Free Body Count by James Rouch Page B

foursome, didn't we.”
    “Sounds fun.” Garrett thought of his own seven days. It had been a week of restless drifting from one tatty hotel to another, hoping to pick up a girl, anybody. He'd wandered the streets in the evenings until he'd got fed up. To dull the boredom he'd look for oblivion in the nearest cheap bar, and usually find it. Shit, any week had to be more fun than that. Even having a couple of brats in tow had to be more fun.
    “Have you orientated yourself, Corporal?” “I know the area, Major. Been dragged this way on a couple of shopping expeditions recently.”
    “Right, then get us to St. Michael's Church. We'll want to get in the back way, not off the pedestrian precinct. You know it?”
    “Opposite the police station? Big fat block of a building. Loads of statues all over the front.”
    “That's it.”
“What if the Reds are inside?”
“I don't think they will be. They're spread thin on the ground. If they are holding the police HQ, then I can't see them also holding the place virtually next to it. They might be in the twin towers of the cathedral on the far side though, so keep us out of the line of sight of those.”
    Revell watched the scouts move out. He allowed an interval, and then fed the rest of the company through the doorway after them.
    When Sgt. Hyde came up with the rearguard, some civilians were already close behind them and had to be held back.
    For a brief moment the major tried to remonstrate with their leaders, but it was no use. About twenty dashed off in either direction as soon as their exit was no longer obstructed.
    “Poor bloody fools.” Hyde shouldered his machine pistol. “It wasn't nice down there, but it's got to be safer than running about up here.”
    As he spoke, the first of the civilians who had gone that way reached the junction of the alleyway and the broad open space before the Karlstor Gate. Shots and screams blended as they were mowed down.

    THIRTEEN

Swirling clouds of white tear gas issued from the broken windows of the police headquarters. From the upper floors and rooftops of surrounding buildings came shotgun blasts that shattered more panes. After each would come another shower of the canisters. They would burst and fill yet another room or staircase with their choking fumes.
    Dislodged and torn blackout curtains let light escape, forming a series of pearly halos. A few rounds missed their goals. Those grenades rolled in the gutter, wreathing the ground floor and roadway in the chemical fog, adding to the ghostly effect.
    There had been a smattering of returned fire to the initial assault. It had petered out in the absence of identifiable targets, fallen to no more than an occasional random shot.
    Leading the first attack group, Hyde rushed his men from the church, through the thickest of the smoke screen and into a small courtyard. Several police vehicles were parked there. They took cover among them.
    Above the archway by which they had entered, and on the other three sides of the enclosure, the building rose to three or four floors. All windows at ground level were barred. Many had frosted glass.
    Several doors led off the courtyard. Tentatively tried, all were found to be locked or barricaded.
    Looking back, Hyde saw Revell's assault group racing through the open gates. There wasn't going to be sufficient concealment for all of them in the confined space. If they were spotted, it would be instantly turned into a killing ground.
    Straight ahead was the heavy double door the major had briefed him about. He waved Ripper and Ackerman forward.
    Standing braced to either side of the large cast-brass handles, both men fired together. Smoke and splinters flew thickly about them as they fired twice more.
    A combined shoulder charge by Dooley and Burke caved in the shattered timber. They threw themselves flat as blasts of automatic fire were sent up the corridor running away to left and right.
    The respirator keeping out the effects of the gas didn't