Free Stalemate (The Red Gambit Series) by Colin Gee Page B

the two men were moved into the centre of the clearing, more so that they could examine the work of the Kommando than for any other reason.
    The Russian speaker set about his task, questions fired rapidly at the officer, a proud and haughty man, who remained silent, his contempt, and hatred plain for all to see.
    After a third bout of unanswered questions , Lenz held up his hand.
    The two NKVD soldiers stared at it, appreciating it had some significance well beyond the silencing of the interrogator.
    The hand dropped and four men stood forward, grabbing the NCO, and dragging him towards one of the larger trees.
    Lenz did not watch them; he watched the officer, the man’s eyes changing, at first questioning and inquiring as he watched his Sergeant dragged away, then filled with fear, as he understood what was to come.
    Most of Lenz’s assassination party was plundering the dead for booty, cigarettes, and alcohol being the most prized.
    The NKVD officer’s attention moved to one group, the bodies of his dead men being tossed around like rag dolls as the commandos went in search of their trophies.
    His attention refocused as the NCO groaned, his mouth full of oily cloth rammed home by unfeeling hands.
    Lenz watched as the man’s face went from fear to outrage to full blown horror in a microsecond.
    The scream of pain was choked by the cloth.
    The Serzhant was now suspended above the ground, his feet desperately trying to broach the gap from his boots to the earth below, the few inches being as good as a mile for a man who was being held up by knives rammed through his shoulders.
    The first time that Lenz and his men had crucified a prisoner , they had made mistakes. Now, they ensured the flat of the blade was uppermost, supporting, rather than cutting.
    The entry area was sufficiently low enough not to rip through the flesh, yet high enough to ensure no fatal wound was inflicted.
    Extending the moaning man’s arms, four more blades were rammed home, again supporting the weight.
    Even through the rag, the man’s agony could be heard.
    Lenz watched the enemy officer’s reaction.
    ‘Two more will do it.’
    He hadn’t been wrong so far , but he was this time. The NKVD Captain did not crack as another two long blades were hammered into the sergeant’s thighs, pinning him further against the cold trunk.
    Nodding at his man, Lenz listened as the interrogation continued, the Russian clearly not talking despite ordeal of his soldier.
    Those Kommandos at the tree waited for further instructions, receiving the signal from Lenz.
    Bending the legs, slicing more flesh as the blade in the thigh resisted the movement, two of them rammed blades through feet held flat to the bark.
    The muffled screams became animal-like, the extremes of pain being realised by the unfortunate man.
    ‘Tough bastard.’
    Lenz wondered for a moment which of the two men he was referring to.
    Over at the tree, the Kommando torturers reasoned that they would soon need to be creative, as this was as far as they had gone previously.
    The NKVD officer stood immobile, tears running down his face, his silence condemning his NCO to a painful death.
    A simple nod from the Kommando leader followed, and the Russian closed his eyes, the increased sounds of extremis the only link to the brave man he was condemning by his silence.
    The sound changed, an almost high-pitched whimpering, rhythmical in its nature, as a blade worked steadily and carefully.
    Something struck the Soviet officer on the chest, falling to the ground, via his right toecap.
    He opened his eyes.
    Even in the low light, the sight of his NCO’s testicles and scrotum were unmistakable.
    He broke.
    The answers quickly flowed, each one punctuated by a plea for mercy, a swift end to the tortured man’s suffering.
    Once Lenz had what he needed release was granted, a silenced pistol removing the temple of the crucified man.
    Pointing at the broken NKVD officer, Lenz issued his last orders.
    “Bind that