tc.redstormrising-第75部分

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The　rain　started　with　a　few　sprinkles。　Two　minutes　later　it　was　falling　heavily；　cutting　visibility　down　to　a　few　hundred　yards。　Edwards　wearily　got　to　his　feet；　forcing　his　Marines　to　do　likewise；　and　they　all　moved　downhill　as　the　sun　above　the　clouds　dipped　in　the　northwestern　sky　and　slid　down　behind　a　hill。　The　hill…since　they'd　probably　have　to　climb　it　the　next　day；　they　thought　of　it　as　a　mountain…had　a　name；　but　none　of　them　could　pronounce　it。　By　the　time　they　were　a　quarter　mile　from　the　farmhouse；　it　was　as　dark　as　it　would　get；　and　the　rain　had　the　visibility　down　to　about　eighty　yards。
〃Car　ing。〃　Smith　saw　the　glare　of　the　lights　first。　All　four　men　dropped　and　instinctively　aimed　their　rifles　at　the　dots　on　the　horizon。
〃Relax；　guys。　This　road　here　breaks　off　the　main　road；　and　those　lights　could　just　be…shit！〃　Edwards　cursed。　The　lights　hadn't　taken　the　sweeping　turn　on　the　coastal　highway。　They　were　ing　down　the　road　to　the　farm。　Was　it　a　car　or　a　track　with　its　driving　lights　on？　〃Spread　out　and　stay　awake。〃　Smith　stayed　with　Edwards；　and　the　two　privates　moved　downhill　about　fifty　yards。
Edwards　lay　prone；　his　elbows　propped　up　on　the　wet　grass　and　binoculars　to　his　eyes。　He　didn't　think　they　could　be　spotted。　The　Marine　pattern　camouflage　made　them　nearly　invisible　in　daylight　as　long　as　they　didn't　move　rapidly。　In　the　dark　they　were　transparent　shadows。
〃Looks　like　a　pickup；　four…by…four；　something　like　that。　Lights　are　pretty　far　off　the　ground；　bouncing　around　too　much　to　be　a　track；〃　Edwards　thought　aloud。
The　lights　came　directly…but　slowly…to　the　farmhouse　and　stopped。　Its　doors　opened；　men　got　out；　and　one　stepped　in　front　of　the　headlights　before　they　were　extinguished。
〃Damn！〃　Smith　snarled。
〃Yep；　looks　like　four　or　five　Ivans。　Get　Garcia　and　Rodgers　over　here；　Sergeant。〃
〃Right。〃
Edwards　kept　his　binoculars　on　the　house。　There　were　no　electric　lights　lit。　He　guessed　that　this　area　got　its　power　from　Artun；　and　he'd　watched　the　bombs　wipe　that　plant　off　the　map。　There　was　some　internal　illumination；　though；　maybe　from　candles　or　a　hurricane　lamp。　It　really　was　a　lot　like　home；　Edwards　told　himself；　our　electricity　went　off　often　enough；　from　nor'eastern　storms　or　ice　on　the　wires。　The　people　in　that　house　had　to　be　asleep。　Working　farmers；　early　to　bed；　early　to　rise…wears　you　out　and　dulls　the　brain；　Edwards　thought。　Through　the　lenses　he　watched　the　Russians…he　counted　five…circle　the　house。　Like　burglars；　he　thought。　They　looking　for　。　。　。　us？　No。　If　they　were　looking　for　us；　there'd　be　more　than　five　guys　in　a　four…by…four。　That's　interesting。　They　must　be　looting…but　what　if　somebody　。　。　。　Jesus；　we　know　that　somebody　lives　there。　Somebody　lit　that　lamp。　What　are　they　up　to？
〃What　gives；　sir？〃　Smith　asked。
〃Looks　like　we　got　five　Russkies。　They're　playing　peeper；　looking　in　the　windows　and…one　just　kicked　the　door　in！　I　don't　like　the　way　this　is　going；　troops；　I…〃
A　scream　confirmed　his　evaluation。　A　woman's　scream；　it　cut　right　through　the　falling　rain　and　made　them　feel　someone's　terror；　chilling　men　already　cold。
〃People；　let's　move　in　a　little。　We　stay　together　and　we　damned　well　stay　alert。〃
〃Why　we　movin'　in　now；　sir？''　Smith　asked　sharply。
〃'Cuz　I　say　so。〃　Edwards　stowed　his　field　glasses。　〃Follow　me。〃
Another　light　was　lit　in　the　building；　and　it　seemed　to　be　moving　around。　Edwards　walked　quickly；　keeping　low　in　a　way　that　punished　his　back。　In　two　minutes　he　was　a　few　yards　from　the　truck　that　had　driven　in；　no　more　than　twenty　yards　from　the　home's　front　door。
〃Sir；　you're　getting　a　little　careless；〃　Smith　warned。
〃Yeah；　well；　if　I　guess　right；　so　are　they。　I　bet…〃
There　was　a　sound　of　breaking　glass。　A　shot　rang　out　through　the　semidarkness。　It　was　followed　by　a　blood…chilling　shriek…and　a　second　shot；　and　a　third。　Then　there　was　another　scream。
〃What　the　hell's　going　on　in　there？〃　Garcia　asked　in　a　rasp。
A　hoarse　male　voice　shouted　something　in　Russian。　The　front　door　opened　and　four　men　came　out。　They　conferred　for　a　moment；　then　split　into　pairs；　going　left　and　right　to　side　windows；　where　all　four　men　stood　to　look　inside。　Then　there　came　another　scream；　and　it　was　perfectly　clear　what　was　going　on。
〃Those　son　of　a　bitches；〃　Smith　observed。
〃Yeah；〃　Lieutenant　Edwards　agreed。　〃Let's　back　off　and　think　about　this　for　a　minute。〃　The　four　men　retreated　about　fifty　yards　and　bunched　together。
〃I　think　it's　time　we　do　something。　Anybody　disagree？〃　Edwards　asked。　Smith　just　nodded；　interested　in　Edwards's　change　of　demeanor。
〃Okay；　we　take　our　time　and　do　it　right。　Smith；　you　e　with　me　and　we　go　around　the　left。　Garcia　and　Rodgers　go　around　the　right。　Go　wide　and　e　in　slow。　Ten　minutes。　If　you　can　take　'em　alive；　that's　okay。　If　not；　stick　'em。　We　try　not　to　make　noise。　But　if　you　gotta　shoot；　make　Goddamned　sure　the　first　burst　does　it。　Okay？〃　Edwards　looked　around　for　additional　Russians。　None。　The　four　men　slipped　out　of　their　packs；　checked　their　watches；　and　moved　out；　crawling　through　the　wet　grass。
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　th