The Winter Sniper by James Mullins

Author:James Mullins [Mullins, James]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: JamesMullinsauthor.com
Published: 2019-12-24T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

Dawn Karelia Finland, Near the Village of Kivennapa, December 4th, 1939

Hale and Maki sat in silence as the sun slowly pushed the darkness away and cast its light on the endless miles of snow-covered forest. During the last hour, they had made their way to a position just to the south west of the village of Kivennapa. Through the trees they spied a small cluster of buildings at the center of a crossroads.

Hale couldn’t quite put his finger on it but the village was missing something, “The village seems odd to me somehow. I know the people that lived there were evacuated two days ago.”

“It looks odd because you are used to seeing signs of life from such a place.” Maki said.

“How so?” Hale asked.

“For instance, there isn’t any smoke.” Maki replied.

Hale nodded, “I couldn’t put my finger on it, but that’s what must be weird about it then. You think the Russians are going to notice?”

Maki smiled, “I doubt it. Those poor bastards have been brainwashed to the extreme. They are incapable of independent thought. They party exacts a terrible price for the food that fills their bellies. There is no greater price loss a person can suffer than the loss of independent thought. The very thing that makes you who you are is demanded by the party in tribute to the pittance that you are granted.”

“Well that would explain why it’s been so easy to kill them.” Hale replied.

“If the party allowed them to have thought, they would be dangerous. A man that can think, is a man that will see through all the nonsense the party feeds them, to keep them in line. Thanks to that fact any one of us is worth ten of them on the battlefield. That is why so few of us will be able to beat so many of them.” Maki said.

“From what I have seen, I would agree with you. One of us is certainly worth ten of them, but what if there is eleven?” Hale asked.

Maki laughed, “That’s what I love about you Hale. You would think that someone with your back ground would be an unintelligent country bumpkin, but your mind has a sharp edge to it.”

“Thanks. I think.” Hale replied.

“It was meant as a compliment. The circumstances of your birth, and the life you led growing up, would dictate that your body is strong, but your mind is weak. You aren’t like that. You’ve worked to foster strength in both.” Maki said.

The two men fell silent and turned their attention to Kivennapa. The thatched rooves of the small cluster of buildings gathered around the crossroads were visible through the trees. As they talked, the eastern horizon slowly morphed from a gray, to a purple, then deep red, and finally a brighter and bright orange. A moment later the sun broke the horizon. Hale could see the dull red orb through the countless sea of trees.

Suddenly, the silence of the woods was pierced by the faint droning of engines.

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