Read Online Civilian Slaughter by James Rouch - Free Book Online Page A

say it, but you're wrong Major, it's seven ...”
    The sergeant did a double take and a sickly grin spread across his fleshy face. “Aw crap. Fucking crap. Well, I expect it'll be along in a while. Look Major, can I have a word?”
    When Revell wouldn't be drawn aside, the sergeant leaned close to him and lowered his voice to a confidential whisper.
    “I'm just sort of doing a favour for my captain; you know how it is, sure you do. He was on to this sure thing, a real hot date, and I figured if I did this favour for him then I'd be OK for a few in return. Happens all the time.” He looked keenly into the officer's face, trying to read his mood, and didn't like what he saw.
    “Right, Major, you think I've goofed up. So maybe everything ain't quite kosher, but in the Zone who cares what happens to fifty ...”
    “Fifty-seven.”
    “... Sure, fifty-seven Reds. Shit, we've got a half million behind wire and there's loads more who've deserted and are just wandering about. Can't we sort of overlook the discrepancy this time? You know I should have been retired years ago. It's not my fault I'm still in this stinking war, I ...”
    “It sounds like you and your captain are a good pair.” Revell beckoned Sergeant Hyde. “I want them out of the transport and lined up in fives. Keep a good guard on them.”
    “We could use the tennis courts. The wire's still standing around them.” “Good idea. And we'll have that lot down for checking as well.” Revell pointed to the mountain of cases and bags loosely secured and partially sheeted on the roof of each bus.
    “Is there anything I can do, Major?” The convoy commander ran his finger around the inside of his collar to loosen it. Blood was again dripping from his burst nose but he ignored it and instead wiped away with the back of his hand the perspiration that was running down the side of his face.
    “You're already doing it. And you'll be sweating a lot more blood by the time I'm finished.”

    TEN

“The fifty-seven in the missing bus you know about.” Hyde consulted his lists. “There are another thirty unaccounted for from those who did arrive. That gives us two hundred and sixty-eight milling about on the hard court.”
    “Should be two hundred and seventy, shouldn't it?” Revell watched the Russians listlessly moving about the makeshift compound.
    “There are two stiffs on board the second bus. Seems the MPs who broke up the fights didn't want the bother of hauling them off and sorting out the attendant paperwork.”
    “And that master sergeant called them pussycats. What happened to the other thirty?”
    “I've had a chat with the drivers. Seems our fat friend accepted a bribe to make regular stops during the night for them to get off and have a leak. The Ruskies were allowed off all at once and no guard kept or recount made when they got back in, and no one has any clue as to when the seventh coach went astray.”
    “Well at least that all indicates that those we still have, if they haven't made a break for it by now, then they're not going to at all.” Revell prodded the pile of contraband at his feet with the barrel of his assault shotgun. “Mind you, that doesn't mean we're not going to get any hassle from them. Was this all found among their baggage?”
    Bending down he picked up a civilian shotgun that had been shortened by the removal of most of the stock and half the twin over and under barrels. He broke it to check it had been unloaded, then tossed it back on the substantial heap.
    “We spotted some of them carrying the stuff, but most of it came from their luggage. There are twenty-six pistols or cut down rifles, forty-two grenades of every type, five pounds of plastic explosive and three detonators.” Hyde scanned his list. “Also four hatchets, eight hammers ... didn't bother to count the knives. Would have been quicker to weigh them.”
    “Dump it all in the lake, the whole lot. Pity we can't do the same with the recent owners.” Among