The big sergeant major maintained a steady dogtrot and the young lieutenant was having a hard time keeping up. He wanted to drop some of his equipment and lighten his load but Kamigami had told him to carry it all and keep moving. Jamison was thankful when they moved up a shallow ravine leading to the crest of the hill and their pace eased. Suddenly Kamigami stopped and listened. “Goats.” His voice was soft and quiet. Jamison listened but couldn’t hear a thing.The sergeant looked around him and pointed to a shadow on the side of the ravine. It was a little more than a crack or animal burrow. Kamigami dropped his equipment and started to sort it out, pushing what he didn’t want into the hole. Jamison did likewise and was about to shove his gas mask in after his parachute when Kamigami grabbed it and handed it back. When they were finished Jamison threw some loose dirt and stones over the equipment while Kamigami carried a big rock up from the dry steam bed and dropped it over the opening.With their equipment sorted out they made the crest of the hill in a few minutes.
