Letters Across the Sea by Genevieve Graham
Author:Genevieve Graham [Graham, Genevieve]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: 2021-04-27T00:00:00+00:00
* * *
The Japanese offensive was relentless, the shelling worse every hour. For days, they forced the Royal Rifles inexorably south, climbing the tangled, scrub-covered mountains after them, plunging into the rocky ravines, always in pursuit. Laden with weapons, ammunition, and what wounded they could carry, Max and the others fought back. He adjusted to the constant agony ripping through his leg, reminding himself he had no choice; he must run or be killed. And every day, every night, and every mile, he thought of Richie, remembering the trust in his old friendâs eyes. Had he made it to the hospital? Was he still alive?
Maxâs confidence fell every time they lost another man. In brief intervals between the noise of battle, he heard the agonized screams of wounded soldiers cut suddenly short.
Bayonets, he thought, horror vibrating through him.
He saw the fear and hopelessness building in his friends every time they were forced to leave their dead and wounded behind, including Gander. Their ferociously loyal dog had rushed in and retrieved a grenade that rolled into a group of injured soldiers. Heâd run off, putting as much space between them and him, sacrificing himself to save those seven men. Loyal to the end.
One night, Arnie, David, and he crowded into a shallow trench high on a hill, savouring a few minutesâ rest while Max was the lookout.
âGod, Iâm hungry,â David said.
Theyâd run out of food on the second day of their retreat and had to forage. Worse, the Japanese had taken control of the water supply. David reached to the side and yanked a leaf out of a bush, grimacing as he chewed.
While the others rested, Max swept his binoculars slowly across the hill below. From the corner of his eye, he thought he saw movement, but he was so tired he wasnât sure if his mind was playing tricks. He swung the binoculars back, squinting hard, then spotted men slithering out from the trees, seventy yards below them on the slope.
âWeâve got company,â he whispered.
David and Arnie immediately dropped into position, lying on their fronts, and Max joined them, still scouting between the shrubs.
âI count five. They havenât seen us.â
Moving slowly to stay invisible, the three friends trained their rifles on their quarry. Max quietly slid a shell into the chamber and took his safety off.
âThis has to be quick,â he murmured. âMake sure you have them lined up before you fire. We donât want to attract attention. Ready?â
On his signal, the three of them fired as one. Max heard Arnie swear as he missed his first shot, but they had the jump on the Japanese; two of them fell right away. The other three had dropped and were firing back. The boys reloaded and fired, and Max brought down his second mark, but this time David missed, and Arnie shouted, âJammed! Iâm jammed!â
Two Japanese soldiers were left, and they were running, closing in on the boysâ position fast. Maxâs mind slipped into focus, factoring in the enemyâs direction and speed, and his gun became an extension of himself.
Download
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.
The Hating Game by Sally Thorne(17401)
The Universe of Us by Lang Leav(14332)
Sad Girls by Lang Leav(13330)
The Lover by Duras Marguerite(7096)
Smoke & Mirrors by Michael Faudet(5497)
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion(5166)
The Shadow Of The Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón(4921)
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty(4859)
The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang(4391)
Memories by Lang Leav(4155)
What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty(3904)
An Echo of Things to Come by James Islington(3823)
From Sand and Ash by Amy Harmon(3660)
The Poetry of Pablo Neruda by Pablo Neruda(3347)
The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris(3231)
Guild Hunters Novels 1-4 by Nalini Singh(2922)
Ficciones by Jorge Luis Borges(2842)
THE ONE YOU CANNOT HAVE by Shenoy Preeti(2815)
The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion(2689)