Sands of Destiny by E.C. Tubb

Author:E.C. Tubb
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: dumarest, arab, Adventure, action, military, war
Publisher: Wildside Press
Published: 2011-03-12T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

ESCAPE INTO INFERNO

TWO men died within the next hour. They died from machinegun bullets as they tried to draw water from the well. Following their deaths came the expected charge and the newborn day was rendered hideous with screaming raiders and the echoing volleys from the defenders’ rifles. The legionnaires beat back that charge but, when the burnoosed figures had hidden themselves again in the hills, less than half of the remaining legionnaires were left to defend the shattered fort.

And those few had no water.

Thirst became a real and living thing, The sun, burning down from the cloudless sky, seemed to suck every drop of moisture from their veins so that they licked their cracked lips and sucked at bullets to relieve their thirst. Sergeant Smith, his brown scarred face grimed and streaked with sweat and blood, saluted as Corville came up to him.

“The men are in bad shape, sir. We have no water at all now, what little there was has been given to the wounded, and the wine is almost all gone.”

“How is that?” Corville knew that the fort, like most garrisons, usually contained a great deal of wine. In many cases it was better to drink wine than water of doubtful purity and. in any case, the legionnaires were entitled to a ration of two litres per man per day. Smith shrugged at the officer’s question.

“The casks were punctured by bullets, sir. Some of the Arabs, or it may have been sheer chance, fired at the barrels. The wine leaked out before I could plug the holes. There is a little left, a few litres only, and I have issued that to the wounded.” He stared up at the sun. “In any case it is not good for men in the sun to drink too much wine.”

“I see.” Corville glanced at the sweat-streaked faces of the legionnaires. Below them, in the centre of the compound, the well was a mockery with its promise of endless water but, menaced as it was by the machineguns, it was a death trap.

Standing on the firing platform he stared towards the rocky hills, his eyes narrowed as he sought to locate the deadly weapons.

“What are you thinking of, sir?” Smith crouched beside him his eyes anxious.

“We must have water,” said Corville. “Tell me, have you managed to locate the machineguns?”

“Yes, sir.” Smith pointed then drew back as a Jezail spat fire and sent its heavy slug whining towards him. “They have one over there, behind that pile of stones. The other is to the right, see? Just behind that boulder.”

“I see them.” Corville nodded as he spotted the thick barrels and improvised defences of the two guns. “Smith, you are a good shot. Are there many other marksmen left to us?”

“All the legionnaires are good shots, sir. But I know what you mean. Jenson, Henriques, Schwarzt and Brunner are about the best marksmen we have now.”

“Good. Get them together, each with a man to load for him, and extra rifles to hand.

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