The association commander made his first mistake then. His artillery had been effective enough for making us keep our heads down, but the rocks gave us good cover and we weren't taking many casualties. When the Association charged us their troops held back until the artillery fire lifted. It takes experienced non-coms and a lot of discipline to get troops to take casualties from their own artillery. It pays off, but our attackers didn't know or believe it.
They were too far away when the artillery fire lifted. My lads were out of their hiding places in an instant. They poured fire on the advancing troops, with rifles and the light machine guns, then both mortars. Few of the enemy had combat armor, and our fire was devastating.
"Good men," Hartz grunted. "They keep coming."
They were, but not for long. Too many of them were cut down. They swept to within 50 meters, wavered, and dropped back, some dragging their wounded with them, others running for it. When the attack was broken we dropped back into the rocks to wait for the next barrage. "Score one for the Line marines," I called.
Brady answered with the final fanfare from the march. "And there's none that can face us-"
"They won't try that again," Roszak said. He grinned with satisfaction. "Lads are doing right well, Mr. Slater."
"Well indeed."
Our area was quiet, but there were sounds of heavy fighting in the south. Artillery, rifle and machine gun fire, mortars and grenades. It sounded loader, as if it were coming closer to us. Louis and his commando of ranchers were facing big odds. I wondered if Kathryn was with him.
"They'll try infiltration next," Roszak predicted.
"What makes you think so?" Hartz asked.
"No discipline. After what happened last time they'll never get a full attack going."
"No, they will have one more try in force. Perhaps two," Hartz argued.
"Never. Bet on it? Tomorrow's wine ration."
"Done," Hartz said. He was quiet for a moment, then handed me the handset. "Captain Falkenberg."
"Thank you. Yes, Captain?"
"O'Grady says the O'Grady drill is over. Understood?"
"Yes, sir."
"What's your situation?"
"We're in the saddle notch of hill 239, seven klicks south of Allansport," I said. "Holding all right for now, but we're surrounded. Most of the hostiles are between us and Allansport. They let us right through for the ambush. They've tried one all-out attack and that didn't work. Roszak and Hartz are arguing over what they'll try next."
"How long can you hold?"
"Depends on what losses they're willing to take to get us out of here."
"You don't have to hold long," Falkenburg said. "A lot has happened. Ardwain broke through to the governor and brought him out, but he ran into a strong force in Allanstown. There's more coming over the bridge from the east side of the river."
"Sounds like they're bringing up everything they have."
"They are, and we're beating all of it. The column that moved north from Dennisburg ran into Bonneyman's group. They deployed to break through that, and we circled around to their west and hit them in the flank. They didn't expect us. Your maneuver fooled them completely. They thought the 501st was with you until it was too late. They know better now, but we've broken them. Of course there's a lot more of them than of us, and we weren't able to hold them. They've broken through between Bonneyman and the river, and you're right in their path."
"How truly good."
"I think you'd do well to get out of their way," Falkenberg said. "I doubt you can stop them."
"If they link up with the Allansport force they'll get away across the bridge. I can't hold them, but if you can get some artillery support here I can spot for the guns. We might delay them."
"I was going to suggest that," Falkenberg said. "I've sent Ardwain and the governor's escort toward that hill outside Allansport. The Rockpile. It looks like a dominant position."
"It is, sir. I've seen it. If we held that, we could keep this lot from getting into Allansport. We might bag the whole force."
"Worth a try, anyway," Falkenberg said. "Provided you can hold on. It will be nearly an hour before I can get artillery support to you."
"We'll hold, sir."
"Good luck."
Roszak lost his wine ration. They tried one more assault. Two squads of association troops got within 20 meters of our position before we threw them back. Of my 60 men I had fewer than 30 effectives when it was over.
That was their test try, though. Shortly after they regrouped. The elements that had been south of us had already skirted round the hills to join the main body, and now the whole group was moving north. They were headed for Allansport.
The sounds of fighting to the south were coming closer all the time. Falkenberg had Deane moving parallel to the association troops, racing to get close enough to give us support, but it wouldn't arrive in time.
I sent our wounded up the hill away from the road with orders to dig in and lie low. The rest of us followed the retreating force. We were now sandwiched between the group ahead of us and the Dennisburg column behind.
The first elements of Association forces were headed up the Rockpile when Deane came in range. He was still six kilometers southeast of us, long range and long time of flight, but we were in a good position to spot for him. I called in the first salvo on the advancing Association troops. The shells went beyond their target, and before I could walk them back down the hill the Association forces retreated.
"They'll send another group around behind the hill," Roszak said. "We'll never stop them."
"No." So damned near. A few minutes difference and we'd have bagged them all. The column Falkenberg was chasing was now no more than two kilometers south of us and moving fast.
"Hold one," Deane said. "I've got a Corporal Dangier calling in. Claims to be in position to spot targets for me."
"He's one of the wounded we left behind," I said. "He can see the road from his position all right, but he won't last long once they know we've got a spotter in position to observe them."
"Do I fire the mission?" Deane demanded.
"Yes." Scratch Corporal Dangier, who had a girl in Harmony and a wife on Earth.
"I'll leave one gun at your disposal," Deane said. "I'm putting the rest on Dangier's mission."
A few minutes later we heard the artillery falling on the road behind us. That would play hell with the Association retreat. It kept up for ten minutes, then Deane called in again. "Can't raise Dangier any longer."
"No. There's nothing we can do here. They're staying out of sight. I'll call in some fire in places that might do some good, but it's shooting blind." I amused myself with that for a while. It was frustrating. Once that force got to the top of the Rockpile, the route into Allansport would be secure. I was still cursing when Hartz shouted urgently.
"Centurion Ardwain on the line, sir."
"Ardwain, where are you?"
"Less than a klick west of you, Lieutenant. We moved around the edge of the town. Can't get inside without support. Militia won't try it anyway."
"How many marines do you have?" I demanded.
"About 80 effective. And Old Beastly."
"By God! Ardwain, move in fast. We'll join you as you come by. We're going right up to the top of the Rockpile and sit there until Falkenberg gets here. With Deane's artillery support we can hold that hill."
"Aye aye, sir. We're coming."
"Let's go," I shouted. "Who's been hit and can't run?"
No one answered. "Sergeant Roszak took one in the leg an hour ago, Lieutenant," Hartz said.
"I can still travel," Roszak said.
"The hell you can. You'll stay here and spot artillery for us. All the walking wounded stay with him. The rest of you get moving. We want to be in poskion when Centurion Ardwain comes."
"But-"
"Shut up and soldier, Roszak." I waved and we moved down from our low hilltop. We were panting when we got to the base of the Rockpile. There were already
Association forces up there. I didn't know how many. We had to get up there before more joined them. The way up just ahead of me was clear, because it was in direct view of Roszak and his artillery spotters. We could use it and they couldn't.
I waved the men forward. Even a dozen of us on top of the Rockpile might be enough if Ardwain came up fast. We started up. Two men went down, then another, and my troops began to look around for shelter. I couldn't blame them, but I couldn't let them do it. Getting up that hill had become the only thing in my life. I had to get them moving again.
"Brady!" I shouted. "Corporal, sound the charge."
The trumpet notes sang out. A monitor whipped out a banner and waved it above his head. I shouted "Follow me!" and ran up the hill. Then a mortar shell exploded two meters away. I had time to see bright red blotches spurt across my trouser legs and to wonder if that was my own blood, then I fell. The battle noises dimmed out.
"Lieutenant! Mister Slater!"
I was in the bottom of a well. It was dark down there, and it hurt to look up at the light. I wanted to sink back into the well, but someone at the top was shouting at me. "Mister Slater!"
"He's coming around, Centurion."
"He's got to, Crisp! Mister Slater!"
There were people all around me. I couldn't see them very clearly, but I could recognize the voice. "Yes, Centurion."
"Mister Slater," Ardwain said. "The governor says we shouldn't take the hill! What do we do, sir?"
It didn't make sense. Where am I, I wondered. I had just sense enough not to ask. Everybody asks that, I thought. Why does everybody ask that? But I don't know-
I was pulled to a sitting position. My eyes managed to focus again, just for a moment. I was surrounded by people and rocks. Big rocks. Then I knew where I was. I'd passed those rocks before. They were at the base of the hill. Rocks below the Rockpile.
"What's that? Don't take the hill?" I said.
"Yes, sir-"
"Lieutenant, I have ordered your men to pull back. There are not enough to take this hill, and there's no point in wasting them."
That wasn't the governor, but I'd heard the voice before. Trevor. Colonel Trevor of the militia. He'd been with Swale at the staff meeting back at Beersheeba. Bits of the staff meeting came back to me, and I tried to remember more of them. Then I realized that was silly. The staff meeting wasn't important but I couldn't think. What was important? There was something I had to do.
Get up the hill. I had to get up the hill. "Get me on my feet, Centurion."
"Sir-"
"Do it!" I was screaming. "I'm going up there. We have to take the Rockpile."
"You heard the company commander," Ardwain shouted. "Move out!"
"Slater, you don't know what you're saying," Trevor shouted.
I ignored him. "I've got to see," I said. I tried to get up, but my legs weren't working. Nothing happened when I tried to move them. "Lift me where I can see," I said.
"Sir-"
"Crisp, don't argue with me, do it."
"You're crazy, Slater," Trevor shouted. "Delirious. Sergeant Crisp, put him down. You'll kill him."
The medics hauled me to the edge of the boulder patch. Ardwain was leading men up the hill. Not just marines, I saw. The militia had followed as well. Insane, something whispered in the back of my mind. All insane. It's a disease, and they've caught it too. I pushed the thought away.
They were falling, but they were still moving forward as they fell. I didn't know if they'd get to the top.
"You wanted to see!" Trevor shouted. "Now you've seen it! You can't send them up there. It's suicide, and they won't even listen to me! You've got to call them back, Slater. Make them retreat."
I looked at the fallen men. Some were just ahead of me. They hadn't even got 20 meters. There was one body blown in half. Something bright lay near it. I saw what it was and turned to Trevor.
"Retreat, Colonel? See that? Our trumpeter was killed sounding the charge. I don't know how to order a retreat."
CHAPTER 16
I was deep in the well again, and it was dark, and I was afraid. They reached down into it after me, trying to pull me up, and I wanted to come. I knew I'd been in there a long time, and I wanted out, because I could hear Kathryn calling for me. I reached for her hand, but I couldn't find it. I remember shouting, but I don't know what I said. The nightmare went on for a long time.
Then it was daytime. The light was orange red, very bright, and the walls were splashed with the orange light. I tried to move my head.
"Doc!" someone shouted. His voice was very loud.
"Hal?"
"I can't see you," I said. "Where are you, Kathryn? Where are you?"
"I'm here, Hal. I'll always be here."
And then it was dark again, but it wasn't so lonely in there.
I woke up several times after that. I couldn't talk much and when I did I don't suppose I made much sense, but finally things were clear. I was in the hospital in Garrison, and I'd been there for weeks. I wasn't sure just how long. Nobody would tell me anything, and they talked in hushed tones so that I was sure I was dying, but I didn't.
"What the hell's wrong with me?" I demanded.
"Just take it easy, young fellow." He had a white coat, thick glasses and a brown beard with white hairs in it.
"Who the hell are you?"
"That's Doctor Cechi," Kathryn told me.
"Well, why won't he tell me what's wrong with me?"
"He doesn't want to worry you."
"Worry me? Do you think not knowing gives peace of mind? Tell me."
"All right," Cechi said. "Nothing permanent. Understand that first. Nothing permanent, although it's going to take a while to fix you up. We almost lost you a couple of times, you know. Multiple perforations of the gut, two broken vertebrae, compound fracture of the left femur, and assorted scrapes, punctures, bruises, abrasions, and contusions. Not to mention almost complete exsanguination when they brought you in. It's nothing we can't fix, but you're going to be here a while, Captain." He was holding my arm, and I felt pressure there, a hypo-spray. "You just go to sleep and we'll tell you the rest tomorrow."
"But…" Whatever I was going to say never got out. I sank back, but it wasn't into the well. It was just sleep, and I could tell the difference.
The next time I woke Falkenberg was there. He grinned at me.
I grinned back. "Hi, Captain."
"Major. You're the captain."
"Uh? Run that past-"
"Just brevet promotions, but Harrington thinks they'll stick."
"We must have won."
"Oh yeah." He sat where I could see him. His eyes looked pale blue in that light. "Lieutenant Ardwain took the Rockpile, but he said it was all your doing."
"Lieutenant Ardwain. Lot of promotions out of this," I mused.
"Some. The Association no longer exists as an organized military force. Your girl's friends are in control. Wan Loo is the acting president, or supervisor, or whatever they call him. Governor Swale's not too happy about it, but officially he has to be. He didn't like endorsing Harrington's report, either, but he had no choice."
"But he's a lousy traitor. Why's he still governor?"
"Be your age, Captain." There wasn't any humor in Falkenberg's voice now. "We have no proof. I know the story, if you'd like to hear it. In fact, you'd better. You're popular enough with the Fleet, but there'll be elements of the Grand Senate that hate your guts."
"Tell me."
"Swale has always been part of the Bronson faction," Falkenberg said. "The Bronson family is big in Dover Mineral Development Inc. Seems there's more to this place than either American Express or Kennicott ever knew. Dover found out and tried to buy mineral rights. The Holy Joes wouldn't sell. Especially the farmers like Wan Loo and Seeton. They don't want industrial development here, and it was obvious to Swale that they wouldn't sell any mining rights to Dover. Swale's policy has been to help groups like the association in return for their signatures on mining rights c
ontracts. If enough of those outfits are recognized as legitimate local governments, there won't be any trouble over the contracts. You can probably figure out the rest."
"Maybe it's my head," I told him, "but I can't. What the devil did he let us into the valley for, then? Why did he go down there at all?"
"Just because they signed over some mining rights didn't make them his slaves. They were trying to jack up the grain prices. If the Harmony merchants complained loud enough, Swale wouldn't be governor here, and what use would he be to Dover then? He had to put some pressure on them. Enough to make them sell, not so much that they'd be thrown out."
"Only we threw them out," I said.
"Only we threw them out. This time. Don't imagine that it's over."
"It has to be over," I said. "He couldn't pull that again-"
"Probably he won't. Bronson hasn't much use for failures. I expect Governor Swale will shortly be on his way to a post as First Secretary on a mining asteroid. There'll be another governor, and if he's not a Bronson client he'll be someone else's. I'm not supposed to depress you. You've got a decision to make. I've been assigned to a regular Line regiment as adjutant. The 42nd. It's on Kennicott. Tough duty. Probably a lot of fighting, good opportunities, regular troops. I've got room on the staff. Want to come along? They tell me you'll be fit to move by the time the next ship gets here."
"I'll think about it."
"Do that. You've got a good career ahead of you. Now you're the youngest captain in the Fleet. Couldn't swing the Military Star, but you'll get another medal."
"I'll think about it. I have to talk with Kathryn…"
He shrugged. "Certainly, Captain." He grinned and went out.
Captain. Captains may marry, Majors should marry, Colonels must marry…
But that was soldier talk, and I wasn't sure I was a soldier. Strange, I thought. Everyone says I am. I had done well, and I had a great career, and it all seemed like a fit of madness. Corporal Brady wouldn't be playing his trumpet any longer because of me. Dangier, wounded but alive, until he volunteered to be an artillery spotter. And all the others, Levine and Lieberman and recruit- no, Private Dietz, and the rest, dead and blended together in my memory until I couldn't remember where they died or what for, only that I had killed them.
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