Волхв

Chapter 20

           Itwasthesergeantmajor.Someofthemenwerefiringback,butblindly.Indespair.Thesergeantmajor,Idonotknowwhy,begandraggingMontague’scorpsebackwards.Feebly,Itriedtohelp.Weslippeddownintoasmallcrater.ThebackofMontague’sheadhadbeenblownaway,buthisfacestillworeanidiot’sgrin,asifhewerelaughinginhissleep,mouthwideopen.AfaceIhaveneverforgotten.Thelastsmileofastageofevolution."Thefiringstopped.Then,likeaflockoffrightenedsheep,everyonewhosurvivedbegantorunbacktowardsthevillage.Iaswell.Ihadlosteventhewilltobeacoward.Manywereshotinthebackastheyran,andIwasoneofthefewwhoreachedthetrenchwehadstartedfromunhurtalive,even.Wewerenosoonertherethantheshellingbegan.Ourownshells.Owingtothebadweatherconditions,theartillerywereshootingblind.Orperhapsstillaccordingtosomeplanestablisheddaysbefore.Suchironyisnotaby-productofwar.Buttypicalofit."Awoundedlieutenantwasnowincommand.Hecrouchedbesideme,withagreatgashacrosshischeek.Hiseyesburneddully.HewasnolongeraniceuprightyoungEnglishman,butaneolithicman.Cornered,uncomprehending,inasullenrage.Perhapswealllookedlikethat.Thelongeronesurvivedthemoreunrealitwas."Moretroopscameupwithus,andacolonelcameround.AubersRidgemustbecaptured.Wehadtohavethebridgebynightfall.ButIhadmeanwhilehadtimetothink.

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