HIDDEN SPRING 19

in less than a hour latigo could hear the whine of a jet approaching from the north. he had found a good sheltered spot to one side of the old truck and was settled down there with the stinger. he kept watching to the north and presently he could make out the sun glinnting off the silver of the jet as it dropped in altitude. as it approached. getting the stinger up and reqdy he watched the plane approach. the pilot was searching for the caravan . latigo felt pretty confident the caravan was still a couple miles south or more. after stumbling on the unexploded ordinance earlier they were probably moveing slower than mormal. the jet was closeing in on latigos location. just as it passed over head latigo stood up and locked the rocket launcher onto the plane. he pulled the trigger and the rocket launched throwing a plume of fire out behind latigo. in just a few moments the rocket hit the back end of the plane . flames irrupted from the impact. the plane skidded side ways for a second, then the cockpit ejected and the pilot flew up into the air. when it reached the top of its arc a parachute deployed. latigo watched as the plane heeled over and crashed into the deset in a ball of flame and explosions. the pilot floated to earth a good half mile away.. latigo dropped the stinger. he had no other rocket and wasnt sure that you could even reload the weapon but he had accomplished his goal. he picked up the remaining duffle bag and went to his horses.a good hour later he was back at the fence and crossed back into his own ranch. he stopped and put the fence back up to keep the cattle home. he went to his observation spot and started watching the desert below in the bombing range. the caravan was no where in sight. not was the pilot. he knew that with the plane down the base would send out a investigation team. he felt reasonably sure the base commander had no idea what louis had been doing. but latigo was going to make sure that everyone connectd with this deal was exposed either dead or alive.he haad no concrn for the pilot of the crashed plane, he was there to kill the coyotes with the back packs. latigo hoped the caravan had turned back to caborca after seeing the plane crashing and tripping the explosive earlier. he didnt hold with the drugs and illegal munitions they were packing but he also didnt want those people killed. it wasnt but a couple of hours that a reconosnce helicopter passed over head headed south. latigo still hadnt been able to see any humans down south. the helicopter landed about where the crashed plane was. he could see a couple of people scurring around down that way. then what he took to be the pilot staggered out of the brush. they helped him the helicopter and took off back north. latigo got on his horse and leading the pack animal headed home. now he had to deal with captain louis.