Echoes in the Mountains

In northern Afghanistan, there is an old mountain road soldiers feared even in daylight. In 1982,

during the Soviet–Afghan War, a small Soviet patrol was ordered to secure this road before

sunrise. The mission was simple. Check the pass. Report back.

As the patrol moved deeper into the mountains, their radio suddenly came alive —

not with commands, but with screaming. The operator froze. The signal wasn’t coming from headquarters.

Then the screaming stopped. Static filled the channel. The commander tried

to call for support. No signal. High above them, loose stones began to roll down slowly,

one by one. The soldiers raised their weapons. They were no longer alone.