Well, it’s time to post chapter 2 of “To Cheat the Devil.” I have to thank you all for the votes, comments and emails so far.
Yes, I know that the first few chapters might sound a little dark and cynical, but there’s a method to my crazy madness. All can’t be laughs and giggles. And this story portrays one of the “dark” countries in the “Deep dark Africa.”
Remember all the movies and stuff from the 1950s, 1960s and the 1970s, where people went to Africa on “Safari?” Well that was when Africa was unknown and Hollywood tried to romanticize the head-hunters and cannibalistic ideas.
I can assure you, there’s noting sinister about Africa. Only internal power struggles that kills the economies and let people starve. There’s no “Tarzan” living in the DRC (Democratic Republic of the Congo) or in the Central African Republic, or Chad, or Tanzania.
Either this story touches a nerve, or some are just not aware of what is happening. Operation Gothic Serpent? Does anyone know about this intervention? It was also known as “The day of the Rangers.”
No? Well let me name one other title: “BLACK HAWK DOWN.” Yes, operation Black Hawk Down was part of Operation Gothic Serpent, and was fought on 3 to 4 October 1993. Go Google “Battle of Mogadishu,” there’s a nice picture of “Super Six-Four” the Black Hawk US helicopter that was one of four that was shot down in the city of Mogadishu, Somalia. It was real, and not just the 1999 book by Mark Bowden or the $92 million 2001 movie directed by Ridley Scott.
EXTRACT FROM WIKIPEDIA:
“...As the operation was ongoing, Somali forces shot down four American Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters using RPG-7s, with two crashing deep in hostile territory. A desperate defence of the two downed helicopters began and fighting lasted through the night to defend the survivors of the crashes. In the morning, a UNOSOM II armoured convoy fought their way to the helicopters, incurring further casualties but eventually rescuing the survivors.”
END EXTRACT.
And thank you to the 81.8% of readers that think the story is worth at least a 9 or a 10. Even my one editor did not know that even today there’s still 500 to 800 US soldiers stationed in Somali. So I will pardon the 1, 2 and 4 votes. LOL.
Until next time.
Keep well and stay healthy!
Bye 4 now!