HIDDEN SPRINGS 18

the next morning before day liye irene and latigo were sitting horse back at the hiden spring. from where they sat they could see south into the bombing range but were far enough away as to not be considered spys. as they sat there they could hear a rumble away to the south. looking down that was as daylite illuminated the landscape they could see a plume of dust riseing into the air miles away into the range. they looked at each other with un verbalized questions. but presently the whomp whomp of a helicopter could be heard comming from the west. the scavengers helicopter heaved into view and circled around the spring. finally it settled down on the flatest space available latigo and iren sat still until the blades quit spinning. miguel stepped outof the bird and stooped over trotted over to them. he waved a greeting with his good hand as came close. " was that you down there a while ago?" latigo asked, pointing south. " not us. but i think theres a caravan of coyotes comming up from caborca. they might have stumbled onto a hot spot down that way." miguel was grinning. irene had her clothes and belongings bundled up behind her saddle. miguel helped her take them down and then carried them to the chopper. he helped her in. then he pulled two duffle bags from the cargo compartment and carried them over to latigo. " we didnt have any law s. but there is a new deal called a m43 stinger. but i never heard of anyone useing one yet on anything . i just picked them up from those cartel boys. i dont know how they got them. also m 16 and a lot of ammo. i hope you know what your doing." " ime going to put a stop to the air force scum useing me. are the cartels going to stop comming through here?"latigo asked. " yes, this is the last caravan we warned them about comming this way again. but this group was already on its way. comem see us when the way is clear. we will have irene at my house." with that miguel turned and trotted back to the helicopter waveing his hand in a circular motion over his head to the pilot. soo the bird lifted off and went to the west. latigo used the horse irene was rideing to pack the two duffle bags on. when everything was tied down secure he turned and leading the pack horse rode south to the fence line. he went through a place the caravans had the fence tied down so they could cross. he rode on down into the bombing range. as he rode along he kept a sharp eye for any ordinance that was unexploded. . a couple miles down into the range he came to a old wrecked tank and transport truck, targets for the pilots out of luke air base. next to the old trruck he unloaded the pack horse then takeing his horses he rode down into a gully and tied them there in the shade of a palo verde tree. at the truck he opened the duffle bags. in one he had the m 16 rifle and ammo plus five or six clay more mines. in the other duffle bag he found the stinger rocket launcher. it was shoulder fired. in just a few moments he had figgured the weapon out. it had a laser sight to lock onto a target. laying everything out where they were easy to reach he opened the saddle bag and took out the sat phone. he made the call and left the coordinates of just past where he was. now he waitted.