liberate the hostages

Jeremy created a mock battlefield in the sand.  Expertly using the stick he’d pulled from a nearby tree, he mapped out the enemy defenses and the location of the target his team had assembled to retrieve.

“Mike,” he looked up from his map and pointed towards his second in command, “I want you to take Jenny and Ian around the front.  You will be the diversion and the signal for David and I to sneak through the back door and free the hostages.”

As he spoke, he used the stick to indicate where he wanted the two teams to make their assaults and then made sure to make eye contact with each of them.  They were all on board.  They were all ready.

“Stay focused.  We’ll need to use all of our craft to pull this one off.”

Jeremy used the palm of his free hand to wipe away the map, lest it be seen by an enemy sentry before they could get into position.  Then he rose from his haunches, flung the stick back towards the tree, and pulled the black ski mask down over his face.  The others followed suit.  He could tell they were nervous but that was okay.  He trusted them and new they would get the job done.

“And, Mike, don’t break anything.  Just make a lot of noise.”

“Got it.”

“Okay, let’s go.”

The two groups slipped away, intent on their separate tasks.  Jeremy and David reached their position first, backs pressed firmly up against the building, trying to disappear into the shadows.  While they waited for Mike’s team to start the diversion that would allow them to slip in undetected, they could taste their reward already.

The whole team eagerly awaited the cookies they were about to liberate from Jeremy’s parents’ pantry.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Word Count: 299

Written in response to this week’s Trifecta Writing Challenge:

CRAFT (noun)

1 :  skill in planning, making, or executing :  dexterity
2 a :  an occupation or trade requiring manual dexterity or artistic skill <the carpenter’s craft> <the craft of writing plays> <crafts such as pottery, carpentry, and sewing>

 b plural :  articles made by craftspeople <a store selling crafts> <a crafts fair>

3 :  skill in deceiving to gain an end <used craft and guile to close the deal>

Remember:

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