Free Blind Fire by James Rouch Page A

found the most convincing one was that it avoided him having to do too much thinking himself. Sod it, there was no way he was ever going to get a stripe, so what was the point of putting on displays of initiative? In his lowly position it wasn’t required of him, while officers and NCOs were still on their feet, and by the time casualties forced him to take command of the section he’d be the only one left alive. Then there’d only be one order, and he could give that to himself while he was running.
    ‘Want a hand?’
Recovering from the trip that had brought him to his knees, Burke treated Dooley’s offer with suspicion. ‘I may be older than the rest of you, but not that much. Anyway I can’t afford your rates.’ ‘That’s alright, no charge.’ Dooley took Burke’s pack as he helped him up. ‘Just till you get your breath back.’
    Cohen had witnessed the incident. ‘So for him it’s gratis?’
    ‘It’s for a buddy. You pass around a few of your diamonds and you’ll have some. I’ll be first in line.’
    There was no need for Cohen to pause to consider the suggestion. ‘In that case I’ll die wealthy instead, lonely but wealthy.’ The radio crackled into life, and he hurried to catch up with the major as a message came in.
    ‘What’ll it be this time?’ Dooley watched him threading his way forward. ‘Whatever it is,’ Burke retrieved his pack, Til put money on your Major turning it into a fight.’
‘No takers,’ Dooley hitched the M16 to a more comfortable position and patted his ammunition pouches. ‘No takers.’
    The Zone - Northern Sector
    Attempts by the Royal Navy to sweep the Elbe estuary of mines, as a preliminary to forcing a passage to Hamburg, have been called off after the loss of the   minesweepers HMS Brecon and HMS Middleton. The modified torpedo recovery   vessel RNAS Tormentor is on its way to the area, and it is thought attempts will be   made by RN divers to recover one of the new Russian mines.
    Lieutenant General K. I. Pavloskii has been relieved of his command of the   Soviet forces surrounding Hamburg, following the defeat of the third major assault   in six weeks by the West German and British defenders. He is now in Moscow. His   successor has not yet been announced. He will be the third to be appointed in five   months. It is understood that there is no competition among the Russian General   Staff for the post.
    Polish and Hungarian divisions have now been positively identified opposite the   Hanover salient. The increased use of satellite forces on this most active front is   thought to be due to two reasons:   ONE: The Russians’ aim to reduce their own losses in experienced combat units,   currently running at four per cent per week.   TWO: A desire to strengthen the ‘involvement’ of other members of the Warsaw   Pact by increasing their casualty lists.
    The Cuban battalion operating with the Soviet 2nd Guards Army near Munster   is now known to have suffered eighty-seven per cent casualties in two days of   fighting with the 2nd Battalion of the RAF Regiment. British losses are put at one   dead, two missing believed killed, seven wounded.

    SIX
    The little country town of Budlingen was close enough to the western fringes of the Zone to have suffered extensively from looting. Added to the dereliction brought about by almost two years of neglect and nature’s unchecked advances, was the clutter of abandoned furniture and other goods outside virtually every shop and house. Most of it was weather-ravaged and scattered, but here and there stood neat stacks of televisions and other electrical appliances, still awaiting collection by gangs who had been unable or unwilling to return for them.
    Tissue-thin wood veneer peeled from once polished cabinets, drooping down on to the clouded plastic covers of music centres. Grass and weeds flourished about and between them, adding an incongruous touch. ‘These places give me the creeps.’ Dooley looked