Women and Other Monsters by Bernard Schaffer Read Free Book Online Page B

vehicle, Herr Vogel?”
     
    “Actually, it is a funny story,” Price said with a grin, stopping to look at where all of the men were standing.  There was a soldier to his right holding a submachine gun.  The guard closest to Amelie had a rifle pointed directly at her.  She looked at Price with eyes so wide he could see white around the circumference of each iris. 
     
    The Leutnant slammed the clipboard against his leg and shouted, “I do not think it will be a funny story and I do not think your name is Hans Vogel.  One last time, how did you get this vehicle?”  
     
    Price shrugged and said, “If you must know, I took it from two Nazi schwanzlutschers who were sodomizing their grateful commanding officers.”  The Leutnant’s eyes widened as Price waved goodbye and vanished from sight, only to reappear behind the guard closest to him and grab him by the neck. 
     
    “Shoot!  Shoot!” the Leutnant screamed. 
     
    Amelie cried out as the second guard opened fire, seeing the flash of his rifle’s muzzle, but as she lifted her hands to her face, Price appeared.  Both he and his prisoner were naked now, and Price wrenched the man backwards, using him to block the bullets. 
     
    Price picked up the soldier’s bullet-ridden body and hurled it at the gunman, sending both of them flying into the woods like bowling pins. 
     
    The Leutnant cried out for help, but Price snatched him by the front of his shirt and ripped the stick grenade from his belt.  Price twisted the grenade’s metal cap to arm it, and smiled as the Leutnant struggled to get away.  “What’s the matter, kamerad.  Afraid to die?”
     
    “You’ll kill us both, you maniac!  Get rid of it!”  
     
    Price held the Leutnant in one hand the grenade in the other, letting it sizzle and rain sparks on the man’s head.  “How many seconds is it again before this thing blows up?  Stop screaming, Leutnant.  You’re making me lose count.”
     
    “Omega?” Amelie called out.  “Omega!  Throw the goddamn grenade!”  She stuck her fingers in her ears and ran away from them as fast as she could. 
     
    The Leutnant opened his mouth to shout “Throw it!” just as Price rammed the grenade into it and pitched the man headfirst at the gatehouse. 
     
    Amelie dropped to the ground and covered her head at the deafening explosion.  Glass and wood shot in every direction, filling the air with black smoke.  She covered her ears and waited for them to stop ringing before she dared lift her head again. 
     
    Price walked over to the pile of clothing from the German soldier and picked up a shirt to clean himself off.  “Hand me my pants,” he said over his shoulder.  There was a fine trail of blood trickling from Price’s nostrils.  He turned to where Amelie was cowering and said, “My pants, Amelie.  I’m getting cold.” 
     
    “Were you injured in the fight?” she said, pointing to the blood.  She pulled a white embroidered handkerchief from her pocket and pressed it to his nose.            
     
    He took it from her and pressed it against his face.  “It’s nothing.”  He waited until the bleeding stopped and balled up the cloth to stuff it in his pocket. 
     
    Amelie held out her hand.  “It was my mother’s.  Please understand.  I cannot lose it.”
     
    Price handed it to her and went over to the Zundapp.  He gunned its engine, feeling it rumble powerfully between his legs.  “Come on!  We have to hurry!”
     
    “Coming!”  Amelie went the long way around the Mercedes and bent just enough to drop the bloody handkerchief behind its wheel well.  “You were magnificent,” she said.  He handed her a pair of motorcycle goggles and their eyes met for a moment.  She climbed behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist.  “Wait!” she shouted.
     
    “What?”
     
    She leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek, then said, “Go!  Go!”
     
    ***
     
    The gatehouse was over a