Standing at the Scratch Line by Guy Johnson Read Free Book Online Page B

remaining Germans saw LeRoi sprint across the square to the far side of the vehicle.
    The sound of the four soldiers leaving the square had covered his approach, but once LeRoi reached the side of the truck all was quiet. After several seconds he could hear the two Germans whispering to each other. He was edging around the rear of the truck when he heard the door open and the sound of footsteps coming his way. Pulling a knife from his belt, he prepared to spring. The German soldier rounded the corner and didn’t get a chance to raise his arm or even speak. With one savage cut, LeRoi slit the man’s throat, then moved out of the way to let the body fall. There was a brief gurgling sound as the man writhed frantically in the reddening snow and died.
    “Karl? Karl?” the other soldier called out.
    The sound of gunfire rang out from the direction that the four soldiers had taken. LeRoi heard a rifle being cocked in the truck.
    “Karl? Karl?” The soldier was now whispering from inside the truck.
    LeRoi had ducked around the side and was grateful that the left rearview mirror was frosted over. Squatting by the driver’s door, he flung it open. Simultaneously, a rifle was discharged and a bullet whistled over his head. LeRoi reached up and fired his pistol several times into the truck and heard the man inside grunt and fall out the passenger-side door.
    LeRoi started around the truck to make sure the other man was dead when he heard a shot ring out from the church tower. He did not get a chance to turn around before the dog hit him. The big German shepherd had sunk its teeth into the wristband of his gun arm. The weight of the dog’s lunge hurled him to the ground. The force of the animal’s attack caused him to drop his pistol and his Bergmann was underneath his body. LeRoi pulled his knife from his belt and stabbed the dog several times, but the animal kept attacking, aiming for a grip on his throat. Finally, LeRoi was able to sink his knife deep into the animal’s chest and push it off of him.
    Shots rang out from the far corner of the square and bullets ricocheted off the cobblestones and whizzed above him. He rolled over and pulled the Bergmann free and fired a burst in return. Scrambling to his feet, he took refuge behind the truck. The shots were coming from the shelter of a stone staircase in the corner of the square. Keeping the truck between him and the source of the gunfire, LeRoi circled the vehicle. He wanted to get clear of the truck because he knew it could easily be blown sky high. He saw the German soldier he shot, lying on his back in the snow, struggling to turn over. The man was bleeding from several different wounds. LeRoi stooped down quickly and removed the man’s Luger from his holster and shot him. The dead man also had four hand grenades strapped to his belt. They were called “potato mashers” by the American troops because of their unique shape, but they worked extremely well, better in fact than army issue. LeRoi removed them, pulling the pins out of two and heaved them toward the staircase. He took off running before the grenades detonated.
    LeRoi reached the alleyway just after the explosions occurred. From the safety of the alley, he watched as the whole building collapsed forward onto the staircase. There were screams as men were crushed by the falling structure. In a few minutes all was still again. LeRoi walked out into the square, keeping an eye on the rubble at the far end. He saw Big Ed limping forward from a side street. His pants were torn and there was blood trickling from an open wound on his thigh. From the far side of the square, Slick could be seen clambering over the rubble. He waved his Bergmann over his head. LeRoi turned and signaled to the church tower with his flashlight, telling the Professor to stay alert.
    Inside the truck, the keys were still in the ignition. LeRoi pushed the igniter button, and the engine sputtered, then began to purr. He backed up to where Big Ed