The Boy in Black by J.J. Pomykala

Author:J.J. Pomykala
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Shawline Publishing Group Pty Ltd
Published: 2024-04-29T23:51:55+00:00

‘So do I. We could lob them over onto the hill and give enough cover to sprint up part of it, then crawl up without them seeing us.’

‘I can’t throw that far.’

‘We don’t need it to go that far. Throw it as far as you can, and it will explode on the hill.’

I looked at him, puzzled. ‘What will that do?’

‘The dirt and rock that’s upheaved by it will create enough dust to move quickly to the base of the hill. That’s when we make for it and use the remainder of our grenades when we’re on the hillside to distract them.’

‘What if they spot us?’ I asked anxiously.

Siegfried thought for a bit, then said with utter conviction, ‘Then we’re going to be killed.’

I gulped.

We had no idea how many Russian soldiers were atop the hill. Whether it was only the six that we could see, or whether there were more hiding behind, we didn’t know, but it was better to be safer than not.

I nodded. ‘Let’s do it, then,’ I said.

Siegfried nodded and managed a small smile, as though a gesture of thanks for me agreeing to follow his intuition. We lay on our stomachs against the mound of dirt that gave us enough cover, our guns in hand.

‘On the count of three, I’m going to throw my grenade. As soon as you hear it explode, you run. Got it?’

‘What will you do?’ I asked.

‘I’m going to be right behind you. Are you ready?’

I nodded. ‘Yes.’

‘One. Two. Three.’

Immediately after three, Siegfried twisted the handle of his grenade and threw it against the hillside. I poked my head over the mound and watched it bounce on the rocks, running down the hill, before it finally exploded about three quarters of the way down.

‘Go!’ yelled Siegfried, giving me a little shove.

I leapt up on my two feet and held onto my gun with both hands. My feet awkwardly stepped on the rocky surface, which also happened to be covered with icy remains from the previous night, making it more difficult to keep my balance. I continued running, until my right foot slipped on a large rock that was concealed by grass. My leg plummeted downward, in the space between two rocks. I screamed as my leg crunched downward and became stuck.

‘Fuck! Help me! Siegfried!’

The pain darted up my leg and into the rest of my body, as I continued to yelp. Please, somebody help me. Anybody. I tried desperately to wriggle my leg free, but it was clamped between the two rocks, and they weren’t about to miraculously move at any moment. My right foot was twisted as it bent with the awkward shape of the crevice, and put more pressure on my leg, crushing it in the painful position for what seemed like a lifetime.

As I continued to attempt to release it, I felt a strong hand on my shoulder and turned to see Siegfried staring down at me, mortified.

‘What happened?’ he asked.

‘I slipped. My leg is caught in the gap,’ I replied in agony.

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