Frozen Sniper by Healey David

Author:Healey, David
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Intracoastal
Published: 2020-03-21T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

Shivering in their foxholes, the soldiers watched as the helicopter lifted off and shattered the frigid air with its rotating blades. Slowly, the ungainly craft picked up speed until it swept toward the south and disappeared. To a man, they suddenly felt quite alone as the stillness of the mountains returned. The quiet roared in their ears. Looking around at the surrounding ridges, and knowing that the enemy lurked there, made them fell yet more insignificant.

"Clouds moving in," Cole said. "Smells like snow."

"And just what does snow smell like, Hillbilly?"

Cole shrugged. He might have said damp metal or maybe clean laundry, if he hadn't thought that Pomeroy would just scoff at that. "If I got to explain it, then you ain't gonna get it, New Jersey," he said. "Just take my word for it that it's gonna snow."

Tommy spoke up. "One thing for sure, the planes aren't going to fly if it snows."

"You got that right, kid. If the Corsairs are grounded, I don't even want to think about what our Chinese friends will do."

The kid didn't have a response to that.

Earlier in the day, the sun had come out briefly and with it had appeared planes to harass the enemy. The bombs and napalm had kept the Chinese hidden and at bay. Once the skies were empty, the enemy would be emboldened. Since daylight, the Chinese army had left them alone.

One exception had been the sniper. Cole's shot had driven him away—with luck, maybe he had even nailed the bastard. But Cole remained unsettled that someone had been able to shoot with such accuracy at that distance. Cole's eyes were like an eagle's, and he was a good shot even with the M-1. That Chinese sniper had been just as good.

"Do you think they'll be back?"

Cole looked around at the hills where the shadows were lengthening as night came on. To him, it seemed as if those hills were holding their breath. Biding their time.

To the kid he said, "Ain't nothin' we can do about that but be ready. Wipe all the oil that you can out of your rifle so that it don't freeze up. Make sure you drink some water and eat something if you've got it. Don't just eat snow—that will just make you thirstier."

"Huh?"

"Your body uses more energy when you eat snow or frozen food," Cole explained. "It puts out more than it takes in, see? Keep a canteen and a couple tins of rations stuffed down inside your coat and there's at least a chance that it won't freeze."

The kid nodded. "If you say so."

"When was the last time you changed your socks?"

"This morning."

"Best change 'em again before the temperature drops."

Keeping their feet dry was a constant battle and more of an immediate threat than the Chinese. Officially, they had been told to change their socks every two hours. Needless to say, this was nearly impossible under the current conditions, but some attempt had to be made to keep one's feet dry if you wanted to keep your toes.

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