The Longest Day (II)

Sindula lowered his head and found Yadu looking up at him, waiting.

He forced a smile and nodded.

"Alright."

He spoke softly.

"Alright."

He reached out and hooked an arm around Yadu, helping him to his feet.

The lieutenant wiped his still-bloody mouth with the back of his hand. He looked at Sindula, his eyes full of gratitude.

"I'll give you the money."

With saliva and clots of blood still in his mouth, Yadu said unclearly:

"I won't do anything."

Sindula smiled again, and the movement made his scalp hurt anew.

"Alright,"

he said, patting Yadu on the shoulder.

"Go back. The military police should be making their rounds."

Yadu tried to smile, but his battered face could not manage it.

Then he turned and left.

After watching him go, Sindula closed his eyes again and leaned against the silent tread guard.

He could feel his ears ringing. This was a new symptom.

"Things have been tense lately. Don't go stirring up trouble, or—"

Suddenly, the ringing in his ears became a piercing shriek.

Sindula forced his eyes open and looked around.

His gunner was standing still, staring up at the dim night sky. Just as Sindula was about to say something, the prostitute turned to look at him.

"What is that?"

she asked loudly.

Sindula blinked, then shook his head.

As he moved, he could feel the shriek changing as well. The sound was not coming from inside his head, but from all around him.

Sindula had seen all kinds of war fronts. He had heard the screams of armor being blasted through, and he had run for shelters as bombs fell.

The sound was like an alarm, but unlike any alarm he had ever heard.

It was neither an alert nor a muster call. It seemed to be