By the Feet of Men by Grant Price

Author:Grant Price
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: John Hunt Publishing
Published: 2019-06-30T16:00:00+00:00

8

It was Tagawa, alert to everything around him, who spotted the entrance to the train tunnel. Disappearing into the side of a mountain, the narrow mouth was obstructed by a lattice of branches and vines. He, Cassady and Brandt attacked the undergrowth with machetes while Victor stood guard. Moonlight gilded the surface of the blades as they rose and fell.

Katarina lay on Warspite’s cargo bed, skin pallid, head propped up on a duffel bag, eyes following the movement of a snaplight hanging from the roof. Hearst watched without expression as Ghazi and Wyler tried to stop the blood trickling out of the hole in the top of her partner’s chest. A hill of soaking rags lay next to the crates of medication bound for La Talpa. Wyler pressed three fingers against Katarina’s arm, searching for an artery, and took her in a firm grip. Ghazi ignored the fear in his chest and continued to murmur in Katarina’s ear to keep her alert and calm as he held her left arm high by the wrist and pushed down on the wound.

The flow of blood slowed. Wyler told Ghazi to switch places with him, then unclipped a nylon strap hanging from one of the roof ribs and fastened it around the top of Katarina’s left arm. He turned her head from one side to the other, searching for signs that one of her lungs had collapsed, but her breathing was normal and the veins on her neck were barely visible. He took a piece of foam, placed it on the wound and secured it with a bandage. Finally, he sat back and wiped his hands on his trousers, his eyes on the old woman lying before him. Ghazi pretended not to see the resignation there.

‘What about removing the bullet?’ he murmured.

Wyler shook his head. ‘We won’t find it. And it might be plugging a vessel for all we know.’

‘What do we do?’

‘Can we use any of the medical supplies in the crates?’

‘They’re useless to us. They’re for preparing a serum, not for patching up wounds.’

The snaplight swung back and forth, spilling crimson everywhere. Katarina whimpered. Wyler placed a palm on her forehead.

‘Quiet now, sister.’ He turned to Ghazi. ‘Then I’d say we make her comfortable.’

‘Isn’t there anything else?’ asked Ghazi, knowing the answer already.

‘No. I ain’t a doctor. None of you are either. And we won’t make it to a settlement in time.’

Hearst sprang to her feet and squeezed between the seats into the cab. She quickly reappeared with a threadbare map and held it up to the light. When she found what she was looking for, she headed to the rear of the truck. As her heavy black boot hit the tailgate, Ghazi called out.

‘It’s too far.’

She paused, raw hands gripping the top of the gate. The twilight dipped her outline in silver. She looked across to the blood-red truck that might just have enough juice to take her and Katarina to a miserable camp somewhere out in the desolation. Ghazi wouldn’t have blamed her if she’d gone for it.

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