@@@@@There was no sound again in the darkness and
@@@@@There was no sound again in the darkness and he fumbled for another flare, feeling an almost desperate urgency"Where is it?" he whispered to Gallagher Croft's hand found the flare box, and he loaded the gun againHe was beginning to see in the darkness, and he hesitatedBut something moved on the river and he fired the flareAs it burst, a few Japanese soldiers were caught motionless in the waterCroft pivoted his gun on them and firedOne of the soldiers remained standing for an incredible timeThere was no expression on his face; he looked vacant and surprised even as the bullets struck him in the chest
Nothing was moving now on the riverIn the light of the flare, the bodies looked as limp and unhuman as bags of grainOne soldier began to float downstream, his face in the waterOn the beach near the gun, another Japanese soldier was lying on his backA wide stain of blood was spreading out from his body, and his stomach, ripped open, gaped like the swollen entrails of a fowlOn an impulse Croft fired a burst into him, and felt a twitch of pleasure as he saw the body quiver
A wounded man was groaning in JapaneseEvery few seconds he would scream, the sound terrifying in the cruel blue light of the flareCroft picked up a grenade"That sonofabitch is makin' too much noise," he saidHe pulled the pin and lobbed the grenade over to the opposite bankIt dropped like a beanbag on one of the bodies, and Croft pulled Gallagher down with himThe explosion was powerful and yet empty like a blast that collapses windowpanesAfter a moment, the echoes ceased
Croft tensed himself and listened to the sounds from across the riverThere was the quiet furtive noise of men retreating into the jungl