Fiction River: Risk Takers (Fiction River: An Original Anthology Magazine Book 12) by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction
Publisher: WMG Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2015-03-29T22:00:00+00:00

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Gus helped the men stack the sandbags while Sergeant Carpenter retrieved the tool kit and the vest then made his way up the road toward the massive bomb.

After stealing a quick look over the wall of sandbags, Gus saw the sergeant was using a screwdriver to remove the casing near the tail-end of the bomb. That was where the timing fuse would be located.

Gus waved to Allen and Antony to take cover then dropped down behind the sandbags and covered his head with his hands. Gus crunched his body into as tight a ball as possible, closed his eyes and waited for the explosion. Gus knew the tall boys were too sensitive to be safely deactivated. An explosion was imminent.

After what seemed forever, Sergeant Carpenter appeared from one side of the wall of sandbags. Gus wanted to grab him in a bear hug. “Sergeant Carpenter! You’re alive!”

Gus, Allen, and Antony leapt to their feet shouting with joy and slapping a grinning Sergeant Carpenter on his back and shoulders.

Suddenly from overhead a defeaning roar that could only be created by powerful aircraft engines interrupted their celebration. They stepped out from behind the sandbags in time to see a flight of three Mosquito fighter bombers, the bomb bay doors on the planes’ underbellies already open, burst across the clear sky flying low over the trees from the east side of the road. They were headed in the direction of the trees on the west side.

Within seconds they dropped their bombs into the trees while their four nose-mounted .303 machine guns fired continuously. Their attack run resulted in large explosions sending boiling balls of yellow-and-red fire and smoke high into the sky. Then the echo of the fast planes powerful engines faded as the planes disappeared over the horizon to the west leaving billowing clouds of acrid black smoke in their wake.

“What is that all about?” asked Allen.

“That, my son, is the destruction of a German recon group.”

“Sir?” said Antony.

Gus shifted his gaze to Sergeant Carpenter. “The tall boy wasn’t armed was it?”

“No, sir,” said the sergeant cheerily.

Gus laughed and slapped Carpenter hard on the back causing him to stumble but still managing to stay on his feet. “Our operation is a decoy. Command wanted the Germans to think the road was permanently out of action. No doubt the Germans thought even if we failed, and the bomb exploded, the road would be destroyed and their efforts to delay our forces while they regrouped would have succeeded.” Gus shook his head. “Those clever bastards at Command.”

“And they took out the Germans’ recon group so they wouldn’t report we disarmed the bomb?” said Antony.

Gus nodded.

“Oh, boy,” said Allen, tipping his helmet back on his forehead with one hand. “And they say we take risks.”

“Muggins Rules,” said Sergeant Carpenter his tone heavy with sarcasm.

“Sergeant?” asked Gus, not understanding the crib game reference.

“They stole our glory, sir, when we could have saved the day like we always do.”

The four men looked at each other, then broke out laughing.

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