Jack did not know why they had to walk through the streets. To him it made no sense, but then again that was the Marine Corps. So here they are walking through another market, in another place that smelled like someone farted and left. That was just one more thing he could not stand about these people, they stank. It was not just a small bad smell , or like a workout stink. No this was the stink of all stink. It was almost like they bathed in B.O. The smell was everywhere. As Jack walked and looked around at the faces staring back at him he knew one thing for sure. He had on a helmet and a vest and had been walking for over an hour in 100 degree temperatures and he still did not smell as bad as they did.

So they walked, as they always did. They would spread out enough so if a grenade or I.E.D. went off it would not get more than one or two of them. They stayed close enough to be able to support each other if small arms erupted. Today no one expected much. It was more a show of force. A few days ago, the gods of war had unleashed them on the small city. The insurgents never knew what hit them. It was a real success and the haji’s had been caught by surprise. They attempted to fight, but once they found out it was Marines that they were fighting, they ran.

Jack’s platoon had cut off their escape. It was a good, high body count and the gods of war were appeased. At least for the time being, so this stroll was nothing more than putting a dick on the table to allow everyone to gawk at its size and strength.

Even so Jack stayed alert, as did everyone else. To say they stayed alert was to say that they were all normal. The “Death Dealers” from 8^th Marines had been in country for eight months now. They had learned fast. Mistakes here were very costly and Jack’s platoon had not had to “pay the toll” for months now.

So Jack walked at the rear of the formation. He was able to see all the movements of everyone in front of him. His dark Oakelys hid the hate in his eyes. Jack could have cared less about these people. They were cutting each others heads off before he got there and they would still be doing so after he left. Jack had come to the conclusion that these people did not know how to live in peace. War and conflict was a way of life for them. It was as necessary as food and water for survival. Without it these people did not know what to do. So Jack did not walk the streets for them.