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Finally we arrive at the mining camp; four men with horses and nine pack mules ready to be unloaded. The camp area itself was like a large flat rock about 60 feet square, more or less -- and situated at the top of the arroyo. Off to the North side were some faded petroglyphs carved into the rock edge; A common thing throughout the desert southwest where Indian pilgrims and prospectors would carve or mark an area for whatever reason. While the other three were helping the two men that were already at the camp unload, I went down the 30 feet or so to see what Phil was using as a guard post. It was a series of boulders ranging from three and a half-to four feet high and each was nearly as wide, or wider. There were five of them arranged in a small semicircle, which was about fifteen feet long from one side of it to the other.

Two of them didn't quite meet at the bottom leaving about a fifteen-inch gap in almost a square shape. I decided right then that it would become my prone firing position. I lay down and looked through. It would take a bit of clearing to get a clean shot from side to side; no problem there. The tops of the five boulders would be sufficient for a bench rest, a place where I could lay a rifle across the top of the boulder for a steadier shot down the slope toward the end of the arroyo, about 400 meters away. I made a mental note to have aiming stakes placed every fifty meters beginning at one hundred meters from the guard site. I didn't like the curved gap between the tops of the boulders though. Phil would solve that later by having a few bags of concrete sent in and we would place other rocks between the boulders topped off by the flattest rocks that could be found from the abundant desert landscape in an effort to create as level a firing plane as possible. The arroyo walls were sheer all the way down with the usual desert flora and fauna abundantly flourishing. Some of that would have to be removed if for no other reason than to prevent someone from hiding behind it. The view of the stand of Pinions and Palo Verde trees was excellent from here. Again I made mental notes to have certain branches on particular trees removed and in two spots I had the smaller trees in front removed altogether.

The entrance to the cave was included in that clearance effort. I wanted to be able to see anything that moved in that part of the arroyo even if it was 400 metes away. Returning to my horse I pulled out the 30-06 Remington 700 that I had custom made here locally. The barrel was tuned and floated in the stock and was as accurate a weapon as man could make. I liked 180 grain, boattailed bullets for distance shooting and striking power at the end of a long shot. Those were custom made as well with just a little more power than the average factory round. My scope was a cheap Reddfield 3X9 variable but it suited me just fine and I was used to it. After years of practice I could hit anything I could see at 800 meters with relative ease so the 400 to 450 meter range I would have to deal with here was not going to be a problem.

Little did I know what changes were to be forthcoming.

Back up at the camp, the others were finished unpacking and caring for the mules and horses. It was a little crowded with six horses and four mules, but they were well hobbled and attached to a tie line in one corner of the camp area. Two of the men were just finishing up watering them as I came into the living area were the tents with cots inside were.

There was a rather sophisticated campfire/barbecue edifice made of cemented stones near the tents and one of the men was busily cooking up steaks and baked potatoes and ofcourse beans. Phil offered me a cold bud as I sat down on an empty box with some of the other men. There were six of us altogether and from what I was seeing each had his own specific assignment or job duty that tied in with everyone else. There was little wasted effort here!

"What do you think?" he asked.

"You tell me I'm up against giant lizard men capable of shredding a man wearing a .45 before he can pull it from his holster," I said, referring to two of the five former guards who didn't last. "These were stuntmen, quickdraw trained men who knew what they doing and they couldn't protect themselves. What the hell good do you think I'm gonna' be if they rush us?"

"They won't." Phil said.

"How can you say that! Is it just because they never have?"

"Nope, and I can't tell you why either. A couple of times one of the big ones and a few of the little ones would come hauling ass up the canyon at us but they always stopped about fifty feet or so down from those boulders there and screamed and squalled at us for awhile before running back to that Palo Verde stand."

"Hell, why didn't you shoot 'em! I said.

"We did! Shit we'd burn up 30 or 40 rounds apiece and when they'd had enough, they would gather their dead and wounded and hightail it back down the canyon. They quit that shit though. Guess they couldn't stand the losses."

" I don't understand. All they had to do was come up here and eat your asses up, but they stood out a ways and roared at you. This shit doesn't add up, Phil. In fact, why have a guard at all? Looks like this rock is a safe haven for you."

"Well, if it were up to me I probably wouldn't have. I've been running around here for twenty years now and they haven't bothered me. But if they do rush us or try to sneak up on us it's going to be at night and I want some kind of warning if they do."

"You won't get much. Shit I could move half a dozen teams of SF troops right up to where that brush stops and you would never hear or see a thing - especially without a moon or a Starlight scope to see with." "You want one?" he asked.

"What, a Starlight? Hell, they cost about $4 grand to start!"

"Look," Phil said, " I'm taking over $20 thousand a week out of here and flying it out of the county for processing to my banks in the Caymans. As long as the Feds won't let us common citizens have bulk bouillon gold, I have no choice. I'm damn sure not gonna' let things get fucked up just because of some goddamned anthropological throw back. The fuckin' money is not the issue here!

Keeping my people safe is and I'll spend what I need to keep this operation going for as long as I can. It won't be long before some stupid ass ranger stumbles onto this and the game will be up anyway. For right now, you tell me what you need and I'll see to it that you get it."

"Alright. Bring in the best Starlight you can get and have it mounted on a Colt M16. I'm used to using it that way. Those Verdes are just about at the end of its range, but I like it better."

"Be here in a week, " he said, "Want another Bud?"

It was starting to get dark, and supper was being called out. We went over and sat down to eat a good medium rare steak.

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