Letters Across the Sea by Genevieve Graham

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 friend’s eyes. Had he made it to the hospital? Was he still alive?

Max’s 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. He’d 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 minutes’ rest while Max was the lookout.

“God, I’m hungry,” David said.

They’d 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 wasn’t 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.

“We’ve got company,” he whispered.

David and Arnie immediately dropped into position, lying on their fronts, and Max joined them, still scouting between the shrubs.

“I count five. They haven’t seen us.”

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.

“This has to be quick,” he murmured. “Make sure you have them lined up before you fire. We don’t want to attract attention. Ready?”

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, “Jammed! I’m jammed!”

Two Japanese soldiers were left, and they were running, closing in on the boys’ position fast. Max’s mind slipped into focus, factoring in the enemy’s direction and speed, and his gun became an extension of himself.



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