“We’re going to go pull 2d’s nuts out of the fire, that’s what. Now move, before I have to waste more time kicking your ass.”
“I’m coming, already. Chill out. You didn’t talk like that when Sergeant Watson was the squad leader and you had your buddy around all the time.”
True enough, thought Macintosh as they moved through the woods. The CO gets waxed and everybody moves up a notch. The el-tee, Sergeant Parker, Sergeant Watson. Including me. Including Baldwin. Just get done staying up all night and get back to our holes and get a promotion. Squad leaders now. How about that? Baldwin! In charge of a squad. Goddamn army will promote anybody.
“Hey, Arlen.”
“Yeah?”
“You know why it’s different?”
“No, why?”
“ ’Cause now I got to not just put up with you, I’m in charge of you. You want the job?”
“No way.”
“Didn’t think so. Now let’s get there.”
As they approached the rally point, he could see 2d Squad closing in. Baldwin was in the lead, turning around occasionally to hustle up those behind him.
“Hello, Macintosh.”
“Hello, Baldwin.”
Parker came up behind them, the leader of 3d Squad at his side. “All right, let’s move out. We swing behind 2d Platoon and hit the ’rads in the flank. Baldwin, you and Macintosh will be the assault squads; 3d Squad will drop off and provide a base of fire. Questions? Good. Let’s go.”
“Hey, Macintosh?”
“Yeah, Baldwin?”
“Remember what it feels like to be the lead man in the lead squad..
“Fuck you, Baldwin. Just fuck you.”
Joel Guterman turned from the bank of radios. “The trail units have stopped, but the lead battalion is not responding. Mark, can you contact your commander?”
“I’m trying, Joel, I’m trying. He’s got to be in the low ground somewhere; this radio’s not reaching him.”
The Sep came into the TOC, dragging a piece of communications wire behind him. “Try this, Sir.”
Guterman looked quizzically at Griffin as the American unscrewed the radio antenna and hooked up the wire.
“What is that?”
“You’ve been mech too long, Joel. Forgotten all about field-expedient antennas? You throw the wire over a tree limb, the highest one you can get to, then use plastic spoons for resistors at one end. Remember? Point it the right way and it puts out about four times the power.” He turned to The Sep. “You did point this in the right direction, didn’t you, Sergeant?”
The Sep snorted. “Officers.”
Griffin grinned. “Here goes.”
“Sergeant Sezpank…” Guterman fumbled with the name. “Sextant…”
“Sep will do, Sir.”
“Perhaps, Sergeant Sep, you can rig one of those for my radios. It might help me to regain contact with my lead battalion.”
“Yes, Sir. It’ll take a few minutes.”
“As quickly as you can, Sergeant. It will save lives.”
He was down beneath the smoke blanket where he could see, and what Stern saw gave him hope. Delta Company, Lawson’s platoon leading, was in position to block the penetration. A Leopard and two Marders were already burning, although from the black smoke behind he knew Delta Company had taken losses of its own. Must have been long-range missile shots. We’ll know in a minute, Stern thought. The Germans are heading straight for them. This is where it comes to a head. In about five minutes we get a winner and a loser, one way or the other. He gritted his teeth. It’s about time.
“Six, this is The Griffin.”
So intent was Alex Stern on the coming battle before him that he missed the call.
“Six, this is The Griffin.”
It registered. “This is Six. Stand by. I got major action to my front.” “Six, this is Griffin. Stop the action. Cease fire. I say again, cease fire.” “Griffin, are you crazy? I got a major breakthough and a counterattack going in and you want me to…”
“I say again, cease fire. The Germans have broken off the attack. That lead unit is out of commo with their higher. We’re trying to get them under control, should have commo in a minute. I’m with Guterman and the situation’s under control. Cease fire.”
“Six, this is Five at the TOC. Spot reports confirm trailing German units have broken off the attack and are pulling back. Only that lead battalion continues to move.”
Stern watched as the Germans kept closing.
“Griffin, Six. If there’s a cease fire, those Germans to my front haven’t heard about it.”
“We’re trying to get commo with them now.” He turned to Joel. “Most of the commanders are dead or out of the action,” said Guterman. “We’re trying to get through to the survivors.”
“Six, this is The Griffin. You’ll have to trust me on this.” Griffin put down the mike.
Joel Guterman stared hard at his friend.
“Will that be enough? Trust you? In the heat of battle?”
“We’ll see.”
Lawson couldn’t believe his ears. “Dynamite Six, this is Tango Zero-One. Say again. Over.” His head bobbed as he followed the company commander’s words on the radio. Then he shrugged. “Wilco.” Lawson flipped a switch.
“Tango, this is Tango Zero-One. Cease fire, I say again, cease fire. Back into hull-down positions if you can. Cease fire.”
“Winchell! Cease fire! Safe the weapon.”
“But Corporal Shelley, they’re still coming!”
“Orders from higher. Cease fire.”
Winchell watched as the dark blob in his thermal sight grew steadily larger. He kept the crosshairs centered and his thumb on the trigger. Just in case.
Stern bit his lip as the German battalion closed on Delta Company. The shooting on both sides stopped, but the German tanks and infantry fighting vehicles continued to roll forward. In a minute they’ll be so close that even a last-second volley won’t stop them. Can’t wait any longer for Griffin to get his act together; I should have told Delta to blow them away when I had the chance. He reached for the microphone, hoping Lawson’s tanks could fire fast enough. Then he stopped.
First one Leopard, then another, then platoons and an entire company, slowed to a halt. Their sister units, at first confused then slowly getting word, also stopped. For several very long minutes the Germans sat there, and Alex Stern breathed very quietly, lest too sudden an action on his part should once again send men and machines against each other.
“Six, this is The Griffin.”
The radio startled Stern so much he jumped. Hands shaking, he keyed the microphone.
“This is Six.”
“This is The Griffin. Guterman wants to withdraw his forces along the same route they came in.”
“This is Six. Roger. Tell him he can execute in ten minutes.”
Joel Guterman listened and nodded.
Macintosh and Baldwin lay with their squads, waiting for the signal from Parker. They waited as slowly the machine-gun fire stopped. Then rifles, one by one, ceased trading shots. Then came the message from Parker — do not fire, return to the platoon position.
Macintosh passed the word, then gathered his squad and started to fall back. Once again Arlen lingered behind.
“Arlen, let’s go!”
“Look at them, Macintosh, look at those ’rads turn their backs.” He raised his rifle. “I can take out a dozen of ’em no problem.”
“Arlen! Put that weapon on safe and come here.”
Reluctantly Arlen took the weapon off his shoulder, flipped the selector, and slouched over to Macintosh.