Free The Rat Patrol 3 - The Trojan Tank Affair by David King Page B

I'd say from your look," he said. "Beastly hot in here."
    Troy unbuttoned another gap in the flap and motioned Moffitt to the tailgate. They lighted cigarettes and sat staring at the empty land through which they were traveling. A burning haze lifted from the floor of the desert and made Troy's eyes smart.
    "There were goggles in one of those cartons," he said. "We can use them."
    When Troy returned with the glasses and they had them over their eyes, Moffitt rolled a steel helmet to him and settled another on his own head. He laughed.
    "It's smashing on you," he chuckled. "I'm sure I look quite as ridiculous in my tin hat. I already miss my old bonnet. Now we look like soldiers."
    "They may keep Jerry from knowing who we are," Troy said with a wry smile. "But the helmets wouldn't do us much good if the SS got their hands on us. With the war in Africa running the way it is, one of these days the Afrika Korps is going to have to obey Hitler's order on the treatment of commandos."
    "I can quote it," Moffitt said. "He issued it last October in a secret order to his commanders and it read: 'From now on all enemies on so-called Commando missions in Europe or Africa, challenged by German troops, even if they are to all appearances soldiers in uniform or demolition troops, whether armed or unarmed, in battle or in flight, are to be slaughtered to the last man.'"
    "We didn't give the Jerries who tried to ambush us with the Arabs any quarter," Troy reminded him.
    "We didn't know they were Jerries," Moffitt said. "They were in disguise. But it would have made no difference. That was combat. What would we have done if we'd captured them?"
    "I don't know," Troy said frankly. "Even if they were wearing Arab robes over their uniforms, I don't think we'd have murdered them in cold blood."
    "Right you are," Moffitt said. "I don't think Dietrich would murder us either, if we were captured."
    "Probably not," Troy said. "But we've lost track of Dietrich. The commander of the unit at the staging area beyond Agarawa may be another breed. And I doubt we'll be in uniform when we go to have a look at what he's got."
    "The answer is rather simple, isn't it?" Moffitt asked, laughing. "We don't propose to be captured, now do we?" 
    "Oh, rather not!" Troy mimicked in mock shock and they both chuckled.
    The muffled blast of an explosion somewhere ahead shook the desert air. The van stopped abruptly and Troy heard shouts coming from the front of the convoy. He reached back beside his mattress for his tommy-gun, eyes slitting at Moffitt as he slapped a clip in it. Moffitt was listening intently. Troy heard the sound of running feet and confused shouting but there were no more detonations.
    "What do you suppose that was?" Moffitt asked, eyes darting to Troy.
    "I can make a guess," Troy said grimly. "One of the trucks hit a mine."
    "My thought precisely," Moffitt said. "I can't say I like traveling in this restricted fashion. We are plagued with difficulties and delays. If that lorry is disabled, it means we shall have to wait here while the load is transferred. Then our route will be altered and we shall have to poke along behind minesweepers."
    "I know," Tory growled. "We'll reach the perimeter too late to go on tonight and have to sweat out another day in this canvas oven."
    Hitch and Tully walked quickly to the back of the truck.
    "If Jerry's this active behind our lines," Hitch said, unwrapping a stick of gum, "what's it going to be like when we get into his territory?"
    "Who cares?" Tully drawled. "We'll be in the open. We only been in this truck a few hours and I feel like a bear in a cage already. What's going on ahead?"
    Troy considered Tully for a moment.
    "Why don't you go find out?" he asked.
    "Sarge," Hitch spoke up. "That major said we were to stay under cover no matter what."
    "If you were to smear some dirt on your face and stay out of the way of officers," Troy went on, ignoring Hitch, "who'd know the difference? It's worth a try to see if