The Doomsday Squad by Clark Howard

Author:Clark Howard
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: MysteriousPress.com/Open Road
Published: 2020-04-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

They had worked all day out in the restricted back area behind the compound, erecting moving silhouettes and a hand pulley for target practice. The task involved digging target pits. It was hot, dirty work and they came back to the tent grimy and tired. Only Tillio, who had remained behind to guard their area, was not grumbling about the work. Even the usually quiet Kitts complained.

“I thought he was going to give us raider training,” the young man said, “not teach us how to dig ditches.”

“That’s what I thought. What the hell difference does it make,” Danny muttered, “if the goddamn targets move or stand still?”

“Makes a lot of difference to somebody’s got some sense,” Holliday sneered. “The Japs ain’t gonna be standin’ still, you know.”

“You saying I don’t have no sense?” Danny demanded.

“No, hell no,” Holliday said sarcastically, “I wouldn’t say nothin’ like that about a genius like you.” He shook his head as he sat down and laboriously pulled off his boots. “Man,” he said to the tent at large, “me for a cold shower and a hot supper.”

“Yeah,” Kitts said, “followed by two cool sheets. Brother, am I tired!” He looked over the bunk at Ballew. “You coming to chow with us?”

“Yeah, if I can walk that far,” Ballew said. “Who’s standing watch tonight?”

“Stoner,” Holliday said. “He’s going to alternate with Tillio soon as it’s dark and nobody can see him. Then him and Tillio are going to sleep in tomorrow morning while the captain and us do some target shootin’. You guys want to see some fancy gun work tomorrow, you keep your eyes peeled on me. I’ll show you how to cut a broom handle down the middle just like splittin’ it with an ax.”

“Excuse me,” Danny said, pushing past Kitts toward the door. “I want to leave before Jesse James here starts telling us how he won the West.”

“Good riddance,” Holliday called after him.

Danny left the tent and walked down to the front gate where Tillio was standing watch.

“Hello, Dee,” the older man said. “How come you’re not on your way to the showers with the others?”

“I’ll scrub up later,” Danny said. “Right now I want to ask you a favor.”

“What kind of favor?”

“You remember that girl that was raped and I said I did it?”

Tillio nodded. “What about her?”

“Well, look, I was thinking, see. Even with Stoner training us and promising to keep one of us alive, there’s a good chance that the one who makes it won’t be me. I mean, let’s be realistic; if four or five of us are going to get it on Tanju, well, I’ll probably be one of them, right?”

“We’ll all have about the same chance,” Tillio told him. “How good that chance will be remains to be seen.”

“Yeah. Well, anyway, like I said, I’ve been thinking. You know, about that girl and her being raped and going to have a baby and all. I was thinking I’d sign over my G.I. insurance to her. I mean, I don’t have anybody on it now, really.

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