Until Relieved by Rick Shelley Read Free Book Online Page A

For a couple of minutes after the module landed, the parasail continued to flap. Although Joe could not be certain, it appeared that the chute might be dragging the escape module. If the pilot was alive, he couldn't be in any condition to trip the release that would sever the lines.
    Joe's squad moved in a loose wedge now. Ezra Frain was out in front. The two other men from his fire team trailed ten meters back and ten meters apart. The rest of the squad came in a third line. The spacing between the last two lines was the same as that between the first two, but Joe kept the lateral distance between his men closer to five meters. Although he knew that there might be enemy soldiers in the grass, or concealed by one of the isolated trees in the field, he did not expect to run across mines or other booby traps. The Schlinal garrison on Porter could not possibly have anticipated the landing—or that it might take place on the plateau—and there had been no time since the landing for enemy troops to devise traps or bring mines from barracks or armory.
    But the 13th would not be able to count on that for long.
    After five minutes of hurrying through the tall grass, Joe began to think that his initial estimate of the distance to the escape pod might have been grossly short. The parasail had finally quit flapping in the breeze. Now it lay like an immense target across the top of the grass.
    "Keep your eyes open for Heggies," Joe reminded the squad. "If there are any around, they'd probably like nothing better than to nab a flyguy."
    "I know," Ezra said. He was beginning to sound short of breath. Trying to maintain a rapid walk through thick grass carrying more than thirty kilograms of gear could do that to anyone. The men in the Accord's SATs had to be in good condition to start with, and their training regimen ensured that no one became flabby, but there were still limits.
    A few minutes later, Ezra reported, "I have the pod in sight."
    "Any sign of the pilot?" Joe asked.
    "Negative. I'm looking at the bottom of the pod from about two-hundred meters. But at least there's no sign of hostiles."
    "Set up your team on the far side of the pod. We'll take the near side. Al, you check on the pilot." Joe had little hope that there would be anything for Bergon to do. He assumed that the pilot must be dead. But they had to know for certain, one way or the other.
    —|—
    The shooting started just as Ezra and his men moved around the capsule, still some thirty meters away from it. The metallic whizzing sound came from farther away from the Accord perimeter, but it was well aimed. The sound of wire fragments hitting helmets and visors carried clearly, like hail striking aluminum siding. At any distance, there was little to hear when those tiny projectiles hit resilient body armor... or puncturable flesh.
    Joe didn't bother to dive for cover this time. He started firing short bursts of wire over the side of the escape pod, toward where he thought the enemy shooters were. The rest of his fire team joined in. The men did move farther apart, but they kept advancing—more rapidly now. They went straight for the pod. That, at least, offered some cover—as long as they chose the correct side to shelter behind.
    "Ezra, talk to me," Joe said.
    There was a maddening delay before Ezra said, "It's kinda hard right now," through obviously clenched teeth. Joe had no doubt that Ezra was wounded. The voice was a sure giveaway.
    "Tod, Wiz. What shape are you in?" Joe demanded.
    "Tod's hurt, not too bad, I think," Wiz Mackey said. "His helmet's bust though."
    "What about you?"
    "I've felt better, but I'm not bleeding, and I don't think anything's broke."
    "Can you get to Ezra?"
    "I'll get him," Al volunteered.
    "Check on that pilot first, Bergon," Joe said. "Wiz?"
    "I'm already moving toward him."
    "Stay put," Ezra said. "I'll come to you. I'm not dead."
    While he talked on his helmet radio, Joe had reloaded his zipper, shucking the empty wire coil and