for a man's dignity. Now with no land, I can never make it up. So they're out in the long run, but they're too short sighted and greedy to see that. Jacob drew another sip from his mug. At least in Communism, everyone has a share and no one is left without a livelihood.

"You are so right about that, comrade," said Mister Sex Pistols, running that term up the flagpole to see if Jacob would salute.

Since this was key to his mission, Jacob did not disappoint him. He flashed a broad smile and replied, Comrade, eh? I like the sound of that. So you know something about Communism?

Mister Sex Pistols nodded. You could say that. I know people who feel things like what happened to you are what is fundamentally wrong with western-influenced Capitalist societies. You're from Zimbabwe, you said?

"Yeah, or Rhodesia as it's called, for now. The ongoing revolution will fix that, my friend," stressed Jacob. his jaw muscles tensed and his eyes narrowed.

Yes, I definitely know some people I think you'd like to meet, offered Mr. Sex Pistols grinning.

I'm ready any time, comrade, Jacob said with another smile.

He drained his mug and beamed inside. The fish has taken the bait. This ploy was meant to lure out the likes of you, Mister Sex Pistols

Jacob gave his squad leader, Sergeant Tannhauser, seated several stools away, the subtle hand sign that he'd made contact with their quarry. He followed Mister Sex Pistols out of the pub.

In June of 1977, Jacob was in Lusaka the capitol city of Zambia. Echo Stick, his squad, lurked the city on a mission to deeply infiltrate recruiting and training cells of ZIPRA operating in the southern provinces of Zambia, just across the border from Rhodesia. Delta Stick, another squad of

Reviews for Scars

[Joanna Disch · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Knappe drei Sterne, da mir die Beziehung zwischen Tanny und Johnny gut gefallen hat. Alles andere ist eher brlanglos und ohne Inhalt, auch wenn sich der Autor redlich Mühe gibt.