***
Jill crested the last hill and saw seven officials waiting at the shooting location. “Jack, we have six minutes to spare. I will take the wind readings, set up my spotting scope, and look for the target.”
“Okay, I’ll set up Betsy and wait for my body to calm down.”
Three minutes later they were both in position. Jack was lying prone on the ground next to his rifle. Jill had found the target with her spotting scope and began reading data to Jack.
“Temperature 41 degrees,” Jill said.
“Confirmed,” Jack replied.
“Distance 1,500 yards.”
“What? Ma’am, you had better check that reading. You are way off,” Jack replied.
“I said the distance is 1,500 yards.” Jill’s voice was stern. “What’s your problem?”
“My problem? I don’t have a problem. My laser range finder says 950 yards. You’re the person that has a problem. Your reading is way off. We will never hit the target using your reading.”
“Savage, your laser range finder is wrong. My Mil dot spotting scope does not lie, and it says 1,500 yards.”
“Ma’am, with all due respect, this laser range finder is a whole lot more accurate than your old-fashioned Mil dot spotting scope.”
“Shut up and listen, Savage. We only have ninety seconds to make this shot, and we only get one bullet. Suck it up and set your rifle for 1,500 yards.”
Jack paused before making his next statement. “Ma’am, you may be a West Point graduate, and top of your class, but I’m the guy that’s been doing this for many years. You are wrong, and I’m right!”
Jill knew he was wrong, and they were running out of time. She needed to convince Jack immediately that he had to do it her way, but she didn’t have the time to present a proper explanation. So, she paused and took a deep breath and clenched her jaw. Then she grabbed the shoulder of Jack’s shirt and with a heave she yanked him toward her. Her nose was almost touching his. She spoke in a quiet, don’t-mess-with-me voice. “Savage, we only have sixty seconds. I know you don’t want to hear this, but I am pulling rank on you. You either take the shot my way, or I will kick your butt from here to that target. Then I’m going to court martial you. Your career will be history. So, you have forty-five seconds.Aare you going to follow my orders or ruin your career?”
Jack paused again; then he spoke slowly and quietly. “1,500 yards . . . ma’am.”
Jill released her grip on Jack’s shirt. “Wind 10 knots.”
“Confirmed.”
“Elevation up fifty-three feet.”
“If you insist, ma’am.”
“I do insist. Now send it!”
There was quiet pause as Jack took careful aim. Jill watched him out of the corner of her eye as he took three deep breaths and held the last one. Then he slowly, and very gently, squeezed the trigger . . . kaboooooom!
The bullet took a full two seconds for it to reach the target. Jill waited. It seemed like an eternity. Finally, the target jumped.
“Jack, that was a fantastic shot!”
Jack sat up, eyes wide open, and looked at Jill, “Well, but . . . I mean, how did you know that it was 1,500 yards. My laser range finder never fails.”
Jill smiled. “Laser range finders are wonderful and accurate. But on a hot day like this when the temperature goes over a hundred, they sometimes pick up reflections of the heat waves between the target and us, sort of like a mirage. When there is a discrepancy between a laser and the old-fashioned Mil dot, I always use the Mil dot distance. I noticed this discrepancy when laser range finders first came out. It doesn’t happen often. When it does happen there is usually a slight flicker in the laser range distance, and I happened to notice that your laser range finder was changing back and forth between 950 and 970 yards. That, combined with my Mil dot reading of 1,500, was all the confirmation I needed. I realize that from your viewpoint you thought you were right, but it was a decision I had to make quickly. I’m sorry I did not have enough time to explain all of the details, but sometimes that’s the way it happens. I realize it was tough for you to take orders from me in the heat of competition, but you did. That counts for a lot. In battle we will have situations where you need to know that you can trust me to make the right decisions. By letting me make the decision today, you proved that you can do the right thing in a tough situation. The bottom line is that we need to think as a team, react as a team, and work as a team.”
“So, you’ve done a lot of shooting?”
“With my brothers and father. We used to—”
“Congratulations. How does it feel to be this year’s champions?” said the chief competition officer.
Jill looked at Jack. “Congratulations, Savage!” Jill held out her hand. Jack, with a relieved look on his face, reached out and shook Jill’s hand.
“Ma’am, it has been a long road, but I can say that it was worth it.”
Jill noticed a change in Jack’s tone. He seemed to be honest about his comment. Maybe Jack is starting to realize that we are the perfect match, for a sniper team.