"Halt!" shouted Sergeant Bell as he shot a rapid fire burst over their heads. Birch turned and shot toward the area from where the burst originated. He took cover behind a large palm tree. Bell slumped to the ground as his men ran past, one kneeling to provide assistance. "Medic!" cried the corporal.
Birch's men were surrounded on three sides. From the house and the side yards came a withering hail of automatic firepower. Then the firing stopped abruptly. "Last chance to surrender," called one of the Island Security force.
As before the response was a muffled gunshot. Again came the overpowering response of automatic weaponry. This time Birch's men began to fall. Four were on the ground. They did not move. The two remaining looked at each other and decided to live, if that was an option. They stepped out with their hands high and made a show of tossing their weapons.
"Hold fire!" shouted a Sergeant Russell. Island Security troops moved rapidly to subdue and bind the two, and check the fallen. Two were still alive. "Bring them," shouted Russell. He went over to his fallen comrade.
"Sergeant Bell is dead, Sarge," the corporal said to Russell.
Russell watched as his men gathered the injured Birch to his feet and half drug him toward the house. When they were closer Russell spun around and slammed his heel into Birch's sternum with such force that Birch fell backwards to the ground as the troopers lost their grip on him. One of the troopers was spun around and fell next to Birch. Looking at Birch, Russell said, "That one may not make it. His wounds look pretty bad. Bring him anyway."
Birch lost consciousness.
