How bad? Miller shook out a pack of cigarettes and offered one to Mallory. Not bad at all if we could get them into hospital. But hellish painful and cripplin' if they gotta start hikin' up and down those gawddamned ravines hereabouts. First time Fve seen canyon floors more nearly vertical than the walls themselves.
You still haven't told me
Sorry, boss, sorry. Shrapnel wounds, both of them, in exactly the same place left thigh, just above the knee. No bones gone, no tendons cut. I've just finished tying up Casey's leg it's a pretty wicked lookin' gash. He's gonna know all about it when he starts walkin'.
And Panayis?
Fixed his own leg, Miller said briefly. A queer character. Wouldn't even let me look at it, far less bandage it. I reckon he'd have knifed me if I'd tried.
Better to leave him alone anyway, Mallory advised. Some of these islanders have strange taboos and superstitions. Just as long as he's alive. Though I still don't see how the hell he managed to get here.
He was the first to leave, Miller explained. Along with Casey. You must have missed him in the smoke. They were climbin' together when they got hit.
And how did I get here?
No prizes for the first correct answer. Miller jerked a thumb over his shoulder at the huge form that blocked half the width of the cave. Junior here did his St. Bernard act once again. I wanted to go with him, but he wasn't keen. Said he reckoned it would be difficult to carry both of us the bilL My feelin's were hurt considerable. Miller sighed. I guess I just wasn't born to be a hero, that's all.
Mallory smiled. Thanks again, Andrea.
Thanks! Miller was indignant. A guy saves your life and all you can say Is 'thanks'!
After the first dozen times or so you run out of suitable speeches, Mallory said dryly. How's Stevens?
Breathin'.
Mallory nodded forward towards the source of light, wrinkled his nose. Just round the corner, isn't he?
Yeah, it's pretty grim, Miller admitted. The gangrene's spread up beyond the knee.
Mallory rose groggily to his feet, picked up his gun. How is he really, Dusty?
He's dead, but he just won't die. He'll be gone by sundown. Gawd only knows what's kept him goin' so far.
It may sound presumptuous, Mallory murmured; but I think I know too.
The first-class medical attention? Miller said hopefully.
Looks that way, doesn't it? Mallory smiled down at the still kneeling Miller. But that wasn't what I meant at all. Come, gentlemen, we have some business to attend to.
Me, all I'm good for is blowin' up bridges and droppin' a handful of sand in engine bearin's, Miller announced. Strategy and tactics are far beyond my simple mind. But I still think those characters down there are pickin' a very stupid way of comnсttin' suicide. It would be a damned sight easier for all concerned if they just shot themselves.
I'm inclined to agree with you. Mallory settled himself more firmly behind the jumbled rocks in the mouth of the ravine that opened on the charred and smoking remains of the carob grove directly below and took another look at the Alpenkorps troops advancing in extended order up the steep, shelterless slope. They're no children at this game. I bet they don't like it one little bit, either.
Then why the hell are they doin' it, boss?
No option, probably. First off, this place can only be attacked frontally. Mallory smiled down at the little Greek lying between himself and Andrea. Louki here chose the place well. It would require a long detour to attack from the rear and it would take them a week to advance through that devil's scrap-heap behind us. Secondly, it'll be sunset in a couple of hours, and they know they haven't a hope of getting us after it's dark. And finally and I think this is more important than the other two reasons put together it's a hundred to one that the commandant in the town is being pretty severely prodded by his High Command. There's too much at stake, even in the one in a thousand chance of us getting at the guns. They can't afford to have Kheros evacuated under their noses, to lose
Why not? Miller interrupted. He gestured largely with his hands. Just a lot of useless rocks
They can't afford to lose face with the Turks, Mallory went on patiently. The strategic importance of these islands in the Sporades is negligible, but their political importance is tremendous. Adolf badly needs another ally in these parts. So be flies in Alpenkorps troops by the thousand and Stukas by the hundred, the best he has and he needs them desperately on the Italian front. But you've got to convince your potential ally that you're a pretty safe bet before you can persuade him to give up his nice, safe seat on the fence and jump down on your side.
Very interestin', Miller observed. So?
So the Germans are going to have no compunction about thirty or forty of their best troops being cut into little pieces. It's no trouble at all when you're sitting behind a desk a thousand miles away . Let 'em come another hundred yards or so closer. Louki and I will start from the middle and work out: you and Andrea start from the outside.
I don't like it, boss, Miller complained.
Don't think that I do either, Mallory said quietly. Slaughtering men forced to do a suicidal job like this is not my idea of fun or even of war. But if we don't get them, they get us. He broke off and pointed across the burnished sea to where Kheros lay peacefully on the hazed horizon, striking golden glints off the westering sun. What do you think they would have us do, Dusty?
I know, I know, boss. Miller stirred uncomfortably. Don't rub it in. He pulled his woollen cap low over his forehead and stared bleakly down the slope. How soon do the mass executions begin?
Another hundred yards, I said. Mallory looked down the slope again towards the coast road and grinned suddenly, glad to change the topic. Never saw telegraph poles shrink so suddenly before, Dusty.
Miller studied the guns drawn up on the road behind the two trucks and cleared his throat.
I was only sayin' what Louki told me, he said defensively.
What Loiiki told you! The little Greek was indignant. Before God, Major, the Americano is full of lies!
Ah, well, mebbe I was mistaken, Miller said magnanimously. He squinted again at the guns, forehead lined in puzzlement. That first one's a mortar, I reckon. But what in the universe that other weird looking contraption can be
Also a mortar, Mallory explained. A five-barrelled job, and very nasty. The Nebelwerfer or Moanin' Minnie. Howls like all the lost souls in hell. Guaranteed to turn the knees to jelly, especially after nightfall but it's stifi the other one you have to watch. A six-inch mortar, almost certainly using fragmentation bombs you use a brush and shovel for clearing up afterwards.
That's right, Miller gowled. Cheer us all up. But he was grateful to the New Zealander for trying to take their minds off what they had to do. Why don't they use them?
They will, Mallory assured him. Just as soon as we fire and they find out where we are.
Gawd help us, Miller muttered. Fragmentation bombs, you said! He lapsed into gloomy silence.
Any second now, Mallory said softly. I only hope that our friend Turzig isn't among this lot. He reached out for his field-glasses but stopped in surprise as Andrea leaned across Louki and caught him by the wrist before he could lift the binoculars. What!s the matter, Andrea?
I would not be using these, my Captain. They have betrayed us once already. I have been thinking, and it can be nothing else. The sunlight reflecting from the lenses