Page 39 (1/2)

I take the stairs two at a time till I reach the third level, where I find the unit crouched behind the first line of cars, several feet back fro beside Teacup, working on her leg Her fatigues are ripped, and I can see an ugly red gash where a bullet tore across her calf Duer, then rushes over to Oo his head at me

"Told you we should abort," Flint says His eyes glitter with nore hie"

"Then ood" I look over at Teacup, who’s buried her head into Ringer’s chest, whier tells me "She can move"

I nod Oompa down Teacup shot Flint ready to mutiny A sniper across the street and a hundred or so of his best friends on their way to the party I’ve got to co brilliant and come up with it quickly "He knohere we are, whichSee if you can take him"

She nods, but she can’t peel Teacup off her I hold out my hands ith Ooainst my shirt She doesn’t want me I jerk o with Ringer Take the SOB out"

Ringer and Poundcake duck between two cars and disappear I stroke Teacup’s bare head--soerly pull on the fragers clawing at the ground Unsure, Duotta come out "Quick, Dumbo Slow makes it worse" So he yanks

Oompa folds in on hie Dued piece ofwound

Gri, he rolls Oompa onto his back His shirtfront is soaked Du the exit wound: The shrapnel had entered through his back and slah to the other side

Flint turns away, crawls a couple feet, and his back arches as he vo into shock Teacup, the one who screaes in the yard Teacup, the bloodthirstiest, the one who sang the loudest in P&D I’ Oout, trying to stem the flow, his eyes seek out mine

"What are your orders, Private?" I ask him

"I--I am not to--to…"

Du away and presses a fresh patch against Oo intoNot to me Not to Oompa

I ease Teacup from my lap and kneel beside Oompa His breath smells like blood and chocolate

"It’s because I’m fat," he chokes out He starts to cry

"Stow that shit," I tell hi my ear close to his mouth "My name is Kenny" Like it’s a terrible secret he’s been afraid to share

His eyes roll toward the ceiling Then he’s gone

58

TEACUP’S LOST IT Hugging her legs, forehead pressed against her upraised knees I call over to Flint to keep an eye on her I’er and Poundcake Flint looks like he wants to kill ave the order," he snarls "You watch her"

Duot it, Sarge," he says cale," Flint spits out "That’s right What now, Sarge?"

I ignore him and scra beside Ringer She’s on her knees, peeking over the edge of the wall toward the building across the street I lowerlook

"Oo her eyes off the building

"His naets it, but it takes Poundcake adistance between us, and presses both hands against the concrete, takes a deep, shuddering breath

"You had to, Zoht all be Kenny"

That sounds really good It sounded good when I said it toup at her profile, I wonder what Vosch was thinking, pinning the stripes onsquad member

"Well?" I ask her

She nods across the street "Pop goes the weasel"

I slowly rise up In the light of the dying fire, I can see the building: a facade of broken s, peeling white paint, and the roof one story higher than us A vague shadow that ht be a water tower up there, but that’s all I see

"Where?" I whisper

"He just ducked down again Been doing that Up, down, up, down, like a jack-in-the-box"

"Just one?"