tc.redstormrising-第62章

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There　was　another　scream；　but　none　after　that。　Edwards　was　glad　there　weren't…he　didn't　need　the　distraction。　The　crawling　was　a　slow；　tiring　effort　that　sapped　the　strength　from　his　arms。　Edwards　and　Smith　took　a　long　route；　around　a　tractor　and　some　other　implements。　When　they　came　into　the　clear　there　was　only　one　man　on　their　side　of　the　house。　Where's　the　other　one？　the　lieutenant　asked　himself。　Now　what　do　we　do？　You　gotta　stick　to　the　plan。　Everyone's　depending　on　you。
〃Back　me　up。〃
Smith　was　amazed。　〃Let　me；　sir；　I…〃
〃Back　me　up；〃　Edwards　whispered。　He　set　his　M…16　down　and　drew　his　bat　knife。
The　Russian　soldier　made　it　easy；　as　he　stood　on　tiptoe；　entranced　with　the　goings…on　within　the　farmhouse。　Ten　feet　behind　him；　Edwards　got　to　his　feet　and　approached　one　slow　step　at　a　time；　It　took　him　a　moment　to　realize　that　his　target　was　a　full　head　taller　than　he　was…how　was　he　supposed　to　take　this　monster　alive？
He　didn't　have　to。　There　must　have　been　an　intermission　inside。　The　Soviet　private　slumped　down　and　reached　in　his　pocket　for　a　pack　of　cigarettes；　then　turned　slightly　to　light　one　from　a　cupped　match。　He　caught　Edwards　out　of　the　er　of　his　eye；　and　the　American　lieutenant　lunged　forward　with　his　knife；　stabbing　the　larger　man　in　the　throat。　The　Russian　started　to　cry　out；　but　Edwards　wrestled　him　down　and　slapped　his　left　hand　over　the　man's　mouth　as　he　struck　again　with　the　knife。　Edwards　twisted　the　man's　head　one　way；　and　the　knife　the　other。　The　blade　grated　against　something　hard；　and　his　victim　went　slack。
Edwards　felt　nothing；　his　emotions　submerged　in　a　flood　of　adrenaline。　He　wiped　the　knife　on　his　trousers　and　stood　on　the　man's　body　to　look　in　the　window。　What　he　saw　caught　the　breath　in　his　throat。
〃Hi；　guys！〃　Garcia　whispered。　Two　Russian　privates　turned　to　face　a　pair　of　M…16s。　They　had　left　their　rifles　in　the　truck。　Garcia　gestured　at　the　ground　with　his　rifle；　and　both　men　went　facedown；　spread…eagled。
Rodgers　frisked　them　both　for　weapons；　then　went　around　the　front　to　report　in。
〃Took　'em　both　alive；　sir。〃　He　was　surprised　to　see　their　〃wing…wiper〃　lieutenant　with　blood　on　his　hands。
〃I'm　going　in；〃　Edwards　told　Smith。　The　sergeant　nodded　quickly。
〃I'll　cover　you　from　here。　Rodgers；　you　back　him　up。〃
The　lieutenant　moved　through　the　half…open　door。　The　living　room　was　empty　and　unlit。　The　noise　of　heavy　breathing　came　from　around　the　er；　and　a　steady　pale　light。　Edwards　approached　the　er…and　found　himself　faced　with　a　Russian　in　the　process　of　unbuttoning　his　pants。　There　was　no　time　for　much　of　anything。
Edwards　rammed　his　knife　under　the　man's　ribs；　turning　his　right　hand　within　the　brass…knuckled　grip　as　he　pushed　the　blade　all　the　way　in。　The　man　screamed　and　lifted　himself　up　on　his　toes　before　falling　backward；　trying　to　get　himself　off　the　knife。　Edwards　withdrew　and　stabbed　again；　falling　atop　the　man　in　a　grotesquely　sexual　position。　The　paratrooper's　hands　tried　to　force　him　off；　but　the　lieutenant　felt　the　strength　drain　from　his　victim　as　he　moved　farther　forward　to　stab　him　again　in　the　chest。　A　shadow　moved　and　he　looked　up　to　see　a　man　stumbling　forward　with　a　pistol…and　the　room　exploded　with　noise。
〃Freeze；　motherficker！〃　Rodgers　screamed；　his　M…16　aimed　at　the　man's　chest；　and　everyone's　ears　ringing　from　the　thunder　of　the　three　round　burst。　〃You　okay；　skipper？〃　It　was　the　first　time　they　had　called　him　that。
〃Yeah。〃　Edwards　got　to　his　feet；　letting　Rodgers　precede　him　as　he　backed　the　Russian　up。　The　man　was　exposed　below　the　waist；　his　pants　hobbling　his　ankles。　The　lieutenant　picked　up　the　pistol　the　Soviet　had　dropped　and　looked　down　at　the　man　he'd　knifed。　There　was　no　doubt　that　he　was　dead。　His　handsome　Slavic　face　was　contorted　with　surprise　and　pain；　and　his　uniform　blouse　was　soaked　black　with　blood。　The　eyes　might　have　been　marbles　for　all　the　life　they　contained。
〃You　okay；　ma'am？〃　Rodgers　asked；　briefly　turning　his　head　around。
Edwards　saw　her　for　the　second　time；　sprawled　out　on　the　wooden　floor。　A　pretty　girl；　her　woolen　nightdress　torn　apart；　barely　covering　one　breast；　and　the　rest　of　her　pale　body；　already　red　and　bruised　in　several　places；　exposed　for　all　to　see。　Beyond　her　in　the　kitchen　Edwards　saw　the　unmoving　legs　of　another　woman。　He　went　into　the　room　and　saw　a　dog　and　a　man；　also　dead。　Each　body　displayed　a　single　red　circle　in　the　chest
Smith　came　in。　He　looked　around　the　room；　then　at　Edwards。　The　wimp　had　fangs。　〃I'll　check　the　upstairs。　Heads　up；　skipper。〃
Rodgers　kicked　the　Russian　down　to　the　floor　and　placed　his　bayonet　point　in　the　small　of　his　back。　〃You　move　and　I'll　fuckin'　cut　you　in　half；〃　the　private　snarled。
Edwards　stooped　down　to　the　blond　girl。　Her　face　was　puffing　up　from　blows　to　the　jaw　and　cheek；　her　breath　ing　in　shudders。　He　guessed　her　age　at　twenty　or　so。　Her　nightdress　was　destroyed。　Edwards　looked　around　and；　pulling　the　cloth　off　the　dining　room　table；　draped　it　over　her。
〃You　okay？　e　on；　you're　alive；　honey。　You're　safe。　You're　okay　now。〃
Her　eyes　seemed　pointed　in　different　directions　at　first；　then　they　focused　and　came　over　to　the　young　lieutenant。　Edwards　cringed　to　see　the　look　in　them。　His　hand　touched　her　cheek　as　gently　as　he　could。
〃e　on；　let's　get　you　up　off　the　floor。　Nobody's　going　to　hurt　you；　not　now。〃　She　started　shaking　so　violently　that　it　seemed　the　whole　house　would　join　her。　He　helped　her　up；　careful　to　wrap　the　tablecloth　all　around　her。　〃e　on。〃
〃Upstairs　is　clear；　sir。〃　Smith　returned；　holding　a　robe。　〃You　wanna　put　this　on　the　lady？　They　do　anything　else　to　her？〃
〃Killed　her　mom　and　dad。　And　a　dog。　I　imagine　they　were　going　to　do　her；　too；　when　they　got　finished。　Sarge；　get　things　organized。　Search　the　Russians；　get　some　food；　anything　else　that　looks　useful。　Move　quick；　Jim。　Lots　of　things　we　gotta　do。　You　have　a　first…aid　pack？〃
〃Right；　skipper。　Here。〃　Smith　tossed　him　a　small　package　of　bandages　and　antiseptics；　then　went　back　out　the　door　to　check　on　Garcia。
〃Let's　get　you　upstairs　and　cleaned　off。〃　Edwards　wrapped　his　left　arm　around　her　shoulders　and　helped　her　up　the　steep　old　wooden　steps。　His　heart　went　out　to　the　girl。　She　had　china…blue　eyes；　obscenely　empty　of　life　though　even　now　they　caught　the　light　in　a　way　certain　to　attract　any　man's　attention。　As　they　just　had；　Edwards　thought。　She　was　only　an　inch　shorter　than　he；　with　pale；　almost　transparent　skin。　Her　figure　was　marred　by　a　slight　bulge　at　the　abdomen；　and　Mike　had　a　good　idea　what　that　was；　the　rest　of　her　figure　was　so　perfect。　And　she'd　just　been　raped　by　one　Russian；　paving　the　way　for　a　long　night　of　it；　Mike　Edwards　thought；　enraged　that　once　more　this　foul　crime　had　touched　his　fife。　There　was　a　small　room　at　the　top　of　the　twisting　stairs。　She　entered　it　and　sat　on　the　single　bed。
〃Wh…wh…who…'　she　stammered　in　accented　English。
〃We're　Americans。　We　escaped　from　Keflavik　when　the　Russians　attacked。　What's　your　name？〃
〃Vigdis　Agustdottir。〃　The　slightest　sign　of　life　in　her　voice。　Vigdis；　the　daughter　of　Agust；　dead　in　the　kitchen。　He　wondered　what　Vigdis　meant；　sure　that　it　wasn't　pretty　enough。
He　set　the　hurricane　lamp　on　the　night　table　and　broke　open　the　pack。　Her　skin　was　broken　along　the　jawline；　and　he　swabbed　disinfectant　there。　It　had　to　hurt；　but　the　girl　didn't　wince　at　all。　The　rest　of　her；　he'd　seen；　was　just　bruised；　maybe　some　scrapes　on　her　back　from　the　hardwood　floor。　She'd　fought　hard　to　defend　herself；　and　taken　a　dozen　punches。　And　certainly　she　was　no　virgin。　Just　a　bloodied　face。　It　could　have　been　far　worse；　but　Edwards's　rage　continued　to　grow。　Such　a　pretty　face　desecrated…well；　he'd　already　reached　that　decision。　〃You　can't　stay　here。　We　have　to　leave　soon。　You'll　have　to　leave；　too。〃
〃But…〃
〃I'm　sorry。　I　understand…I　mean；　when　the　Russians　attacked；　I　lost　some　friends；　too。　Not　the　same　as　your　mom　and　dad；　but…Jesus！〃　Edwards's　hands　shook　in　frustration　as　he　stumbled　through　the　meaningless　words。　〃I'm　sorry　we　didn't　get　here　sooner。〃　What　is　it　that　some　of　the　feminists　say？　That　rape　is　the　crime　that　all　men　use　to　subjugate　all　women？　Then　why　do　you　want　to　go　downstairs　and…Edwards　knew　that　something　almost　as　satisfying　was　in　the　works。　He　took　her　hand　and　she　didn't　resist。　〃We're　going　to　have　to　leave。　We'll　take　you　anywhere　we　can。　You　must　have　family　around　here；　or　friends。　We'll　take　you　to　them　and　they　can　take　care　of　you。　But　you　can't　stay　here。　If　you　stay　here；　you're　sure　to　get　killed。　Do　you　understand？〃　He　saw　her　head　nod　jerkily　in　the　shadows。
〃Yes。　Please…please　leave　me　alone。　I　must　be　alone　for　a　little。〃
〃Okay。〃　He　touched　her　cheek　again。　〃If　you　need　anything；　call　us。〃　Edwards　went　back　downstairs。　Smith　had　taken　charge。　There　were　three　men　on　their　knees；　blindfolded；　gagged；　and　hands　tied　behind　their　backs。　Garcia　was　standing　over　them。　Rodgers　was　in　the　kitchen。　Smith　was　sorting　through　a　pile　of　stuff　on　the　table。
〃Okay；　what　d'we　got　here？〃
Smith　regarded　his　officer　with　something　akin　to　affection。　〃Well；　Sir；　we　got　us　a　Russian　lieutenant　with　a　wet　dick。　A　dead　sergeant。　A　dead　private；　and　two　live　ones。　The　lieutenant　had　this；　sir。〃
Edwards　took　the　map　and　unfolded　it。　〃Damn；　ain't　that　nice！〃　The　map　was　covered　with　scribbled　markings。
〃We　got　another　set　of　binoculars；　a　radio…shame　we　can't　use　that！　Some　rations。　Looks　like　shit；　but　better'n　nothin'。　We　done　good；　skipper。　Bag　five　Russians　with　three　rounds　expended。〃
〃What　do　we　need　to　take；　Jim？〃
〃Just　food；　sir。　I　mean；　we　could　take　a　couple　of　their　rifles；　and　that'd　double　up　our　ammo　load；　y'know？　But　we're　already　loaded　pretty；　heavy…〃
〃And　we　aren't　here　to　fight　a　war；　just　to　play　scout。　Right。〃
〃I　think　we　oughta　take　some　clothes；　sweaters　and　like　that。　We　taking　the　lady　with　us？〃
〃Have　to。〃
Smith　nodded。　〃Yeah；　makes　sense。　Hope　she　likes　walkin'；　sir。　Looks　like　she's　in　decent　shape；　'cept　for　being　pregnant。　Four　months；　I'd　say。〃　
〃Pregnant？〃　Garcia　turned。　〃Rapin'　a　pregnant　girl？〃　He　muttered　something　in　Spanish。
〃Any　of　them　say　anything？〃　Mike　asked。
〃Not　a　word；　sir。〃　Garcia　answered。
〃Jim；　take　a　look　at　the　girl；　and　get　her　down　here。　Her　name's　Vigdis。　Easy　on　her。〃
〃Don't　worry；　sir。〃　Smith　went　upstairs。
〃The　lieutenant's　the　one　with　it　hanging　out；　right？〃　Garcia　nodded　and　Edwards　went　around　to　face　him。　He　had　to　remove　the　gag　and　blindfold。　The　man　was　his　own　age。　He　was　sweating。　〃You　speak　English？〃
The　man　shook　his　head。　〃Spreche　deutsch。
Edwards　had　taken　two　years　of　German　in　high　school；　but　suddenly　found　himself　unwilling　to　talk　with　this　man。　He　had　already　decided　to　kill　him；　and　he　didn't　wish　to　speak　with　someone　he　was　about　to　kill…it　might　bother　his　conscience。　Edwards　didn't　want　his　conscience　to　remember　this。　But　he　watched　the　man　for　a　minute　or　two；　examining　what　sort　of　person　would　do　what　he　had　done。　He　expected　to　discover　something　monstrous；　but　didn't。　He　looked　up。　Smith　was　leading　Vigdis　down　the　stairs。
〃She's　got　good　gear；　skipper。　Nice　warm　clothes；　her　boots　are　all　broke　in。　I　expect　we　can　get　her　a　canteen；　a　parka；　and　a　field　pack。　I'd　let　her　bring　a　brush　an'　girl　stuff；　sir。　I'll　get　us　some　soap；　too；　and　maybe　a　razor。〃
〃Way　to　go；　Se