Page 54 of The Fourth Option
2021
WALKER DROVE SLOWLYahead thinking about fate and stopped the Hilux a hundred yards shy of the yellow jug concealed behind a pile of rocks. This close, he was able to see the det cord running through a hole punctured in the five-inch-diameter white screw top and ran his eyes to a flat spot in the road in line with where a vehicle would cross it.
There’s the plate.
He had seen this type of pressure plate a dozen times before. Most setups were made up of three components: switch, battery, and electric blasting cap. The pressure plate, or switch, was usually saw blades separated by a nonconductive material and placed in the road where a vehicle’s wheel or wheels would most likely roll, thus creating the “pressure.” Wires would be connected to each saw blade, and when a wheel ran over the pressure plate, the saw blade would bend, touching the other saw blade to complete the electrical circuit, which set off the electric detonator. The bulk explosive was usually buried on the side of the road or directly underneath the vehicle.
If Walker had the right explosive charge, he could have blown it in place. Too bad he didn’t.
There was also the possibility that this was a hoax IED, set up to get them to drive around and over a more cleverly camouflaged device.
He looked back at Staub, who was watching his every move through binos. He had left his radio with his partner as radio frequency transmissions and IEDs did not play well together.
He turned back to the device.
It was time.
He lay on his stomach and crawled forward, carefully inspecting and probing the ground as he went; one doesn’t want to inadvertently set off a pressure plate or secondary IED.
Sweat from heat and nerves dripped from his pores as he approached the yellow jug.
There was no way to tell from outside of the makeshift bomb how much explosive was inside. The standard insurgent ratio was nine parts ammonium nitrate and one part aluminum powder, and the jugs were usually close to forty pounds, which was more than enough to destroy a Hilux truck or midsize SUV.
Or one dumbass messing with it.
As he got closer, Walker could see the det cord poking out of the lid, attached to a blue wire. If he could sever the wire, he would render the whole thing inoperable.
Well, you haven’t blown yourself up yet. Keep going.
Walker slowly opened the small hook and line kit he had taken with him. He focused on slowing his breathing as he used a “pull line” to attach a “hook knife” to the detonator wire.
Still have all my fingers and toes. That’s a good sign.
Walker slowly backed out the way he had come with the pull line in hand, careful not to inadvertently jerk or pull too soon while still exposed to the blast. When he was about seventy-five yards away he crawled behind a boulder. He looked back toward Staub but couldn’t see him, which meant he was far enough away and behind cover.
Moment of truth.
Three, two, one.
Walker pulled the line attached to the hook knife, remotely cutting the detonator wire.
Nothing went boom.
Have to check it.
Walker moved back to the IED, slowly and deliberately.
The wire was cut. The explosive was still there, half-buried against the boulder, but Walker verified the electrical circuit to set off the IED was disrupted.
Next, he conducted a quick secondary search to verify there were no other explosive devices.
All clear.
He turned and signaled to Staub that it was safe to drive forward with the family.
He stowed his kit and made his way back to his vehicle thinking thathad he been a smoker, now would have been a good time to light one up to calm the nerves. Instead, from a Nalgene bottle he downed most of his lukewarm water flavored with powdered orange Gatorade.
“You good, brother?” Staub asked, exiting the Mitsubishi to check on his friend.
