Vares part IV

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A Croatian military police, apparently in charge, came over with some companions to negotiate. He had 25 notches on the butstock of his AK 47- one for every kill he had made. Major Ekberg and the translator Ekenheim dismounted the SISU and started a discussion with the Croats. It was tense, very tense. After a while the aituation seemed to lighten up. We thought it was allright. But then- shure as a bill in the mailbox- a psycho HVO soldier comes driving in a white WV golf, stops, and gets out.

He is crazy as hell. Takes one of the LAW:s from the hands of an other soldier and points it at the second SISU ready to fire it off. In a moment the situation escalated, and I thought "Damn- This is it!"

It was one of those moments in ones life when time is standing still. I looked into the eyes of the Croatian soldier that I had in the sights of my 12,7 mm MG and I saw that he understood what was about to happen.

"I'm pressing in the trigger now!"

But a fraction of a second before the projectiles from my heavy MG would have ripped open the Croatian soldiers chest- one of the other Croatian soldiers downed the crazy guy with a straight right, and took away the LAW from him. I eased off on the trigger and felt that I had had it right on the triggerpoint. So damn close! Maby it would not be any killing after all?

Everybody took a breath of relief. If the man would have fired the LAW- then it would all had ended with only us or the Croatians remaning standing up. I felt my legs shaking. A part from the psychological strain and a part from having to stand up for half an hour in the same strained position.

The crazy guy left the place- if possible- even angrier accompanied by the squeeling from the tyres of his car.

The Croatian soldier that I had in my sights did not like me pointing my weapon on him and changed position. I followed him with the barrel. He showed with clear gestures that he felt provoced. I could not care less. We stared right in to each others eyes. Non of us wanted to be the one loosing this psyghological eye- wrestling. Suddenly in the middle of it all- I leaned out behind my MG and gave him a blink and a smile. I won the battle! He got so disturbed by this that he started to trample around like a dizzy hen...

To be continued...