The Enemy Above by Michael P. Spradlin

Author:Michael P. Spradlin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Published: 2016-08-23T04:00:00+00:00

The half-track had been a half a kilometer away when Anton had reached the edge of the road. Carefully, he’d grabbed small handfuls of nails and tossed them around the path until it was covered. The nails were darkened by rust and blended in well with the dirt road. He set the can down and retreated back into the field. Now he would watch and wait.

He watched as the half-track approached. It had two front rubber tires like a truck, but the rear was powered by metal treads like those found on a tank. The rear of the vehicle was open like a truck bed, and there was a searchlight and a machine gun mounted on the roof of the cab. Anton would not be able to destroy the treads, but if he could flatten the rubber tires, it would be impossible to steer.

Anton held his breath. It would be entirely possible for the half-track to roll right over the nails without a problem. It would require luck for one of them to pierce the tires. But this was his only plan. If the gestapo made it to the road to Borta, he would never be able to keep up. He would lose Bubbe.

Two loud popping sounds cut through the night air, and the half-track pitched to the right. It had worked! Both front tires went flat and the driver lost control of the vehicle. It bounced off the road and into the potato field, where it lurched to a stop and sank in the soft soil.

“Was ist passiert?” the major shouted. What happened? He issued another command and the four soldiers exited the vehicle and took up positions around the half-track, their guns at the ready. Anton thought the Germans looked as if they were about to be attacked by one of the militias or Ukrainian partisans. If they only knew they’d been felled by a twelve-year-old boy!

“Ausbreiten! Ausbreiten!” the major shouted. Each man chose a direction and crept cautiously forward.

Anton knew he was lucky. Now that the men had stopped, they were nervous and could not risk turning on the searchlight for fear of making themselves a target. He watched as the soldiers spread out, carefully moving away from the half-track. One of them was headed right toward Anton. He could see the man silhouetted against the night sky. And the Nazi was not deviating from his course.

What could Anton do? He dared not move. He had no weapon, no way to defend himself. In another thirty meters, the soldier would run right into him.

Anton curled inward, pulling his arms and legs close to himself. He offered up a silent prayer and buried his face. Whatever happened now was out of his hands. As he waited, he could hear the soldier’s footsteps drawing closer. He would not lift his head to see how close the man was. If he looked he might be spotted, and if he was spotted he would surely be gunned down.

Sweat soaked his clothes. It took all his concentration to control his breathing.

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