On Desperate Ground

On Desperate Ground by James Benn Read Free Book Online

Book: On Desperate Ground by James Benn Read Free Book Online
Authors: James Benn
of ground as your final resting place.
    Dieter watched the thin line along the ground that marked the drainage ditch and Schmidt’s hiding place. The lead armored car came within fifty meters of the ditch and pulled to the left. The next one followed, two more turned to the right, and the last two came up abreast in the middle on the road.  
    “Damn!” Dieter smashed his fist into the ground as the line of armored cars opened fire from their stationary position. He had miscalculated. The Russians were going to pound them from a distance with their cannon before closing in for the kill with their machine guns. Rounds began to explode in front of his exposed line of men, and he knew it would only be a matter of minutes before the shells burst among them.  
    Schmidt, hidden at the bottom of the ditch, had heard the vehicles spread out and halt just short of his position. As soon as he heard the first salvo, he knew the original plan was not going to work.  
    “Well, boys,” Schmidt said loudly above the din, “let’s take a long shot.”  
    Without speaking, each of the Hiwis nodded to Schmidt and readied themselves.
    “Now!” bellowed Schmidt as he rose, placing his Panzerfaust on the edge of the ditch. In a split second he found his target, aimed, and pressed the trigger. The rocket blasted toward the right-hand car and hit it squarely on the turret. There was an explosion, followed by another as the ammunition blew up, ripping the lightly armored vehicle apart, spreading flame over the snow and black acrid smoke skyward.
    There was a brief moment of silence as the BA-10 crews oriented themselves to this new, closer threat. The six Hiwis aimed their Panzerfausts . The air exploded with launching rockets, as the turrets turned with frantic mechanical whines, depressing their cannon, firing wildly at the forms rising up in front of them. Machine guns chattered, sending spouts of snow and dirt flying in every direction.  
    Two BA-10s exploded in bright flame. Another took a hit in the front right wheel. Two other Panzerfaust rounds exploded harmlessly beyond their targets. One Hiwi, hesitating to watch his round hit home, was slower than the others getting back under cover.
    “Aleksandr!” Schmidt yelled, reaching up to pull him down. As Aleksandr heard his name he froze, eyes wide in disbelief as machine gun rounds stitched a straight line in the ground in front of him, the last two bullets hitting him in the upper chest, forcing him back against the ditch wall. He slid lifelessly down, coming to rest next to Schmidt, a look of utter surprise on his face.
    The unhit armored cars accelerated at the same time, moving toward the edge of the ditch from where they could fire down on Schmidt and his men, leaving them with no cover and even less hope. The stationary BA-10 was smoking, but its turret and guns still operated. Shells slammed into the back of the ditch wall behind the men, showering them with rocks and clumps of frozen dirt.
    “Follow me,” growled Schmidt, crawling toward the point where the two armored cars would crest the ditch, a grenade in each hand.  
    Machine guns chattered as the two BA-10s began to seek out their targets. Schmidt tossed both grenades and the remaining Hiwis did the same. They held their hands over their ears as the grenades exploded. Schmidt waited for the sound of secondary explosions. He heard only the roar of two engines and continuous machine gun fire as the armored cars began their final approach to the lip of the ditch. Schmidt scrambled to pull another grenade from his pocket, knowing that once they got into the ditch, either of the BA-10s could massacre them. Then he saw the front wheels and cannon barrel above him.  
    One of the Hiwis screamed, as the universe exploded around them. Schmidt closed his eyes and waited for death to come. He heard more explosions. Opening his eyes, he saw a pillar of flame ascend from the turret of the BA-10, followed by yelling and the

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